French drain cost in Philadelphia, PA
Local estimate from BLS wage data and BEA price levels. Reviewed Nov 4, 2026.
- Typical range (60 linear ft)
- $640 – $2,250
- Per linear ft
- $10.50 – $37.50
- before permit
- Versus US midpoint
- +7%
- US $1,350
- Rank of 300 metros
- #95
- 1 = most expensive
A French drain in Philadelphia, PA usually costs $640 to $2,250 for 60 linear ft. That works out to about $10.50 to $37.50 per linear ft before permits. Compared with the national midpoint that is $90 more. Construction laborers earn a median of $26.50 an hour in the Philadelphia area, 17% above the US median of $22.66.
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Estimated cost for 60 linear ft in Philadelphia, PA, standard level
$1,100 to $1,750
About $18.50 to $29.50 per linear ft before permits. Labor is about 56% of the bill.
| Part | Low | High |
|---|---|---|
| Materials | $490 | $770 |
| Labor | $630 | $990 |
| Permits and fees | $0 | $0 |
| Total | $1,100 | $1,750 |
Cost breakdown for 60 linear ft in Philadelphia, PA
| Part of the job | Low | Midpoint | High | Share |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Materials | $280 | $630 | $980 | 44% |
| Labor | $360 | $810 | $1,250 | 56% |
| Permits and fees | $0 | $0 | $0 | 0% |
| Total | $640 | $1,450 | $2,250 | 100% |
What is behind the Philadelphia number
Labor is 56% of the midpoint bill here, against 52% nationally. The mix of trades behind this job is construction laborers (50%), operating engineers and other construction equipment operators (30%), pipelayers (20%). We weight each trade's local median wage by that share and compare it with the national median. In Philadelphia the blended ratio comes out at 1.16.
Materials are scaled with BEA's regional price parity for goods. Philadelphia is at 96.8 against 100 for the US, so a materials line of $650 nationally becomes $630 here (midpoint, 60 linear ft). Permits follow the all-items index of 102.6: $0 to $0.
French drain: what moves the price in Philadelphia
Depth and soil
Rocky or clay soil and long trenches raise excavation time.
Crawl space drains
A crawl space French drain is $2,000-$8,000 installed.
Exterior versus interior
A shallow exterior French drain is $10-$35 per linear foot; an interior basement drain is $40-$85 per foot, or $4,000-$17,000 installed (HomeGuide).
What nearby projects cost in Philadelphia
Jobs that often go together with French drain are priced below at their usual sizes, using the same Philadelphia wage and price inputs. Compared with national midpoints, inground pool comes out highest (+7%) and concrete slab lowest (+3%); the gap comes from the trades each job uses.
| Project | Size | Range | vs. US |
|---|---|---|---|
| Retaining wall | 200 sq ft of wall face | $7,750 – $14,200 | +7% |
| Gravel driveway | 1,000 sq ft | $2,650 – $10,800 | +6% |
| Sod installation | 1,500 sq ft | $1,550 – $3,400 | +3% |
| Concrete slab | 400 sq ft | $2,550 – $5,300 | +3% |
| Sprinkler system | 4,000 sq ft of lawn | $4,250 – $10,700 | +7% |
| Inground pool | 450 sq ft | $38,700 – $120,500 | +7% |
How Philadelphia compares
Of the five closest metros, 2 are cheaper than Philadelphia. Lancaster is the lowest at about $1,350 (midpoint, 60 linear ft), 50 miles away.
| Area | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|
| Philadelphia, PAthis page | $640 – $2,250 | $1,450 | |
| Vineland, NJ40 miles | $780 – $2,750 | $1,750 | +23% |
| Trenton, NJ40 miles | $730 – $2,550 | $1,650 | +15% |
| Reading, PA50 miles | $600 – $2,100 | $1,350 | −6% |
| Lancaster, PA50 miles | $600 – $2,100 | $1,350 | −6% |
| Atlantic City, NJ50 miles | $690 – $2,400 | $1,550 | +8% |
| Pennsylvania (statewide) | $600 – $2,100 | $1,350 | −7% |
| United States | $600 – $2,100 | $1,350 | −6% |
Out of the 300 metros we cover, Philadelphia ranks #95 for the cost of this job (#1 is the most expensive). Statewide, Philadelphia is 7% above the Pennsylvania figure.
Elsewhere in Pennsylvania
| Metro | Size | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pittsburgh, PA | 1,114,490 jobs | $610 – $2,150 | $1,350 | −5% |
| Allentown, PA | 377,180 jobs | $600 – $2,100 | $1,350 | −6% |
| Harrisburg, PA | 335,010 jobs | $620 – $2,200 | $1,400 | −3% |
| Scranton, PA | 255,620 jobs | $600 – $2,100 | $1,350 | −7% |
| Lancaster, PA | 252,230 jobs | $600 – $2,100 | $1,350 | −6% |
| York, PA | 183,590 jobs | $620 – $2,200 | $1,400 | −2% |
Metros of a similar size
Big cities and small ones price differently, so here is Philadelphia against the 4 metros with the closest total employment.
| Metro | Size | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Washington, DC | 3,136,190 jobs | $630 – $2,200 | $1,400 | −2% |
| Atlanta, GA | 2,889,670 jobs | $570 – $2,000 | $1,250 | −12% |
| Houston, TX | 3,289,720 jobs | $560 – $1,950 | $1,250 | −12% |
| Miami, FL | 2,819,940 jobs | $590 – $2,050 | $1,350 | −8% |
Philadelphia weather and the french drain calendar
Climate numbers on this page come from NOAA's 1991-2020 U.S. Climate Normals at the nearest suitable station, Philadelphia Ne Ap (10 miles from the city center). They are 30-year averages, so any one year can run hotter, colder or wetter.
For digging, grading and setting material in the ground, the comfortable months in Philadelphia are March through November: 9 of 12. Outside them, January, February and December have an average overnight low at or below freezing (32°F).
In January, February and December the average low is at or below freezing, which means frozen ground and slower digging, compaction and sod or stone placement. NOAA counts about 88 days a year with a low at or below 32°F at this station.
Philadelphia gets about 45 inches of precipitation in a normal year. The wettest months are July, August and September (4.5 inches in September). Inside the workable window, May and November are the driest, at 3.6 and 3.2 inches. The station averages about 29 days a year at 90°F or above.
We do not adjust the estimate by month, because we have no reliable published data on seasonal pricing. It is still worth asking contractors whether an off-peak start date changes their bid.
| Month | Avg high °F | Avg low °F | Precip (in) | For this job |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 42 | 27 | 3.3 | Cold |
| Feb | 45 | 28 | 2.6 | Cold |
| Mar | 53 | 35 | 4.0 | Workable |
| Apr | 65 | 44 | 3.8 | Workable |
| May | 75 | 54 | 3.6 | Workable |
| Jun | 83 | 64 | 3.9 | Workable |
| Jul | 88 | 69 | 4.3 | Workable |
| Aug | 86 | 68 | 4.2 | Workable |
| Sep | 79 | 60 | 4.5 | Workable |
| Oct | 68 | 48 | 3.6 | Workable |
| Nov | 57 | 38 | 3.2 | Workable |
| Dec | 47 | 31 | 4.0 | Cold |
What local crews earn in Philadelphia
The labor line is built from BLS wage data, one trade at a time. This job draws on 3 trades. We compare each trade's local median with the US median, weight the ratios by how much of the job each trade does, and apply the blend to the national labor cost. For Philadelphia the blend is 1.16.
For construction laborers (47-2061, weighted 50%) the local median is $26.50 an hour, which is 17% above the national $22.66. The middle half of them earn between $22.43 and $34.37 an hour. BLS counts 14,580 of them working in the area, 50.3 for every 10,000 jobs (US: 70.5), so the local bench is thinner than average.
Operating engineers and other construction equipment operators (47-2073), 30% of the weighting: a median of $32.12 an hour, 12% above the US median of $28.78. The middle half of them earn between $27.12 and $44.43 an hour. About 5,620 work in the metro. That is 19.4 per 10,000 jobs, compared with 30.7 nationally, so expect fewer local crews to bid.
For pipelayers (47-2151, weighted 20%) the local median is $28.15 an hour, which is 19% above the national $23.56. The middle half of them earn between $25.31 and $34.16 an hour. BLS counts 90 of them working in the area, 0.3 for every 10,000 jobs (US: 2.1), so the local bench is thinner than average.
A quick sensitivity check: moving the lead trade (construction laborers) from the median to the 75th percentile wage adds about $120 to the midpoint estimate; the 25th percentile takes off about $65. That is a swing of roughly 4.4% to 8.5% of the total, which is useful for judging whether a bid reflects wages or something else, such as scope or margin.
Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington has 2,897,830 jobs in total (BLS, May 2025), ranking 7th by size among the 300 metros on this site.
| Trade | Weight | 25th pct | Median | 75th pct | US median | Ratio | Level used |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Construction laborers (47-2061) | 50% | $22.43 | $26.50 | $34.37 | $22.66 | 1.17 | metro |
| Operating engineers and other construction equipment operators (47-2073) | 30% | $27.12 | $32.12 | $44.43 | $28.78 | 1.12 | metro |
| Pipelayers (47-2151) | 20% | $25.31 | $28.15 | $34.16 | $23.56 | 1.19 | metro |
| Blended | 100% | 1.16 | |||||
Cost by quality level and size in Philadelphia
The cited range is split into basic, standard and premium bands, then scaled to Philadelphia. Bands overlap, because plenty of standard jobs cost as much as a light premium one. Sizes run from short run (30 linear ft) to long run (120 linear ft).
Basic
$640 to $1,300
Shallow yard drain, easy digging
Standard
$1,100 to $1,750
Standard drain with fabric, gravel and a pop-up outlet
Premium
$1,600 to $2,250
Deep or long drain, hard soil, dry well or sump discharge
| Size | Basic | Standard | Premium |
|---|---|---|---|
| short run (30 linear ft) | $320 – $640 | $560 – $880 | $800 – $1,100 |
| side yard (60 linear ft) | $640 – $1,300 | $1,100 – $1,750 | $1,600 – $2,250 |
| long run (120 linear ft) | $1,300 – $2,550 | $2,250 – $3,500 | $3,200 – $4,500 |
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French drain in Philadelphia: your questions
+How much does it cost to install a French drain in Philadelphia?
For 60 linear ft, expect $640 to $2,250 in the Philadelphia area. A standard-spec job lands at $1,100 to $1,750. Small jobs usually cost more per linear ft and large ones less.
+What is the price per linear ft for French drain in Philadelphia?
About $10.50 to $37.50 per linear ft for materials and labor, plus $0 to $0 for the permit if one is needed. The US range is $10 to $35.
+Is French drain cheaper in Philadelphia or Vineland?
Vineland is 40 miles away. The midpoint for 60 linear ft there is $1,750, which is 23% more than Philadelphia ($1,450). Wage and materials indexes both feed that gap.
+How much of the bill is labor in Philadelphia?
About 56% at the midpoint, or $810 out of $1,450. Materials are 44% and permits 0%. Nationally, labor is 52%.
+What would side yard (60 linear ft) cost in Philadelphia?
$640 to $2,250. Pick a different size in the estimator above to get your own number.
+Does French drain need a permit in Philadelphia?
Often, but rules are set by your city or county building office, so call before you hire. Budget $0 to $0 for fees in the Philadelphia area (our national range of $0 to $0 scaled by the local price level).
+Is Philadelphia expensive for French drain compared with the rest of Pennsylvania?
Philadelphia is 7% above the Pennsylvania statewide estimate ($1,350 at the midpoint). We cover 12 metros in Pennsylvania; see the state page to compare them.
+What do construction laborers earn in Philadelphia?
The BLS median is $26.50 an hour in the Philadelphia area, compared with $22.66 nationally. The 25th to 75th percentile range is $22.43 to $34.37.
+What do basic and premium French drain work cost in Philadelphia?
For 60 linear ft, basic work runs $640 to $1,300 and premium work $1,600 to $2,250. Basic means: shallow yard drain, easy digging. Premium means: deep or long drain, hard soil, dry well or sump discharge.
+When is the best time to install a French drain in Philadelphia?
Based on NOAA 1991-2020 normals, the comfortable months for this kind of work are March through November. May and November are typically the driest of those months. Local contractors' schedules matter as much as the weather, so book early for the busy months.
French drain near Philadelphia
Where these numbers come from
Base prices are national ranges from the sources below. We scale labor by local BLS wages, materials by BEA goods prices and permits by the BEA all-items price level. Full method on the methodology page.
- HomeGuide: How Much Does a French Drain Cost? (2026) (accessed November 4, 2026)
- Cost to Renovate: Renovation Labor Report 2026: Where the Money Goes (accessed November 4, 2026)
- BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025
- BEA Regional Price Parities, 2024
- NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals, 1991-2020
Note on derived figures: Materials = 48% of the installed price, from Cost to Renovate's mid-range 'Outdoor Living' category split (44% labor, 48% materials). It is a category average, not a French-drain figure, so the materials line here is a rough one.