French drain cost in Spartanburg, SC
Local estimate from BLS wage data and BEA price levels. Reviewed Nov 4, 2026.
- Typical range (60 linear ft)
- $550 – $1,950
- Per linear ft
- $9.20 – $32.50
- before permit
- Versus US midpoint
- −8%
- US $1,350
- Rank of 300 metros
- #228
- 1 = most expensive
If you want to install a French drain in Spartanburg, plan on $550 to $1,950 for 60 linear ft, all in. Per linear ft, that is $9.20 to $32.50 for materials and labor, with the permit on top. The local midpoint runs 8% lower than the national one. Construction laborers earn a median of $20.29 an hour in the Spartanburg area, 10% below the US median of $22.66.
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Estimated cost for 60 linear ft in Spartanburg, SC, standard level
$970 to $1,500
About $16 to $25.50 per linear ft before permits. Labor is about 50% of the bill.
| Part | Low | High |
|---|---|---|
| Materials | $490 | $760 |
| Labor | $480 | $760 |
| Permits and fees | $0 | $0 |
| Total | $970 | $1,500 |
Cost breakdown for 60 linear ft in Spartanburg, SC
| Part of the job | Low | Midpoint | High | Share |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Materials | $280 | $620 | $970 | 50% |
| Labor | $280 | $620 | $970 | 50% |
| Permits and fees | $0 | $0 | $0 | 0% |
| Total | $550 | $1,250 | $1,950 | 100% |
Why Spartanburg prices look the way they do
Labor is 50% 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 Spartanburg the blended ratio comes out at 0.88.
On the materials line, the BEA goods price index for the Spartanburg metro is 96.3 (US = 100). The midpoint materials bill for 60 linear ft comes to $620, compared with $650 at national prices. Permit and inspection fees are scaled by the broader index (91.1) and land at $0 to $0.
Spartanburg against nearby metros and the rest of South Carolina
Contractors rarely work more than an hour or two from home, so the neighboring metros set a rough ceiling and floor for your quotes. Midpoints for 60 linear ft range from $1,250 to $1,300 across Spartanburg and its five closest metros.
| Area | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|
| Spartanburg, SCthis page | $550 – $1,950 | $1,250 | |
| Greenville, SC35 miles | $560 – $1,950 | $1,250 | +1% |
| Charlotte, NC65 miles | $570 – $2,000 | $1,300 | +3% |
| Asheville, NC70 miles | $570 – $2,000 | $1,300 | +3% |
| Columbia, SC70 miles | $550 – $1,950 | $1,250 | −1% |
| Hickory, NC70 miles | $550 – $1,950 | $1,250 | level |
| South Carolina (statewide) | $550 – $1,950 | $1,250 | level |
| United States | $600 – $2,100 | $1,350 | +8% |
Across 300 US metros, Spartanburg comes in at #228 from the top. The priciest is San Francisco, CA at $1,900; the cheapest is McAllen, TX at $1,100 (midpoints, 60 linear ft). Statewide, Spartanburg is 0% below the South Carolina figure.
Other South Carolina metros
| Metro | Size | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Greenville, SC | 434,900 jobs | $560 – $1,950 | $1,250 | +1% |
| Columbia, SC | 394,200 jobs | $550 – $1,950 | $1,250 | −1% |
| Charleston, SC | 394,170 jobs | $560 – $1,950 | $1,250 | +2% |
| Myrtle Beach, SC | 146,260 jobs | $530 – $1,850 | $1,200 | −4% |
| Florence, SC | 89,060 jobs | $550 – $1,950 | $1,250 | −1% |
| Hilton Head, SC | 81,920 jobs | $560 – $2,000 | $1,250 | +2% |
Cities with a workforce like Spartanburg's
Big cities and small ones price differently, so here is Spartanburg against the 4 metros with the closest total employment.
| Metro | Size | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Montgomery, AL | 165,550 jobs | $530 – $1,850 | $1,200 | −5% |
| Beaumont, TX | 163,220 jobs | $560 – $1,950 | $1,250 | +2% |
| Peoria, IL | 166,020 jobs | $680 – $2,350 | $1,500 | +22% |
| Canton, OH | 163,080 jobs | $630 – $2,200 | $1,400 | +14% |
Cost by quality level and size in Spartanburg
Three bands are cut from the same cited range and localized for Spartanburg wages and prices. They overlap on purpose: a good standard job and a modest premium job can cost the same. The grid below prices the same bands at 3 common sizes.
Basic
$550 to $1,100
Shallow yard drain, easy digging
Standard
$970 to $1,500
Standard drain with fabric, gravel and a pop-up outlet
Premium
$1,400 to $1,950
Deep or long drain, hard soil, dry well or sump discharge
| Size | Basic | Standard | Premium |
|---|---|---|---|
| short run (30 linear ft) | $280 – $550 | $480 – $760 | $690 – $970 |
| side yard (60 linear ft) | $550 – $1,100 | $970 – $1,500 | $1,400 – $1,950 |
| long run (120 linear ft) | $1,100 – $2,200 | $1,950 – $3,050 | $2,750 – $3,850 |
What nearby projects cost in Spartanburg
Because every project leans on different trades, Spartanburg's wage level does not move all prices equally. Against the US midpoint, sod installation runs −5% and retaining wall −10%.
| Project | Size | Range | vs. US |
|---|---|---|---|
| Retaining wall | 200 sq ft of wall face | $6,200 – $12,200 | −10% |
| Gravel driveway | 1,000 sq ft | $2,250 – $9,300 | −9% |
| Sod installation | 1,500 sq ft | $1,400 – $3,100 | −5% |
| Concrete slab | 400 sq ft | $2,250 – $4,800 | −8% |
| Sprinkler system | 4,000 sq ft of lawn | $3,600 – $9,050 | −9% |
| Inground pool | 450 sq ft | $32,400 – $101,500 | −10% |
Climate in Spartanburg: timing your French drain job
We use NOAA's 1991-2020 climate normals for Spartanburg 3 Sse (5 miles from the city center). These are 30-year monthly averages, not forecasts.
February through June and August through December are the stretches where digging, grading and setting material in the ground runs into the fewest weather problems in Spartanburg (10 of 12 months). January has an average overnight low at or below freezing (32°F); July has an average daytime high of 90°F or more.
In January the average low is at or below freezing, which means frozen ground and slower digging, compaction and sod or stone placement. NOAA counts about 76 days a year with a low at or below 32°F at this station.
Spartanburg gets about 50 inches of precipitation in a normal year. The wettest months are March, June and December (4.8 inches in March). Inside the workable window, September and November are the driest, at 3.6 and 3.7 inches. The station averages about 57 days a year at 90°F or above.
Does the season change the price? Probably, but we do not have a sourced seasonal price curve, so the estimator shows a year-round figure and does not adjust by month. When you collect quotes, ask whether scheduling in a slower month gets a better rate.
| Month | Avg high °F | Avg low °F | Precip (in) | For this job |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 54 | 32 | 4.3 | Cold |
| Feb | 59 | 34 | 3.8 | Workable |
| Mar | 66 | 40 | 4.8 | Workable |
| Apr | 75 | 47 | 4.3 | Workable |
| May | 81 | 56 | 3.9 | Workable |
| Jun | 87 | 65 | 4.6 | Workable |
| Jul | 90 | 69 | 4.0 | Hot |
| Aug | 88 | 68 | 4.6 | Workable |
| Sep | 83 | 62 | 3.6 | Workable |
| Oct | 74 | 49 | 3.9 | Workable |
| Nov | 64 | 38 | 3.7 | Workable |
| Dec | 56 | 34 | 4.7 | Workable |
Specs and site conditions that change a Spartanburg bid
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).
Spartanburg labor market for French drain
Wages are the part of this estimate that changes most from town to town. 3 trades carry the job here, and each is compared with its US median. The weighted result for Spartanburg is 0.88 times the national level.
Construction laborers (47-2061), 50% of the weighting: a median of $20.29 an hour, 10% below the US median of $22.66. The middle half of them earn between $17.77 and $23.33 an hour. About 1,310 work in the metro. That is 79.3 per 10,000 jobs, compared with 70.5 nationally, so the supply of crews looks typical.
For operating engineers and other construction equipment operators (47-2073, weighted 30%) the local median is $23.53 an hour, which is 18% below the national $28.78. The middle half of them earn between $20.29 and $28.72 an hour. BLS counts 650 of them working in the area, 39.4 for every 10,000 jobs (US: 30.7), so the local bench is deeper than average.
Pipelayers (47-2151), 20% of the weighting: a median of $22.59 an hour, 4% below the US median of $23.56. The middle half of them earn between $20.51 and $23.07 an hour. About 40 work in the metro. That is 2.4 per 10,000 jobs, compared with 2.1 nationally, so the supply of crews looks typical.
Quotes come from real crews, not medians. If the construction laborers on your job are paid at the 75th percentile ($23.33 an hour) instead of the median, the labor line grows by about $45. At the 25th percentile ($17.77) it shrinks by about $40. The total moves by 3.8% or 3.1%, so wages alone rarely explain a quote that is far outside our range.
For context on the local economy, BLS counts 165,150 jobs in the Spartanburg area. That makes it the 143rd largest of the 300 metros we cover, with 0.11% of US employment.
| Trade | Weight | 25th pct | Median | 75th pct | US median | Ratio | Level used |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Construction laborers (47-2061) | 50% | $17.77 | $20.29 | $23.33 | $22.66 | 0.90 | metro |
| Operating engineers and other construction equipment operators (47-2073) | 30% | $20.29 | $23.53 | $28.72 | $28.78 | 0.82 | metro |
| Pipelayers (47-2151) | 20% | $20.51 | $22.59 | $23.07 | $23.56 | 0.96 | metro |
| Blended | 100% | 0.88 | |||||
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French drain in Spartanburg: your questions
+How much does it cost to install a French drain in Spartanburg?
For 60 linear ft, expect $550 to $1,950 in the Spartanburg area. A standard-spec job lands at $970 to $1,500. Small jobs usually cost more per linear ft and large ones less.
+What is the price per linear ft for French drain in Spartanburg?
About $9.20 to $32.50 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 Spartanburg or Greenville?
Greenville is 35 miles away. The midpoint for 60 linear ft there is $1,250, which is 1% more than Spartanburg ($1,250). Wage and materials indexes both feed that gap.
+How much of the bill is labor in Spartanburg?
About 50% at the midpoint, or $620 out of $1,250. Materials are 50% and permits 0%. Nationally, labor is 52%.
+What would side yard (60 linear ft) cost in Spartanburg?
$550 to $1,950. Pick a different size in the estimator above to get your own number.
+Does French drain need a permit in Spartanburg?
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 Spartanburg area (our national range of $0 to $0 scaled by the local price level).
+Is Spartanburg expensive for French drain compared with the rest of South Carolina?
Spartanburg is 0% below the South Carolina statewide estimate ($1,250 at the midpoint). We cover 7 metros in South Carolina; see the state page to compare them.
+What do construction laborers earn in Spartanburg?
The BLS median is $20.29 an hour in the Spartanburg area, compared with $22.66 nationally. The 25th to 75th percentile range is $17.77 to $23.33.
+What do basic and premium French drain work cost in Spartanburg?
For 60 linear ft, basic work runs $550 to $1,100 and premium work $1,400 to $1,950. 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 Spartanburg?
Based on NOAA 1991-2020 normals, the comfortable months for this kind of work are February through June and August through December. September 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 Spartanburg
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.