French drain cost in Chattanooga, TN
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
- $9.25 – $32.50
- before permit
- Versus US midpoint
- −8%
- US $1,350
- Rank of 300 metros
- #225
- 1 = most expensive
Chattanooga homeowners pay roughly $550 to $1,950 to install a French drain at 60 linear ft, or $9.25 to $32.50 per linear ft (permit not included). Against the US midpoint, Chattanooga is 8% lower. Construction laborers earn a median of $20.80 an hour in the Chattanooga area, 8% below the US median of $22.66.
Estimate your french drain cost
Pick a size, a quality level and where you live. Prices update as you type.
Estimated cost for 60 linear ft in Chattanooga, TN, standard level
$970 to $1,550
About $16 to $25.50 per linear ft before permits. Labor is about 50% of the bill.
| Part | Low | High |
|---|---|---|
| Materials | $480 | $760 |
| Labor | $490 | $760 |
| Permits and fees | $0 | $0 |
| Total | $970 | $1,550 |
Cost breakdown for 60 linear ft in Chattanooga, TN
| Part of the job | Low | Midpoint | High | Share |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Materials | $280 | $620 | $970 | 50% |
| Labor | $280 | $630 | $970 | 50% |
| Permits and fees | $0 | $0 | $0 | 0% |
| Total | $550 | $1,250 | $1,950 | 100% |
What is behind the Chattanooga number
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 Chattanooga the blended ratio comes out at 0.89.
On the materials line, the BEA goods price index for the Chattanooga metro is 96.0 (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 (91.5) and land at $0 to $0.
When to schedule French drain in Chattanooga
We use NOAA's 1991-2020 climate normals for Chattanooga Lovell Ap (5 miles from the city center). These are 30-year monthly averages, not forecasts.
February through June and September through December are the stretches where digging, grading and setting material in the ground runs into the fewest weather problems in Chattanooga (9 of 12 months). January has an average overnight low at or below freezing (32°F); July and August have 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 56 days a year with a low at or below 32°F at this station.
Chattanooga gets about 55 inches of precipitation in a normal year, including roughly 4 inches of snow. The wettest months are March, July and December (5.3 inches in March). Inside the workable window, May and October are the driest, at 3.9 and 3.6 inches. The station averages about 58 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 | 51 | 32 | 5.0 | Cold |
| Feb | 56 | 36 | 5.0 | Workable |
| Mar | 64 | 42 | 5.3 | Workable |
| Apr | 74 | 50 | 4.9 | Workable |
| May | 81 | 59 | 3.9 | Workable |
| Jun | 88 | 67 | 4.2 | Workable |
| Jul | 91 | 71 | 5.1 | Hot |
| Aug | 90 | 70 | 3.7 | Hot |
| Sep | 84 | 64 | 4.2 | Workable |
| Oct | 74 | 51 | 3.6 | Workable |
| Nov | 62 | 40 | 4.8 | Workable |
| Dec | 53 | 35 | 5.3 | Workable |
French drain: what moves the price in Chattanooga
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).
Where the water goes
A sump pump adds $500-$1,800 and a dry well $50-$3,000+. Discharging to a storm drain can mean extra permit fees.
Depth and soil
Rocky or clay soil and long trenches raise excavation time.
Is Chattanooga cheap or dear? The local comparison
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 $1,150 to $1,300 across Chattanooga and its five closest metros.
| Area | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|
| Chattanooga, TNthis page | $550 – $1,950 | $1,250 | |
| Dalton, GA35 miles | $520 – $1,800 | $1,150 | −7% |
| Huntsville, AL80 miles | $540 – $1,900 | $1,200 | −3% |
| Knoxville, TN95 miles | $560 – $2,000 | $1,250 | +2% |
| Gainesville, GA100 miles | $530 – $1,850 | $1,200 | −4% |
| Nashville, TN105 miles | $580 – $2,000 | $1,300 | +4% |
| Tennessee (statewide) | $570 – $2,000 | $1,250 | +2% |
| United States | $600 – $2,100 | $1,350 | +8% |
Across 300 US metros, Chattanooga comes in at #225 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, Chattanooga is 2% below the Tennessee figure.
Other Tennessee metros
| Metro | Size | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Nashville, TN | 1,099,300 jobs | $580 – $2,000 | $1,300 | +4% |
| Memphis, TN | 611,670 jobs | $570 – $2,000 | $1,300 | +3% |
| Knoxville, TN | 424,600 jobs | $560 – $2,000 | $1,250 | +2% |
| Kingsport, TN | 119,560 jobs | $570 – $2,000 | $1,300 | +3% |
| Clarksville, TN | 103,220 jobs | $550 – $1,950 | $1,250 | level |
| Jackson, TN | 84,530 jobs | $560 – $1,950 | $1,250 | level |
Cities with a workforce like Chattanooga's
Big cities and small ones price differently, so here is Chattanooga against the 4 metros with the closest total employment.
| Metro | Size | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Poughkeepsie, NY | 268,970 jobs | $700 – $2,450 | $1,550 | +26% |
| Huntsville, AL | 266,650 jobs | $540 – $1,900 | $1,200 | −3% |
| Jackson, MS | 270,730 jobs | $530 – $1,850 | $1,200 | −4% |
| Lakeland, FL | 265,280 jobs | $540 – $1,900 | $1,200 | −2% |
Chattanooga: what basic, standard and premium work costs
Three bands are cut from the same cited range and localized for Chattanooga 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 $1,550
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 | $490 – $760 | $690 – $970 |
| side yard (60 linear ft) | $550 – $1,100 | $970 – $1,550 | $1,400 – $1,950 |
| long run (120 linear ft) | $1,100 – $2,200 | $1,950 – $3,050 | $2,750 – $3,900 |
Planning more than one job in Chattanooga?
Because every project leans on different trades, Chattanooga's wage level does not move all prices equally. Against the US midpoint, retaining wall runs −2% and concrete slab −9%.
| Project | Size | Range | vs. US |
|---|---|---|---|
| Retaining wall | 200 sq ft of wall face | $6,950 – $13,100 | −2% |
| Gravel driveway | 1,000 sq ft | $2,300 – $9,400 | −8% |
| Sod installation | 1,500 sq ft | $1,400 – $3,100 | −6% |
| Concrete slab | 400 sq ft | $2,200 – $4,750 | −9% |
| Sprinkler system | 4,000 sq ft of lawn | $3,700 – $9,300 | −7% |
| Inground pool | 450 sq ft | $34,200 – $107,000 | −5% |
Local wages behind the labor line
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 Chattanooga is 0.89 times the national level.
Construction laborers (47-2061), 50% of the weighting: a median of $20.80 an hour, 8% below the US median of $22.66. The middle half of them earn between $17.64 and $23.48 an hour. About 1,800 work in the metro. That is 67.0 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 $24.19 an hour, which is 16% below the national $28.78. The middle half of them earn between $21.75 and $28.77 an hour. BLS counts 750 of them working in the area, 27.9 for every 10,000 jobs (US: 30.7), so the local bench is about average.
Pipelayers (47-2151), 20% of the weighting: a median of $21.26 an hour, 10% below the US median of $23.56. The middle half of them earn between $19.00 and $22.16 an hour. About 50 work in the metro. That is 1.9 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 ($23.48 an hour) instead of the median, the labor line grows by about $40. At the 25th percentile ($17.64) it shrinks by about $50. The total moves by 3.3% or 3.9%, so wages alone rarely explain a quote that is far outside our range.
For context on the local economy, BLS counts 268,750 jobs in the Chattanooga area. That makes it the 98th largest of the 300 metros we cover, with 0.17% of US employment.
| Trade | Weight | 25th pct | Median | 75th pct | US median | Ratio | Level used |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Construction laborers (47-2061) | 50% | $17.64 | $20.80 | $23.48 | $22.66 | 0.92 | metro |
| Operating engineers and other construction equipment operators (47-2073) | 30% | $21.75 | $24.19 | $28.77 | $28.78 | 0.84 | metro |
| Pipelayers (47-2151) | 20% | $19.00 | $21.26 | $22.16 | $23.56 | 0.90 | metro |
| Blended | 100% | 0.89 | |||||
Get 3 local quotes
Tell us about the job and we will try to connect you with up to three local contractors for written quotes. It is free and you are under no obligation to hire. Your estimate of $970 to $1,550 for Chattanooga, TN is attached.
A detailed PDF report of this estimate, $9
Multi-page report for Chattanooga, TN: low, typical and high cost, a line-item breakdown of materials and labor by trade, permit notes, the best months to schedule, a quote comparison sheet, red flags, questions for contractors, checklists and every source. Save your estimate above, preview page 1 free, and unlock the full report for $9 one-time, or get every report with CostLocal Pro.
French drain in Chattanooga: your questions
+How much does it cost to install a French drain in Chattanooga?
For 60 linear ft, expect $550 to $1,950 in the Chattanooga area. A standard-spec job lands at $970 to $1,550. Small jobs usually cost more per linear ft and large ones less.
+What is the price per linear ft for French drain in Chattanooga?
About $9.25 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 Chattanooga or Dalton?
Dalton is 35 miles away. The midpoint for 60 linear ft there is $1,150, which is 7% less than Chattanooga ($1,250). Wage and materials indexes both feed that gap.
+How much of the bill is labor in Chattanooga?
About 50% at the midpoint, or $630 out of $1,250. Materials are 50% and permits 0%. Nationally, labor is 52%.
+What would side yard (60 linear ft) cost in Chattanooga?
$550 to $1,950. Pick a different size in the estimator above to get your own number.
+Does French drain need a permit in Chattanooga?
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 Chattanooga area (our national range of $0 to $0 scaled by the local price level).
+Is Chattanooga expensive for French drain compared with the rest of Tennessee?
Chattanooga is 2% below the Tennessee statewide estimate ($1,250 at the midpoint). We cover 8 metros in Tennessee; see the state page to compare them.
+What do construction laborers earn in Chattanooga?
The BLS median is $20.80 an hour in the Chattanooga area, compared with $22.66 nationally. The 25th to 75th percentile range is $17.64 to $23.48.
+What do basic and premium French drain work cost in Chattanooga?
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 Chattanooga?
Based on NOAA 1991-2020 normals, the comfortable months for this kind of work are February through June and September through December. May and October 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 Chattanooga
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.