French drain cost in Knoxville, TN
Local estimate from BLS wage data and BEA price levels. Reviewed Nov 4, 2026.
- Typical range (60 linear ft)
- $560 – $2,000
- Per linear ft
- $9.40 – $33
- before permit
- Versus US midpoint
- −6%
- US $1,350
- Rank of 300 metros
- #200
- 1 = most expensive
A French drain in Knoxville, TN usually costs $560 to $2,000 for 60 linear ft. That works out to about $9.40 to $33 per linear ft before permits. Compared with the national midpoint that is $80 less. Construction laborers earn a median of $22.18 an hour in the Knoxville area, 2% below the US median of $22.66.
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Estimated cost for 60 linear ft in Knoxville, TN, standard level
$990 to $1,550
About $16.50 to $26 per linear ft before permits. Labor is about 51% of the bill.
| Part | Low | High |
|---|---|---|
| Materials | $490 | $760 |
| Labor | $500 | $790 |
| Permits and fees | $0 | $0 |
| Total | $990 | $1,550 |
Cost breakdown for 60 linear ft in Knoxville, TN
| Part of the job | Low | Midpoint | High | Share |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Materials | $280 | $620 | $970 | 49% |
| Labor | $290 | $650 | $1,000 | 51% |
| Permits and fees | $0 | $0 | $0 | 0% |
| Total | $560 | $1,250 | $2,000 | 100% |
What is behind the Knoxville number
Labor is 51% 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 Knoxville the blended ratio comes out at 0.92.
Materials are scaled with BEA's regional price parity for goods. Knoxville is at 96.2 against 100 for the US, so a materials line of $650 nationally becomes $620 here (midpoint, 60 linear ft). Permits follow the all-items index of 92.6: $0 to $0.
Data note: 20% of the labor weighting for this project uses a statewide median because BLS has no published metro figure for that trade in Knoxville. The wage table below marks each row.
Is Knoxville cheap or dear? The local comparison
Of the five closest metros, 3 are cheaper than Knoxville. Dalton is the lowest at about $1,150 (midpoint, 60 linear ft), 95 miles away.
| Area | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|
| Knoxville, TNthis page | $560 – $2,000 | $1,250 | |
| Asheville, NC95 miles | $570 – $2,000 | $1,300 | +1% |
| Dalton, GA95 miles | $520 – $1,800 | $1,150 | −8% |
| Chattanooga, TN95 miles | $550 – $1,950 | $1,250 | −2% |
| Johnson City, TN100 miles | $540 – $1,900 | $1,200 | −4% |
| Kingsport, TN100 miles | $570 – $2,000 | $1,300 | +1% |
| Tennessee (statewide) | $570 – $2,000 | $1,250 | level |
| United States | $600 – $2,100 | $1,350 | +6% |
Out of the 300 metros we cover, Knoxville ranks #200 for the cost of this job (#1 is the most expensive). Statewide, Knoxville is 0% below the Tennessee figure.
Elsewhere in Tennessee
| Metro | Size | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Nashville, TN | 1,099,300 jobs | $580 – $2,000 | $1,300 | +2% |
| Memphis, TN | 611,670 jobs | $570 – $2,000 | $1,300 | +1% |
| Chattanooga, TN | 268,750 jobs | $550 – $1,950 | $1,250 | −2% |
| Kingsport, TN | 119,560 jobs | $570 – $2,000 | $1,300 | +1% |
| Clarksville, TN | 103,220 jobs | $550 – $1,950 | $1,250 | −2% |
| Jackson, TN | 84,530 jobs | $560 – $1,950 | $1,250 | −1% |
Metros of a similar size
Big cities and small ones price differently, so here is Knoxville against the 4 metros with the closest total employment.
| Metro | Size | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Greenville, SC | 434,900 jobs | $560 – $1,950 | $1,250 | −1% |
| Baton Rouge, LA | 409,690 jobs | $550 – $1,900 | $1,250 | −3% |
| New Orleans, LA | 445,550 jobs | $550 – $1,900 | $1,250 | −3% |
| Madison, WI | 408,070 jobs | $700 – $2,450 | $1,550 | +24% |
What local crews earn in Knoxville
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 Knoxville the blend is 0.92.
For construction laborers (47-2061, weighted 50%) the local median is $22.18 an hour, which is in line with the national $22.66. The middle half of them earn between $18.16 and $25.87 an hour. BLS counts 3,640 of them working in the area, 85.7 for every 10,000 jobs (US: 70.5), so the local bench is deeper than average.
Operating engineers and other construction equipment operators (47-2073), 30% of the weighting: a median of $23.41 an hour, 19% below the US median of $28.78. The middle half of them earn between $21.22 and $27.74 an hour. About 1,210 work in the metro. That is 28.5 per 10,000 jobs, compared with 30.7 nationally, so the supply of crews looks typical.
Pipelayers (47-2151) carry 20% of the labor weighting. BLS does not publish this trade for the Knoxville metro, so we used the Tennessee statewide median: $22.12 an hour against $23.56 for the US. The middle half of them earn between $20.10 and $23.54 an hour.
A quick sensitivity check: moving the lead trade (construction laborers) from the median to the 75th percentile wage adds about $55 to the midpoint estimate; the 25th percentile takes off about $60. That is a swing of roughly 4.9% to 4.5% of the total, which is useful for judging whether a bid reflects wages or something else, such as scope or margin.
Knoxville has 424,600 jobs in total (BLS, May 2025), ranking 59th 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% | $18.16 | $22.18 | $25.87 | $22.66 | 0.98 | metro |
| Operating engineers and other construction equipment operators (47-2073) | 30% | $21.22 | $23.41 | $27.74 | $28.78 | 0.81 | metro |
| Pipelayers (47-2151) | 20% | $20.10 | $22.12 | $23.54 | $23.56 | 0.94 | state |
| Blended | 100% | 0.92 | |||||
Knoxville: what basic, standard and premium work costs
The cited range is split into basic, standard and premium bands, then scaled to Knoxville. 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
$560 to $1,150
Shallow yard drain, easy digging
Standard
$990 to $1,550
Standard drain with fabric, gravel and a pop-up outlet
Premium
$1,400 to $2,000
Deep or long drain, hard soil, dry well or sump discharge
| Size | Basic | Standard | Premium |
|---|---|---|---|
| short run (30 linear ft) | $280 – $560 | $490 – $780 | $710 – $990 |
| side yard (60 linear ft) | $560 – $1,150 | $990 – $1,550 | $1,400 – $2,000 |
| long run (120 linear ft) | $1,150 – $2,250 | $2,000 – $3,100 | $2,800 – $3,950 |
Why two Knoxville quotes can differ
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).
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.
Knoxville 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, Knoxville Mcghee Tyson 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 Knoxville are February through December: 11 of 12. Outside them, January has an average overnight low at or below freezing (32°F).
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 67 days a year with a low at or below 32°F at this station.
Knoxville gets about 52 inches of precipitation in a normal year, including roughly 5 inches of snow. The wettest months are March, July and December (5.3 inches in July). Inside the workable window, September and October are the driest, at 3.5 and 2.8 inches. The station averages about 37 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 | 48 | 30 | 4.8 | Cold |
| Feb | 53 | 33 | 4.8 | Workable |
| Mar | 61 | 40 | 4.9 | Workable |
| Apr | 71 | 48 | 4.7 | Workable |
| May | 79 | 57 | 4.1 | Workable |
| Jun | 86 | 65 | 4.2 | Workable |
| Jul | 88 | 69 | 5.3 | Workable |
| Aug | 88 | 68 | 3.6 | Workable |
| Sep | 83 | 61 | 3.5 | Workable |
| Oct | 72 | 49 | 2.8 | Workable |
| Nov | 60 | 38 | 4.2 | Workable |
| Dec | 51 | 33 | 5.0 | Workable |
What nearby projects cost in Knoxville
Jobs that often go together with French drain are priced below at their usual sizes, using the same Knoxville wage and price inputs. Compared with national midpoints, retaining wall comes out highest (−3%) and concrete slab lowest (−8%); the gap comes from the trades each job uses.
| Project | Size | Range | vs. US |
|---|---|---|---|
| Retaining wall | 200 sq ft of wall face | $6,800 – $13,000 | −3% |
| Gravel driveway | 1,000 sq ft | $2,300 – $9,500 | −7% |
| 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 | $3,800 – $9,450 | −5% |
| Inground pool | 450 sq ft | $34,200 – $107,000 | −5% |
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French drain in Knoxville: your questions
+How much does it cost to install a French drain in Knoxville?
For 60 linear ft, expect $560 to $2,000 in the Knoxville area. A standard-spec job lands at $990 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 Knoxville?
About $9.40 to $33 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 Knoxville or Asheville?
Asheville is 95 miles away. The midpoint for 60 linear ft there is $1,300, which is 1% more than Knoxville ($1,250). Wage and materials indexes both feed that gap.
+How much of the bill is labor in Knoxville?
About 51% at the midpoint, or $650 out of $1,250. Materials are 49% and permits 0%. Nationally, labor is 52%.
+What would side yard (60 linear ft) cost in Knoxville?
$560 to $2,000. Pick a different size in the estimator above to get your own number.
+Does French drain need a permit in Knoxville?
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 Knoxville area (our national range of $0 to $0 scaled by the local price level).
+Is Knoxville expensive for French drain compared with the rest of Tennessee?
Knoxville is 0% 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 Knoxville?
The BLS median is $22.18 an hour in the Knoxville area, compared with $22.66 nationally. The 25th to 75th percentile range is $18.16 to $25.87.
+What do basic and premium French drain work cost in Knoxville?
For 60 linear ft, basic work runs $560 to $1,150 and premium work $1,400 to $2,000. 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 Knoxville?
Based on NOAA 1991-2020 normals, the comfortable months for this kind of work are February through December. September 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 Knoxville
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.