French drain cost in Beaumont, TX
Local estimate from BLS wage data and BEA price levels. Reviewed Nov 4, 2026.
- Typical range (60 linear ft)
- $560 – $1,950
- Per linear ft
- $9.40 – $33
- before permit
- Versus US midpoint
- −6%
- US $1,350
- Rank of 300 metros
- #206
- 1 = most expensive
If you want to install a French drain in Beaumont, plan on $560 to $1,950 for 60 linear ft, all in. Per linear ft, that is $9.40 to $33 for materials and labor, with the permit on top. The local midpoint runs 6% lower than the national one. Construction laborers earn a median of $21.27 an hour in the Beaumont area, 6% below the US median of $22.66.
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Estimated cost for 60 linear ft in Beaumont, TX, standard level
$990 to $1,550
About $16.50 to $26 per linear ft before permits. Labor is about 52% of the bill.
| Part | Low | High |
|---|---|---|
| Materials | $470 | $740 |
| Labor | $510 | $810 |
| Permits and fees | $0 | $0 |
| Total | $990 | $1,550 |
Cost breakdown for 60 linear ft in Beaumont, TX
| Part of the job | Low | Midpoint | High | Share |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Materials | $270 | $610 | $950 | 48% |
| Labor | $290 | $660 | $1,050 | 52% |
| Permits and fees | $0 | $0 | $0 | 0% |
| Total | $560 | $1,250 | $1,950 | 100% |
Where the Beaumont price comes from
Labor is 52% 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 Beaumont the blended ratio comes out at 0.94.
On the materials line, the BEA goods price index for the Beaumont metro is 93.8 (US = 100). The midpoint materials bill for 60 linear ft comes to $610, compared with $650 at national prices. Permit and inspection fees are scaled by the broader index (90.0) and land at $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 Beaumont. The wage table below marks each row.
Beaumont: what basic, standard and premium work costs
Three bands are cut from the same cited range and localized for Beaumont 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
$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 $1,950
Deep or long drain, hard soil, dry well or sump discharge
| Size | Basic | Standard | Premium |
|---|---|---|---|
| short run (30 linear ft) | $280 – $560 | $490 – $770 | $700 – $990 |
| side yard (60 linear ft) | $560 – $1,150 | $990 – $1,550 | $1,400 – $1,950 |
| long run (120 linear ft) | $1,150 – $2,250 | $1,950 – $3,100 | $2,800 – $3,950 |
What nearby projects cost in Beaumont
Because every project leans on different trades, Beaumont's wage level does not move all prices equally. Against the US midpoint, sprinkler system runs −5% and sod installation −8%.
| Project | Size | Range | vs. US |
|---|---|---|---|
| Retaining wall | 200 sq ft of wall face | $6,550 – $12,500 | −7% |
| Gravel driveway | 1,000 sq ft | $2,350 – $9,600 | −6% |
| Sod installation | 1,500 sq ft | $1,400 – $3,000 | −8% |
| 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 | $33,900 – $106,000 | −6% |
Beaumont 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 Beaumont is 0.94 times the national level.
Construction laborers (47-2061), 50% of the weighting: a median of $21.27 an hour, 6% below the US median of $22.66. The middle half of them earn between $17.64 and $28.00 an hour. About 3,340 work in the metro. That is 204.6 per 10,000 jobs, compared with 70.5 nationally, which suggests plenty of local crews to bid.
For operating engineers and other construction equipment operators (47-2073, weighted 30%) the local median is $27.33 an hour, which is 5% below the national $28.78. The middle half of them earn between $22.43 and $29.26 an hour. BLS counts 1,120 of them working in the area, 68.6 for every 10,000 jobs (US: 30.7), so the local bench is deeper than average.
Pipelayers (47-2151) carry 20% of the labor weighting. BLS does not publish this trade for the Beaumont metro, so we used the Texas statewide median: $21.93 an hour against $23.56 for the US. The middle half of them earn between $19.17 and $23.79 an hour.
Quotes come from real crews, not medians. If the construction laborers on your job are paid at the 75th percentile ($28.00 an hour) instead of the median, the labor line grows by about $100. At the 25th percentile ($17.64) it shrinks by about $55. The total moves by 8.2% or 4.4%, so wages alone rarely explain a quote that is far outside our range.
For context on the local economy, BLS counts 163,220 jobs in the Beaumont-Port Arthur area. That makes it the 144th largest of the 300 metros we cover, with 0.10% of US employment.
| Trade | Weight | 25th pct | Median | 75th pct | US median | Ratio | Level used |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Construction laborers (47-2061) | 50% | $17.64 | $21.27 | $28.00 | $22.66 | 0.94 | metro |
| Operating engineers and other construction equipment operators (47-2073) | 30% | $22.43 | $27.33 | $29.26 | $28.78 | 0.95 | metro |
| Pipelayers (47-2151) | 20% | $19.17 | $21.93 | $23.79 | $23.56 | 0.93 | state |
| Blended | 100% | 0.94 | |||||
How Beaumont compares
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 $1,250 across Beaumont and its five closest metros.
| Area | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|
| Beaumont, TXthis page | $560 – $1,950 | $1,250 | |
| Lake Charles, LA60 miles | $550 – $1,950 | $1,250 | −2% |
| Houston, TX70 miles | $560 – $1,950 | $1,250 | level |
| Lafayette, LA125 miles | $530 – $1,850 | $1,200 | −6% |
| Alexandria, LA130 miles | $520 – $1,800 | $1,150 | −8% |
| College Station, TX145 miles | $520 – $1,800 | $1,150 | −7% |
| Texas (statewide) | $550 – $1,950 | $1,250 | −2% |
| United States | $600 – $2,100 | $1,350 | +6% |
Across 300 US metros, Beaumont comes in at #206 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, Beaumont is 2% above the Texas figure.
Other Texas metros
| Metro | Size | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dallas, TX | 4,049,800 jobs | $580 – $2,050 | $1,300 | +3% |
| Houston, TX | 3,289,720 jobs | $560 – $1,950 | $1,250 | level |
| Austin, TX | 1,293,690 jobs | $560 – $1,950 | $1,250 | −1% |
| San Antonio, TX | 1,126,880 jobs | $530 – $1,850 | $1,200 | −5% |
| El Paso, TX | 339,120 jobs | $510 – $1,800 | $1,150 | −10% |
| McAllen, TX | 296,700 jobs | $490 – $1,750 | $1,100 | −13% |
Cities with a workforce like Beaumont's
Big cities and small ones price differently, so here is Beaumont against the 4 metros with the closest total employment.
| Metro | Size | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spartanburg, SC | 165,150 jobs | $550 – $1,950 | $1,250 | −2% |
| Canton, OH | 163,080 jobs | $630 – $2,200 | $1,400 | +12% |
| Montgomery, AL | 165,550 jobs | $530 – $1,850 | $1,200 | −7% |
| Shreveport, LA | 162,750 jobs | $530 – $1,850 | $1,200 | −5% |
Climate in Beaumont: timing your French drain job
We use NOAA's 1991-2020 climate normals for Beaumont City (5 miles from the city center). These are 30-year monthly averages, not forecasts.
September through May is the stretch where digging, grading and setting material in the ground runs into the fewest weather problems in Beaumont (9 of 12 months). June, July and August have an average daytime high of 90°F or more.
Beaumont gets about 65 inches of precipitation in a normal year. The wettest months are June, August and September (7.4 inches in September). Inside the workable window, February and March are the driest, at 3.7 and 3.7 inches. The station averages about 95 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 | 63 | 43 | 5.4 | Workable |
| Feb | 66 | 47 | 3.7 | Workable |
| Mar | 72 | 54 | 3.7 | Workable |
| Apr | 78 | 59 | 3.9 | Workable |
| May | 85 | 68 | 5.2 | Workable |
| Jun | 90 | 74 | 7.0 | Hot |
| Jul | 92 | 76 | 6.5 | Hot |
| Aug | 93 | 75 | 7.2 | Hot |
| Sep | 89 | 70 | 7.4 | Workable |
| Oct | 82 | 61 | 5.4 | Workable |
| Nov | 71 | 51 | 4.4 | Workable |
| Dec | 64 | 45 | 5.3 | Workable |
French drain: what moves the price in Beaumont
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.
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 $990 to $1,550 for Beaumont, TX is attached.
Detailed french drain report for Beaumont, TX, $9
Multi-page report for Beaumont, TX: 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 Beaumont: your questions
+How much does it cost to install a French drain in Beaumont?
For 60 linear ft, expect $560 to $1,950 in the Beaumont 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 Beaumont?
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 Beaumont or Lake Charles?
Lake Charles is 60 miles away. The midpoint for 60 linear ft there is $1,250, which is 2% less than Beaumont ($1,250). Wage and materials indexes both feed that gap.
+How much of the bill is labor in Beaumont?
About 52% at the midpoint, or $660 out of $1,250. Materials are 48% and permits 0%. Nationally, labor is 52%.
+What would side yard (60 linear ft) cost in Beaumont?
$560 to $1,950. Pick a different size in the estimator above to get your own number.
+Does French drain need a permit in Beaumont?
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 Beaumont area (our national range of $0 to $0 scaled by the local price level).
+Is Beaumont expensive for French drain compared with the rest of Texas?
Beaumont is 2% above the Texas statewide estimate ($1,250 at the midpoint). We cover 21 metros in Texas; see the state page to compare them.
+What do construction laborers earn in Beaumont?
The BLS median is $21.27 an hour in the Beaumont area, compared with $22.66 nationally. The 25th to 75th percentile range is $17.64 to $28.00.
+What do basic and premium French drain work cost in Beaumont?
For 60 linear ft, basic work runs $560 to $1,150 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 Beaumont?
Based on NOAA 1991-2020 normals, the comfortable months for this kind of work are September through May. February and March 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 Beaumont
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.