French drain cost in Dallas, TX
Local estimate from BLS wage data and BEA price levels. Reviewed Nov 4, 2026.
- Typical range (60 linear ft)
- $580 – $2,050
- Per linear ft
- $9.70 – $34
- before permit
- Versus US midpoint
- −3%
- US $1,350
- Rank of 300 metros
- #173
- 1 = most expensive
Dallas homeowners pay roughly $580 to $2,050 to install a French drain at 60 linear ft, or $9.70 to $34 per linear ft (permit not included). Against the US midpoint, Dallas is 3% lower. Construction laborers earn a median of $21.14 an hour in the Dallas area, 7% below the US median of $22.66.
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Estimated cost for 60 linear ft in Dallas, TX, standard level
$1,000 to $1,600
About $17 to $26.50 per linear ft before permits. Labor is about 49% of the bill.
| Part | Low | High |
|---|---|---|
| Materials | $520 | $810 |
| Labor | $500 | $780 |
| Permits and fees | $0 | $0 |
| Total | $1,000 | $1,600 |
Cost breakdown for 60 linear ft in Dallas, TX
| Part of the job | Low | Midpoint | High | Share |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Materials | $300 | $670 | $1,050 | 51% |
| Labor | $290 | $640 | $1,000 | 49% |
| Permits and fees | $0 | $0 | $0 | 0% |
| Total | $580 | $1,300 | $2,050 | 100% |
What is behind the Dallas number
The wage side of the estimate leans on construction laborers, who do 50% of the hours on a typical job. Their local median is $21.14 an hour. Add the other trades involved and the blended wage index for Dallas is 0.91 (US = 1.00), which puts labor at 49% of the total.
On the materials line, the BEA goods price index for the Dallas metro is 102.8 (US = 100). The midpoint materials bill for 60 linear ft comes to $670, compared with $650 at national prices. Permit and inspection fees are scaled by the broader index (103.1) and land at $0 to $0.
Pick a size, pick a tier: french drain pricing in Dallas
Three bands are cut from the same cited range and localized for Dallas 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
$580 to $1,150
Shallow yard drain, easy digging
Standard
$1,000 to $1,600
Standard drain with fabric, gravel and a pop-up outlet
Premium
$1,450 to $2,050
Deep or long drain, hard soil, dry well or sump discharge
| Size | Basic | Standard | Premium |
|---|---|---|---|
| short run (30 linear ft) | $290 – $580 | $510 – $800 | $730 – $1,000 |
| side yard (60 linear ft) | $580 – $1,150 | $1,000 – $1,600 | $1,450 – $2,050 |
| long run (120 linear ft) | $1,150 – $2,350 | $2,050 – $3,200 | $2,900 – $4,050 |
What nearby projects cost in Dallas
Because every project leans on different trades, Dallas's wage level does not move all prices equally. Against the US midpoint, sod installation runs −1% and gravel driveway −4%.
| Project | Size | Range | vs. US |
|---|---|---|---|
| Retaining wall | 200 sq ft of wall face | $6,850 – $13,300 | −2% |
| Gravel driveway | 1,000 sq ft | $2,400 – $9,850 | −4% |
| Sod installation | 1,500 sq ft | $1,500 – $3,300 | −1% |
| Concrete slab | 400 sq ft | $2,350 – $5,050 | −4% |
| Sprinkler system | 4,000 sq ft of lawn | $3,900 – $9,750 | −2% |
| Inground pool | 450 sq ft | $35,000 – $109,500 | −3% |
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 Dallas is 0.91 times the national level.
Construction laborers (47-2061), 50% of the weighting: a median of $21.14 an hour, 7% below the US median of $22.66. The middle half of them earn between $18.19 and $22.79 an hour. About 29,670 work in the metro. That is 73.3 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 $24.70 an hour, which is 14% below the national $28.78. The middle half of them earn between $22.95 and $29.04 an hour. BLS counts 11,510 of them working in the area, 28.4 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 $22.44 an hour, 5% below the US median of $23.56. The middle half of them earn between $21.36 and $24.21 an hour. About 1,240 work in the metro. That is 3.1 per 10,000 jobs, compared with 2.1 nationally, which suggests plenty of local crews to bid.
Quotes come from real crews, not medians. If the construction laborers on your job are paid at the 75th percentile ($22.79 an hour) instead of the median, the labor line grows by about $25. At the 25th percentile ($18.19) it shrinks by about $45. The total moves by 2.0% or 3.5%, so wages alone rarely explain a quote that is far outside our range.
For context on the local economy, BLS counts 4,049,800 jobs in the Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington area. That makes it the 4th largest of the 300 metros we cover, with 2.60% of US employment.
| Trade | Weight | 25th pct | Median | 75th pct | US median | Ratio | Level used |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Construction laborers (47-2061) | 50% | $18.19 | $21.14 | $22.79 | $22.66 | 0.93 | metro |
| Operating engineers and other construction equipment operators (47-2073) | 30% | $22.95 | $24.70 | $29.04 | $28.78 | 0.86 | metro |
| Pipelayers (47-2151) | 20% | $21.36 | $22.44 | $24.21 | $23.56 | 0.95 | metro |
| Blended | 100% | 0.91 | |||||
How Dallas compares
Same job, same size (60 linear ft), priced for the nearest metros. Dallas is the priciest of the group. College Station is the cheapest at $1,150.
| Area | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|
| Dallas, TXthis page | $580 – $2,050 | $1,300 | |
| Waco, TX90 miles | $530 – $1,850 | $1,200 | −9% |
| Tyler, TX105 miles | $530 – $1,850 | $1,200 | −10% |
| Killeen, TX125 miles | $530 – $1,850 | $1,200 | −9% |
| Longview, TX135 miles | $520 – $1,850 | $1,200 | −10% |
| College Station, TX145 miles | $520 – $1,800 | $1,150 | −10% |
| Texas (statewide) | $550 – $1,950 | $1,250 | −5% |
| United States | $600 – $2,100 | $1,350 | +3% |
Across 300 US metros, Dallas comes in at #173 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, Dallas is 5% above the Texas figure.
Other Texas metros
| Metro | Size | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Houston, TX | 3,289,720 jobs | $560 – $1,950 | $1,250 | −3% |
| Austin, TX | 1,293,690 jobs | $560 – $1,950 | $1,250 | −4% |
| San Antonio, TX | 1,126,880 jobs | $530 – $1,850 | $1,200 | −8% |
| El Paso, TX | 339,120 jobs | $510 – $1,800 | $1,150 | −13% |
| McAllen, TX | 296,700 jobs | $490 – $1,750 | $1,100 | −15% |
| Corpus Christi, TX | 192,580 jobs | $540 – $1,900 | $1,200 | −7% |
Cities with a workforce like Dallas's
Big cities and small ones price differently, so here is Dallas against the 4 metros with the closest total employment.
| Metro | Size | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Chicago, IL | 4,513,280 jobs | $740 – $2,600 | $1,650 | +27% |
| Houston, TX | 3,289,720 jobs | $560 – $1,950 | $1,250 | −3% |
| Los Angeles, CA | 6,271,560 jobs | $750 – $2,600 | $1,700 | +29% |
| Washington, DC | 3,136,190 jobs | $630 – $2,200 | $1,400 | +8% |
Specs and site conditions that change a Dallas 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).
When to schedule French drain in Dallas
We use NOAA's 1991-2020 climate normals for Dallas Love Fld (5 miles from the city center). These are 30-year monthly averages, not forecasts.
October through May is the stretch where digging, grading and setting material in the ground runs into the fewest weather problems in Dallas (8 of 12 months). June, July, August and September have an average daytime high of 90°F or more.
Dallas gets about 38 inches of precipitation in a normal year, including roughly 2 inches of snow. The wettest months are May, June and October (4.8 inches in October). Inside the workable window, January and February are the driest, at 2.6 and 2.8 inches. The station averages about 108 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 | 58 | 38 | 2.6 | Workable |
| Feb | 62 | 42 | 2.8 | Workable |
| Mar | 70 | 49 | 3.5 | Workable |
| Apr | 77 | 57 | 3.1 | Workable |
| May | 85 | 66 | 4.6 | Workable |
| Jun | 93 | 74 | 3.8 | Hot |
| Jul | 97 | 78 | 1.7 | Hot |
| Aug | 97 | 77 | 2.2 | Hot |
| Sep | 90 | 70 | 3.1 | Hot |
| Oct | 80 | 59 | 4.8 | Workable |
| Nov | 68 | 48 | 2.9 | Workable |
| Dec | 59 | 40 | 3.2 | Workable |
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French drain in Dallas: your questions
+How much does it cost to install a French drain in Dallas?
For 60 linear ft, expect $580 to $2,050 in the Dallas area. A standard-spec job lands at $1,000 to $1,600. Small jobs usually cost more per linear ft and large ones less.
+What is the price per linear ft for French drain in Dallas?
About $9.70 to $34 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 Dallas or Waco?
Waco is 90 miles away. The midpoint for 60 linear ft there is $1,200, which is 9% less than Dallas ($1,300). Wage and materials indexes both feed that gap.
+How much of the bill is labor in Dallas?
About 49% at the midpoint, or $640 out of $1,300. Materials are 51% and permits 0%. Nationally, labor is 52%.
+What would side yard (60 linear ft) cost in Dallas?
$580 to $2,050. Pick a different size in the estimator above to get your own number.
+Does French drain need a permit in Dallas?
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 Dallas area (our national range of $0 to $0 scaled by the local price level).
+Is Dallas expensive for French drain compared with the rest of Texas?
Dallas is 5% 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 Dallas?
The BLS median is $21.14 an hour in the Dallas area, compared with $22.66 nationally. The 25th to 75th percentile range is $18.19 to $22.79.
+What do basic and premium French drain work cost in Dallas?
For 60 linear ft, basic work runs $580 to $1,150 and premium work $1,450 to $2,050. 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 Dallas?
Based on NOAA 1991-2020 normals, the comfortable months for this kind of work are October through May. January and February 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 Dallas
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.