French drain cost in Blacksburg, VA
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
- $9.30 – $32.50
- before permit
- Versus US midpoint
- −7%
- US $1,350
- Rank of 300 metros
- #220
- 1 = most expensive
If you want to install a French drain in Blacksburg, plan on $560 to $1,950 for 60 linear ft, all in. Per linear ft, that is $9.30 to $32.50 for materials and labor, with the permit on top. The local midpoint runs 7% lower than the national one. Construction laborers earn a median of $20.03 an hour in the Blacksburg area, 12% below the US median of $22.66.
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Estimated cost for 60 linear ft in Blacksburg, VA, 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 | $490 | $770 |
| Labor | $490 | $760 |
| Permits and fees | $0 | $0 |
| Total | $970 | $1,550 |
Cost breakdown for 60 linear ft in Blacksburg, VA
| Part of the job | Low | Midpoint | High | Share |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Materials | $280 | $630 | $980 | 50% |
| Labor | $280 | $630 | $970 | 50% |
| Permits and fees | $0 | $0 | $0 | 0% |
| Total | $560 | $1,250 | $1,950 | 100% |
Why Blacksburg prices look the way they do
The wage side of the estimate leans on construction laborers, who do 50% of the hours on a typical job. Their local median is $20.03 an hour. Add the other trades involved and the blended wage index for Blacksburg is 0.89 (US = 1.00), which puts labor at 50% of the total.
On the materials line, the BEA goods price index for the Blacksburg metro is 96.8 (US = 100). The midpoint materials bill for 60 linear ft comes to $630, compared with $650 at national prices. Permit and inspection fees are scaled by the broader index (92.7) 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 Blacksburg. The wage table below marks each row.
Blacksburg 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 Blacksburg is 0.89 times the national level.
Construction laborers (47-2061), 50% of the weighting: a median of $20.03 an hour, 12% below the US median of $22.66. The middle half of them earn between $17.47 and $22.13 an hour.
For operating engineers and other construction equipment operators (47-2073, weighted 30%) the local median is $24.05 an hour, which is 16% below the national $28.78. The middle half of them earn between $21.55 and $28.88 an hour.
Pipelayers (47-2151) carry 20% of the labor weighting. BLS does not publish this trade for the Blacksburg metro, so we used the Virginia statewide median: $23.41 an hour against $23.56 for the US. The middle half of them earn between $21.16 and $27.34 an hour.
Quotes come from real crews, not medians. If the construction laborers on your job are paid at the 75th percentile ($22.13 an hour) instead of the median, the labor line grows by about $35. At the 25th percentile ($17.47) it shrinks by about $40. The total moves by 2.6% or 3.2%, so wages alone rarely explain a quote that is far outside our range.
For context on the local economy, BLS counts 74,070 jobs in the Blacksburg-Christiansburg-Radford area. That makes it the 248th largest of the 300 metros we cover, with 0.05% of US employment.
| Trade | Weight | 25th pct | Median | 75th pct | US median | Ratio | Level used |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Construction laborers (47-2061) | 50% | $17.47 | $20.03 | $22.13 | $22.66 | 0.88 | metro |
| Operating engineers and other construction equipment operators (47-2073) | 30% | $21.55 | $24.05 | $28.88 | $28.78 | 0.84 | metro |
| Pipelayers (47-2151) | 20% | $21.16 | $23.41 | $27.34 | $23.56 | 0.99 | state |
| Blended | 100% | 0.89 | |||||
Blacksburg against nearby metros and the rest of Virginia
Of the five closest metros, 4 are cheaper than Blacksburg. Lynchburg is the lowest at about $1,200 (midpoint, 60 linear ft), 75 miles away.
| Area | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|
| Blacksburg, VAthis page | $560 – $1,950 | $1,250 | |
| Roanoke, VA35 miles | $540 – $1,900 | $1,200 | −2% |
| Winston, NC75 miles | $550 – $1,950 | $1,250 | −1% |
| Lynchburg, VA75 miles | $540 – $1,900 | $1,200 | −3% |
| Greensboro, NC85 miles | $550 – $1,900 | $1,250 | −1% |
| Charleston, WV95 miles | $580 – $2,000 | $1,300 | +4% |
| Virginia (statewide) | $580 – $2,050 | $1,300 | +5% |
| United States | $600 – $2,100 | $1,350 | +8% |
Across 300 US metros, Blacksburg comes in at #220 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, Blacksburg is 5% below the Virginia figure.
Other Virginia metros
| Metro | Size | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Virginia Beach, VA | 763,060 jobs | $550 – $1,900 | $1,250 | −2% |
| Richmond, VA | 660,350 jobs | $570 – $2,000 | $1,300 | +2% |
| Roanoke, VA | 153,980 jobs | $540 – $1,900 | $1,200 | −2% |
| Charlottesville, VA | 114,780 jobs | $580 – $2,050 | $1,300 | +4% |
| Lynchburg, VA | 97,190 jobs | $540 – $1,900 | $1,200 | −3% |
| Winchester, VA | 67,740 jobs | $560 – $1,950 | $1,250 | level |
Cities with a workforce like Blacksburg's
Big cities and small ones price differently, so here is Blacksburg against the 4 metros with the closest total employment.
| Metro | Size | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sioux City, IA | 75,010 jobs | $590 – $2,100 | $1,350 | +6% |
| Rapid City, SD | 73,820 jobs | $590 – $2,050 | $1,300 | +5% |
| Abilene, TX | 75,070 jobs | $530 – $1,850 | $1,200 | −4% |
| Kahului, HI | 73,750 jobs | $840 – $2,950 | $1,900 | +51% |
Blacksburg: what basic, standard and premium work costs
Three bands are cut from the same cited range and localized for Blacksburg 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 $1,100
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 – $560 | $490 – $770 | $700 – $970 |
| side yard (60 linear ft) | $560 – $1,100 | $970 – $1,550 | $1,400 – $1,950 |
| long run (120 linear ft) | $1,100 – $2,250 | $1,950 – $3,050 | $2,800 – $3,900 |
Climate in Blacksburg: timing your French drain job
We use NOAA's 1991-2020 climate normals for Blacksburg Nwso (5 miles from the city center). These are 30-year monthly averages, not forecasts.
April through October is the stretch where digging, grading and setting material in the ground runs into the fewest weather problems in Blacksburg (7 of 12 months). January, February, March, November and December have an average overnight low at or below freezing (32°F).
In January, February, March, November and December the average low is at or below freezing, which means frozen ground and slower digging, compaction and sod or stone placement. NOAA counts about 125 days a year with a low at or below 32°F at this station.
Blacksburg gets about 43 inches of precipitation in a normal year, including roughly 25 inches of snow. The wettest months are May, June and July (4.5 inches in May). Inside the workable window, September and October are the driest, at 3.5 and 2.9 inches. The station averages about 5 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 | 42 | 22 | 3.2 | Cold |
| Feb | 45 | 24 | 2.8 | Cold |
| Mar | 53 | 30 | 3.8 | Cold |
| Apr | 64 | 39 | 3.8 | Workable |
| May | 72 | 48 | 4.5 | Workable |
| Jun | 79 | 57 | 4.3 | Workable |
| Jul | 82 | 61 | 4.2 | Workable |
| Aug | 81 | 60 | 3.6 | Workable |
| Sep | 76 | 53 | 3.5 | Workable |
| Oct | 66 | 41 | 2.9 | Workable |
| Nov | 55 | 31 | 2.9 | Cold |
| Dec | 45 | 25 | 3.3 | Cold |
What nearby projects cost in Blacksburg
Because every project leans on different trades, Blacksburg's wage level does not move all prices equally. Against the US midpoint, sod installation runs −7% and concrete slab −9%.
| Project | Size | Range | vs. US |
|---|---|---|---|
| Retaining wall | 200 sq ft of wall face | $6,400 – $12,500 | −8% |
| Gravel driveway | 1,000 sq ft | $2,300 – $9,300 | −9% |
| Sod installation | 1,500 sq ft | $1,400 – $3,050 | −7% |
| Concrete slab | 400 sq ft | $2,200 – $4,750 | −9% |
| Sprinkler system | 4,000 sq ft of lawn | $3,650 – $9,100 | −9% |
| Inground pool | 450 sq ft | $33,000 – $103,000 | −9% |
Why two Blacksburg quotes can differ
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.
Crawl space drains
A crawl space French drain is $2,000-$8,000 installed.
Get 3 local quotes
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French drain in Blacksburg: your questions
+How much does it cost to install a French drain in Blacksburg?
For 60 linear ft, expect $560 to $1,950 in the Blacksburg 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 Blacksburg?
About $9.30 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 Blacksburg or Roanoke?
Roanoke is 35 miles away. The midpoint for 60 linear ft there is $1,200, which is 2% less than Blacksburg ($1,250). Wage and materials indexes both feed that gap.
+How much of the bill is labor in Blacksburg?
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 Blacksburg?
$560 to $1,950. Pick a different size in the estimator above to get your own number.
+Does French drain need a permit in Blacksburg?
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 Blacksburg area (our national range of $0 to $0 scaled by the local price level).
+Is Blacksburg expensive for French drain compared with the rest of Virginia?
Blacksburg is 5% below the Virginia statewide estimate ($1,300 at the midpoint). We cover 8 metros in Virginia; see the state page to compare them.
+What do construction laborers earn in Blacksburg?
The BLS median is $20.03 an hour in the Blacksburg area, compared with $22.66 nationally. The 25th to 75th percentile range is $17.47 to $22.13.
+What do basic and premium French drain work cost in Blacksburg?
For 60 linear ft, basic work runs $560 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 Blacksburg?
Based on NOAA 1991-2020 normals, the comfortable months for this kind of work are April through October. 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 Blacksburg
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.