French drain cost in Charlottesville, VA
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
- #174
- 1 = most expensive
A French drain in Charlottesville, VA usually costs $580 to $2,050 for 60 linear ft. That works out to about $9.70 to $34 per linear ft before permits. Compared with the national midpoint that is $40 less. Construction laborers earn a median of $21.67 an hour in the Charlottesville area, 4% below the US median of $22.66.
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Estimated cost for 60 linear ft in Charlottesville, VA, standard level
$1,000 to $1,600
About $17 to $26.50 per linear ft before permits. Labor is about 52% of the bill.
| Part | Low | High |
|---|---|---|
| Materials | $490 | $770 |
| Labor | $530 | $830 |
| Permits and fees | $0 | $0 |
| Total | $1,000 | $1,600 |
Cost breakdown for 60 linear ft in Charlottesville, VA
| Part of the job | Low | Midpoint | High | Share |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Materials | $280 | $630 | $980 | 48% |
| Labor | $300 | $680 | $1,050 | 52% |
| Permits and fees | $0 | $0 | $0 | 0% |
| Total | $580 | $1,300 | $2,050 | 100% |
Where the Charlottesville 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 Charlottesville the blended ratio comes out at 0.97.
Materials are scaled with BEA's regional price parity for goods. Charlottesville is at 96.8 against 100 for the US, so a materials line of $650 nationally becomes $630 here (midpoint, 60 linear ft). Permits follow the all-items index of 99.1: $0 to $0.
Cost by quality level and size in Charlottesville
The cited range is split into basic, standard and premium bands, then scaled to Charlottesville. 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
$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 – $2,300 | $2,050 – $3,200 | $2,900 – $4,050 |
Charlottesville 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, Charlottesville 2 Sse (5 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 Charlottesville are March through November: 9 of 12. Outside them, January, February and December have an average overnight low at or below freezing (32°F).
In January, February 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 73 days a year with a low at or below 32°F at this station.
Charlottesville gets about 48 inches of precipitation in a normal year. The wettest months are May, July and September (4.9 inches in September). Inside the workable window, June and November are the driest, at 3.7 and 3.4 inches. The station averages about 10 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 | 44 | 28 | 3.4 | Cold |
| Feb | 48 | 31 | 3.0 | Cold |
| Mar | 55 | 37 | 4.3 | Workable |
| Apr | 66 | 47 | 4.2 | Workable |
| May | 72 | 55 | 4.6 | Workable |
| Jun | 80 | 64 | 3.7 | Workable |
| Jul | 84 | 68 | 4.8 | Workable |
| Aug | 82 | 66 | 4.1 | Workable |
| Sep | 76 | 61 | 4.9 | Workable |
| Oct | 66 | 50 | 4.0 | Workable |
| Nov | 56 | 40 | 3.4 | Workable |
| Dec | 47 | 32 | 3.8 | Cold |
Why two Charlottesville quotes can differ
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.
What local crews earn in Charlottesville
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 Charlottesville the blend is 0.97.
For construction laborers (47-2061, weighted 50%) the local median is $21.67 an hour, which is 4% below the national $22.66. The middle half of them earn between $18.49 and $22.62 an hour. BLS counts 570 of them working in the area, 49.7 for every 10,000 jobs (US: 70.5), so the local bench is thinner than average.
Operating engineers and other construction equipment operators (47-2073), 30% of the weighting: a median of $28.75 an hour, in line with the US median of $28.78. The middle half of them earn between $24.22 and $30.44 an hour. About 310 work in the metro. That is 27.0 per 10,000 jobs, compared with 30.7 nationally, so the supply of crews looks typical.
For pipelayers (47-2151, weighted 20%) the local median is $22.58 an hour, which is 4% below the national $23.56. The middle half of them earn between $19.58 and $24.46 an hour. BLS counts 50 of them working in the area, 4.4 for every 10,000 jobs (US: 2.1), so the local bench is deeper than average.
A quick sensitivity check: moving the lead trade (construction laborers) from the median to the 75th percentile wage adds about $15 to the midpoint estimate; the 25th percentile takes off about $50. That is a swing of roughly 3.8% to 1.1% of the total, which is useful for judging whether a bid reflects wages or something else, such as scope or margin.
Charlottesville has 114,780 jobs in total (BLS, May 2025), ranking 190th 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% | $18.49 | $21.67 | $22.62 | $22.66 | 0.96 | metro |
| Operating engineers and other construction equipment operators (47-2073) | 30% | $24.22 | $28.75 | $30.44 | $28.78 | 1.00 | metro |
| Pipelayers (47-2151) | 20% | $19.58 | $22.58 | $24.46 | $23.56 | 0.96 | metro |
| Blended | 100% | 0.97 | |||||
Is Charlottesville cheap or dear? The local comparison
Of the five closest metros, 4 are cheaper than Charlottesville. Lynchburg is the lowest at about $1,200 (midpoint, 60 linear ft), 55 miles away.
| Area | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|
| Charlottesville, VAthis page | $580 – $2,050 | $1,300 | |
| Harrisonburg, VA40 miles | $560 – $1,950 | $1,250 | −3% |
| Lynchburg, VA55 miles | $540 – $1,900 | $1,200 | −7% |
| Richmond, VA75 miles | $570 – $2,000 | $1,300 | −2% |
| Washington, DC85 miles | $630 – $2,200 | $1,400 | +8% |
| Roanoke, VA85 miles | $540 – $1,900 | $1,200 | −6% |
| Virginia (statewide) | $580 – $2,050 | $1,300 | +1% |
| United States | $600 – $2,100 | $1,350 | +3% |
Out of the 300 metros we cover, Charlottesville ranks #174 for the cost of this job (#1 is the most expensive). Statewide, Charlottesville is 1% below the Virginia figure.
Elsewhere in Virginia
| Metro | Size | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Virginia Beach, VA | 763,060 jobs | $550 – $1,900 | $1,250 | −6% |
| Richmond, VA | 660,350 jobs | $570 – $2,000 | $1,300 | −2% |
| Roanoke, VA | 153,980 jobs | $540 – $1,900 | $1,200 | −6% |
| Lynchburg, VA | 97,190 jobs | $540 – $1,900 | $1,200 | −7% |
| Blacksburg, VA | 74,070 jobs | $560 – $1,950 | $1,250 | −4% |
| Winchester, VA | 67,740 jobs | $560 – $1,950 | $1,250 | −4% |
Metros of a similar size
Big cities and small ones price differently, so here is Charlottesville against the 4 metros with the closest total employment.
| Metro | Size | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tyler, TX | 115,220 jobs | $530 – $1,850 | $1,200 | −10% |
| Laredo, TX | 109,370 jobs | $510 – $1,800 | $1,150 | −12% |
| Topeka, KS | 115,750 jobs | $570 – $2,000 | $1,300 | −2% |
| Tuscaloosa, AL | 108,460 jobs | $530 – $1,850 | $1,200 | −9% |
What nearby projects cost in Charlottesville
Jobs that often go together with French drain are priced below at their usual sizes, using the same Charlottesville wage and price inputs. Compared with national midpoints, gravel driveway comes out highest (−3%) and retaining wall lowest (−6%); the gap comes from the trades each job uses.
| Project | Size | Range | vs. US |
|---|---|---|---|
| Retaining wall | 200 sq ft of wall face | $6,600 – $12,700 | −6% |
| Gravel driveway | 1,000 sq ft | $2,450 – $9,950 | −3% |
| Sod installation | 1,500 sq ft | $1,450 – $3,200 | −3% |
| Concrete slab | 400 sq ft | $2,350 – $4,950 | −5% |
| Sprinkler system | 4,000 sq ft of lawn | $3,800 – $9,500 | −5% |
| Inground pool | 450 sq ft | $34,400 – $107,500 | −5% |
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French drain in Charlottesville: your questions
+How much does it cost to install a French drain in Charlottesville?
For 60 linear ft, expect $580 to $2,050 in the Charlottesville 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 Charlottesville?
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 Charlottesville or Harrisonburg?
Harrisonburg is 40 miles away. The midpoint for 60 linear ft there is $1,250, which is 3% less than Charlottesville ($1,300). Wage and materials indexes both feed that gap.
+How much of the bill is labor in Charlottesville?
About 52% at the midpoint, or $680 out of $1,300. Materials are 48% and permits 0%. Nationally, labor is 52%.
+What would side yard (60 linear ft) cost in Charlottesville?
$580 to $2,050. Pick a different size in the estimator above to get your own number.
+Does French drain need a permit in Charlottesville?
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 Charlottesville area (our national range of $0 to $0 scaled by the local price level).
+Is Charlottesville expensive for French drain compared with the rest of Virginia?
Charlottesville is 1% 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 Charlottesville?
The BLS median is $21.67 an hour in the Charlottesville area, compared with $22.66 nationally. The 25th to 75th percentile range is $18.49 to $22.62.
+What do basic and premium French drain work cost in Charlottesville?
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 Charlottesville?
Based on NOAA 1991-2020 normals, the comfortable months for this kind of work are March through November. June and November 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 Charlottesville
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.