French drain cost in Harrisonburg, 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
- $9.35 – $33
- before permit
- Versus US midpoint
- −6%
- US $1,350
- Rank of 300 metros
- #209
- 1 = most expensive
Harrisonburg homeowners pay roughly $560 to $1,950 to install a French drain at 60 linear ft, or $9.35 to $33 per linear ft (permit not included). Against the US midpoint, Harrisonburg is 6% lower. Construction laborers earn a median of $20.92 an hour in the Harrisonburg area, 8% below the US median of $22.66.
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Estimated cost for 60 linear ft in Harrisonburg, VA, standard level
$980 to $1,550
About $16.50 to $26 per linear ft before permits. Labor is about 50% of the bill.
| Part | Low | High |
|---|---|---|
| Materials | $490 | $770 |
| Labor | $500 | $780 |
| Permits and fees | $0 | $0 |
| Total | $980 | $1,550 |
Cost breakdown for 60 linear ft in Harrisonburg, VA
| Part of the job | Low | Midpoint | High | Share |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Materials | $280 | $630 | $980 | 50% |
| Labor | $280 | $640 | $990 | 50% |
| Permits and fees | $0 | $0 | $0 | 0% |
| Total | $560 | $1,250 | $1,950 | 100% |
Why Harrisonburg prices look the way they do
We price the labor side from BLS wage data for 3 trades: construction laborers at 50%, operating engineers and other construction equipment operators at 30%, pipelayers at 20%. Weighted together, Harrisonburg wages are 0.91 times the national level. Labor makes up about 50% of the midpoint estimate (52% at national prices).
On the materials line, the BEA goods price index for the Harrisonburg 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 (94.9) 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 Harrisonburg. The wage table below marks each row.
Harrisonburg against nearby metros and the rest of Virginia
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 $1,200 to $1,400 across Harrisonburg and its five closest metros.
| Area | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|
| Harrisonburg, VAthis page | $560 – $1,950 | $1,250 | |
| Charlottesville, VA40 miles | $580 – $2,050 | $1,300 | +3% |
| Winchester, VA55 miles | $560 – $1,950 | $1,250 | −1% |
| Washington, DC80 miles | $630 – $2,200 | $1,400 | +11% |
| Lynchburg, VA80 miles | $540 – $1,900 | $1,200 | −4% |
| Morgantown, WV85 miles | $560 – $1,950 | $1,250 | −1% |
| Virginia (statewide) | $580 – $2,050 | $1,300 | +4% |
| United States | $600 – $2,100 | $1,350 | +7% |
Across 300 US metros, Harrisonburg comes in at #209 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, Harrisonburg is 4% 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 | +1% |
| Roanoke, VA | 153,980 jobs | $540 – $1,900 | $1,200 | −3% |
| Charlottesville, VA | 114,780 jobs | $580 – $2,050 | $1,300 | +3% |
| Lynchburg, VA | 97,190 jobs | $540 – $1,900 | $1,200 | −4% |
| Blacksburg, VA | 74,070 jobs | $560 – $1,950 | $1,250 | −1% |
Cities with a workforce like Harrisonburg's
Big cities and small ones price differently, so here is Harrisonburg against the 4 metros with the closest total employment.
| Metro | Size | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Amherst, MA | 65,670 jobs | $670 – $2,350 | $1,500 | +19% |
| El Centro, CA | 65,430 jobs | $690 – $2,400 | $1,550 | +22% |
| Flagstaff, AZ | 66,610 jobs | $600 – $2,100 | $1,350 | +7% |
| Dalton, GA | 65,300 jobs | $520 – $1,800 | $1,150 | −8% |
Planning more than one job in Harrisonburg?
Because every project leans on different trades, Harrisonburg's wage level does not move all prices equally. Against the US midpoint, sod installation runs −4% and sprinkler system −9%.
| Project | Size | Range | vs. US |
|---|---|---|---|
| Retaining wall | 200 sq ft of wall face | $6,450 – $12,600 | −7% |
| Gravel driveway | 1,000 sq ft | $2,300 – $9,400 | −8% |
| Sod installation | 1,500 sq ft | $1,450 – $3,150 | −4% |
| Concrete slab | 400 sq ft | $2,250 – $4,800 | −8% |
| Sprinkler system | 4,000 sq ft of lawn | $3,650 – $9,150 | −9% |
| Inground pool | 450 sq ft | $33,200 – $104,000 | −8% |
When to schedule French drain in Harrisonburg
We use NOAA's 1991-2020 climate normals for Dale Enterprise (5 miles from the city center). These are 30-year monthly averages, not forecasts.
April through November is the stretch where digging, grading and setting material in the ground runs into the fewest weather problems in Harrisonburg (8 of 12 months). January, February, March and December have an average overnight low at or below freezing (32°F).
In January, February, March 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 123 days a year with a low at or below 32°F at this station.
Harrisonburg gets about 39 inches of precipitation in a normal year, including roughly 19 inches of snow. The wettest months are May, June and July (4.1 inches in July). Inside the workable window, October and November are the driest, at 2.5 and 2.6 inches. The station averages about 21 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 | 23 | 2.7 | Cold |
| Feb | 46 | 24 | 2.2 | Cold |
| Mar | 54 | 30 | 3.2 | Cold |
| Apr | 65 | 40 | 3.3 | Workable |
| May | 74 | 50 | 4.0 | Workable |
| Jun | 82 | 60 | 3.9 | Workable |
| Jul | 86 | 64 | 4.1 | Workable |
| Aug | 84 | 62 | 3.8 | Workable |
| Sep | 78 | 55 | 3.7 | Workable |
| Oct | 67 | 43 | 2.5 | Workable |
| Nov | 56 | 33 | 2.6 | Workable |
| Dec | 46 | 26 | 2.9 | Cold |
Harrisonburg: what basic, standard and premium work costs
Three bands are cut from the same cited range and localized for Harrisonburg 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
$980 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 – $980 |
| side yard (60 linear ft) | $560 – $1,100 | $980 – $1,550 | $1,400 – $1,950 |
| long run (120 linear ft) | $1,100 – $2,250 | $1,950 – $3,100 | $2,800 – $3,950 |
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 Harrisonburg is 0.91 times the national level.
Construction laborers (47-2061), 50% of the weighting: a median of $20.92 an hour, 8% below the US median of $22.66. The middle half of them earn between $17.76 and $22.82 an hour. About 480 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 $23.88 an hour, which is 17% below the national $28.78. The middle half of them earn between $23.45 and $28.37 an hour. BLS counts 260 of them working in the area, 39.7 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 Harrisonburg 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 ($22.82 an hour) instead of the median, the labor line grows by about $30. At the 25th percentile ($17.76) it shrinks by about $50. The total moves by 2.3% or 3.9%, so wages alone rarely explain a quote that is far outside our range.
For context on the local economy, BLS counts 65,460 jobs in the Harrisonburg area. That makes it the 274th largest of the 300 metros we cover, with 0.04% of US employment.
| Trade | Weight | 25th pct | Median | 75th pct | US median | Ratio | Level used |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Construction laborers (47-2061) | 50% | $17.76 | $20.92 | $22.82 | $22.66 | 0.92 | metro |
| Operating engineers and other construction equipment operators (47-2073) | 30% | $23.45 | $23.88 | $28.37 | $28.78 | 0.83 | metro |
| Pipelayers (47-2151) | 20% | $21.16 | $23.41 | $27.34 | $23.56 | 0.99 | state |
| Blended | 100% | 0.91 | |||||
French drain: what moves the price in Harrisonburg
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.
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Detailed french drain report for Harrisonburg, VA, $9
Multi-page report for Harrisonburg, VA: 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 Harrisonburg: your questions
+How much does it cost to install a French drain in Harrisonburg?
For 60 linear ft, expect $560 to $1,950 in the Harrisonburg area. A standard-spec job lands at $980 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 Harrisonburg?
About $9.35 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 Harrisonburg or Charlottesville?
Charlottesville is 40 miles away. The midpoint for 60 linear ft there is $1,300, which is 3% more than Harrisonburg ($1,250). Wage and materials indexes both feed that gap.
+How much of the bill is labor in Harrisonburg?
About 50% at the midpoint, or $640 out of $1,250. Materials are 50% and permits 0%. Nationally, labor is 52%.
+What would side yard (60 linear ft) cost in Harrisonburg?
$560 to $1,950. Pick a different size in the estimator above to get your own number.
+Does French drain need a permit in Harrisonburg?
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 Harrisonburg area (our national range of $0 to $0 scaled by the local price level).
+Is Harrisonburg expensive for French drain compared with the rest of Virginia?
Harrisonburg is 4% 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 Harrisonburg?
The BLS median is $20.92 an hour in the Harrisonburg area, compared with $22.66 nationally. The 25th to 75th percentile range is $17.76 to $22.82.
+What do basic and premium French drain work cost in Harrisonburg?
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 Harrisonburg?
Based on NOAA 1991-2020 normals, the comfortable months for this kind of work are April through November. October 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 Harrisonburg
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.