French drain cost in Roanoke, VA
Local estimate from BLS wage data and BEA price levels. Reviewed Nov 4, 2026.
- Typical range (60 linear ft)
- $540 – $1,900
- Per linear ft
- $9.05 – $31.50
- before permit
- Versus US midpoint
- −9%
- US $1,350
- Rank of 300 metros
- #246
- 1 = most expensive
Local price for a French drain in the Roanoke area: $540 to $1,900 for 60 linear ft. The low end is a basic job on easy ground; the high end is a premium spec with harder access. The midpoint runs 9% lower than the US figure. Construction laborers earn a median of $18.34 an hour in the Roanoke area, 19% below the US median of $22.66.
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Estimated cost for 60 linear ft in Roanoke, VA, standard level
$950 to $1,500
About $16 to $25 per linear ft before permits. Labor is about 49% of the bill.
| Part | Low | High |
|---|---|---|
| Materials | $490 | $770 |
| Labor | $460 | $730 |
| Permits and fees | $0 | $0 |
| Total | $950 | $1,500 |
Cost breakdown for 60 linear ft in Roanoke, VA
| Part of the job | Low | Midpoint | High | Share |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Materials | $280 | $630 | $980 | 51% |
| Labor | $260 | $600 | $930 | 49% |
| Permits and fees | $0 | $0 | $0 | 0% |
| Total | $540 | $1,200 | $1,900 | 100% |
What is behind the Roanoke 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 $18.34 an hour. Add the other trades involved and the blended wage index for Roanoke is 0.85 (US = 1.00), which puts labor at 49% of the total.
Materials are scaled with BEA's regional price parity for goods. Roanoke 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 93.6: $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 Roanoke. The wage table below marks each row.
Roanoke: what basic, standard and premium work costs
The cited range is split into basic, standard and premium bands, then scaled to Roanoke. 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
$540 to $1,100
Shallow yard drain, easy digging
Standard
$950 to $1,500
Standard drain with fabric, gravel and a pop-up outlet
Premium
$1,350 to $1,900
Deep or long drain, hard soil, dry well or sump discharge
| Size | Basic | Standard | Premium |
|---|---|---|---|
| short run (30 linear ft) | $270 – $540 | $480 – $750 | $680 – $950 |
| side yard (60 linear ft) | $540 – $1,100 | $950 – $1,500 | $1,350 – $1,900 |
| long run (120 linear ft) | $1,100 – $2,150 | $1,900 – $3,000 | $2,700 – $3,800 |
The best months for French drain in Roanoke
Climate numbers on this page come from NOAA's 1991-2020 U.S. Climate Normals at the nearest suitable station, Roanoke Rgnl Ap (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 Roanoke 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 77 days a year with a low at or below 32°F at this station.
Roanoke gets about 43 inches of precipitation in a normal year, including roughly 15 inches of snow. The wettest months are May, June and July (4.7 inches in June). Inside the workable window, October and November are the driest, at 3.0 and 3.0 inches. The station averages about 30 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 | 47 | 29 | 3.2 | Cold |
| Feb | 51 | 31 | 2.9 | Cold |
| Mar | 59 | 38 | 3.5 | Workable |
| Apr | 70 | 46 | 3.5 | Workable |
| May | 77 | 55 | 4.3 | Workable |
| Jun | 84 | 63 | 4.7 | Workable |
| Jul | 88 | 67 | 4.3 | Workable |
| Aug | 87 | 66 | 3.4 | Workable |
| Sep | 80 | 59 | 4.1 | Workable |
| Oct | 70 | 48 | 3.0 | Workable |
| Nov | 59 | 38 | 3.0 | Workable |
| Dec | 50 | 32 | 3.1 | Cold |
French drain: what moves the price in Roanoke
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).
Who does the work: Roanoke trade wages
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 Roanoke the blend is 0.85.
For construction laborers (47-2061, weighted 50%) the local median is $18.34 an hour, which is 19% below the national $22.66. The middle half of them earn between $17.27 and $21.31 an hour. BLS counts 1,210 of them working in the area, 78.6 for every 10,000 jobs (US: 70.5), so the local bench is about average.
Operating engineers and other construction equipment operators (47-2073), 30% of the weighting: a median of $23.56 an hour, 18% below the US median of $28.78. The middle half of them earn between $22.03 and $27.91 an hour. About 480 work in the metro. That is 31.2 per 10,000 jobs, compared with 30.7 nationally, so the supply of crews looks typical.
Pipelayers (47-2151) carry 20% of the labor weighting. BLS does not publish this trade for the Roanoke 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.
A quick sensitivity check: moving the lead trade (construction laborers) from the median to the 75th percentile wage adds about $45 to the midpoint estimate; the 25th percentile takes off about $15. That is a swing of roughly 1.4% to 3.8% of the total, which is useful for judging whether a bid reflects wages or something else, such as scope or margin.
Roanoke has 153,980 jobs in total (BLS, May 2025), ranking 153rd 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% | $17.27 | $18.34 | $21.31 | $22.66 | 0.81 | metro |
| Operating engineers and other construction equipment operators (47-2073) | 30% | $22.03 | $23.56 | $27.91 | $28.78 | 0.82 | metro |
| Pipelayers (47-2151) | 20% | $21.16 | $23.41 | $27.34 | $23.56 | 0.99 | state |
| Blended | 100% | 0.85 | |||||
Roanoke against nearby metros and the rest of Virginia
Of the five closest metros, 1 is cheaper than Roanoke. Lynchburg is the lowest at about $1,200 (midpoint, 60 linear ft), 40 miles away.
| Area | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|
| Roanoke, VAthis page | $540 – $1,900 | $1,200 | |
| Blacksburg, VA35 miles | $560 – $1,950 | $1,250 | +2% |
| Lynchburg, VA40 miles | $540 – $1,900 | $1,200 | level |
| Winston, NC85 miles | $550 – $1,950 | $1,250 | +2% |
| Charlottesville, VA85 miles | $580 – $2,050 | $1,300 | +7% |
| Greensboro, NC90 miles | $550 – $1,900 | $1,250 | +1% |
| Virginia (statewide) | $580 – $2,050 | $1,300 | +8% |
| United States | $600 – $2,100 | $1,350 | +10% |
Out of the 300 metros we cover, Roanoke ranks #246 for the cost of this job (#1 is the most expensive). Statewide, Roanoke is 7% below the Virginia figure.
Elsewhere in Virginia
| Metro | Size | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Virginia Beach, VA | 763,060 jobs | $550 – $1,900 | $1,250 | +1% |
| Richmond, VA | 660,350 jobs | $570 – $2,000 | $1,300 | +4% |
| Charlottesville, VA | 114,780 jobs | $580 – $2,050 | $1,300 | +7% |
| Lynchburg, VA | 97,190 jobs | $540 – $1,900 | $1,200 | level |
| Blacksburg, VA | 74,070 jobs | $560 – $1,950 | $1,250 | +2% |
| Winchester, VA | 67,740 jobs | $560 – $1,950 | $1,250 | +3% |
Metros of a similar size
Big cities and small ones price differently, so here is Roanoke against the 4 metros with the closest total employment.
| Metro | Size | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hickory, NC | 154,090 jobs | $550 – $1,950 | $1,250 | +2% |
| Gainesville, FL | 152,670 jobs | $550 – $1,950 | $1,250 | +1% |
| Brownsville, TX | 157,450 jobs | $510 – $1,800 | $1,150 | −7% |
| Killeen, TX | 150,580 jobs | $530 – $1,850 | $1,200 | −3% |
Related projects, priced for Roanoke
Jobs that often go together with French drain are priced below at their usual sizes, using the same Roanoke wage and price inputs. Compared with national midpoints, sod installation comes out highest (−7%) and inground pool lowest (−12%); the gap comes from the trades each job uses.
| Project | Size | Range | vs. US |
|---|---|---|---|
| Retaining wall | 200 sq ft of wall face | $6,100 – $12,100 | −11% |
| Gravel driveway | 1,000 sq ft | $2,200 – $9,100 | −11% |
| 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 | $3,550 – $8,850 | −11% |
| Inground pool | 450 sq ft | $31,900 – $99,700 | −12% |
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French drain in Roanoke: your questions
+How much does it cost to install a French drain in Roanoke?
For 60 linear ft, expect $540 to $1,900 in the Roanoke area. A standard-spec job lands at $950 to $1,500. Small jobs usually cost more per linear ft and large ones less.
+What is the price per linear ft for French drain in Roanoke?
About $9.05 to $31.50 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 Roanoke or Blacksburg?
Blacksburg is 35 miles away. The midpoint for 60 linear ft there is $1,250, which is 2% more than Roanoke ($1,200). Wage and materials indexes both feed that gap.
+How much of the bill is labor in Roanoke?
About 49% at the midpoint, or $600 out of $1,200. Materials are 51% and permits 0%. Nationally, labor is 52%.
+What would side yard (60 linear ft) cost in Roanoke?
$540 to $1,900. Pick a different size in the estimator above to get your own number.
+Does French drain need a permit in Roanoke?
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 Roanoke area (our national range of $0 to $0 scaled by the local price level).
+Is Roanoke expensive for French drain compared with the rest of Virginia?
Roanoke is 7% 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 Roanoke?
The BLS median is $18.34 an hour in the Roanoke area, compared with $22.66 nationally. The 25th to 75th percentile range is $17.27 to $21.31.
+What do basic and premium French drain work cost in Roanoke?
For 60 linear ft, basic work runs $540 to $1,100 and premium work $1,350 to $1,900. 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 Roanoke?
Based on NOAA 1991-2020 normals, the comfortable months for this kind of work are March 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 Roanoke
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.