French drain cost in Morgantown, WV
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
- #213
- 1 = most expensive
Morgantown homeowners pay roughly $560 to $1,950 to install a French drain at 60 linear ft, or $9.30 to $32.50 per linear ft (permit not included). Against the US midpoint, Morgantown is 7% lower. Construction laborers earn a median of $21.32 an hour in the Morgantown area, 6% below the US median of $22.66.
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Estimated cost for 60 linear ft in Morgantown, WV, standard level
$980 to $1,550
About $16.50 to $25.50 per linear ft before permits. Labor is about 50% of the bill.
| Part | Low | High |
|---|---|---|
| Materials | $490 | $760 |
| Labor | $490 | $770 |
| Permits and fees | $0 | $0 |
| Total | $980 | $1,550 |
Cost breakdown for 60 linear ft in Morgantown, WV
| Part of the job | Low | Midpoint | High | Share |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Materials | $280 | $620 | $970 | 50% |
| Labor | $280 | $630 | $980 | 50% |
| Permits and fees | $0 | $0 | $0 | 0% |
| Total | $560 | $1,250 | $1,950 | 100% |
Why Morgantown 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 $21.32 an hour. Add the other trades involved and the blended wage index for Morgantown is 0.90 (US = 1.00), which puts labor at 50% of the total.
On the materials line, the BEA goods price index for the Morgantown metro is 96.3 (US = 100). The midpoint materials bill for 60 linear ft comes to $620, compared with $650 at national prices. Permit and inspection fees are scaled by the broader index (93.3) 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 Morgantown. The wage table below marks each row.
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 Morgantown is 0.90 times the national level.
Construction laborers (47-2061), 50% of the weighting: a median of $21.32 an hour, 6% below the US median of $22.66. The middle half of them earn between $17.14 and $24.01 an hour. About 660 work in the metro. That is 98.0 per 10,000 jobs, compared with 70.5 nationally, which suggests plenty of local crews to bid.
For operating engineers and other construction equipment operators (47-2073, weighted 30%) the local median is $25.46 an hour, which is 12% below the national $28.78. The middle half of them earn between $22.18 and $29.27 an hour. BLS counts 530 of them working in the area, 78.7 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 Morgantown metro, so we used the West Virginia statewide median: $19.44 an hour against $23.56 for the US. The middle half of them earn between $17.23 and $22.57 an hour.
Quotes come from real crews, not medians. If the construction laborers on your job are paid at the 75th percentile ($24.01 an hour) instead of the median, the labor line grows by about $40. At the 25th percentile ($17.14) it shrinks by about $65. The total moves by 3.3% or 5.2%, so wages alone rarely explain a quote that is far outside our range.
For context on the local economy, BLS counts 67,370 jobs in the Morgantown area. That makes it the 268th 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% | $17.14 | $21.32 | $24.01 | $22.66 | 0.94 | metro |
| Operating engineers and other construction equipment operators (47-2073) | 30% | $22.18 | $25.46 | $29.27 | $28.78 | 0.88 | metro |
| Pipelayers (47-2151) | 20% | $17.23 | $19.44 | $22.57 | $23.56 | 0.83 | state |
| Blended | 100% | 0.90 | |||||
Pick a size, pick a tier: french drain pricing in Morgantown
Three bands are cut from the same cited range and localized for Morgantown 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 – $3,050 | $2,800 – $3,900 |
When to schedule French drain in Morgantown
We use NOAA's 1991-2020 climate normals for Morgantown Hart Fld (5 miles from the city center). These are 30-year monthly averages, not forecasts.
March through November is the stretch where digging, grading and setting material in the ground runs into the fewest weather problems in Morgantown (9 of 12 months). 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 102 days a year with a low at or below 32°F at this station.
Morgantown gets about 43 inches of precipitation in a normal year. The wettest months are May, June and July (4.9 inches in July). Inside the workable window, October and November are the driest, at 3.1 and 3.0 inches. The station averages about 13 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 | 40 | 24 | 3.1 | Cold |
| Feb | 44 | 26 | 2.8 | Cold |
| Mar | 53 | 33 | 3.6 | Workable |
| Apr | 65 | 42 | 3.9 | Workable |
| May | 74 | 52 | 4.3 | Workable |
| Jun | 81 | 60 | 4.1 | Workable |
| Jul | 84 | 64 | 4.9 | Workable |
| Aug | 83 | 63 | 3.6 | Workable |
| Sep | 77 | 56 | 3.4 | Workable |
| Oct | 66 | 45 | 3.1 | Workable |
| Nov | 54 | 36 | 3.0 | Workable |
| Dec | 44 | 29 | 3.2 | Cold |
How Morgantown compares
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 $1,250 to $1,350 across Morgantown and its five closest metros.
| Area | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|
| Morgantown, WVthis page | $560 – $1,950 | $1,250 | |
| Wheeling, WV65 miles | $570 – $2,000 | $1,300 | +2% |
| Pittsburgh, PA65 miles | $610 – $2,150 | $1,350 | +9% |
| Winchester, VA75 miles | $560 – $1,950 | $1,250 | level |
| Harrisonburg, VA85 miles | $560 – $1,950 | $1,250 | +1% |
| Hagerstown, MD95 miles | $570 – $2,000 | $1,300 | +2% |
| West Virginia (statewide) | $550 – $1,950 | $1,250 | −1% |
| United States | $600 – $2,100 | $1,350 | +7% |
Across 300 US metros, Morgantown comes in at #213 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, Morgantown is 1% above the West Virginia figure.
Other West Virginia metros
| Metro | Size | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Huntington, WV | 140,740 jobs | $590 – $2,050 | $1,300 | +5% |
| Charleston, WV | 103,450 jobs | $580 – $2,000 | $1,300 | +3% |
| Wheeling, WV | 58,130 jobs | $570 – $2,000 | $1,300 | +2% |
Cities with a workforce like Morgantown's
Big cities and small ones price differently, so here is Morgantown against the 4 metros with the closest total employment.
| Metro | Size | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Winchester, VA | 67,740 jobs | $560 – $1,950 | $1,250 | level |
| Grand Junction, CO | 67,170 jobs | $590 – $2,050 | $1,350 | +6% |
| Burlington, NC | 67,830 jobs | $560 – $1,950 | $1,250 | level |
| Missoula, MT | 67,070 jobs | $600 – $2,100 | $1,350 | +8% |
Planning more than one job in Morgantown?
Because every project leans on different trades, Morgantown's wage level does not move all prices equally. Against the US midpoint, sprinkler system runs −6% and sod installation −10%.
| Project | Size | Range | vs. US |
|---|---|---|---|
| Retaining wall | 200 sq ft of wall face | $6,250 – $12,300 | −10% |
| Gravel driveway | 1,000 sq ft | $2,350 – $9,550 | −6% |
| Sod installation | 1,500 sq ft | $1,350 – $2,950 | −10% |
| Concrete slab | 400 sq ft | $2,250 – $4,850 | −7% |
| Sprinkler system | 4,000 sq ft of lawn | $3,750 – $9,400 | −6% |
| Inground pool | 450 sq ft | $33,300 – $104,000 | −8% |
Why two Morgantown quotes can differ
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.
Get 3 local quotes
Tell us about the job and we will try to connect you with up to three local contractors for written quotes. It is free and you are under no obligation to hire. Your estimate of $980 to $1,550 for Morgantown, WV is attached.
Detailed french drain report for Morgantown, WV, $9
Multi-page report for Morgantown, WV: 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 Morgantown: your questions
+How much does it cost to install a French drain in Morgantown?
For 60 linear ft, expect $560 to $1,950 in the Morgantown 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 Morgantown?
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 Morgantown or Wheeling?
Wheeling is 65 miles away. The midpoint for 60 linear ft there is $1,300, which is 2% more than Morgantown ($1,250). Wage and materials indexes both feed that gap.
+How much of the bill is labor in Morgantown?
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 Morgantown?
$560 to $1,950. Pick a different size in the estimator above to get your own number.
+Does French drain need a permit in Morgantown?
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 Morgantown area (our national range of $0 to $0 scaled by the local price level).
+Is Morgantown expensive for French drain compared with the rest of West Virginia?
Morgantown is 1% above the West Virginia statewide estimate ($1,250 at the midpoint). We cover 4 metros in West Virginia; see the state page to compare them.
+What do construction laborers earn in Morgantown?
The BLS median is $21.32 an hour in the Morgantown area, compared with $22.66 nationally. The 25th to 75th percentile range is $17.14 to $24.01.
+What do basic and premium French drain work cost in Morgantown?
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 Morgantown?
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 Morgantown
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.