Cost logic
Installed estimate = gravel quantity x gravel cost + pipe length x pipe cost + fabric area x fabric cost + labor rate x trench length.
RainYard Tools
Budget screen
French Drain Cost Calculator
Estimate gravel, fabric, pipe, and labor cost for a French drain installation.
Before you calculate
Use it to build a fast planning range before comparing contractor quotes or buying materials.
- Cost swings most with trench length, access, and disposal of spoils.
- Corners, cleanouts, catch basins, and pop-up emitters add cost fast.
- Use this as a screen before you price fittings, permits, or restoration.
Gravel order5.50 cu ydBase trench volume plus waste allowance.
Material cost$864.50Gravel, pipe, and fabric only.
Labor cost$1,440.00Using the selected rate per linear foot.
Installed estimate$2,304.50Planning range before permits, fittings, or cleanup.
1
Enter the trench geometry you expect to build.
2
Use local unit costs for gravel, pipe, and fabric.
3
Compare the installed estimate with material-only cost to see what labor is doing.
Example
A 60 ft trench at 1.5 ft wide and 1.5 ft deep with local unit costs of $68 per cubic yard for gravel, $3.50 per ft for pipe, $0.85 per sq ft for fabric, and $24 per ft for labor screens at roughly a mid-four-figure install.
What moves the quote most
Length, difficult access, hand digging, spoils disposal, fittings, outlet structures, and restoration often move the budget more than pipe itself.
Use one trench geometry across pages
If the size changes between the sizing page, gravel page, and cost page, the budget stops matching the design. Settle the trench first, then price it.
Questions
Common checks.
Does this include catch basins or pop-up emitters?
No. Add them separately if the layout needs inlets, cleanouts, or a discharge box.
Should labor be priced per foot?
That is a simple planning shortcut. Some crews price by the whole job, access difficulty, or minimum mobilization.
Why does the fabric area look high?
Fabric wraps around the trench and needs overlap, so the coverage area is larger than plan-view trench length x width.
Helpful referencesCall 811 before digging