How much does a drainage system cost?
A drainage system costs $10 to $25 per linear foot or $1,000 to $4,000 for exterior yard and landscape applications, and $40 to $85 per linear foot or $4,000 to $12,000 for a basement or interior perimeter drain. An exterior footing or drain tile installation costs $6,000 to $15,000.
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$1,000 – $4,000 shallow exterior yard drain cost
$4,000 – $15,000 exterior / interior perimeter drain tile cost
A drainage system costs $10 to $25 per linear foot or $1,000 to $4,000 for exterior yard and landscape applications, and $40 to $85 per linear foot or $4,000 to $12,000 for a basement or interior perimeter drain. An exterior footing or drain tile installation costs $6,000 to $15,000.
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TABLE OF CONTENTS
Written by
Sarah Noel
April 5, 2023
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Yard, Basement & Tile Drain Installation Cost
The average cost of a drainage system in a yard is $1,000 to $4,000. An underground downspout drainage system costs $150 to $350 per downspout. A basement or interior perimeter drain tile system costs $4,000 to $12,000. Exterior weeping tile installation costs $1,500 to $4,000 per side of house.
| Type | Average Cost |
|---|---|
| Curtain / Shallow French Drain | $1,000 – $4,000 |
| Exterior Drain Tile (per side of house) | $1,500 – $4,000 |
| Crawl Space Interior Drain | $800 – $3,000 |
| Basement Interior Perimeter Drain | $4,000 – $12,000 |
| Yard Drainage System | $1,200 – $8,000 |
| Underground Downspout Extensions (each) | $150 – $350 |
| Window Well Drain | $1,000 – $2,500 |
| Dry Well / Vertical French Drain | $300 – $1,500 |
| Sump Pump | $500 – $1,200 |
| Swale / Irrigation Ditch | $250 – $1,000 |
| Yard Grading | $500 – $3,000 |
| Retaining Wall | $2,500 – $7,000 |
| Rain Garden | $500 – $3,000 |
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- Prevents water damage, backyard flooding, basement and foundation issues, and mold and mildew.
- Removes seepage, standing, and excess water from pooling in your basement, foundation, and yard.
- Redirects heavy rain, stormwater, groundwater, and surface water to sewers, dry wells, and rain gardens.
- Reduces landscape erosion, and stops water damage to your foundation, patio, basement, crawl space, driveway, and sidewalk.
- A professionally installed drain lasts 30 to 40 years with proper maintenance.
Average Cost of Drainage System Work
Each drainage system type solves different water problems. French drains remove water from around a home’s foundation or wet basement floor. A trench drain is used for driveways, and yard drainage systems works best for standing water in the lawn.
| Type | Cost Per Linear Foot |
|---|---|
| Shallow French Drain / Curtain Drain | $10 – $30 |
| Exterior French Drain | $10 – $35 |
| Interior Perimeter Drain | $40 – $85 |
| Trench or Channel Drain | $30 – $150 |
| Yard Drainage System | $8 – $15 |
| Catch Basin / Storm Drain | $8 – $15 |
| Underground Downspouts | $15 – $35 |
| Swale / Irrigation Ditch | $5 – $15 |
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French Drain Cost
Exterior French drain installation costs $10 to $35 per linear foot or $1,000 to $4,000 for around the house, yard, and curtain drain systems. Interior perimeter French drains cost $40 to $85 per linear foot or $4,000 to $15,000 for crawl space and basement drain systems.
| Type | Cost per linear foot (LF) | Average total cost |
|---|---|---|
| Surface-level French drain in yard | $10 – $30 | $500 – $5,300 |
| Curtain drain / shallow French drain | $10 – $35 | $1,500 – $8,800 |
| Exterior French drain / weeping tile around house (per side of house) | $30 – $90 | $1,200 – $4,500 |
| Interior perimeter French drain for basement | $40 – $85 | $4,000 – $17,000 |
| Interior French drain for crawl space | $20 – $40 | $2,000 – $8,000 |
A French drain is a sloped trench filled with gravel and a perforated pipe that removes water away from the home using gravity or a sump pump.
- Shallow French drains or curtain drains divert exterior surface water from around a house.
- Interior perimeter French drains around a basement floor catch water that seeps inside and channel it to a sump pump or drain line.
- Deep footing or weeping tile drains run around the perimeter of a house and stop groundwater from entering the basement.
Cost To Install Trench or Channel Drain
The average cost to install a trench drain is $30 to $150 per linear foot, depending on the grate and channel material (plastic, metal, or concrete). Trench drains are set into driveways, patios, concrete slabs, or between pavers with a flush grate surface that catches water in a channel.
Driveway Trench or Channel Drain Cost
The average cost to install a driveway trench or channel drain is $400 to $2,400, depending on the size, width of the channel (4" to 8"), and the grate material (plastic, metal, fiberglass, or concrete). Driveway trench drains or floor drains prevent water from pooling or accessing the garage.
| Material | Average Cost |
|---|---|
| 1-Car (10′ – 12′ Width) | $400 – $1,200 |
| 2-Car (20′ – 24′ Width) | $800 – $2,400 |
| 1-Side (18′ – 30′ Length) | $700 – $3,000 |
Sub-Surface Yard Drainage System Cost
The average cost to install a drainage system in yard is $8 to $15 per linear foot or between $1,200 and $8,000, depending on the lawn size. A sub-surface system of yard drainage pipes are connected to drop inlets or catch basins where water runoff is distributed by emitters.
The surface is then graded to drain to the nearest drop inlet. Costs depend on the length of the run, pipe material, and number of inlets. Prices increase for working around obstacles such as root or sprinkler systems, swimming pool pipes, and utility lines. The water can be piped into a dry well or the municipal system.
Catch Basin & Storm Drain Installation Cost
Storm drain installation costs $8 to $15 per square foot for a system of catch basins connected to underground stormwater pipes. Plastic catch basins cost $20 to $130 each for the materials, with sizes up to 24" x 24". Pre-cast or cast-in-place concrete drain boxes are significantly more expensive.
Catch basins or backyard storm sewers are similar to inlets, but the basins are larger. The drain box’s grate collects stormwater and filters debris before the water flows into drainage pipes. The grate is easily removable for regular cleaning.
Gutter & Downspout Drainage System Cost
An underground downspout drainage system costs $150 to $350 per downspout to install, which includes a catch basin, downspout extension, trenching, drain pipe, and bubbler system. Downspout extensions alone cost $5 to $25 each for gutter drainage, depending on the length.
| System | Average Cost |
|---|---|
| Downspout Extension | $5 – $25 |
| Rain Barrel Kit | $80 – $200 |
| Bury Downspout Underground | $150 – $350 |
| Install Dry Well | $300 – $1,500 |
A gutter drainage system ensures the downspouts are 10’+ away from the property to prevent damage. Water is either directed above ground through a downspout extension or by burying a downspout underground and connecting to drain piping that leads to a bubbler system or dry well.
- A bubbler system costs $30 to $85 to add, and it’s attached to shallow drain piping that’s connected to the gutter downspout. The water flows out through a “bubbling” pop-up vent away from the home.
- Using one or more connected rain barrels attached to gutter downspouts is an affordable drainage solution at $80 to $200 each.
Dry Well or Vertical French Drain Cost
A dry well costs $50 to $700 to install most gravel or plastic tank types, or up to $3,000 for a concrete model. A dry well is an underground drainage tank that collects storm water runoff and allows it to slowly replenish the water table.
| Type | Average Cost |
|---|---|
| Gravel / Loose Stone | $50 – $250 |
| Prefabricated Plastic Tank | $200 – $700 |
| Concrete Tank | $500 – $3,000+ |
Multiple dry wells may be installed in a large yard with extensive drainage problems or standing water. Dry wells work best in sandy soils that drain well and in areas with a low water table.
Vertical French Drain Cost
A vertical French drain costs $50 to $250 to install, depending on the size, gravel type, and soil conditions. A vertical French drain or seepage pit is a deep hole filled with gravel that collects storm water runoff. This gravel pit releases water into the soil faster than dry wells.
Both vertical French drains and dry wells make good exit points for basement sump pump systems, backyard drainage systems, and downspout and gutter drainage systems.
Cost To Install Window Well Drain
The average cost to install a window well drain is $1,000 to $2,500, depending on the foundation type, size, materials, and grading. A complete basement egress window and well system costs $2,500 to $6,500 on average, depending on if it’s prefabricated or custom-built.
Window well drains are a gravel filled base, typically with a grate and vertical pipe leading to existing drainage system. Window wells protect sub-grade egress windows and prevent foundation and basement water damage.
Landscape Drainage Cost
There are various types of above ground and landscape drain installation systems used for surface water problems.
| System | Average Cost |
|---|---|
| Yard Grading | $500 – $3,000 |
| Rain Garden | $500 – $3,000 |
| Drainage Swale | $5 – $15 per linear foot |
| Retaining Wall | $15 – $40 per square foot |
Consult with landscape drainage contractors near you.
Drainage Swale Cost
A drainage swale costs $0.50 to $1.00 per square foot or $5 to $15 per linear foot, depending on the size, depth, and grading required. A swale or irrigation ditch slows and controls the flow of storm water runoff by grading a sloped channel into the lawn. The surface may be grass, vegetation, or crushed stone.
Yard Grading
Regrading and resloping a yard costs $500 to $5,000 on average, depending on the lawn size, soil quality, topography, and re-sodding. Regrading uses heavy machinery to change the direction of water flow permanently and helps with saturated sub-soils and landslides.
Rain Garden
A rain garden costs $5 to $15 per square foot or between $500 and $3,000, depending on the soil conditions, and the density and types of plants. Rain gardens are placed at the end of a French drain to help promote drainage and manage water runoff.
A rainwater collection system costs $200 to $2,500 for a barrel system and $2,000 to $12,000 for a cistern system.
Retaining Wall
Building a retaining wall costs $40 to $300 per linear foot, depending on the materials, excavation, drainage outlets, and if steps are added. Retaining walls control and slow the flow of water runoff, prevent slopes from eroding, and are commonly used with shallow French drains.
Drainage system costs by type
Drainage systems are typically installed near house foundations with only gravel covering the drain. Drains are placed in the basement, crawl space, or exterior of the home and are either deep or shallow, which drastically affects the cost.
- Backyard drains more than 10 feet away from the house may have sod or soil above the gravel, with a proper soil separator around the trench to keep dirt out of the drain.
- Professionals recommend installing a sump pump with most French drain systems to pump water out more efficiently.
Interior Perimeter Drain Cost
An interior drain tile system costs $40 to $85 per linear foot to install on average. Interior perimeter drains cost $2,000 to $10,000 on average, to help protect a basement or crawl space from water damage.
| Type | Average Cost |
|---|---|
| Crawl Space | $800 – $3,000 |
| Basement Perimeter | $4,000 – $12,000 |
Basement Drain Tile Cost
Drain tile installation costs $4,000 to $12,000 or $40 to $85 per linear foot, depending on the size of the basement’s perimeter and number of sump pumps. A full-perimeter drain tile system is not always necessary.
| Basement Perimeter | Sump Pumps | Average Cost |
|---|---|---|
| 100′ | 1 | $4,000 – $8,500 |
| 125′ | 2 | $5,000 – $9,500 |
| 150′ | 2 | $6,000 – $10,500 |
| 175′ | 2 | $7,000 – $11,500 |
| 200′ | 2 | $8,000 – $12,000 |
A drain tile system is a perforated pipe embedded in gravel alongside the foundation footings. An interior French drain or interior footing drain catches water that seeps in and channels it to a sump pump that directs water away from the foundation or into a drain line.
Cost to install drainage system in crawl space
The average cost to install a drainage system in a crawl space is $800 to $3,000, which includes trenching, gravel, drainage pipe, and a sump pump. A drain in a crawl space prevents moisture, preserves the home’s structural strength, and improves indoor-air quality.
Drains require an existing backyard drainage system to direct the water out of the crawl space. Extra costs apply to install the backyard piping that connects to the drain.
After installing a drainage solution, consider crawl space encapsulation to further block out moisture, mold and pests. Crawl space encapsulation costs $3,000 to $8,000 on average or $3 to $7 per square foot.
Exterior Backyard Drainage System Cost
An exterior drain to divert backyard surface water costs $1,000 to $4,000, while a deep weeping tile or footing drain tile to block and redirect groundwater costs $6,000 to $15,000.
| Type | Average Cost |
|---|---|
| Curtain Drain | $1,000 – $4,000 |
| Perimeter / Weeping Drain Tile | $6,000 – $15,000 |
Curtain Drain Cost
Curtain drains cost $10 to $25 per linear foot or from $1,000 to $4,000 for installation, depending on the number of collection boxes, length of run, and if tunneling under sidewalks or other obstacles is required.
A curtain drain is a 2′ wide shallow exterior French drain dug horizontally in front or around a house to divert surface water. Curtain drains prevent water pooling in the yard or near the home and can be connected to a larger backyard drainage system.
Exterior Weeping Drain Tile Installation Cost
Exterior weeping drain tile installation costs $1,500 to $4,000 per side of the house or between $6,000 and $15,000. Exterior drain tile or footing drain costs depend on the excavation depth, foundation repairs, waterproofing, and removing or working around landscaping, decks, patios, or sidewalks.
An exterior footing drain requires excavating 4 to 6+ feet down to the footings and exposing the foundation walls. A waterproofing coating or membrane is applied to the foundation walls. Then, an exterior French drain with perforated PVC pipe is installed next to the foundation footing, and the excavation is filled with drainage gravel.
Sloped lots rely on gravity to move the drainage to an exit point or storm drain. Otherwise, a sump pump is required to pump the water away from the foundation.
Exterior drain tiles are more expensive than interior drain tiles, but the large excavation and waterproofing barrier prevents water from entering the basement or crawl space completely.
Basement waterproofing costs $3 to $9 per square foot more to seal the foundation permanently.