Cost to French Drain Installation in San Diego, CA

$2,700–$13,500 in San Diego

35% above the national average · 1.35x cost multiplier

Expect to pay $2,700–$13,500 for a french drain installation in San Diego, about 35% above the national benchmark. The West Coast region's contractor market and material costs account for most of this difference. The detailed breakdown below shows how budget, mid-range, and premium projects compare at San Diego prices.

Cost Breakdown in San Diego

Line Item	Low	Mid	High
Cost per linear ft	$14	$47	$135
Materials	$540	$2,025	$5,400
Labor	$810	$3,780	$10,800
Permits	$0	$270	$675
Total	$1,350+35% vs. national avg	$6,075+35% vs. national avg	$18,225+35% vs. national avg

Budget

Simple surface-level trench drain, 25 linear feet, basic gravel and perforated pipe, no outlet structure needed. Gravity daylight outlet to a low point in the yard.

Mid-Range

50 linear feet of deep perforated pipe system with gravel bed, landscape fabric sock, outlet to daylight or dry well, minor grading to ensure positive slope throughout.

Premium

200+ linear ft comprehensive drainage system with engineered design, multiple collection points, dry well or municipal storm drain tie-in, excavation through hardscape such as concrete or pavers.

Material Options

Material prices below are national averages; availability in San Diego may shift costs slightly.

Material	Cost/Unit	Pros	Cons	Best For
Perforated PVC Pipe with Gravel Bed	$5-$15 per linear ft (materials only)	Proven, widely understood, easy to inspect and repair, gravel provides excellent void space for water movement	Labor-intensive installation, gravel is heavy to transport, fabric can silt up over 10-15 years	Standard residential french drains, perimeter drainage, yard drainage in most soil typesProven, widely understood, easy to inspect and repair, gravel provides excellent void space for water movement
EZflow / Aggregate-Wrapped Pipe	$8-$18 per linear ft (materials only)	One-piece system with pipe and aggregate combined, faster installation, lighter than gravel, consistent void ratio	More expensive than pipe-plus-gravel, not available in all markets, repairs require full section replacement	Projects where installation speed matters, tight access situations where moving gravel is difficultOne-piece system with pipe and aggregate combined, faster installation, lighter than gravel, consistent void ratio
Channel / Trench Drain (Surface)	$20-$45 per linear ft (materials only)	Handles large volume surface water quickly, grate is removable for cleaning, works in areas where sub-surface drain isn't possible	Visible on surface, grates must be kept clear of debris, may require concrete surround to install properly	Driveways, patios, and hardscape areas where water pools on the surface rather than saturating the soilHandles large volume surface water quickly, grate is removable for cleaning, works in areas where sub-surface drain isn't possible
Curtain Drain (Interceptor Drain)	$15-$35 per linear ft (materials only)	Intercepts groundwater before it reaches the foundation, very effective for sloped lots with uphill water sources	Must be correctly sited uphill of the problem area, requires understanding of subsurface water flow paths	Sloped properties where groundwater flows toward the house, hillside lots, properties with known uphill water sourcesIntercepts groundwater before it reaches the foundation, very effective for sloped lots with uphill water sources

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Back to national average for French Drain Installation

San Diego Estimate

Typical Range

$2,700–$13,500

vs. National Average

35% above national

Cost Multiplier

1.35x

Cost Per linear ft

$14–$135

Estimates apply San Diego's 1.35x regional cost multiplier to national averages. Actual bids vary by contractor, project scope, and timing.

See national average costs →