Water keeps sitting in the same part of your yard after rain, and a contractor suggests a French drain. The first thing I would ask is where that water will go once the trench collects it.
So ProSeal publishes $45 to $90 per linear foot for exterior yard drains in the Chicago area. Maryland contractor TLC lists basic yard projects at $2,000 to $4,000, with an outlet and basic restoration included.
I checked the provider pages on October 22, 2026. This guide covers yard drainage, the difference between a per-foot rate and a finished project, and the work to have written into your quote.
Per-Foot Prices and Whole-Project Prices
ProSeal’s rate covers the measured trench, excavation, stone, fabric, pipe and backfill. Catch basins, emitters and other outlet structures are separate items.
For a 60-foot run, the calculation is 60 x $45 = $2,700 at the low rate and 60 x $90 = $5,400 at the high rate. These calculated amounts exclude the separately priced outlet structure.
TLC’s pricing explanation includes excavation, pipe, gravel, fabric, an outlet and basic restoration. Its whole-project ranges therefore cannot be compared with trench footage alone.
Ask for the measured pipe route, the outlet type and the finished-yard work beside the total. The distance along a wall does not necessarily equal the length of the installed drain.
Three Completed Maryland Projects
Bob Carr describes these TLC projects in the article dated December 9, 2025. They are the contractor’s own project reports, rather than three independent customer invoices. Individual completion dates are not given.
- Severna Park: $7,800 to remove a clogged system, install 60 feet of new drain, connect three downspouts and replace sod along the yard edge.
- Annapolis: $5,400 for 45 feet of exterior drain, a new sump pop-up outlet, a regraded mulch bed and a side-yard microdrain.
- Bowie: $3,100 for 25 feet of drain, a porch-gutter downspout connection and a pop-up emitter.
Those extra items explain why dividing the total by trench length can mislead you. Removing an old drain, connecting gutters and restoring the yard are part of the reported project amounts.
Check the Water Problem Before Buying a Drain
Have the contractor trace the water source. A damaged downspout line, surface runoff and water reaching the basement footing can require different work, even when all three leave a wet patch.
ProSeal distinguishes a shallow exterior yard drain from interior drain tile beside the footing. Its yard-drain price does not cover digging down to waterproof a foundation wall.
For water inside the house, my basement leak repair guide compares other repair scopes. Do not buy a yard trench simply because it has a lower per-foot price.
The construction photograph shows pipe and fabric in an excavated trench. It illustrates the type of work, not a recommended depth or a design for your yard.
What Makes the Quote Rise?
ProSeal names trench depth, access, buried obstacles, the outlet and restoration as major price differences. A machine-accessible lawn and a narrow passage beside a house require different amounts of work.
Ask how the proposal handles excavated soil. Leaving suitable soil on site and hauling it away are different scopes, so the estimate should say which one it assumes.
Have the installer identify the discharge destination and any approvals the design needs. If the yard cannot provide the proposed gravity outlet, ask for the revised design and price before agreeing to the work.
Check whether sod, planting, irrigation, fence access and paved areas are included. A basic restoration allowance may not put every part of the yard back as you expect.
How I Would Compare Two Proposals
Give both contractors photographs of where water collects and explain when it happens. Ask each to describe the problem its design addresses, rather than requesting only a price per foot.
Compare the route, trench specification, pipe, stone, fabric, outlet, soil disposal and restoration. Have allowances and possible changes listed separately so the lower quote is easier to understand.
If a contractor recommends replacing a clogged old drain, ask what caused the failure and what changes in the new design. Paying for the same layout again needs an explanation.
French Drain Cost Questions
How much does a 60-foot French drain cost?
At ProSeal’s Chicago yard-drain rate, 60 x $45 = $2,700 and 60 x $90 = $5,400. Outlet structures and other separately listed work still need adding to the quote.
Does the per-foot rate include the outlet?
Read the provider’s terms. ProSeal prices structures such as emitters separately, while TLC says an outlet is included in its whole-project ranges.
Is a yard drain the same as basement drain tile?
No. ProSeal distinguishes exterior yard-depth drainage from an interior footing-level system. The right comparison depends on where the water problem occurs.
Why can a short project cost more per foot?
The total can include removing an old drain, downspout connections, an outlet and restoration. Compare those items before dividing a finished project’s price by its trench length.
Where These Drain Prices Come From
US contractor pages checked October 22, 2026. The three Maryland project descriptions are provider-reported examples, with no individual completion dates stated.
- ProSeal: Chicago yard-drain rate, inclusions and outlet exclusions
- Bob Carr at TLC: Maryland project ranges and three completed-job descriptions
I hope this helps you compare the drainage work your yard needs. You can share a recent itemized US quote at costcheckr@gmail.com.
