Quick Answer
A French drain in Massachusetts prices at $45–80 per linear foot all-in (materials + labor). Material runs $11–14/lin-ft statewide; labor varies $22–35/lin-ft by county and access. Boston suburbs (Newton, Belmont, Brookline) average $60/lin-ft; Plymouth and Bristol County rural runs $48/lin-ft; Worcester County and the Pioneer Valley $45/lin-ft. This worksheet covers the bid math for any MA county with the local adjustments built in.
Why MA French Drain Pricing Varies
Three factors drive county-by-county MA price spread:
- Labor rates. Boston metro crews bill $80–95/hr; Worcester County and inland $65–80/hr.
- Access difficulty. Older urban neighborhoods (Cambridge, Somerville, Brookline) require hand-trenching that doubles labor cost.
- Material delivery freight. Within 30 miles of the Brockton bulk yard, freight is minimal. Cape Cod, Berkshires, and far-northern Essex add 8–15%.
Per EPA Stormwater Management, the engineering spec is identical statewide. Pricing math just adjusts for these three variables.
Standard Spec
A typical MA French drain:
- Trench: 12" wide × 18" deep
- Fabric: non-woven geotextile, full envelope
- Stone: ¾" washed stone, 4 cubic yards per 50 linear feet
- Pipe: 4" perforated PVC, holes-down
- Daylight: 4–8 ft of solid PVC + pop-up emitter
Browse French drain & drainage.
Material Cost (Statewide)
For a 50-foot job:
| Item | Quantity | Total |
|---|---|---|
| ¾" washed stone | 4 cu yd | $260 |
| 4" perforated PVC | 50 ft | $125 |
| Solid PVC daylight | 8 ft | $24 |
| Couplings | 4 | $32 |
| Geotextile fabric | 80 sq ft | $32 |
| Pop-up emitter | 1 | $15 |
| Subtotal | $488 | |
| Per lin-ft | ~$10/lin-ft | |
| With 10% waste | ~$11/lin-ft |
Browse crushed stone for current per-yard rates.
Labor Cost by County
Blended labor rate (3.5 lin-ft per crew-hour for a 2-person crew) at billed crew-hour rates by county:
| County | Crew-hour rate | Per lin-ft labor | 50-ft labor total |
|---|---|---|---|
| Suffolk (Boston, Brookline) | $90 | $26 | $1,300 |
| Middlesex (Cambridge, Newton, Belmont) | $85 | $24 | $1,200 |
| Norfolk (Quincy, Wellesley) | $80 | $23 | $1,150 |
| Essex (coastal: Salem, Beverly) | $80 | $23 | $1,150 |
| Plymouth (Brockton, Plymouth) | $75 | $21 | $1,050 |
| Bristol (Fall River, New Bedford) | $70 | $20 | $1,000 |
| Worcester | $70 | $20 | $1,000 |
| Cape Cod (Barnstable) | $85 | $24 | $1,200 |
Suffolk and Cape Cod higher due to access difficulty (Boston) and seasonal-pricing premium (Cape).
Total Bid by County
Combining materials, labor, equipment (mini-excavator prorated when used), and 25% overhead/profit:
| County | Per Lin-Ft Total | 50-ft Bid |
|---|---|---|
| Suffolk | $63 | $3,150 |
| Middlesex | $59 | $2,950 |
| Norfolk | $56 | $2,800 |
| Essex (coastal) | $56 | $2,800 |
| Plymouth | $52 | $2,600 |
| Bristol | $48 | $2,400 |
| Worcester | $48 | $2,400 |
| Cape Cod | $61 | $3,050 |
These are typical jobs in average yards. Add the access modifiers below for difficult sites.
Access Modifiers (Add to Per Lin-Ft Bid)
| Modifier | Reason | Add per Lin-Ft |
|---|---|---|
| Hand-trench only (no mini access) | Cambridge, Somerville, Brookline triple-deckers | +$8 |
| Tree-root cutting | Mature canopy yards | +$8 |
| Hardscape removal | Cut existing patio or walkway | +$15 |
| Drywell at discharge | No daylight option | +$400 flat |
| Permit + DigSafe coordination | All MA towns | +$100–200 flat |
| Coastal high-water-table | Salem, Marblehead, P-town | +$5 |
| Tight backyard access | Single-person wheelbarrow only | +$10 |
A tough Cambridge job with hand-trench, tree roots, and hardscape can hit $90/lin-ft. A simple flat Plymouth yard can land at $42/lin-ft.
Crew Logistics by County Type
Urban (Suffolk, Middlesex): Two-person crew, 1.5 days for 50 ft. Mini-excavator rental rare due to access.
Suburban (Norfolk, Plymouth, Essex coastal): Two-person crew with mini-excavator (when access permits), 1 day for 50 ft.
Rural (Worcester, Bristol, inland Essex): Two- to three-person crew with skid-steer, 0.75 day for 50 ft.
For the construction technique, see How to Trench a French Drain in a Boston Backyard. For the Belmont-specific worksheet (more granular), see Pricing French Drain Jobs in Belmont: Lin-Ft Worksheet.
What You'll Need from Ottr (50-ft Job)
| Material | Quantity |
|---|---|
| ¾" washed stone | 4 cubic yards |
| Topsoil Loam ½" Screened | 1 cubic yard |
Browse French drain & drainage and crushed stone for the bulk material. Ottr delivers across MA — see the full Ottr catalog for delivery scheduling.
For the matching drainage menu, see Top 5 Drainage Solutions for Newton Properties and Top 5 Drainage Solutions for Essex County Properties.
Quick Reference — MA Bid Range
For a 50-ft standard French drain:
- Lowest (rural Worcester, Bristol): $2,400
- Average (suburban Norfolk, Plymouth): $2,700–2,900
- Highest (Boston metro, Cape Cod, urban access): $3,200–3,500
The short version: $11/lin-ft material everywhere. Labor varies by county. Mini-excavator changes the math when access allows. 50 ft is the right baseline — most MA homeowner jobs fall between 30 and 80 lin-ft.
