Yard & Surface Drainage Cost Calculator
Estimate a surface-drainage job — channel drain, swale or trench drain — from the run length, your price per linear foot and any catch basins.
Calculator
A 80 ft surface-drainage run at $25.00/ft is about $2,000.00 with your catch basins. Grading water away from the foundation is often the cheapest first fix.
Yard or surface drainage handles water that moves across the ground rather than up against a wall: rain sheeting off a patio, a low spot that stays soggy, water running toward the house from a slope, or overflow from downspouts. The usual fixes — a channel (trench) drain across a driveway, a graded swale, a shallow surface trench, or catch basins at the low points — are all priced by the running foot, with the collection boxes added on top. This calculator captures both parts so you can compare a landscaper’s quote to a simple, transparent take-off.
As with every tool on the site, the price per foot is yours, not an assumed number: it depends on the drain type, depth, whether hardscape has to be cut, and local labor. Enter what your quote says and the math stays valid regardless of what materials cost this year.
Formula
Surface drainage is priced by the running foot plus any point collectors:
Total = channel length (ft) × your $/linear ft + catch basins
The channel figure covers the linear run — a channel (trench) drain, a graded swale, or a shallow surface trench. Catch basins (the boxed grate inlets that collect water at low points and downspouts) are entered as a single lump sum, since their count and price vary; set it to 0 if the job has none.
Worked example
Suppose water sheets across a patio and pools at the back of the lot, and you plan an 80 ft channel drain at a quoted $25 per linear foot with no separate basins:
- Channel run → 80 × $25 = $2,000
- Catch basins → $0
- Total → $2,000
Add basins as a lump sum and the total climbs by exactly that amount — for instance, two $150 catch basins would make it $2,300.
Background & practice
Grading and moving water away from the foundation is often the cheapest and most effective first fix for a wet basement — long before you consider interior systems or excavation. This tool carries the standard planning-estimate note; a shallow surface job is not usually structural or heavy excavation, but if your project involves deep trenching near the foundation, treat it like a French drain and bring in the engineer-and-permit checklist.
What each part covers
- Channel / run length — the linear feet of channel drain, swale or trench. The per-foot price usually includes excavation, the channel or pipe, gravel or bedding, back-fill and basic restoration.
- Catch basins — the boxed grate inlets that gather water at a downspout or a low point and feed it into the drain line. Count and price vary, so they are a lump-sum line here.
Choosing an approach
A swale is a shallow, gently graded channel, often the least expensive option where there is room to shape the ground. A channel (trench) drain is a linear grated drain set flush with a hard surface such as a driveway apron or patio — more expensive per foot but ideal where water crosses pavement. Catch basins suit spots where several flows converge. The right mix depends on where the water comes from and where it can safely go; a good installer will map the grades before quoting.
Where the water goes
Surface drainage only works if the collected water has somewhere to exit — daylight at a lower point on the lot, a dry well, or a storm connection where permitted. Confirm the outlet before you price the run, and check local rules about where you may discharge. Pair this with the downspout drain calculator when roof water is part of the problem, and with the French drain calculator when the issue is subsurface water against the foundation.
Frequently asked questions
How much does yard drainage cost?
It is the channel run plus any catch basins. An 80 ft channel at $25/ft is $2,000 in the worked example, before basins. The price per foot is one you enter from your own quote, so the estimate reflects your drain type, depth and local labor.
What is the difference between a swale and a channel drain?
A swale is a shallow graded channel shaped into the ground, usually cheaper where there is room. A channel (trench) drain is a linear grated drain set flush with pavement — more per foot but built for water crossing a hard surface.
How many catch basins do I need?
Enough to collect water where it converges — typically at downspout outlets and low points. Because count and price vary by site, this tool takes catch basins as a single lump-sum line; add your quoted total.
Is fixing yard drainage cheaper than waterproofing the basement?
Often, yes. Grading and surface drainage that carry water away from the house are frequently the cheapest first fix for a damp basement, and they may reduce or remove the need for interior systems later.
Where can the drainage water go?
To a lower point on the lot (daylight), a dry well, or a permitted storm connection — never onto a neighbor’s property. Confirm the outlet and local rules before pricing the run.