French drain INSTALLATION COST

Catch basins explained

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A catch basin collects runoff at a low point and provides a sump where sediment can settle before water enters the outlet pipe.

US house and yard cutaway showing the drainage systems outside the house.

When does a catch basin help?

A catch basin collects runoff at a low point and provides a sump where sediment can settle before water enters the outlet pipe.

Put the inlet where runoff reaches it

The basin grate needs surrounding grades that direct water toward it. Identify the contributing roof or yard area and debris load before selecting a size. A small grate can be overwhelmed or covered by leaves even when the outlet pipe appears large enough.

NDS offers different basin and grate sizes for these applications.

A basin is not the discharge destination

The box receives water; connected piping must carry it onward. Ask the contractor to show the route, elevation and final outlet. A basin set in a wet hole with no functioning discharge is not a complete drainage system.

A sump below the outlet catches sediment and needs cleaning access.

Price the package accurately

Catch basin with pipe and simple outfall costs $1,200–$2,800 each nationally (as of Oct 2026). Quantity, ground, access and the outlet move the price.

The example uses Ledge’s published installed basin package with approximately 30–50 feet of solid pipe and a simple outfall. That is different from the retail cost of a plastic box. Do not add a second charge for the same included pipe and outfall.

Multiple basins, difficult access and substantial surface repair need a revised scope.

Leave access after landscaping

Keep mulch, turf and planting away from the grate. NDS describes removing the grate to clean the sump. Ask how the selected grate is secured and serviced, and inspect after heavy debris loads.

If water bypasses the inlet, check the grade and grate blockage before assuming the underground pipe has failed.

Cutaway of a yard French drain trench beside a brick ranch house: fabric-lined trench, gravel and a black perforated pipe under the lawn.
A yard drain in cross-section; outlet suitability needs an on-site check.

Nonwoven fabric keeps soil out of the gravel so the drain doesn't clog.

Washed gravel around the pipe lets water reach it from every side.

Water rises into the holes and runs along the pipe, which slopes toward the outlet.
Questions to ask before work starts
Can a catch basin take downspout water?
It can be part of an appropriately designed roof-water system. The inlet, pipe, overflow and outlet still need to be sized and connected for the site.
How much pipe is included in the example?
The cited package includes about 30–50 linear feet. Confirm the actual included length in the contractor’s proposal.
Sources
Cutaway of a yard French drain trench beside a brick ranch house: fabric-lined trench, gravel and a black perforated pipe under the lawn.

French drain cost

Per-foot prices, worked examples and what changes the total.

US house and yard cut away to show a French drain, downspout line, dry well, catch basin and driveway channel drain.

French drain installation, step by step

What a pro does, from the site check to lawn repair.

Two-story US house with a gravel French drain trench curving through a wet lawn.

French drain for a soggy yard

When a yard drain fixes standing water, and when it won't.