The short answer
Land drainage in the UK typically costs £20–£50 per linear metre for a basic perforated land drain installed, while a complete garden drainage scheme more often lands in the £1,500–£5,000+ range depending on plot size and ground. A short run for a small garden can start around £800–£2,000, while a larger or clay-heavy plot needing multiple drains and a soakaway can run higher. The main cost drivers are the length and depth of drainage needed, your soil type, access for a mini-digger, and where the water can legally be sent — a soakaway, a watercourse or a surface-water connection. The figures here are typical ranges for guidance, not quotations.
Price depends mainly on how much trenching you need, how deep, what the soil is like and where the water can go. The figures below are typical installed ranges for guidance, not quotes.
Typical UK costs
- Land drain installed£20–£50 / linear metre
- French drain installed£25–£60 / metre
- Soakaway£600–£3,000
- Full garden scheme£1,500–£5,000+
- Lawn aeration / regrade£300–£1,500
What drives the price
- Length & depth: you pay largely per metre of trench, so a bigger plot or a deeper drain costs more.
- Soil type: heavy clay and compacted ground take longer to dig and may need more aggregate, pushing the figure up.
- Access: if a mini-digger can reach the work the labour is lower; hand-digging a tight rear garden costs more.
- Where the water goes: a soakaway, a connection to a watercourse, or a surface-water drain each carries its own cost and rules.
| Item | Typical figure | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Land drain installed | £20–£50 / m | perforated pipe in gravel trench |
| French drain installed | £25–£60 / m | varies by depth & aggregate |
| Soakaway | £600–£3,000 | crate or pit, by size |
| Full garden scheme | £1,500–£5,000+ | multiple drains, often a soakaway |
Indicative UK figures for guidance. Sources: Checkatrade and MyBuilder garden drainage cost guides.
Why the range is so wide
Two gardens of the same size can cost very differently to drain. A free-draining sandy plot with easy access might need only a short land drain to a soakaway, while a clay garden that sits underwater after rain can need several runs of drain feeding a large crate soakaway, plus regrading. Because the bulk of the cost is excavation, aggregate and where the water is sent, the only reliable number comes from a specialist who has seen your ground.
Want a clear drainage quote?
We'll match you with a vetted land drainage specialist who surveys your ground and quotes on a clear specification — drainage runs, destination for the water, and any soakaway all set out.
Frequently asked questions
How much does it cost to drain a waterlogged garden?
A full garden drainage scheme typically costs £1,500–£5,000+ depending on plot size and soil, with a basic land drain running around £20–£50 per metre installed. A short run for a small garden can start around £800–£2,000.
Why is land drainage so expensive on clay?
Heavy clay and compacted ground take longer to excavate and often need more aggregate and longer drainage runs to move water that the soil itself won't drain — all of which adds to the figure.
What should a drainage quote include?
Look for the metres and depth of drainage, the destination for the water (soakaway, watercourse or surface-water drain), and whether excavation, aggregate, any soakaway and spoil removal are all included, so you can compare like for like.
Sources & further reading
Figures on this page are typical UK ranges drawn from published sources and depend on your specific garden and ground. They are guidance, not a quotation.