French drain calculator

A French drain carries standing water away from your yard. This plans the materials for one run: trench size, gravel volume, pipe, and the total drop you need. The numbers come from extension-service and manufacturer install guides. Sources on the methodology page.

Materials estimate for a standard gravel-and-perforated-pipe drain. Where the water goes matters as much as the trench. Discharge rules are local, buried utilities can turn up where you least expect, and clay soils change the fabric decision. Call 811 before digging, and check local drainage rules.