What the cost guides say
| Source | Their figure |
|---|---|
| HomeGuide | Replacement $3,000–$15,000; repair or rejuvenation $1,000–$5,000 |
| Angi | Drain field installation $5,000–$12,000 |
| Our range | $3,000–$15,000 |
Drain field costs, line by line
| Item | Typical cost | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Replace field lines | $20–$45 per linear ft | HomeGuide |
| Leach field rejuvenation / line repair | $1,000–$5,000 | HomeGuide |
| Full drain field replacement | $3,000–$15,000 | HomeGuide |
| Move the field (new install + old field closure) | $5,500–$21,500 | HomeGuide |
| New line from tank to a new field | $40–$180 per linear ft | HomeGuide |
| Perc test | $600–$2,000 | HomeGuide |
| Drain field permit | $250–$650 | HomeGuide |
| Abandonment permit for the old field | $100–$250 | HomeGuide |
| Sod over the new field | $1–$2 per sq ft | HomeGuide |
What sets the size and price
Field size comes from the number of bedrooms and how fast your soil absorbs water. Try the drain field size calculator: a 3-bedroom home on loam needs roughly 500 sq ft of absorption area, while the same home on clay needs nearly three times that.
- Soil type and perc rate
- Bedrooms (design flow)
- Slope, access for an excavator, trees and rock
- Whether the field must move to a new area
Signs the drain field has failed
- Standing water or soggy ground over the field
- Sewage odor in the yard
- Drains slow down again soon after the tank is pumped
- Backups into the lowest drains of the house
Confirm with an inspection before paying for a new field: a broken baffle or distribution box can look like a failed field.