Well drilling cost calculator
Turn the numbers in a written quote into a line-by-line estimate with a high scenario for a deeper well.
- Base
- depth × rate + casing + every lump sum
- High
- extra depth at the quoted rate, plus contingency
Find trusted water well drilling companies near you
Compare water well drilling contractors, explore drilling costs, research local well records, and find the right company for your project.
An independent directory built from public state license records. Listings aren't paid placements or endorsements.
Drill rig above Red Fleet Reservoir, Utah. Photo: USGS, public domain.
Where are you in the project?
A private well comes together in four stages. Start with the one in front of you.
- Stage 1
Plan the site
Check records, depth and setbacks before you buy or build.
- Stage 2
Budget and hire
Price the whole system and compare written offers.
- Stage 3
Drill and test
Know what happens on site and what the tests should show.
- Stage 4
Own the well
Test the water, maintain the system, spot trouble early.
Well driller directory
Find a well driller near you
Search licensed drillers by name, city or county, then check each one before you call. Texas is listed first, with more states on the way.
- Listings built from public state license records
- License number, endorsements and expiry on every listing
- Source and retrieval date shown, and nothing paid for placement
Photo: drill rig at a replacement well, Long Island, N.Y. USGS, public domain.
Two tools for comparing quotes
Both run in your browser. Nothing you type is saved or sent.
Quote comparison checklist
Put two offers side by side: scope, depth limits, dry-hole terms and what each one leaves out. Print it or save a PDF.
- Offer A
- included, excluded or unclear, line by line
- Offer B
- the same lines, so gaps stand out
All guides by topic
Hiring a driller
Vet contractors, compare written offers and agree what happens if the hole comes up dry.
Costs and budgeting
Price the whole system, not just the per-foot drilling rate.
Land, water and site decisions
Depth, yield, setbacks and where the well should go.
How a well is built
Drilling methods, well types, casing, testing and the pump.
Owning a well
Testing, maintenance, low yield and the signs of a failing well.
Permits and records
Licenses, permits and how to find official well reports.
About this guide
A private water well starts with site-specific questions, an itemized written scope and a qualified local contractor, not a promised depth, price or yield. These guides help you ask the right questions at each stage, from how a water well is drilled and what drives well drilling cost to how to choose a well driller and comparing written quotes. Groundwater conditions vary by location, so no single depth, method or yield applies everywhere. USGS: Groundwater Wells [USGS source note]
Private well water is the owner's responsibility; it isn't federally regulated the way public water systems are. EPA: Private Wells [EPA source note]
Who runs this site
The Well Drilling Guide is an independent educational publisher. We don't drill wells, sell drilling work or rank drillers for payment. The well driller directory lists drillers from public state records. Read who is behind this guide and how we research and cite sources, and see the privacy notice, terms of use and contact page.
Sources & claim context
Citations mark where guidance is grounded. They are general resources dated on retrieval, not guarantees for any property, project, price, licensure, permit or yield. No expert, attorney or reviewer signoff is claimed by this site.
USGS: Groundwater Wells · USGS · accessed 2026-10-10
https://www.usgs.gov/water-science-school/science/groundwater-wells
No property-specific yield or project price
EPA: Private Wells · EPA · accessed 2026-10-10
https://www.epa.gov/privatewells
Does not specify local testing/permit rules or guarantee safety
Claims are grounded in the dated source notes above; project-specific price, yield, licensure and permit answers require site-specific and local verification.