Well drilling cost is mostly set by depth, because most contractors charge for drilling by the foot. Water Systems Council: Determining the Depth of a Well The total cost of a working well adds casing, sealing, development and yield testing, the pump and pressure tank, the water line and electrical connection, permits and a water test. Geology, access and local rules move every one of those lines, so the only reliable number for your property is an itemized, written quote from a local contractor. This page explains each cost driver and how to compare quotes. [WSC-DEPTH source note]
What determines water well drilling cost?
| Cost driver | Why it matters | What to ask |
|---|---|---|
| Depth | Drilling is usually priced per foot; deeper wells cost more | What depth do you expect, and why? What's the maximum? |
| Geology | Hard rock, loose sand or caving ground change the method, speed and casing needed | What formations do nearby wells show? |
| Casing | Usually priced per foot; loose ground may need more | What material, diameter and length? |
| Access and site | Difficult rig access or site prep adds cost | Is site preparation included? |
| Pump system | Pump size and setting depth depend on yield and water level | Is the pump included, and how will it be sized? |
| Distance to the house | Longer trench and water line | Who digs and connects, and at what rate? |
| Permits and fees | Vary by state and county | Who files, and what fees apply? |
| Water quality | Treatment may be needed after testing | Which tests are included? |
| Dry-hole risk | A dry or weak first hole adds cost | What do I owe if the hole is dry? |
Well drilling cost per foot: what it does and doesn't include
A per-foot rate prices the hole. It may or may not include casing, and it rarely includes the pump, tank, water line or electrical work. Some contractors price deeper footage at a higher rate. NGWA's contract guidelines recommend itemizing drilling per foot and casing per foot separately, with casing diameter and thickness stated. NGWA (Wellowner.org): Guidelines for Written Contracts When comparing quotes, multiply each per-foot rate by the same depth assumption and then add every other line. The well drilling cost calculator does the math and shows a high scenario for a deeper well. [NGWA-CONTRACT source note]
How much does it cost to drill a well?
We don't publish a national average because it would mislead you: depth alone can vary from about 100 to more than 800 feet between areas, Water Systems Council: Determining the Depth of a Well and site work and equipment vary just as much. What you can do is turn local quotes into a realistic range: [WSC-DEPTH source note]
- Get written, itemized quotes from at least two local contractors for the same site and intended use.
- Note each contractor's expected depth and the maximum depth they'll drill without your approval.
- Price the base case at the expected depth and a high case at the maximum.
- Add the lines a drilling-only quote leaves out; complete well installation cost lists them.
- Keep a line for treatment until the water test is back.
Costs people forget
- Development and yield testing, which tell you whether the well meets your needs. See well pump tests.
- Disinfection and the first water test before drinking.
- Decommissioning an old well you are replacing.
- Storage, if the well's yield can't meet peak demand. Penn State Extension cites intermediate storage tank costs in its guidance on low-yielding wells. Penn State Extension: Using Low-Yielding Wells
- A hydrogeologist in difficult ground, which Penn State Extension estimates at several hundred to a few thousand dollars. Penn State Extension: Water Well Location by Fracture Trace Mapping
How to compare itemized local quotes
Put each proposal into the same table. For every line, record what the written offer says: included, excluded, or unclear. Ask bidders to clarify unclear lines in writing before comparing totals. Then compare the protections, not just the price: maximum depth, rate changes past the estimate, dry-hole terms, testing, warranties and cleanup. A Montana well-owner guide recommends a written, itemized estimate and a maximum depth the driller can't exceed without your agreement. Montana DNRC well-owner guide (revised 2007) The quote checklist gives you a printable two-offer worksheet. [MT-DNRC source note]
What if depth or conditions change?
Before work starts, get the expected depth, the stopping point, the approval process for extra footage, any changed rates, and the terms if usable water isn't found into the written proposal. Groundwater and subsurface conditions vary by location, which is why these terms matter. USGS: Groundwater Wells See who pays for a dry hole for the clauses to agree on. [USGS source note]
Water quality is part of the budget
Private well water is the owner's responsibility; it isn't federally regulated the way public water systems are. EPA: Private Wells Budget for a lab test before drinking and every year after, and for treatment if results call for it. See private well water testing. [EPA source note]
Next steps
Find local contractors through the well driller directory and check each license with your state, use the vetting questions when you call, then model each quote in the calculator.
Common questions
How much does it cost to drill a water well?
It depends on depth, geology, casing, the pump system, site work and local fees, which vary widely by area. Get itemized local quotes and use the calculator to compare them; a national average can't tell you the cost at your property.
Is well drilling priced per foot?
Usually the drilling is, and often the casing too. Other items, such as the pump, tank, development, testing and permits, are typically lump sums.
Why do well drilling quotes vary so much?
Contractors may assume different depths, include different items, and treat dry-hole risk differently. Line the quotes up item by item at the same depth to see the real difference.
Does deeper always mean more expensive?
Usually, because drilling and casing are priced by the foot and deeper wells may need more pump capacity. But a deeper well that finds good water can be cheaper than a shallow well that needs storage or a second attempt.
Find the drillers
Compare real providers, not just prices.
Understand the cost drivers, then look up provider coverage here once records exist.
Open the well driller directorySources & 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
Montana DNRC well-owner guide (revised 2007) · MT-DNRC · accessed 2026-10-10
https://dnrc.mt.gov/_docs/water/waterwelldrillowner.pdf
Historical Montana document; do not nationalize its licensing, bond, permit, yield, pricing or legal clauses; refresh with current local authority
Water Systems Council: Determining the Depth of a Well · Water Systems Council (wellcare) · accessed 2026-10-10
Undated industry sheet; typical-range figures are not a prediction for any property
Penn State Extension: Using Low-Yielding Wells · Penn State Extension · accessed 2026-10-10
https://extension.psu.edu/using-low-yielding-wells
Cost figures in the article are Pennsylvania-era estimates; not quotes
Penn State Extension: Water Well Location by Fracture Trace Mapping · Penn State Extension · accessed 2026-10-10
https://extension.psu.edu/water-well-location-by-fracture-trace-mapping
Applies mainly to fractured-bedrock settings; success not guaranteed
NGWA (Wellowner.org): Guidelines for Written Contracts · NGWA · accessed 2026-10-10
https://wellowner.org/basics/planning-for-a-water-well/guidelines-for-written-contracts/
Does not prescribe who pays for a dry hole
Claims are grounded in the dated source notes above; project-specific price, yield, licensure and permit answers require site-specific and local verification.