How Much Does It Cost to Drill a Water Well? (2026 Guide)
A complete residential well typically costs $6,000 to $16,000 for a 200-foot well. Depth, rock and where you live change that number a lot. Use the estimator below to rough out your own budget.
Cost breakdown
| Item | Typical cost | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Drilling (residential) | $15 – $30 per foot | Bob Vila 2023; HomeServe $20–$30 |
| Installation | $10 – $60 per foot | HomeServe |
| Casing: PVC | $6 – $10 per foot | Bob Vila 2023 |
| Casing: steel | $33 – $130 per foot | Bob Vila 2023 |
| Well pump | $300 – $2,000 | Bob Vila 2023 |
| Water and electric lines to the house | $50 – $150 per foot | Bob Vila 2023 |
| Permit | $5 – $500 | Bob Vila 2023 |
| Water test | $30 – $150 DIY kit; $100 – $500 professional | Bob Vila 2023 |
| Treatment system (if needed) | $800 – $2,600 + $200 – $400 labor | Bob Vila 2023 |
Cost by depth
Bob Vila's 2023 guide gives these totals by depth. Use them as a rough guide, since prices have risen since then.
| Well depth | Low | High |
|---|---|---|
| 50 feet | $1,800 | $3,100 |
| 150 feet | $5,300 | $9,200 |
| 300 feet | $10,700 | $18,400 |
| 400 feet | $14,200 | $24,500 |
Budget estimator
Adds drilling ($15–$30/ft), casing, a pump ($300–$2,000), lines to the house ($50–$150/ft), a permit ($5–$500) and a water test ($30–$500), using the published ranges above. It leaves out installation labor, rock or access surcharges, and treatment, so real quotes are often higher. Ask your driller how much casing your area needs.
What makes a well cost more
- Depth: the biggest factor, because you pay per foot.
- Rock and soil: hard bedrock is slower to drill than sand or clay.
- Location: HomeServe's averages range from $7,100 in Louisiana to $38,000 in Alaska.
- Access: remote or tight sites need more time and equipment.
- Casing: steel costs several times more than PVC.
- Distance to the house: trenching and lines are priced per foot.
Per-foot drilling prices by state (examples)
| State | Per foot |
|---|---|
| California | $25 – $50 |
| Florida | $15 – $30 |
| Oklahoma | $20 – $40 |
| Texas | $30 – $55 |
| Wisconsin | $20 – $45 |
From Bob Vila's 2023 guide. Treat these as rough; get local quotes.
How to compare driller quotes
- Get at least three quotes from licensed, insured well drillers.
- Check what's included: casing, grouting, well cap, pump, pressure tank, wiring, trenching, permit.
- Ask about dry or low-yield holes: do you pay for every foot regardless?
- Ask about typical depth and yield of nearby wells they've drilled.
- Make sure the price includes disinfecting the new well.
- Get a water test before you drink the water. The CDC recommends testing yearly after that.
Already have a well with a failing pump? See well pump replacement cost.
Frequently asked questions
How much does it cost to drill a water well?
HomeServe puts a complete residential well (drilling plus installation) at about $6,000 to $16,000 for a 200-foot well. Shallower wells cost less, and deep wells in hard rock or remote areas can cost far more. HomeServe gives a $7,100 average for Louisiana and $38,000 for Alaska.
How much does well drilling cost per foot?
Drilling alone is commonly about $15 to $30 per foot for a residential well (HomeServe: $20 to $30; Bob Vila, 2023: $15 to $30). Installation adds roughly $10 to $60 per foot, and casing is priced separately.
Do I pay if the driller doesn’t find water?
Usually yes. You typically pay for every foot drilled, whether or not the well produces enough water. Ask each driller how they handle a dry or low-yield hole before signing.
How deep does a well need to be?
It depends entirely on local geology. Shallow wells can be as little as 25 feet, but they are more easily contaminated. Many residential wells are a few hundred feet deep. Ask local drillers and your county for typical depths nearby.
Do I need a permit to drill a well?
Most states and counties require one. Bob Vila’s 2023 guide puts permit fees at about $5 to $500 depending on location. Your county health or environmental department can tell you the rules.
Sources
- Well Drilling Costs, HomeServe
- Well Drilling Cost (published March 2023), Bob Vila
- Guidelines for Testing Well Water, U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
- Private Drinking Water Wells, U.S. EPA
Sources checked October 24, 2026. Found an error? Tell us and we will fix it.