Wells & Drainage cost guide

Water Well Drilling cost by state

Well drilling is priced mostly by the foot: the deeper you drill and the harder the rock, the higher the cost. On top of the borehole you pay for casing, a pump, the electrical hookup, a pressure tank, and a permit with a water-quality test. Depth is by far the dominant driver, which is why the calculator leads with it.

The direct answer · the U.S.

Drilling a 150-foot residential water well in the U.S. costs about $9,450, and typically runs $5,300–$15,650 depending on the depth you have to reach, the geology, and the pump.

Model range

$5,300–$15,650

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Well depth150 ft

25600 ft

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$9,450

$5,300–$15,650 · National average

150 ft · Soil / sand (easiest)

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Viewing:Water Well Drilling

Filtered price comparison

Top 6 selected states by modeled typical water well drilling cost.

Range Typical

				Confidence
FloridaFL	$4,880	$8,720	$14,510	measured
TexasTX	$4,950	$8,840	$14,690	measured
PennsylvaniaPA	$5,430	$9,670	$16,000	measured
New YorkNY	$5,850	$10,400	$17,140	measured
CaliforniaCA	$5,940	$10,560	$17,380	measured
IllinoisIL	$6,110	$10,840	$17,820	measured

Showing 1–6 of 6 state estimates

Default-scenario breakdown

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This a 150-foot well in average soil is shown for the U.S.. Every row is priced by the same cost model that powers the calculator.

ComponentModeled rangeTypical

Drilling 150 ft (soil)labor$2,250–$6,000$3,750

Well casing (pvc, 150 ft)mixed$900–$1,650$1,200

Well pump (submersible)material$500–$2,000$1,100

Electrical, wiring & hookuplabor$1,000–$3,000$2,000

Permit & water quality testpermit$150–$1,000$400

Pressure tankmaterial$500–$2,000$1,000

Total modeled range$5,300–$15,650

What changes the range

Cost drivers worth asking about.

Depth is the dominant cost

You pay a per-foot rate for both drilling and casing, so a 300-foot well costs roughly twice the borehole of a 150-foot well. If you do not know your water-table depth, ask neighbors or the local well log — it sets the whole budget.

Geology multiplies the per-foot rate

Drilling through soil is the baseline. Mixed ground adds about 25% to the per-foot rate, and solid rock adds about 75% because it is slower and harder on the bit. Geology is why two wells of the same depth can differ by thousands.

Pump, casing, and hookup

A submersible pump suits deep wells; a jet pump is cheaper but only for shallow ones. Steel casing costs far more than PVC. Electrical work, a pressure tank, and a permit with a water-quality test round out the job.

Common questions

The practical details.

How much does it cost to drill a well in the U.S.?

A typical 150-foot residential well in average soil costs about $9,450 in the U.S., generally $5,300–$15,650 all-in with the pump, casing, and hookup.

How much does it cost to drill a well per foot?

The drilling itself runs a per-foot rate; at 150 feet in soil the borehole alone is about $2,250–$6,000 in the U.S.. Rock can add roughly 75% to that per-foot rate.

How much more does a deep or rocky well cost?

A 300-foot well in solid rock costs about $20,020 ($11,820–$32,300) — well over double a 150-foot soil well — because both depth and geology scale the per-foot drilling cost.

Do I need a permit to drill a well?

Most states require a well permit and a post-drilling water-quality test. It is a small part of the total, but it is required before you can use the water — never skip it.

Continue your research

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