Wells & Drainage cost guide

Water Well Drilling cost in California

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 · California

Drilling a 150-foot residential water well in California costs about $10,560, and typically runs $5,940–$17,380 depending on the depth you have to reach, the geology, and the pump.

Model range

$5,940–$17,380

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Well depth150 ft

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$10,560

$5,940–$17,380 · California

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

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

ComponentModeled rangeTypical

Drilling 150 ft (soil)labor$2,660–$7,080$4,420

Well casing (pvc, 150 ft)mixed$970–$1,780$1,300

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

Electrical, wiring & hookuplabor$1,160–$3,480$2,320

Permit & water quality testpermit$160–$1,040$420

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

Total modeled range$5,940–$17,380

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 California?

A typical 150-foot residential well in average soil costs about $10,560 in California, generally $5,940–$17,380 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 $2,660–$7,080 in California. 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 $22,920 ($13,550–$36,860) — 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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National view

National water well drilling cost

How we estimate these costs: every number on this page is generated by our open cost model from published contractor pricing, then adjusted for state labor rates. Read the full methodology and data sources. Last reviewed 2026-08-15.