Well Drilling Cost: $1,500–$12,000 (Average $5,500) in 2026
Author: CostGuideHQ Editorial·✓ Fact-checked·Updated July 2026·5 min read·4 sources Quick answerQuick answer: Drilling a residential water well costs about $5,500 on average nationally, with most homeowners paying $3,000 to $9,000 for a complete system. Per foot, expect $15 to $65 depending on whether the quote covers drilling only or the full setup. Depth and rock conditions swing the price the most.
- ✓The national average to drill a residential well is about $5,500, with typical whole-project spend of $3,000 to $9,000 (HomeAdvisor, Bob Vila).
- ✓Per-foot rates run $15 to $30 for drilling only, or $25 to $65 for a complete drilled and installed well (Bob Vila, HomeAdvisor, The Well Guide).
- ✓A standard 100-200 foot residential well typically runs $5,500 to $12,000 all-in; deeper wells of 300-500 feet can reach $15,000 to $30,000 (The Well Guide).
- ✓Rock and soil conditions matter as much as depth — drilling through hard bedrock instead of soft sand can multiply the per-foot rate several times over (HomeAdvisor, Culligan).
How much does well drilling cost?
National average
$5,500
total project
Typical range
$1,500–$12,000
Most projects
Whole project
$3,000–$9,000
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Cost by material / type
| Type | Low | High |
|---|
| Shallow well (50-100 ft) | $3,000 | $7,500 |
| Standard residential well (100-200 ft) | $5,500 | $12,000 |
| Moderate-depth well (200-300 ft) | $10,000 | $18,000 |
| Deep well (300-500 ft) | $15,000 | $30,000 |
What affects the cost?
- Well depth and depth to the local water table
- Soil and rock type — soft sand vs. hard bedrock can significantly increase the per-foot rate
- Well type: dug, driven, or drilled
- Pump and pressure tank installation ($900-$2,500 for the pump, $300-$500 for the tank)
- Permits, which typically run $200-$500 depending on the county
- Water testing and any treatment system needed once the well is in
Why does well drilling cost so much?
Drilling a well means bringing heavy rig equipment on site and boring anywhere from 50 to 500+ feet through unpredictable ground, so the price reflects both the depth reached and what the crew has to cut through to get there. Nationally, homeowners pay about $5,500 on average, with typical whole-project costs landing between $3,000 and $9,000 (HomeAdvisor). Per foot, a drilling-only quote runs $15 to $30, while a complete job — casing, pump, pressure tank, electrical hookup, and permit included — runs $25 to $65 per foot (Bob Vila, HomeAdvisor). A standard 100-200 foot residential well typically totals $5,500 to $12,000 all-in (The Well Guide). The spread across sources is wide because “well drilling cost” means different things depending on the quote: drilling alone is far cheaper than a fully installed, ready-to-use system.
What affects the cost?
- Depth. Shallow wells (50-100 feet) run about $3,000 to $7,500, standard residential wells (100-200 feet) run $5,500 to $12,000, and deep wells (300-500 feet) can reach $15,000 to $30,000 (The Well Guide).
- Soil and rock conditions. Soft sand drills quickly and cheaply, while hard bedrock can push per-foot pricing several times higher than soft ground (HomeAdvisor, Culligan).
- Well type. Dug wells start around $2,500, driven wells start around $4,000, and drilled wells — the standard for most homes — start above $5,500 (Bob Vila, Culligan).
- Pump and pressure tank. A submersible pump typically adds $900 to $2,500, and a pressure tank adds $300 to $500 (HomeAdvisor).
- Permits. Local permitting costs typically run $200 to $500, though it can be lower depending on the county (HomeAdvisor, Culligan).
- Water testing and treatment. A basic water test is often bundled into full-system quotes, but treatment equipment for water quality issues is typically a separate cost (HomeAdvisor).
How to lower your well drilling cost
- Get a site evaluation before you dig. A hydrogeologist or local well contractor can estimate depth to water and likely ground conditions, which helps you budget realistically instead of guessing between the $1,500 low end and the $30,000+ high end sources report.
- Compare drilling-only vs. full-system quotes carefully. A cheaper per-foot number might exclude casing, pump, and electrical — make sure you’re comparing complete, apples-to-apples bids.
- Time the project for typical, not extreme, conditions. If you have flexibility in well type — dug, driven, or drilled — a shallower approach on suitable land can come in well under the standard drilled-well starting point of $5,500 (Bob Vila).
- Bundle permitting and water testing with your contractor. Handling permits ($200-$500) and the initial test as part of the same job avoids extra coordination costs and delays (HomeAdvisor, Culligan).
Well costs depend heavily on your specific property, so treat these figures as a planning range. Get two or three local quotes that spell out depth assumptions, casing material, and what’s included before committing to a final number.
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Frequently asked questions
How much does it cost to drill a well on average?+
The national average is about $5,500 for a standard drilled well, with most homeowners spending $3,000 to $9,000 for a complete system including casing, pump, and pressure tank (HomeAdvisor, Bob Vila).
How much does well drilling cost per foot?+
Drilling-only quotes run about $15 to $30 per foot. Once you add casing, pump, and installation, the complete-system rate runs $25 to $65 per foot, and can climb higher through hard rock (Bob Vila, HomeAdvisor, Culligan).
How much does a 200-foot well cost?+
A 200-foot well falls in the standard residential range of roughly $5,500 to $12,000 total, or into the moderate-depth $10,000-$18,000 bracket once you're closer to 300 feet, depending on soil and casing choice (The Well Guide).
Why do well drilling quotes vary so much?+
Quotes swing widely because some cover drilling only while others bundle the full system: casing, pump, pressure tank, electrical hookup, permit, and water test. Depth, well type, and whether the crew hits soft soil or hard rock all add to the spread, which is why totals reported across sources range from about $1,500 up to $30,000 or more (Bob Vila, Culligan, The Well Guide).
What's the difference in cost between dug, driven, and drilled wells?+
Dug wells start around $2,500, driven wells start around $4,000, and drilled wells — the most common type for a permanent household water supply — start above $5,500 (Bob Vila, Culligan).
Does the well drilling cost include the pump and permits?+
Not always. A well pump typically adds $900 to $2,500, a pressure tank adds $300 to $500, and permits run $200 to $500 on top of the drilling cost unless your contractor's quote specifically bundles them in (HomeAdvisor, Culligan).
Sources
Figures synthesized and cross-checked across these sources (retrieved 2026-07-24):
- HomeAdvisor — "an average of $5,500"; "Normal Range: $3,000 - $9,000"; per-foot by well type — residential (100-200 ft) "$25 to $65", irrigation/agricultural "$25-$110", geothermal "$15-$40", artesian "$35-$90"; permits "$200 to $500"; well pump "$900-$2,500"; pressure tank/switch "$300-$500"
- Bob Vila — "the average cost to put in a well ranges from $1,500 to $12,000"; "homeowners pay $5,500 to drill a well" (national average); "between $15 and $30 per foot when digging a well"; drilled wells "start at $5,500", driven wells "starting at $4,000", dug wells "starts at $2,500"; permits "$5 and $500"
- The Well Guide — "Most homeowners pay between $5,500 and $12,000 all-in for a standard drilled well"; "$25 to $65 per foot for the drilling itself"; shallow wells (50-100 feet) "$3,000 to $7,500"; standard residential (100-200 feet) "$5,500 to $12,000"; moderate-depth (200-300 feet) "$10,000 to $18,000"; deep wells (300-500 feet) "$15,000 to $30,000"
- Culligan — "The cost of drilling a well can range from $1,500 to more than $30,000"; "The average well drilling cost is around $5,000-$10,000"; drilling only "$25 and $50 per foot", complete system "$65 or more" per foot; dug wells "starting at about $2,500", driven wells "upwards of $4,000", drilled wells "more than $5,500"; permits "up to $500"
Quotes for 'well drilling' vary widely because some cover drilling only while others include the full system (casing, pump, pressure tank, electrical hookup, permit, and water test). Sources cluster around a $5,500 national average for a standard drilled well, with typical homeowner spend of $3,000-$9,000 (HomeAdvisor) and an overall range of $1,500-$12,000 (Bob Vila). Very deep wells or hard-rock drilling can push total cost to $15,000-$30,000+ (Culligan, The Well Guide).