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CostHelper > Home and Garden  > Driveways, Pools & Outdoor Living > Well Drilling

Well Drilling Cost


How Much Does Well Drilling Cost?

 
average costWell Drilling: $1,500-$12,000+high costComplete Well Water System: $3,500-$50,000+

A water well is any type of excavation created to remove water from an underground aquifer (a geologic formation or series of formations that contain enough water to supply wells and springs). Wells created using traditional digging methods (pick and shovel or backhoe) are typically wide holes only 10'-30' deep. Driven wells are created by driving a small diameter pipe into soft earth (gravel or sand) and are generally 30'-50' deep. The most common method of well construction in the United States today is drilling, which requires a fairly complicated and expensive drill rig, usually mounted on a large truck. Drilled wells are typically 100'-400' deep but can be 1,000' or more. The U.S. Geological Survey provides an overview of types of wells[1] and the Environmental Protections Agency provides a glossary[2] of well-related terms.

Typical costs:

  • Prices for drilling a water well are typically quoted by the foot, and vary significantly depending on the type and difficulty of the material being drilled through (sand, solid rock, clay, etc.).
  • Drilling the well hole, installing the casing (a tubular lining that prevents the well hole from collapsing) and adding a well cap (a tight-fitting, vermin-proof top seal) typically costs $15-$30 per foot, or $1,500-$3,000 for a 100' deep well, and $6,000-$12,000 for a 400' well. (However, if the geological conditions are especially difficult or access is extremely limited, drilling can cost $30-$50 a foot or more.) For example, the sustainable Arizona homesteaders at ByExample.com[3] report paying $6,750 to have well drilled 280' deep, or about $24/foot.
  • A complete water system is typically designed (and a total price quoted) after the well is successfully drilled and the well's depth and water yield is known. A well pump to bring the water to the surface, a pressurized storage tank or tanks (if the well's yield is not enough to meet peak demand), underground piping to take the water to the house, electrical wiring to power the system, a control panel and other items can add $2,000-$8,000 or more to the total cost, depending on the size of pump and the distance to the house. This brings the typical total for drilling a well and setting up a private water delivery system to $3,500-$20,000 or more, but an especially deep and difficult well with a complex water system can cost $20,000-$50,000 or more, depending on depth, water yield and system complexity. A great deal depends on local geological conditions. For example, Cushing & Sons Well Drilling[4] in New Hampshire estimates an average cost of $5,000 for a complete water well system in that area, while a Colorado landowner[5] reports costs of $14,000 to drill a 600' well (about $23-$24/foot) and another $7,000-$8,000 for a constant pressure pump system with a 70' water line to the house, or $21,000-$22,000 total.
Related articles: Well Pump, Water Testing and Treatment, Cistern, Rain Harvesting

What should be included:
  • The Kansas Geological Society explains how to evaluate[6] the potential for a water well and a video by the American Groundwater Turst provides an overview of well water systems, including drilling methods.
  • It can take one to several days to drill a well and install the casing, depending on the final depth needed. Typically the drill rig sits on a large truck, which the crew will position on the selected site, then drill until water is reached. ByExample.com[7] in Arizona reports that it took two days to drill a 280' well and one day to set the casing with concrete.
  • In some areas it is illegal to construct any kind of well without first obtaining a permit, and most jurisdictions specify how far the well must be from existing buildings, roadways, animal enclosures, a septic system or other installations. The Water Systems Council provides a tool to determine which state well codes apply[8] .
Shopping for well drilling:
  • Search for local water well contractors through the National Ground Water Association[9] . The association also provides a state-by-state list of well-water-related resources, including licensing agencies for geologists, engineers, and contractors; regulatory agencies; groundwater-use summaries; and groundwater-quality reports.
  • The well driller should provide a written contract listing the work to be done and the specific costs, including potential fees for drilling deeper or drilling a second well if the first must be abandoned. Foster Water Well Drilling in California explains how to hire a water well contractor[10] .
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What People Are Paying - Recent Comments

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Quoted 27k for drilling only. Chambers also in 29 palms. Nope
Amount: $0.00
Posted by: Yung Nguyen in 29 palms, CA.Posted: January 28th, 2022 04:01AM
Depth of Well: 400Size of Pump: 4 pvc
I'm gonna buy my own drill and get the right people to scan the land and get the permits for me.
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medince Bow Wyoming Water well cost
Amount: $18.00
Posted by: Bill Willberg in medicine Bow, WY.Posted: April 27th, 2021 08:04AM
Depth of Well: 150ftSize of Pump: 1hp
Cheap land here on mashall rd, we bought, needed a water well, saratoga driller did great job, 18k for turn key well.
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water well drilling prices in WY and CO
Amount: $16,000.00
Posted by: rex taylor in saratoga, WY.Posted: February 8th, 2021 06:02PM
Depth of Well: 100ftSize of Pump: 3/4hp
wyoming water wells cost 12k and up for 1st 100ft, and 55 per ft after that.
Colorado has 1 yr waiting list and prices are higher. anywhere in the west, wells are hard rock drilling. nothing easy or cheap.
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REPLACEMENT WELL
Amount: $5,700.00
Posted by: MICHIGANDER in webberville, MI.Posted: August 11th, 2019 06:08AM
Depth of Well: 68\'Size of Pump: 1/2 HP
COMPLETE WELL SYSTEM 80' RUN TO CONNECT TO EXISTING PIPE BURY EXISTING WELL HOUSE AREA 5'X5' 5000$ FOR SYSTEM 700$ FOR 4 HR BACKHOE
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Sue lawyer should be free to you.
Amount: $24,500.00
Posted by: bluarc1 in Madera, CA.Posted: July 16th, 2019 01:07AM
Depth of Well: 400Size of Pump:
@Jill the sucker in Twentynine Palms, CA.
Have you ever heard of abuse of a disabled person?
SUE the SOB.
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New well
Amount: $6,200.00
Posted by: Janet88 in Mt Morris township 10 ft pvc, MI.Posted: June 26th, 2019 06:06PM
Depth of Well: 68ftSize of Pump: 1/2 pump with tank
10 ft pvc hookup to house and abandoned old well
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Financing
Amount: $20,000.00
Posted by: Kourtney in Kingman, AZ.Posted: May 15th, 2019 07:05AM
Depth of Well: 700Size of Pump:
How do people afford wells? No one finances?
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Driller walked away after equip. broke off in shaft
Amount: $24,500.00
Posted by: Jill the sucker in Twentynine Palms, CA.Posted: January 17th, 2019 12:01PM
Depth of Well: 400Size of Pump: None
Drill bit sheared off. Contractor said he'd comeback and start over after he finished next job. Kept putting me off. A year later just now getting to State arbitration hearing. I'm getting screwed over by his bond company too. I'll end up needing to hire an attorney (7k!) and going to court... lots of stress, 2 yrs of my life. I'm disabled, & live alone in remote area of desert because that's all I can afford. Chambers' business is booming. He wouldn't have lost a penny by doing the right thing.
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Finished well in 1997, drill, casing, pump only.
Amount: $4,000.00
Posted by: Satellite Tom in Mercer outside city limits, PA.Posted: November 19th, 2018 02:11PM
Depth of Well: 105\'Size of Pump: 1/2
Drilled 105' pump at 100' 15gpm. 1 1/2" waterline to house. 6.9ph, 12ppm clear water iron. Tds 15ppm. Typical for Mercer Pa. I did the 258' of 60" deep trench, pvc pipe, 30 gal. Pressure tank, wiring in conduits, Trace sw4024 inverter, solar panels, 1640 ah telco 24vdc battery bank. As of 11/19/18 still going strong! PS: I have a reusable screen pre filter, greensand iron filter, sears 880 water softener and reverse osmosis filter in the kitchen but it is really not needed.
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Wyoming water well drilling hard rocks and lose boulders
Amount: $14,000.00
Posted by: wyominglife in south pass, WY.Posted: November 17th, 2018 06:11PM
Depth of Well: 150 ftSize of Pump: 10 gpm
Wyoming has no easy drilling. Had to drive steel casing while drilling. Caverns , voids and faults and large boulders.
Only Andrews drilling has rig that would finish well here. Other drillers left and never called back.
We did get water, and glad we did. No water is no comfort. lots of water is lots of comfort.
10 gpm well, others near me only get 2 to 3 gpm. we used cable tool driller, no drilling mud was used.
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New well
Amount: $1.00
Posted by: fred w. rose in Eupora, MS.Posted: August 17th, 2018 02:08PM
Depth of Well: 2400 ftSize of Pump: 50 horse
drilled 3000 feet just to find bedrock. found at 3000. water pump at 240 feet, pumps 300 gal per minute. static water 215 feet. pH 6.8, no iron, 6 inch well with 12 inch casing. submerged pump. recovery time about 5 min. TSS a little high, no other issues..clear water
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dry well
Amount: $1,400.00
Posted by: Helen Gene Magnant in Grand Junction, MI.Posted: July 18th, 2018 03:07PM
Depth of Well: 203 feetSize of Pump:
My original well IS 130 feet but the casing has a leak. I didn't know about a dry well. The drilling company charged $10.00 a foot but was nice enough to settle for the money I had put down. Now, I am looking for another company to repair my existing well as this company I used does not do repairs anymore. I can't afford another dry well. Do you know some company that is reputable to do repairs?
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existing shallow well - troubleshooting
Amount: $1,350.00
Posted by: would be farmer in South Hill, VA.Posted: May 4th, 2018 12:05AM
Depth of Well: 30Size of Pump: 1/2HP
I just got the price of $1350 to make this existing well work with a submersible 1/2 HP pump. No power, so will leave as a generator hook up. I actually just emailed him back and said it was too much since he gave me a lower hourly maintenance fee for this task when we first met at the site. I wanted a price for two other wells on the property with underground storage and solar set up, but no proposals given for that work.
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New well drill cost only
Amount: $3,400.00
Posted by: Jujujojocatranch in dahlonega, GA.Posted: April 11th, 2018 08:04AM
Depth of Well: 320Size of Pump: Na
5.5 gpm. Prime pump did the job and are good guys. Fair, reasonable, efficient and use silver line pvc.
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Ruined well
Amount: $17,000.00
Posted by: WTL in Verhalen, TX.Posted: March 25th, 2018 08:03AM
Depth of Well: 430Size of Pump:
Mennonite driller drilled to 430 feet, then collapsed well and schedule 80 PVC casing at 187
feet. Total loss.
Replacement well will cost $130/foot....$70,000
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Outside North Bend, OR?
Amount: $0.00
Posted by: Elle100 in North Bend, OR.Posted: December 23rd, 2017 12:12PM
Does anyone have any numbers that relate to the areas outside North bend up Mettman Creek? Looking at land there. Have no idea what to expect. Contacted the local authorities but have not heard back, yet. I've read about water being around 100' down. Don't know if this is true. ANYONE?
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Any Referrals for Arizona Between Kingman and the Hoover Damn area?
Amount: $0.00
Posted by: Sandy & Jeff in Dolin Springs, AZ.Posted: November 13th, 2017 11:11AM
Depth of Well: 280\'Size of Pump:
I was just wondering if anyone has any referrals for some property that we own between Kingman, Az. and the Hoover Damn area?
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Well Hookup
Amount: $7,100.00
Posted by: Dan Vander Pol in Aubun, WA.Posted: November 3rd, 2017 08:11AM
Depth of Well: 106Size of Pump: 3 hp
We bought some property with an existing well, so the $7100 is the quote I got for the pump, install, certified flow rate testing and water sample testing. We need this in order to get a building permit.
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Well drilled 480' Northern Utah 6" steel casing
Amount: $32,000.00
Posted by: Duane Williams in Logan, UT.Posted: March 7th, 2017 11:03PM
Depth of Well: 480Size of Pump: 1 1/2
Very expensive
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Location Location Location
Amount: $0.00
Posted by: jbsilver in rio grande rancho, CO.Posted: January 18th, 2017 11:01AM
I have not started yet but I expect to be looking for a well on my property in the Spring. Everybody who commented had useful information. However there was no one commenting who are in the area where I have land. providing a map of areas in question would help even if its not exact. This would be an even greater help for potential buyers of this type of service. I appreciate you are here
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Expensive in Maine
Amount: $15,000.00
Posted by: Jeremy_ in Farmington, ME.Posted: November 15th, 2016 05:11AM
Depth of Well: 320Size of Pump: 3/4 hp
The cost of well drilling far exceeded my expectations. Total cost for the well drilling and casing came just under $11000. The pump, pressure tank, etc added up to another $4000. I wish I knew before buying the land it would be so costly. At the very least, the estimates I received prior to drilling were accurate.
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Replacement well and abandon (fill,cap & seal) the old well
Amount: $14,500.00
Posted by: Jan H in Fairfax, IA.Posted: August 16th, 2016 02:08PM
Depth of Well: 385 ftSize of Pump: 3/4 hp
We got estimate before work was done. Old well was 180 ft. Based upon a neighbor's 10 yr old well at 350 ft, we were told our well would be 350 ft, best case. We were advised if it wasn't 350 ft, it would likely be 500 ft. Very happy with Freese Well Drilling and Brown's Well and Pump service.
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Water well drilling in California (welcome to my world)
Amount: $68,000.00
Posted by: Barbara F. in Bakersfield, CA.Posted: May 21st, 2016 10:05AM
Depth of Well: 600 feetSize of Pump: 3 Hp
This is a typical quote for a domestic water well right now in the central valley of California, May of 2016. What's included? Well, 6" PVC casing and pipe, permit ($800.00), 3 Hp pump and installation. Plumbed into existing well electric and bladder pressure tank system and 30 to 50ft of trenching. No problem finding water, on top of the largest aquifer in the state. Soil conditions, sandy loam, no rocks (carrots grown here).
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new well
Amount: $20,000.00
Posted by: [email protected] in madera, CA.Posted: May 5th, 2016 01:05AM
Depth of Well: 400Size of Pump: 3 HP for 30 gpm
.
they said that they made 400' deep but water pump placed 260'
They seem not honest.
And after dug, they pumped for over one week, still muddy water is coming out. Now they took out pump used other sources to pulled the water out but still muddy.
Do I need ask them to dig other site than keep pump out?
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External Resources:
  1.  ga.water.usgs.gov/edu/earthgwwells.html
  2.  water.epa.gov/drink/info/well/glossary.cfm
  3.  byexample.com/projects/current/drilling_water_well_pumps/
  4.  www.cushingandsons.com/cost.html
  5.  ths.gardenweb.com/forums/load/build/msg0218103929044.html
  6.  www.kgs.ku.edu/Publications/PIC/pic23.html
  7.  byexample.com/projects/current/drilling_water_well_pumps/
  8.  www.watersystemscouncil.org/regulations.php
  9.  wellowner.org/
  10.  www.fosterwelldrilling.com/documents/howtohire.htm
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