Drilling cost per foot by ground
The rock sets the drilling rate more than anything else. The Well Guide's national rates for drilling only:
| Ground | Per foot |
|---|---|
| Sand or gravel (soft soil, sand or gravel) | $15 to $35 |
| Clay (clay and loose sediment) | $25 to $45 |
| Sandstone or limestone (layered rock) | $35 to $55 |
| Granite or hard rock (granite, gneiss or schist) | $45 to $65 |
| Basalt or quartzite (dense, very hard rock) | $55 to $85 |
Typical depth and rate by region
| Region | Typical depth | Drilling per foot |
|---|---|---|
| Southeast (MS, AL, GA, FL) | 50 to 150 ft | $25 to $40 |
| Midwest (IL, IN, OH, IA, MO) | 100 to 200 ft | $28 to $45 |
| Mid-Atlantic (PA, MD, VA, NY) | 100 to 300 ft | $30 to $55 |
| New England (ME, VT, NH, MA, CT) | 150 to 400 ft | $35 to $65 |
| Southwest (AZ, NM, NV) | 200 to 500 ft | $35 to $60 |
| Mountain West (CO, WY, MT, ID) | 150 to 400 ft | $35 to $65 |
| Texas | 160 to 600 ft | $30 to $55 |
| California | 100 to 700 ft | $35 to $100 |
| Pacific Northwest (WA, OR) | 100 to 300 ft | $30 to $55 |
| Other, or not sure (national range) | 100 to 200 ft | $25 to $65 |
How the estimate works
- Say why you need the well. A new home, a replacement for a dry or failing well, or an added well for irrigation or livestock. Each one adds its own notes: deepening and sealing for a replacement, more water and a larger casing for a farm.
- Pick your state. The cost guide groups states into regions with their own typical depth and price per foot. A state it does not list gets the national range.
- Give a depth. Use a depth you know, the depth of nearby wells from their records, or your area's typical depth.
- Say what is under the ground. Sand and gravel drill for $15 to $35 per foot; dense basalt or quartzite for $55 to $85. Not sure? The tool uses your region's rate. If the rig hits bedrock, steel casing can cost far more than PVC, and the result shows how much.
- Choose what the price covers. Drilling only covers the hole and the casing. A complete well adds the pump, pressure tank, electrical hookup, permit and a water test. You get a low-to-high total with each line.
- Get written quotes. Ask two or three local drillers for a quote that names what it includes: some quote a bundled per-foot price.
Questions
How much does it cost to drill a water well?
The Well Guide (October 2026) puts drilling alone at $25 to $65 per foot, about $40 on average, and a complete system at 100 to 200 feet at $7,000 to $16,000, including casing, pump, pressure tank, electrical, permit and a water test. This tool adds up each line, so its range can run wider: for example $7,150 to $18,600 for the national range at 150 feet. Another source, Before You Buy Land, gives $15 to $60 per foot and $5,000 to $20,000 for a complete well.
Why does the cost differ by state?
Depth to reliable water and the kind of rock drive the price. The Well Guide lists the Southeast at $25 to $40 per foot with wells 50 to 150 feet deep, and California at $35 to $100 per foot with wells 100 to 700 feet deep.
How much more does drilling through rock cost?
The Well Guide gives $15 to $35 per foot in sand and gravel, $25 to $45 in clay, $35 to $55 in sandstone or limestone, $45 to $65 in granite and $55 to $85 in dense basalt or quartzite. Its example: a 200 foot well costs $5,000 to drill in soft soil at $25 per foot and $13,000 in granite at $65.
Should I replace a dry well or deepen it?
Ask a driller first. The Well Guide gives $3,000 to $10,000 to deepen a well, with an uncertain outcome, and $1,500 to $3,000 for hydrofracturing. A new replacement well runs $8,000 to $20,000.
What is included in a complete well?
Drilling, casing, a submersible pump, a pressure tank, an electrical hookup, the permit and a water quality test. Some quotes bundle these into one per-foot price, so ask what yours covers.
Is this a quote?
No. It is a planning range from a published cost guide. It covers drilling, casing and the fixed lines, and a deeper well, a dry hole, a long trench to the house or water treatment can add more. Only a driller who sees your site can quote the job.
What should I do after drilling?
Test the new well for bacteria and other contaminants before you drink from it, and keep the driller's well log. Your state may also keep a record of the well.
Go deeper
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<p style="font-size:13px"><a href="https://www.savemywell.com/tools/well-drilling-cost-estimator">Tool by Save My Well</a></p>Sources
- The Well Guide, Well Drilling Cost (updated October 2026) (checked 2026-10-29), the source of every number in the estimate
- Before You Buy Land, How Much Does It Cost to Drill a Well? (updated 2026-07-09) (checked 2026-11-01), cited as a second source and a cross-check on the total
- Penn State Extension, Water System Planning: Estimating Water Needs (Water Facts #2) (checked 2026-11-02), the farm water flows
States are grouped as the cost guide groups them. A state it does not list gets its national range.