Well Drilling Cost 2026: Per Foot, Pump & Complete System

Quick answer

Well costs depend on two very different numbers: the price to drill a hole and the price of a working water system. Angi’s well drilling guide (updated September 18, 2026) puts the national average for drilling a well at about $5,500. Most homeowners pay $3,000 to $9,000, and residential drilling runs about $25 to $65 per foot. HomeGuide’s guide (page titled 2026; last updated July 30, 2025) separates the two clearly: about $20 to $30 per foot to drill only, versus $30 to $80+ per foot, or $6,000 to $16,000 for a 200-foot well, for a complete installation with casing, pump, electrical connections and permits.

No contractor can promise that a property will produce enough safe water. Depth, yield and water quality are not known until the well is drilled and tested. This guide covers private household wells in the United States.

Well drilling cost at a glance

Item	Published national range	Source
Drilling, residential, per foot	$25–$65 (rocky, sloped or remote sites: budget at least $50–$75)	Angi
Drilling only, per foot	$20–$30	HomeGuide
Complete installation, per foot	$30–$80+ ($100+ in challenging areas)	HomeGuide
Typical drilled well, total	$3,000–$9,000 (average about $5,500)	Angi
Complete 200-ft well	$6,000–$16,000+ (national average $10,500)	HomeGuide
Casing	PVC $6–$10/ft (Angi) or $7–$11/ft (HomeGuide); steel $30–$130+/ft	Angi, HomeGuide
Well pump	$900–$2,500 (Angi); $400–$2,500 (HomeGuide)	Angi, HomeGuide
Pressure tank	$300–$500 plus installation (Angi); $800–$1,500 installed (HomeGuide)	Angi, HomeGuide
Electrical wiring and connections	$1,000–$3,000	HomeGuide
Permit	$200–$500 (Angi); $350–$700+ (HomeGuide)	Angi, HomeGuide
Water testing	Lab test $100–$350 (HomeGuide); professional lab analysis $50–$600 (Angi)	HomeGuide, Angi

The two publishers disagree on some lines, especially the pressure tank, because one prices the tank alone and the other prices it installed. They are shown separately rather than averaged.

Drilling only vs. a complete working well

This distinction causes most quote confusion. A “per-foot” price from a driller may cover only boring the hole, or it may include casing, grout, a well cap, a pump, wiring and a pressure tank. HomeGuide’s depth table shows the gap:

Depth	Drilling only	Complete installation
100 ft	$2,000–$3,000	$3,000–$8,000+
200 ft	$4,000–$6,000	$6,000–$16,000+
300 ft	$6,000–$9,000	$9,000–$24,000+
400 ft	$8,000–$12,000	$12,000–$32,000
500 ft	$10,000–$15,000	$15,000–$40,000

Even a “complete” well usually stops at the wellhead or pressure tank. Getting water into the house may need a buried supply line; Angi lists supply lines at $50–$150 per foot. Treatment equipment is also often extra; HomeGuide lists filtration at $800–$4,000 and a water softener at $1,200–$3,800. See our water softener installation cost guide.

How depth and casing drive the price

Depth is the biggest variable, and it is set by local geology. Angi notes that the water table can sit as shallow as 25 feet or as deep as 1,000 feet. Many residential wells are 50 to 200 feet deep with 4- to 8-inch casing. Casing choice matters too. Angi’s depth table shows how steel casing raises the total:

Depth	4-inch PVC casing	6-inch steel casing
100 ft	$3,550	$6,120
200 ft	$7,100	$12,240
300 ft	$10,650	$18,360
400 ft	$14,200	$24,480

The EPA explains that casing, together with grout, keeps dirt and surface water out of the well. It also notes that some states and local agencies require minimum casing lengths, and that local geology often dictates what casing can be used. Your driller should explain the casing depth and material they plan to use and why.

Well types

The EPA describes three types of private wells:

Dug or bored wells are shallow and lined with stone, brick or tile.
Driven wells are cased but shallow (about 30 to 50 feet), so they can be contaminated easily because they draw water from near the surface.
Drilled wells are made with percussion or rotary rigs, can be thousands of feet deep, require casing, and have a lower contamination risk because of their depth and continuous casing.

Angi lists starting costs for a 150-foot well at about $2,500 dug, $4,000 driven and $5,500 drilled. A cheaper shallow well is not a bargain if it is more vulnerable to contamination or runs short in dry periods.

Regional geology and state rules

Costs vary by state, both because of labor rates and because of what is underground. Angi’s state table lists residential drilling at about $26–$58 per foot in Florida, $28–$62 in Texas and Colorado, $30–$70 in California and New York, and $34–$85 in Alaska.

Regulation also varies. The EPA states that the quality and safety of water from private domestic wells is not regulated under the federal Safe Drinking Water Act nor by most states, so owners are responsible for their own water. EPA’s state program directory notes that most states have zero or limited regulations for private drinking water wells, though states run programs to help well owners. Well construction is a different matter: the EPA points owners to their state water-well contractor licensing agency or local health department for proper construction requirements. Angi notes that some areas require a drilling permit and restrict how much water you can pump.

Before you hire anyone:

Call your county health department or state well program.
Ask what permits, setbacks from septic systems and property lines, and licensing apply.
Ask whether records of nearby wells are available. They can hint at typical depth and yield in your area, but they cannot guarantee your result.

Water is never guaranteed

A driller can estimate depth from nearby wells and local geology. No one can guarantee that a new well will reach groundwater, produce enough flow for a household, or deliver water that meets health benchmarks without treatment. The EPA cites a U.S. Geological Survey study of 2,100 private wells that found about one in five contained at least one contaminant above a human-health benchmark.

Protect yourself in the contract:

Ask how the driller charges if the hole is dry or low-yield. Is there a per-foot charge regardless of result, a maximum depth before you are consulted, or a policy for abandoning and sealing a failed hole?
Ask for a written well log and a yield (flow) test result.
Budget for a lab water test before you rely on the water. The EPA recommends testing private wells annually for total coliform bacteria, nitrates, total dissolved solids and pH, plus other contaminants you suspect.

Worked example: a 200-foot residential well

This is a hypothetical planning exercise using HomeGuide’s line items, so each figure comes from the same source. It is not a quote.

Drilling only: 200 ft × $20 = $4,000; 200 ft × $30 = $6,000 → $4,000–$6,000
PVC casing, if priced separately: 200 ft × $7 = $1,400; 200 ft × $11 = $2,200 → $1,400–$2,200
Well pump: $400–$2,500
Pressure tank (installed): $800–$1,500
Electrical wiring and connections: $1,000–$3,000
Permit: $350–$700+
Lab water test: $100–$350

Low end: 4,000 + 1,400 + 400 + 800 + 1,000 + 350 + 100 = $8,050. High end: 6,000 + 2,200 + 2,500 + 1,500 + 3,000 + 700 + 350 = $16,250.

That lands close to HomeGuide’s own $6,000–$16,000+ for a complete 200-foot well, which is a useful cross-check. It excludes the supply line to the house, water treatment, any deeper drilling than planned, and a dry or abandoned hole. Ask whether casing is already inside the driller’s per-foot price so it is not counted twice. To total your own figures with a contingency, use the project budget calculator.

National figures vs. local quotes

National ranges are a sanity check. Your price depends on geology, depth to water, access for the rig, casing rules and local permit fees. Get at least two or three written quotes. Make sure each states the per-foot rate and what it includes, the planned depth and maximum depth, the casing diameter, material and depth, the pump and tank models, electrical work, permit handling, the yield test and the water-test plan.

Ongoing costs

A well is not a one-time expense. Angi lists annual maintenance at about $200–$900, a well inspection at $250–$550, and $100–$400 a year in pump electricity. Annual water testing adds to that.

Building on raw land?

A well is usually one part of a larger site budget that also includes septic, power and access. See our guides to septic system installation cost and the cost to put a manufactured home on land, which covers the full site checklist.

FAQ

How much does it cost to drill a well in 2026?

Angi reports an average of about $5,500, with most projects between $3,000 and $9,000, at roughly $25–$65 per foot. A complete 200-foot system is $6,000–$16,000+ according to HomeGuide.

Does the per-foot price include the pump?

Not always. HomeGuide prices drilling only ($20–$30 per foot) separately from a complete installation ($30–$80+ per foot) that adds casing, pump, electrical and permits. Ask for an itemized quote so you know which one you are getting.

How deep will my well need to be?

It depends on local geology and the water table, which can range from about 25 to 1,000 feet (Angi). Nearby well records and the driller’s local experience are the best guides, but depth is not known for certain until drilling.

Is well water regulated?

Not by the federal Safe Drinking Water Act. The EPA says private well owners are responsible for their water’s safety, and most states have limited rules. Construction permits and contractor licensing are handled at the state or local level.

How often should I test well water?

The EPA recommends annual testing for total coliform bacteria, nitrates, total dissolved solids and pH, plus tests for other contaminants you suspect.

Bottom line

Budget for a complete working system, not just the drilling. Get itemized quotes that state depth, casing, pump and tank, and plan for testing and the possibility of a deeper or unsuccessful hole. No price buys guaranteed water.

Reviewed by the Home Cost Desk editorial team on November 2, 2026. Prices are national planning ranges from dated sources; local rules and quotes govern.

Well Drilling Cost 2026: Per-Foot Prices, Pump, Casing & Complete System