Well Drilling Cost Estimator
Set your target depth, ground type, and whether you need a full system for a real market-rate ballpark — then see whether a private well or a city-water hookup pays off over 20 years.
Tell us about the well
Most residential wells are 100–300 ft. Your real depth depends on the local water table — confirm with a driller.
What's under your property is the single biggest cost driver. Not sure? Ask a local driller or your county well records.
A complete system adds casing, pump, pressure tank, wiring & permits — not just the borehole.
Complete water-well system — installed
$25–$40 per foot · 200 ft
Where the money goes
National context: a complete new residential well typically runs $3,000–$15,000, with an average around $7,500. Most homeowners land between $5,500 and $9,000. Your number depends most on depth and what's in the ground.
This is a 2025–2026 ballpark estimate, not a quote. Real costs vary 20–40% by region, exact geology, site access, and water depth — always confirm locally with a licensed well driller before budgeting.
Well vs. city water — which pays off?
A private well costs more up front but has no monthly bill. If hooking up to city water is an option, here's the year your well pays for itself — and the long-run total of each path, on your own numbers.
Compare the two paths
From the estimate above, or a driller's quote.
What the utility charges to connect — often $1,000–$30,000+ where a line is available; $0 if you're already on the street.
What you'd pay the city each month. The US average is about $70–$80.
How long you'll own the place — the horizon for the totals.
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until the well pays for itself
We assume about $200/yr to run and maintain a well — pump electricity, periodic testing, and a small reserve for pump service. City rates usually climb over time, so the real city total is often higher than shown.
Before you act on this number.
- The full well drilling cost guide Typical ranges, what drives them, and where quotes differ.
- Estimate your likely depth first Depth is the single biggest cost driver, so start there.
- Drilled, bored or driven? The construction method changes the per-foot rate.
- How to choose a driller What to ask before you accept a quote.
Reading this properly.
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