How Much Does It Cost to Drill a Well? (Per Foot, 2026)

Direct answer

Drilling: $15–$60/ft. Complete well: $5,000–$20,000.

Water well drilling typically costs $15–$60 per foot, and a complete drilled well — drilling plus casing, pump, pressure tank, and connection — commonly totals $5,000–$20,000. Depth to reliable water, rock, casing, and rig access are the main drivers.

These are planning ranges. On a parcel with no water service, the well is one of the biggest "cost to use the land" line items — budget it alongside septic and utilities.

Last updated: 2026-07-09. Screening-grade planning ranges from public sources — not a quote.

Cost breakdown

What a well costs

Texas

Hill Country and West Texas wells are often deep; some groundwater conservation districts require a permit before drilling.

Who: Licensed water well driller/pump installer (TDLR); check the local Groundwater Conservation District.

Texas water well drillers (TDLR)

Tennessee

Well depth varies with terrain across the Cumberland Plateau and East TN ridges.

Who: Licensed well driller; wells registered with TDEC.

TDEC water well program

North Carolina

Mountain-county wells can require significant depth; a county well permit is typically required.

Who: Certified well contractor; county Environmental Health issues the well permit.

NC private well program

What drives the price

Why well quotes differ

Depth to reliable water — the single biggest factor.
Hard rock vs. softer formations.
Casing depth and diameter.
Rig access and site conditions.
Distance from the well to the building site (water line).
Pump size and pressure system.

What a quote can't promise

Water is not guaranteed

A per-foot price does not guarantee you will hit good water at a predictable depth. Yield and quality vary parcel to parcel. Neighboring well records and state databases help you plan, but they are signals, not certainties — factor in the risk before you rely on "there's water out here."

Decision framework

Before you buy land with no water

Check nearby well records and any groundwater district data for typical depth and yield.
Confirm whether a well permit or registration is required locally.
Budget a complete well, not just the drilling, plus the water line to your build site.
Add well + septic + utilities + driveway to see the real cost to use the parcel.

Before you rely on a listing

Check the water and utility picture on your parcel

A Parcel Pre-Screen Report organizes water, well, and utility questions with the source paths and the offices to ask — so 'there's water out here' gets checked before you buy.

Order a Parcel Pre-Screen · $149 Cost to run utilities

FAQ

How much does it cost to drill a well?
Water well drilling typically costs $15–$60 per foot for the drilling itself, and a complete drilled well — including casing, pump, pressure tank, and connection — commonly totals $5,000–$20,000. Depth, geology, and casing drive the number.

How much does a well cost per foot?
Drilling commonly runs $15–$60 per foot. Per-foot drilling cost varies with depth, geology, casing, and rig access. Deeper or rocky sites push toward the high end.

What makes a well more expensive?
Greater depth to reliable water, hard rock drilling, larger casing, difficult rig access, and long water lines from the well to the building site all raise the total. A dry hole or low-yield well can add re-drilling costs.

Do I need a permit to drill a well?
Often yes. Many counties and, in Texas, some groundwater conservation districts require a permit or registration before drilling. Use a licensed well contractor and confirm local requirements first.

Can I find out water availability before buying?
Partly. Neighboring well records, state well databases, and groundwater district data give clues about typical depth and yield in the area, but they do not guarantee your specific parcel. Treat area data as a planning signal, not a promise.

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What Before You Buy Land is
A source-cited parcel pre-screen that organizes public-source signals — access, septic/perc records, flood, wetlands, soils, slope, utilities, restrictions, and local authority paths — into plain-English buyer questions.
A first-pass screening tool that helps rural land buyers in Texas, Tennessee, and North Carolina decide what to verify before they make an offer.

What it is not
Not legal advice, a survey, title opinion, engineering review, or appraisal.
Not a septic, permit, zoning, or county approval — and not a guarantee that land is buildable.
Not a replacement for county confirmation or a licensed professional. It points you to the right office and question.

Reviewed by the Before You Buy Land research team.

Component	Typical range	Notes
Drilling (per foot)	$15–$60/ft	Varies with depth, geology, and casing.
Complete drilled well	$5,000–$20,000	Drilling + casing + pump + pressure tank + connection.