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How Much Does Well Installation Cost?

Typical Cost Range: $3,500–$15,000

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Written by Brenda Woods

Brenda Woods

Brenda Woods is an accomplished writer and managing editor with more than two decades of publishing experience. She has spent over 10 years covering home services and home improvement projects. Brenda supports her team in evaluating dozens of home service providers, surveying and speaking to hom…

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Whether you live in a rural area or simply prefer getting your water from a private source, installing a well on your property has numerous benefits. You won’t have to pay a monthly water bill, and you’ll have some control over your water’s mineral and chemical contents. However, drilling deep enough to access clean water can be expensive, and you’ll need to store and purify the water once it gets to the surface.

On average, drilling a water well costs $3,500–$15,000, depending on several geological and technological factors. You may be able to dig a shallow well yourself, but it’s best to hire a professional contractor for a well that will provide water for an entire home. This guide outlines the well installation process and its costs.

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Typical Price Range: $3,500 – $15,000

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Plumbing Repairs

On average, plumbing repair jobs usually total between $150 and $500.

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Water Heater Installation

Water heater replacement costs can range from $820–$3,500.

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Water Softener Installation

A water softener system can cost $500–$6,000, depending on the type of system.

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What Are Signs That You Need to Repair a Well?

Wells require maintenance and occasionally require repair. Here are signs that you may need a professional well company to do an assessment. You may only have to pay a service fee if your

home warranty covers well pumps

or well systems.

There’s low water pressure or no water at all.

Your well yields are discolored, foul-smelling, foul-tasting, or contaminated water.

The pump continually turns on and off, even when you aren’t using your well.

You’ve been through a dry season, and the water flow to your home is sputtering.

It’s been more than 10 years since your well pump was installed.

The pump is making loud noises.

There’s visible damage to the well.

Your electric bills rise due to an overworking pump.

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What Does Well Installation Cost on Average?

Though $3,500 to $15,000 is a wide range, it’s hard to narrow it down without knowing the specifics of your property. The cost of your project depends on the following factors.

• Appliances and materials:

  You’ll need hardware to create a functional water well system, which increases cost.

• Depth:

  The deeper your well needs to be to reach water, the more it will cost to drill and install.

• Method:

  Installation processes that require specialized or powerful machinery are more expensive.

• Type of well:

  Different types of wells serve different functions and have different costs.

Cost by Well Depth

The deeper you need to dig, drill, or drive, the longer the job will take and the more labor it will require. Most residential wells need to be at least 50 feet deep and have an average depth of 300 feet, but how far you need to drill to hit water depends on geographic factors. Accessing state and local geological surveys and learning about existing wells in your area will give you a better idea of the depth you’ll need. The table below includes price ranges for various depths.

Depth in FeetPrice Range

50

$1,775–$3,060

100

$3,550–$6,120

150

$5,325–$9,180

200

$7,100–$12,240

250

$8,875–$15,300

300

$10,650–18,360

350

$12,425–$21,420

400

$14,200–$24,480

Cost by Type of Well

Shallow, residential water wells are the least expensive to dig or drill. Sand point wells, which are shallow and can be driven by hand or machine, are similarly inexpensive but don’t usually provide a home’s entire water needs. Geothermal wells are relatively inexpensive on their own, but installing one costs tens of thousands of dollars. 

Artesian wells that drill into an aquifer are more costly to drill but less expensive to run. Irrigation wells are the most expensive because they handle the highest volume of water, though residential irrigation is much less pricey than commercial irrigation.

Here are the costs for each type of well.

Well TypePrice per FootTotal Cost

Artesian well

$25–$85

$5,000–$15,000

Geothermal well

$15–$40

$3,500–$5,000

Irrigation well

$50–$100

$5,000–$75,000

Residential well

$25–$65

$3,750–$15,300

Sand point well

$10–$25

$200–$3,000

Cost by Method

Digging is the least expensive way to create a well, but it’s limited to about 100 feet in depth. Digging can also be thwarted by highly compacted or rocky soil. You can create a shallow well of up to 50 feet by driving a small-diameter pipe into the ground and removing the soil from inside. However, most residential-scale well projects require a drill to excavate.

MethodPrice per Square Foot

Digging

$10–$25

Drilling

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$15–$100

Driving

$10–$25

Cost by Appliances and Materials

Modern well systems consist of much more than a hole in the ground and a bucket on a rope. Here are some mechanical components that go into a working water well.

Casing Pipe

Well-casing pipe supports and protects the well’s walls, so it needs to be sturdy. This pipe is typically made from polyvinyl chloride (PVC), the most affordable option ($6–$10 per linear foot). Galvanized or stainless steel casing is also available for a premium ($30–$130 per foot). Steel may be necessary for earthquake-prone areas, as it’s much less susceptible to cracking and breaking. Casing pipe costs $630–$2,400, depending on its length.

Electrical Components

Most wells need electrical wiring to operate the pump and pressure switch. These components aren’t expensive ($50–$150), but a licensed electrician needs to install them, costing $150–$500.

Purification System

Some people assume that well water is cleaner than municipal water, but municipal water goes through a strict treatment process that water from private wells doesn’t. If you’re using a well for drinking water or other residential applications, you’ll need a purification system to rid the water of contaminants before you can use it. Whole-home water treatment systems cost $500–$3,000, plus another $200–$400 for installation.

Storage Tank

Once the water is brought to the surface and purified, it needs to be stored and pressurized so you can use it in your home. A 2-gallon water tank can cost as little as $100, but if you’re going to use well water for most of your needs, you’ll probably need a large pressure tank that costs between $1,400 and $2,400.

Well Pump

One of the most critical parts of the well system is the water pump, which brings groundwater to the surface. A hand pump for a shallow well can cost as little as $150–$500, but most electronic pumps cost between $300 and $2,000, depending on how powerful they are. A shallow well can sometimes use an aboveground surface pump, but a deep well usually requires a powerful, more expensive submersible pump that sits below the water line and pushes the water up. Some artesian wells can get away without using a pump system since the groundwater is already under pressure and may be pushed to the surface naturally.

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What Factors Affect Well Installation Cost?

The above factors are the biggest cost variables, but here are a few other things to consider when estimating your project’s price.

Your location determines your climate, water table depth, and the type and condition of the bedrock. It will also affect labor costs. For example, Florida is a relatively inexpensive place to dig a well because it has a high water table and an average cost of living. The price is higher in desert states like California, Texas, and Arizona.