Well Drilling Cost Per Foot by State: 50-State Comparison (2026)

The national average cost to drill a water well is $25–$65 per foot, but per-foot rates vary enormously by state. You’ll pay $22/ft in Mississippi and $90/ft in Hawaii — a 4x difference for the same footage. This variation comes down to three factors: geology (hard granite vs. soft sand), labor rates (Northeast vs. Southeast), and typical depth (shallow coastal plains vs. deep mountain bedrock).

This guide ranks all 50 states by per-foot drilling cost so you can see exactly where your state falls and understand why.

Quick Summary

	Range
National average cost per foot	$25–$65
Cheapest states	Mississippi, Louisiana, Alabama ($22–$55/ft)
Most expensive states	Alaska, Hawaii, Massachusetts ($32–$90/ft)
Average total project cost	$7,500 (including pump and equipment)

Per-foot cost is the drilling charge only — it covers the borehole, casing, grouting, and well development. You’ll pay an additional $2,000–$6,000 for the submersible pump, pressure tank, electrical hookup, and water line to your house. For a full breakdown, see our complete well drilling cost guide.

What Determines Cost Per Foot?

Before the state-by-state table, it helps to understand the three factors that drive per-foot pricing:

1. Geology (Biggest Factor)

The type of rock or soil the drill has to cut through directly sets the per-foot rate:

Formation	Cost Per Foot	Drilling Speed
Sand and gravel	$22–$35	Fast (50–100 ft/day)
Clay and sediment	$25–$40	Moderate (40–80 ft/day)
Sandstone	$30–$45	Moderate (30–60 ft/day)
Shale	$30–$50	Slower (25–50 ft/day)
Limestone	$35–$55	Slow (20–40 ft/day)
Granite and hard rock	$45–$90	Very slow (10–30 ft/day)

States built on granite (New England, parts of the Southeast) cost more per foot than states built on sand (Gulf Coast, Great Plains). Volcanic basalt (Pacific Northwest, Hawaii) is also expensive to drill.

2. Labor Rates

Drillers in high-cost-of-living states charge more per foot even in similar geology. A sand well in New Jersey costs more per foot than a sand well in Mississippi, even though the drilling difficulty is the same.

3. Average Well Depth

Per-foot rates don’t always increase with depth, but deeper wells require more casing material, longer pump wire runs, and more drilling time — all of which add to the total. States with deeper average wells tend to have higher total project costs even at the same per-foot rate.

Well Drilling Cost Per Foot: All 50 States

Sorted from cheapest to most expensive average per-foot cost:

State	Cost Per Foot	Avg Depth	Avg Total Cost
Mississippi	$22–$50	140 ft	$4,900
Louisiana	$22–$52	150 ft	$5,250
Alabama	$25–$55	180 ft	$6,840
Arkansas	$25–$55	165 ft	$6,105
Delaware	$25–$55	120 ft	$4,560
Florida	$25–$55	200 ft	$7,000
Indiana	$25–$55	140 ft	$5,320
Kansas	$25–$55	175 ft	$6,650
Michigan	$25–$55	110 ft	$4,180
Missouri	$25–$58	195 ft	$7,800
Nebraska	$25–$55	163 ft	$6,194
Ohio	$25–$55	140 ft	$5,320
Oklahoma	$25–$55	185 ft	$7,030
South Carolina	$25–$55	175 ft	$6,650
Texas	$25–$58	225 ft	$8,550
Georgia	$27–$58	200 ft	$8,000
Colorado	$28–$65	250 ft	$10,500
Idaho	$28–$65	200 ft	$8,400
Illinois	$28–$60	175 ft	$7,350
Iowa	$28–$58	175 ft	$7,000
Kentucky	$28–$60	202 ft	$8,484
Maryland	$28–$62	180 ft	$7,740
Minnesota	$28–$62	165 ft	$6,930
Montana	$28–$62	180 ft	$7,560
New Mexico	$28–$65	280 ft	$12,040
New York	$28–$68	200 ft	$9,000
North Carolina	$28–$60	220 ft	$9,240
North Dakota	$28–$60	175 ft	$7,350
Oregon	$28–$65	200 ft	$8,400
South Dakota	$28–$60	200 ft	$8,400
Tennessee	$28–$58	222 ft	$8,880
Utah	$28–$65	250 ft	$10,500
Virginia	$28–$62	210 ft	$8,820
Washington	$28–$65	185 ft	$7,770
West Virginia	$28–$60	175 ft	$7,350
Wisconsin	$28–$60	145 ft	$6,090
Wyoming	$28–$62	220 ft	$9,240
Arizona	$30–$70	342 ft	$15,390
Connecticut	$30–$70	250 ft	$12,000
Maine	$30–$70	263 ft	$12,624
Nevada	$30–$70	300 ft	$13,500
New Hampshire	$30–$70	300 ft	$14,400
New Jersey	$30–$68	180 ft	$8,460
Pennsylvania	$28–$65	250 ft	$11,250
Rhode Island	$30–$68	200 ft	$9,600
Vermont	$30–$70	275 ft	$13,200
Massachusetts	$32–$72	270 ft	$13,500
California	$35–$75	350 ft	$17,500
D.C.	$35–$80	200 ft	$11,000
Alaska	$40–$85	135 ft	$7,830
Hawaii	$40–$90	250 ft	$15,000

Total project cost includes drilling, casing, pump, pressure tank, electrical, and basic connection. Actual costs depend on your specific depth, geology, and local conditions.

Cheapest States for Well Drilling

The five cheapest states to drill a well are all in the Southeast and Gulf Coast, where soft sedimentary formations and shallow water tables make drilling fast and easy:

1. Mississippi — $22–$50/ft, average total $4,900. Soft sand, clay, and gravel formations in the Mississippi Alluvial Plain. Shallow wells (100–200 ft) produce good water.
2. Louisiana — $22–$52/ft, average total $5,250. Gulf Coast sediment drills quickly. Most wells reach water within 150 feet.
3. Michigan — $25–$55/ft, average total $4,180. Glacial sand and gravel aquifers provide water at shallow depths (60–150 ft) across most of the state.
4. Delaware — $25–$55/ft, average total $4,560. Coastal plain geology with productive sand aquifers at 80–200 feet.
5. Alabama — $25–$55/ft, average total $6,840. Mix of coastal plain sediment in the south and harder formations in the north, but generally easy drilling.

Most Expensive States for Well Drilling

The priciest states share a common factor: hard crystalline bedrock that’s slow and expensive to drill:

1. Hawaii — $40–$90/ft, average total $15,000. Volcanic basalt is extremely hard. Remote island logistics add to costs. Some wells exceed 500 feet.
2. Alaska — $40–$85/ft, average total $7,830. Short drilling season, remote locations, permafrost in some areas. Despite shallower average depths, the per-foot rate is the second-highest.
3. California — $35–$75/ft, average total $17,500. Highest total cost due to deep wells (350 ft average) combined with high per-foot rates. Central Valley is cheaper; coastal mountains and desert are expensive.
4. Massachusetts — $32–$72/ft, average total $13,500. Hard granite and gneiss bedrock. Deep wells needed to hit productive fractures. High labor rates compound the issue.
5. New Hampshire — $30–$70/ft, average total $14,400. Similar granite geology to Massachusetts with even deeper average wells (300 ft). Nearly half the state uses wells.

Per-Foot Cost vs. Total Cost: An Important Distinction

Don’t compare states by per-foot cost alone — total cost depends on depth too. Some examples:

• Alaska has the second-highest per-foot rate ($40–$85) but averages only 135 feet deep, so total cost is $7,830 — less than many cheaper-per-foot states
• Texas has a moderate per-foot rate ($25–$58) but at 225 feet average depth, the total runs $8,550
• California has a high per-foot rate ($35–$75) AND deep average wells (350 ft), producing the highest total cost at $17,500

The takeaway: always ask your driller for total project cost, not just per-foot rate. A “cheap per foot” quote can be expensive if you need a deep well.

How to Reduce Your Cost Per Foot

1. Get 3+ quotes — per-foot rates vary 20–40% between drillers in the same area. Get free estimates to compare.
2. Check your local well logs — knowing your likely depth helps you evaluate quotes. If the driller quotes 300 feet but your neighbors are at 150, ask why.
3. Drill in the off-season — late fall and winter often have shorter wait times and sometimes lower rates (less applicable in northern states with frozen ground).
4. Bundle drilling and pump — a single contractor for the complete system usually costs less than separate drilling and pump companies.
5. Ask about depth guarantees — some drillers offer a maximum depth or “we hit water or drill again free” guarantee. This protects you from the depth risk.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the average cost to drill a well per foot? The national average is $25–$65 per foot for drilling only. Soft formations (sand, clay) run $22–$40/ft. Hard rock (granite, basalt) runs $45–$90/ft. Add $2,000–$6,000 for pump, tank, electrical, and connections on top of the drilling cost.

What states have the cheapest well drilling? Mississippi, Louisiana, Michigan, Delaware, and Alabama have the lowest per-foot rates ($22–$55). These states have soft sedimentary geology and shallow water tables, making drilling fast and easy.

Why is well drilling so expensive in New England? New England (Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Vermont, Connecticut, Maine) sits on hard crystalline bedrock — primarily granite and gneiss. This rock drills slowly (10–30 feet per day vs. 50–100 in sand), wears out expensive drill bits, and requires wells that average 250–300 feet deep. Combine that with high labor rates and strict licensing requirements, and New England wells cost roughly double the national average.

Does deeper always mean more expensive? Yes, but not linearly. The per-foot rate stays roughly constant, but total cost increases with every foot. More importantly, deeper wells need higher-capacity (more expensive) pumps, longer pipe and wire runs, and more casing material. A 300-foot well typically costs 50–60% more than a 150-foot well, not double.

How much does it cost to drill a 200-foot well? A 200-foot drilled well costs $7,500–$13,000 for a complete system including pump and equipment. Drilling alone runs $5,000–$10,000 depending on geology.

How much does it cost to drill a 500-foot well? A 500-foot well costs $16,000–$35,000+ for a complete system. These deep wells are common in hard rock areas (New England, mountain West) and require high-capacity pumps and extensive casing.

Get Your Quote

Every well is different — your actual cost per foot depends on your specific geology, location, and well depth. The most reliable way to estimate your cost is to get quotes from licensed drillers who work in your area.

Get 3 free quotes from licensed well drilling contractors near you, or visit our state cost guides for detailed pricing in your state.