June 2, 2026 · 8 min read
What a residential well actually costs
Per-foot drilling is only part of the bill. Casing, the pump system, the permit and the depth band explain the rest — with real permit fees by county.
Well quotes confuse people because two line items dominate and one of them is uncertain by nature. Here's the anatomy of a typical residential well bill.
The big two
Drilling, priced per foot. Rotary drilling for a domestic well commonly lands in the $25–$60 per foot range depending on region, rig class and rock. Multiply by depth — which is a band, not a number (see how deep will my well be). A 200 ft expected / 350 ft p90 well at $40/ft is $8,000 expected with a $6,000 contingency exposure. Honest quotes state both.
The water system. Submersible pump sized to the well's depth and yield, drop pipe, wire, pressure tank, pitless adapter, controls. Commonly $2,500–$6,000 installed for a standard single-family setup; deep settings and constant-pressure systems cost more.
The rest of the bill
- Casing and grout — steel or PVC casing through the unconsolidated zone, sealed to keep surface water out. Often folded into the per-foot rate; ask.
- Well head, cap, and yield test — usually included; confirm.
- Water quality testing — bacteria at minimum; many counties require a sample before the well goes into service.
- Power — the pump circuit from your panel is an electrician's job, sometimes quoted separately.
The permit line
Permit cost depends entirely on where you live, because permitting authority does too:
| Jurisdiction | Fee | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Wake County, NC | $800 | Bundles site evaluation, inspections and lab sampling |
| Franklin County, NC | $400 | Online application |
| Florida (water management districts) | ~$100–$250 | Filed online by the licensed contractor, usually fast |
| Colorado (state permit) | ~$100 | Owner applies; up to 49-day review |
| Wyoming (state e-Permit) | $50 | Approved before drilling |
| Many report-only states | $0 pre-drill | Driller files a completion report instead |
Look up your own state and county on the permits index — fees and effective dates come from the agencies themselves.
How to compare bids
- Same depth assumptions. Force every bid to the same expected/p90 band.
- Per-foot rate for overage in writing.
- Pump system itemized with brand and warranty.
- Who pulls the permit and who files the completion report — in most states the licensed driller must file the post-construction record; in several the driller is the only party who may legally submit the application.
A cheap headline number with vague depth assumptions is the most expensive kind of quote.
Put numbers on it
The estimate tool runs these statistics for your exact parcel — depth band, likely yield, nearby wells and your county's permit — free.