Why do shallow wells cost more per foot?

Mobilization, the surface seal, the well cap, and the regulated upper section of casing cost about the same whether the well is 60 feet or 600 feet deep. Spread over fewer feet, those fixed costs push the per-foot rate up - figure roughly $15 per foot more on wells under about 100 feet.

How Much Does a Water Well Cost in Utah? (2026)

Q: How much does a water well cost in Utah?

As a statewide rule of thumb in 2026, a drilled and cased domestic water well in Utah runs roughly $110 to $150 per foot of depth, all-in. A typical 200-foot well lands around $22,000 to $30,000. The figure that actually drives the bill is depth, which varies a lot by location.

Q: What does the per-foot price include?

The per-foot rate generally covers drilling, steel casing, mobilization, the well cap, the drive shoe, the bentonite or grout surface seal, and the perforations or screen. It does not include the pump and motor, the pressure tank, electrical hookup, the water line trench to the house, the water right, or any filing fees.

Q: Does the water right cost extra?

It can. In an area open to new appropriation the filing fee is modest, but in a closed or restricted area you have to buy an existing water right, and the price of that right varies widely by basin. Either way it is separate from the driller's per-foot charge.

The honest answer is that it depends on depth, casing method, and what your driller has to cut through. But there's a rule of thumb that holds across most of Utah in 2026 — and a clear list of what is, and isn't, in that number.

The short version: a drilled and cased domestic water well in Utah runs roughly $110 to $150 per foot of depth, all-in, in 2026. Call it about $130/ft for a back-of-envelope figure. The single biggest swing is depth — and depth varies enormously by where you are. Typical depths by county range from about 100 feet to 350 feet.

Worked examples

Take the $110–150/ft range and run it against common finished depths:

Finished depth	Approximate all-in cost
100 ft	$11,000 – $15,000 (plus a shallow-well premium — see below)
200 ft	$22,000 – $30,000
300 ft	$33,000 – $45,000
500 ft	$55,000 – $75,000

These are the drilled-and-cased hole only. The pump system and the hookup to your house are a separate budget line — covered further down.

What the per-foot rate covers

For most builds, the per-foot number a driller quotes bundles in:

Drilling — the rig time to cut the borehole.
Steel casing — the regulated pipe that lines the well.
Mobilization — getting the rig and crew to your site.
Well cap, drive shoe, and the bentonite or grout surface seal — the sanitary protection that keeps surface water and contaminants out of the aquifer.
Perforations or a screen — the openings in the casing that let water in across the production zone.

What it does not cover

This is where budgets get blown. The per-foot price is the hole — not a working water system. Plan separately for:

The pump and motor — sized to your well's depth and yield.
The pressure tank and the pressure switch.
Electrical — running power to the wellhead and wiring the pump.
The water line — the trenched, buried line from the well to the house.
The water right — the permission to use the water at all (see below).
Filing and permit fees — modest, but real.

A reasonable rule: budget the drilled hole from the per-foot math, then add a separate allowance for the pump system and hookup. Your driller or a pump installer can size that second number once the well is in.

Why shallow wells cost more per foot

It feels backwards, but a 60-foot well often costs more per foot than a 300-foot well. Mobilization, the surface seal, the well cap, and the regulated upper section of casing are essentially fixed costs — they're the same whether you drill 60 feet or 600. Spread across fewer feet, they push the per-foot rate up. Figure roughly $15 per foot more on wells under about 100 feet.

What moves the number

Depth

The dominant factor — varies 100–350 ft by county

Formation

Hard rock drills slower than alluvial sand and gravel

Casing method

Depth of regulated steel casing and seal

Screen

Fine sand or silt zones need a stainless wire-wrap screen

On that last point: when the water-bearing zone is fine sand or silt rather than coarse gravel, simple perforations let sediment in — so a stainless wire-wrap screen is installed instead. That typically adds about $2,200 on top of the per-foot price. Your driller can usually tell from nearby logs whether your area tends to need one.

The water right is a separate question

The per-foot price assumes you already have the legal right to use the water. You can't drill in Utah without one. If your parcel is in an area open to new appropriation, the filing fee is small — see how to file a new appropriation. If it's closed or restricted, you'll need to buy an existing right, and the price of that right varies widely by basin. Either way, start with Utah Water Rights Explained.

Get a depth-and-cost estimate for your actual address

A statewide range only gets you so far. Our calculator pulls real driller-submitted logs from wells near any Utah address and estimates likely depth, a cost range, yield, and water quality in about ten seconds.

Run my address

Budgeting checklist

Before you commit, make sure your number includes:

The drilled-and-cased hole, from the per-foot rate and a realistic depth for your area.
A shallow-well premium if your area's wells come in under ~100 ft.
A possible stainless-screen add-on if the production zone is fine sand or silt.
A separate allowance for the pump, motor, pressure tank, and pressure switch.
Electrical to the wellhead and the trenched water line to the house.
The water right — filing fee in an open area, or purchase price in a closed one.
A written, itemized bid — the legally binding number comes from the licensed driller after a site visit.

Frequently asked questions

So what's the bottom line on cost?

As a 2026 statewide rule of thumb, a drilled and cased domestic water well in Utah runs about $110 to $150 per foot of depth, all-in — so a typical 200-foot well is roughly $22,000 to $30,000. Depth is the biggest variable, and it's very location-dependent.

What does the per-foot price include?

Generally: drilling, steel casing, mobilization, the well cap, drive shoe, the bentonite or grout surface seal, and perforations or a screen. It does not include the pump system, pressure tank, electrical, the water line to the house, the water right, or filing fees.

Why is a shallow well more expensive per foot?

Mobilization, the surface seal, the cap, and the regulated upper casing are fixed costs no matter the depth. Spread over fewer feet, they raise the per-foot rate — budget roughly $15/ft more under about 100 feet.

What's a stainless screen and do I need one?

When the water-bearing zone is fine sand or silt, a stainless wire-wrap screen replaces simple perforations to keep sediment out of the well. It adds roughly $2,200. Nearby driller logs usually indicate whether your area tends to need one.

Does the water right cost extra?

Yes, and separately from the driller. In an open area the filing fee is modest; in a closed or restricted area you must buy an existing right, and that price varies a lot by basin.

Is the calculator's estimate the same as this range?

The calculator gives a tighter, address-specific cost band built from real driller logs near your property. This guide's $110–150/ft is the broader statewide rule of thumb — use the calculator for a number tied to your actual location.

About these figures: The $110–150 per-foot range is a 2026 statewide rule of thumb based on market rates across licensed Utah drillers; actual bids vary by depth, geology, casing method, and site access. Typical depths reference the Utah Division of Water Rights driller-log data behind this site's calculator. Estimates here are not binding quotes — the final price is set in writing by the licensed driller you hire after a site visit.