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Cost to drill a well in Colorado: $10,300–$60,000 by county

A drilled, finished water well in Colorado typically costs $10,300–$60,000, with a midpoint of $30,900. Depth sets most of that price. Domestic wells here have a median depth of 340 ft across 28,835 completion reports filed 2016–2025, priced at national driller rates.1,2,3,4,5,6,7,8

Key figures for Colorado

ItemFigure
Finished well, typical range (midpoint $30,900) $10,300–$60,0001,2,3,4,5,6,7,8
Drilling and casing only (no pump, tank, or hookup) $7,700–$49,1001,2,3,4,5
Median well depth (28,835 reports) 340 ft1
Middle half of wells 200 ft to 500 ft1
Drilling rate (national rates) $25–$75/ft2
Median casing depth 200 ft1
Median reported yield 10 gpm1

Estimate a well in Colorado

Typical total: $10,300–$60,000, midpoint $30,900.1,2,3,4,5,6,7,8

Depths from 28,835 domestic well reports in Colorado, 2016–2025: 200 ft (25th percentile), 340 ft (median), 500 ft (75th percentile).

Low uses the 25th percentile depth at low rates; high uses the 75th percentile at high rates.
Line itemLowMidHigh
Drilling (per foot of depth) (340 ft × $50/ft)$5,000$17,000$37,5002
Casing, installed (200 ft × $28/ft)$2,000$5,500$9,0003
Rig mobilization and setup ($550–$2,500)$600$1,500$2,5004
Well permit ($100–$100)$100$100$1005
Pump, wire, and drop pipe, installed ($1,000–$4,000)$1,000$2,500$4,0006
Pressure tank and switch, installed ($500–$1,800)$500$1,200$1,8006
Trench, water line, and electrical to the house ($1,000–$5,000)$1,000$3,000$5,0007
Water quality test ($50–$100)$100$100$1008
Total$10,300$30,900$60,000

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Well depth by county in Colorado

Total depth of domestic wells by county, Colorado. Bar shows the middle half of wells; tick marks the median.
County Reports Median depth (ft) Middle half (ft) 0 to 950 ft
El Paso 3,372 420 340–520
Park 2,189 300 200–460
Weld 1,912 380 260–600
Chaffee 1,348 180 120–330
Douglas 1,304 440 320–620
Jefferson 1,123 700 500–950
Elbert 1,083 400 310–520
Grand 1,007 400 300–500
Custer 998 300 200–400
Fremont 993 350 240–450
Teller 896 400 300–520
Larimer 894 600 500–800
La Plata 705 210 150–320
Adams 680 360 280–520
Costilla 609 220 150–330
Arapahoe 583 400 320–580
Gunnison 582 140 70–300
Garfield 516 160 90–220
Routt 483 300 170–450
Summit 450 170 110–260
Saguache 445 160 120–280
Rio Grande 443 270 130–410
Pueblo 431 360 210–540
Alamosa 410 60 50–120
Conejos 407 130 100–220
Gilpin 403 400 300–600
Mesa 339 300 150–480
Boulder 324 570 380–700
Lake 290 160 110–290
Huerfano 271 370 210–600
Delta 244 130 80–210
Logan 230 230 100–360
Clear Creek 200 560 380–750
Eagle 188 160 70–280
San Miguel 185 260 150–360
Yuma 185 290 200–340
Morgan 174 100 60–160
Las Animas 163 220 110–440
Archuleta 150 240 140–420
Pitkin 149 150 80–280
Montrose 145 150 80–280
Washington 129 160 100–240
Moffat 120 250 160–360
Ouray 114 250 180–380
Mineral 109 140 100–300
Kit Carson 107 240 140–290
Rio Blanco 96 100 40–210
Montezuma 79 200 90–310
Lincoln 75 80 60–170
Jackson 74 240 160–360
Phillips 72 300 260–320
Hinsdale 62 300 110–400
Otero 48 40 30–60
Bent 44 260 150–400
Dolores 41 200 180–290
Cheyenne 35 110 60–290
Prowers 31 360 70–570
Baca* 28 380 300–500
Sedgwick* 22 310 90–360
Crowley* 14 30 30–50
Kiowa* 13 50 40–90
San Juan* 12 120 60–170
Broomfield* 4 890 840–930
Denver* 3 170 170–260

* 7 counties have fewer than 30 reports. Estimates there use the statewide figures.

Median depth runs from 40 ft in Otero County to 700 ft in Jefferson County. At national rates that difference is worth about $41,200 at the midpoint estimate. 7 of 64 counties have fewer than 30 reports; the calculator uses the statewide figure for those.

Sources1,2,3,4,5,6,7,8

Where the money goes on a Colorado well

Drilling is billed by the foot at $25–$75/ft, so the hole alone runs $5,000–$37,500 at the depths above. Casing, the steel or PVC pipe that lines the upper borehole, adds $2,000–$9,000 at $10–$45/ft. Rig setup is a flat $600–$2,500.

The pump, pressure tank, and trench to the house add $2,500–$10,800 on top of the hole. A quote that looks low next to the range above often leaves those three out, so ask for it itemized.

Sources2,3,4,5,6,7,8

Permits and driller licensing in Colorado

Water wells in Colorado fall under Colorado Division of Water Resources (Office of the State Engineer). A new domestic well needs a well permit from the State Engineer's Office, which is part of the Division of Water Resources. The permit for an exempt household well is issued under C.R.S. 37-92-602. The contractor, authorized individual, or private driller files a Well Construction and Yield Estimate Report with the State Engineer within 60 days after the well is completed. The permit or filing fee runs $100.

Sources9,5,10

Groundwater and well construction in Colorado

Well cap Submersible pump Casing to about 200 ft Total depth about 340 ft Soil and loose rock Open hole in rock
Cross-section of a 340 ft well with casing to 200 ft, the Colorado median

Eastern Colorado draws on the High Plains aquifer and the four-aquifer Denver Basin system along the Front Range. Western Colorado sits on the Colorado Plateaus aquifers, whose water quantity and quality are highly variable.

A well at the Colorado median reaches 340 ft with casing to about 200 ft. The state construction standards keep a well at least 100 feet horizontally from the nearest existing source of contaminants such as a leach field, with variances possible.

Colorado State University Extension advises anyone drinking from a private well to have the water tested by a qualified lab for nitrate each year, and to retest every three to six months if the result is high.

Sources11,1,12,13

Colorado compared with neighboring states

StateMedian depthTypical finished well
Colorado340 ft$10,300–$60,000
Arizona410 ft$15,500–$71,200
Kansas80 ft$5,400–$25,800
Nebraska160 ft$6,700–$36,100
New Mexico240 ft$10,400–$42,700
Oklahoma180 ft$10,400–$30,000
Utahno records$6,800–$42,500
Wyoming240 ft$6,800–$52,600

Sources14,15,3,4,16,17,18,2,19,6,7,20,21,22,23,24,25,26,27,28,29

Common questions

How deep is a typical well in Colorado?

Half of the 28,835 domestic wells reported in Colorado from 2016–2025 are between 200 ft and 500 ft deep, and the median is 340 ft. Your county can sit well above or below that, so check the county table on this page before you compare quotes.

How much does it cost per foot to drill a well in Colorado?

Drilling alone runs $25–$75/ft on the rates we compiled. Spread across a whole finished well, including casing, pump, tank, and hookup, the midpoint estimate works out to about $91/ft at a depth of 340 ft. Per-foot quotes rarely include the pump.

Do you need a permit to drill a well in Colorado?

A new domestic well needs a well permit from the State Engineer's Office, which is part of the Division of Water Resources. The permit for an exempt household well is issued under C.R.S. 37-92-602. Expect a fee of $100. The driller usually files the paperwork, but the permit is tied to your property, so ask for a copy.

How much do a well pump and pressure tank add in Colorado?

An installed submersible pump with wire and drop pipe runs $1,000–$4,000, and a pressure tank with its switch runs $500–$1,800. Together they are often the line items missing from a drilling quote, so a quote for the hole alone will look $3,700 cheaper than a finished well.

Related pages

For every state side by side and the national range, see the national well cost figures.

Sources

  1. DWR Well Application Permit , Colorado Division of Water Resources. Accessed November 8, 2026. Well completion records used for depth, casing, and yield distributions.
  2. Water Well Installation: Complete Guide, Cost and Tips for Success , Stevens Drilling (La Vernia, TX). Accessed November 8, 2026. Published 2025-10-27. Drilling $25-$65/ft; pumps $500-$2,000; pressure tank $300-$1,500; permit/licensing $100-$750; total $7,500-$17,000+.
  3. Cost to Drill a Water Well in Northern California , Weeks Drilling & Pump Co. (Sebastopol, CA). Accessed November 8, 2026. Published 2026-04-30. Drilling $35-$130/ft; steel casing $20-$45/ft; pump and pressure tank $3,500-$9,000; permitting $500-$2,500.
  4. D-203(5) Statewide Drilling Services, Exhibit D Price Schedule (Thein Well Co., contract 226711) , Minnesota Office of State Procurement. Accessed November 8, 2026. 2023 state-contract unit rates from a licensed MN driller: 6-in borehole $30-$31/ft (mud rotary/auger), $75/ft air rotary in rock; 6-in casing $28/ft (code) to $48/ft (black steel); mobilization $1,000/project; 34-gal pressure tank installed $1,000, 62-gal $1,450; submersible pump 3/4-1 hp $1,250-$1,350 each; drop pipe $7/ft; pitless and lateral $2,000; trench $20/LF. Agency-buyer rates, not retail quotes.
  5. C.R.S. 37-92-602 Exemptions; presumptions; legislative declaration (current through Fall 2025) , Colorado Revised Statutes via colorado.public.law. Accessed November 8, 2026. Fee of $100 for a new exempt household well permit application; $60 for a replacement/paragraph (c) application.
  6. How Much Does a Well Pressure Tank Cost? , Mid Atlantic Water LLC (water-system supplier, nationwide). Accessed November 8, 2026. Updated 2026-10-14; prices live as of 2026-09. Tank replaced by plumber $800-$1,800 all-in (20-44 gal); labor $200-$500; submersible pump job $1,000-$2,500; tank plus pump $2,500-$5,000+. Supplier, not an installer.
  7. What Are the Cost Factors of Drilling a Santa Fe Water Well? , Boylan Water Well Service (Santa Fe, NM). Accessed November 8, 2026. Published 2026-06-25. Drilling incl. PVC casing $28-$65/ft; submersible pump $850-$2,500; casing and grouting $1,500-$4,000; pressure tank and controls $500-$1,800; electrical hookup and trenching $1,000-$3,500; permits and lab testing $300-$1,000; turn-key $12,000-$30,000+.
  8. Water Testing , El Paso County Public Health Laboratory (CO). Accessed November 8, 2026. 2026. Total coliform/E. coli P/A $23.00; nitrate-N $30.00; real estate package $80.00.
  9. Well Permitting , Colorado Division of Water Resources. Accessed November 9, 2026.
  10. 2 CCR 402-2-17, Reporting Requirements , Colorado Board of Examiners of Water Well Construction and Pump Installation Contractors. Accessed November 9, 2026.
  11. Ground Water Atlas of the United States, Segment 2: Arizona, Colorado, New Mexico, Utah (HA 730-C) , U.S. Geological Survey. Accessed November 9, 2026.
  12. 2 CCR 402-2-10, Minimum Construction Standards for Water Wells , Colorado Board of Examiners of Water Well Construction and Pump Installation Contractors. Accessed November 9, 2026.
  13. Nitrates in Drinking Water , Colorado State University Extension. Accessed November 9, 2026.
  14. Well Registry (Wells 55) , Arizona Department of Water Resources. Accessed November 8, 2026. Well completion records used for depth, casing, and yield distributions.
  15. Understanding the Cost of Installing a Well in Mohave County , A-1 Arthur's Well Service (Kingman, AZ). Accessed November 8, 2026. Undated. Drilling $30-$65/ft; submersible pump $1,500-$3,000+; pressure tank $500-$1,200+; electrical and controls $500-$2,000; plumbing and trenching $1,000-$5,000+; total $10,000-$30,000+.
  16. A.R.S. 45-596 Notice of intention to drill , Arizona State Legislature. Accessed November 8, 2026. Filing fee $150; $100 for a well outside an AMA or INA used solely for domestic purposes with a pump of 35 gpm or less. Confirmed by A.A.C. R12-15-104 (effective 2023-10-13, https://www.law.cornell.edu/regulations/arizona/Ariz-Admin-Code-SS-R12-15-104) and ADWR form DWR 55-40.
  17. DSHS Austin Laboratory Fee Schedule, effective 2026-09-01 , Texas Department of State Health Services. Accessed November 8, 2026. Potable Water (coliform) MZZ0441A $18.39; Nitrate-N EZZ0048A $30.00; Routine Water Mineral Group $155; All Metals $165; VOCs $150.
  18. Water Well Completion Records (WWC5) , Kansas Geological Survey. Accessed November 8, 2026. Well completion records used for depth, casing, and yield distributions.
  19. Compilation of fetched state and county well permit fees (research/rates/NOTES.md, section permit) , costtodrillawell.com research. Accessed November 8, 2026. Internal compilation used only for the national permit fallback. Component sources: ok-owrb-well-driller-fact-sheet ($0), fl-nwfwmd-well-fees through fl-manatee-water-wells-2026 ($35-$265), ny-dutchess-dbch-fees ($45), wi-dnr-well-notification ($50.50), ga-pierce-well-permit-2024 ($70), idaho-code-42-235 ($75), crs-37-92-602 ($100), az-ars-45-596 ($100-$150), nmac-19-27-5 ($125), wa-rcw-18-104-055 ($200), nc-wayne-private-wells through nc-gaston-eh-fees ($225-$450), mi-grand-traverse-fees-2026 and mi-delta-menominee-fees-2025 ($240-$334), mt-dnrc-form-613-2025 ($250-$400), pa-chester-county-health-fees ($300), mn-stat-103i-208 ($325), oh-logan-fees-2024 through oh-summit-fees-2025 ($350-$594), or-hb2808-2025 ($490), blanco-pedernales-gcd-fees-2025 ($500), ca-calaveras-fees-2026 ($693), ny-nyc-well-water-permit ($1,090 outlier).
  20. Registered groundwater wells , Nebraska Department of Water, Energy, and Environment. Accessed November 8, 2026. Well completion records used for depth, casing, and yield distributions.
  21. Default casing share of well depth , Cost to Drill a Well. Accessed November 9, 2026. Median of state casing_p50 / depth_p50 across states that report casing. Used only where no local casing median exists.
  22. Points of Diversion (wells) , New Mexico Office of the State Engineer. Accessed November 8, 2026. Well completion records used for depth, casing, and yield distributions.
  23. 19.27.5 NMAC Water Rights Filing Fees, section 19.27.5.8 , New Mexico Office of the State Engineer (via NM State Records Center and Archives). Accessed November 8, 2026. Effective 2006-08-15. $125 for an application for a 72-12-1.1 domestic well permit; $75 to repair or deepen.
  24. Reported Groundwater Well Locations of Oklahoma , Oklahoma Water Resources Board. Accessed November 8, 2026. Well completion records used for depth, casing, and yield distributions.
  25. Pricing , B & L Water Well (Enid, OK). Accessed November 8, 2026. 2025 site. Drilling only with 5-inch standard casing: 50 ft or less $2,200 in Enid, $2,500-$3,000 outside city limits; more than 50 ft about $50/ft; 6-inch wells $50/ft; complete well with pump, 20-gal pressure tank and hydrant $4,500; constant-pressure package $6,000.
  26. Well Driller / Pump Installer Licensing fact sheet , Oklahoma Water Resources Board. Accessed November 8, 2026. 2026. No permit or fee for a domestic well; licensed driller files a well completion report within 60 days; Intent-to-Drill ($250, https://content.govdelivery.com/accounts/OKWRB/bulletins/34db823) applies to non-domestic wells only; domestic exemption reaffirmed 2025-08-06 (https://content.govdelivery.com/accounts/OKWRB/bulletins/3ebc58e).
  27. Lab Services Fee Schedule FY27 (SELSD-SD-008-R4), effective 2026-07-01 , Oklahoma DEQ State Environmental Laboratory Services Division. Accessed November 8, 2026. Total coliform and E. coli P/A $33; nitrate $38; nitrate/nitrite $38; Private Well Annual panel (coliform, nitrate/nitrite, pH, conductivity) $75; Real Estate panel $104; Private Well Diagnostics $175.
  28. National depth distribution, median of state percentiles , Cost to Drill a Well. Accessed November 9, 2026. Median across states with records of each state's 25th, 50th, and 75th percentile depth.
  29. Well and spring permits , Wyoming State Geological Survey (from Wyoming State Engineer's Office permits). Accessed November 8, 2026. Well completion records used for depth, casing, and yield distributions.

How these figures are built: methodology. Updated November 2026.