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Cost to drill a well in Illinois: $6,400–$38,000 by county

A drilled, finished water well in Illinois typically costs $6,400–$38,000, with a midpoint of $19,900. Depth sets most of that price. Domestic wells here have a median depth of 170 ft across 8,827 completion reports filed 2016–2025, priced at national driller rates.1,2,3,4,5,6,7,8,9

Key figures for Illinois

ItemFigure
Finished well, typical range (midpoint $19,900) $6,400–$38,0001,2,3,4,5,6,7,8,9
Drilling and casing only (no pump, tank, or hookup) $3,800–$26,9001,2,3,4,5,6
Median well depth (8,827 reports) 170 ft1
Middle half of wells 90 ft to 260 ft1
Drilling rate (national rates) $25–$75/ft3
Median reported yield 15 gpm1

Estimate a well in Illinois

Typical total: $6,400–$38,000, midpoint $19,900.1,2,3,4,5,6,7,8,9

Depths from 8,827 domestic well reports in Illinois, 2016–2025: 87 ft (25th percentile), 165 ft (median), 255 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) (165 ft × $50/ft)$2,200$8,300$19,1003
Casing, installed (107 ft × $28/ft)$900$2,900$4,8004
Rig mobilization and setup ($550–$2,500)$600$1,500$2,5005
Well permit ($50–$500)$100$300$5006
Pump, wire, and drop pipe, installed ($1,000–$4,000)$1,000$2,500$4,0007
Pressure tank and switch, installed ($500–$1,800)$500$1,200$1,8007
Trench, water line, and electrical to the house ($1,000–$5,000)$1,000$3,000$5,0008
Water quality test ($50–$250)$100$200$3009
Total$6,400$19,900$38,000

Casing depth of 107 ft is a model assumption; the records for this area do not report casing.2

No state rate survey yet, so national driller rates are used.

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Well depth by county in Illinois

Total depth of domestic wells by county, Illinois. Bar shows the middle half of wells; tick marks the median.
County Reports Median depth (ft) Middle half (ft) 0 to 680 ft
McHenry 814 100 60–180
Lake 599 130 80–210
Will 471 200 160–260
LaSalle 366 220 160–380
Kane 342 320 160–680
McLean 280 150 100–210
Champaign 269 120 90–190
Whiteside 260 110 70–180
Kendall 254 360 240–640
Vermilion 253 100 50–140
Tazewell 250 140 80–230
Woodford 224 150 100–240
Rock Island 214 280 180–430
Grundy 206 390 140–520
Cook 189 220 180–250
Henry 181 370 240–480
Iroquois 175 130 110–160
Lee 174 220 140–310
Boone 173 170 120–230
Winnebago 159 200 140–240
St. Clair 151 200 50–300
Jo Daviess 139 220 200–310
Bureau 135 220 140–260
Peoria 134 80 50–200
DuPage 132 170 140–200
Ogle 119 220 190–260
Mason 108 80 70–90
Monroe 106 200 140–320
Kankakee 100 120 100–180
Mercer 99 430 120–480
Livingston 89 130 60–200
Macon 84 100 70–130
Sangamon 81 40 30–50
Randolph 76 230 60–320
Fayette 73 40 30–50
DeKalb 72 220 170–270
Knox 66 280 90–580
Union 61 300 240–400
Stephenson 59 190 170–220
Ford 58 120 90–220
Warren 55 200 120–260
De Witt 52 190 80–280
Carroll 49 300 210–350
Jackson 42 280 240–360
Menard 41 50 50–70
Piatt 40 130 110–220
Henderson 37 120 110–160
Marshall 37 180 110–250
Logan 35 70 60–100
Bond 34 40 30–50
Madison 34 50 40–50
Christian 32 40 40–50
Putnam 32 220 150–250
Douglas 31 70 50–90
Shelby 30 40 40–50
Clinton* 28 50 40–190
Richland* 27 260 200–280
Stark* 26 160 110–260
Johnson* 22 250 180–330
Lawrence* 21 100 40–140
Fulton* 19 60 40–300
Williamson* 18 280 190–320
Edgar* 17 60 50–100
Effingham* 17 70 40–140
White* 17 50 40–140
Macoupin* 16 40 40–50
Massac* 16 160 110–190
Cass* 15 50 50–70
Pope* 15 180 150–290
Greene* 13 40 40–40
Hancock* 12 230 160–280
Coles* 11 40 40–50
Montgomery* 11 40 40–50
Wayne* 11 140 90–160
Clark* 10 60 50–70
Pulaski* 10 150 60–220
Alexander* 9 280 280–310
Cumberland* 8 40 30–50
Jersey* 8 280 50–400
Moultrie* 8 80 60–90
Wabash* 8 240 150–310
Saline* 7 190 140–360
Crawford* 6 60 50–120
Gallatin* 6 80 50–150
Hardin* 6 280 190–320
Franklin* 4 170 80–270
Morgan* 4 40 40–40
Adams* 3 300 210–300
Brown* 3 70 60–160
Jasper* 3 30 30–120
McDonough* 3 380 240–380
Washington* 3 40 30–110
Clay* 2 210 180–230
Marion* 2 40 40–50
Schuyler* 2 380 340–410
Scott* 2 60 50–70
Hamilton* 1 460 460–460
Pike* 1 240 240–240

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

Median depth runs from 40 ft in Bond County to 430 ft in Mercer County. At national rates that difference is worth about $26,500 at the midpoint estimate. 43 of 98 counties have fewer than 30 reports; the calculator uses the statewide figure for those.

Sources1,2,3,4,5,6,7,8,9

Where the money goes on a Illinois well

Drilling is billed by the foot at $25–$75/ft, so the hole alone runs $2,200–$19,100 at the depths above. Casing, the steel or PVC pipe that lines the upper borehole, adds $900–$4,800 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.

Sources3,4,5,6,7,8,9

Permits and driller licensing in Illinois

Water wells in Illinois fall under Illinois Department of Public Health (Division of Environmental Health), with approved local health departments. A permit to construct, deepen, modify or seal a water well is obtained from the Department of Public Health or an approved local health department before work starts. A water well and pump installation contractor must hold a license unless exempt under the Water Well and Pump Installation Contractor's License Act. The contractor submits a report of construction within 30 days after a water well is constructed or deepened.

Sources10

Groundwater and well construction in Illinois

Well cap Submersible pump Casing to about 110 ft Total depth about 170 ft Soil and loose rock Open hole in rock
Cross-section of a 170 ft well with casing to 110 ft, the Illinois median

Illinois sits in the Central Lowland, where USGS maps sand and gravel aquifers of the surficial aquifer system plus bedrock aquifers in Cambrian-Ordovician, Silurian-Devonian and Mississippian rocks.

A well at the Illinois median reaches 170 ft with casing to about 110 ft, a model assumption because the records here do not report casing. In clay and loam soils the code sets 75 feet from a subsurface seepage system and 50 feet from a septic tank.

Sources11,2,10

Illinois compared with neighboring states

StateMedian depthTypical finished well
Illinois170 ft$6,400–$38,000
Indiana90 ft$5,400–$27,400
Iowa210 ft$8,100–$42,600
Kentucky140 ft$6,500–$32,800
Michigan100 ft$5,200–$27,000
Missouri370 ft$11,200–$55,400
Wisconsin130 ft$6,100–$32,100

Sources12,3,4,5,6,7,8,9,13,2,14,15,16,17,18,19,20,21,22

Common questions

How deep is a typical well in Illinois?

Half of the 8,827 domestic wells reported in Illinois from 2016–2025 are between 90 ft and 260 ft deep, and the median is 170 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 Illinois?

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 $121/ft at a depth of 170 ft. Per-foot quotes rarely include the pump.

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

A permit to construct, deepen, modify or seal a water well is obtained from the Department of Public Health or an approved local health department before work starts. 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 Illinois?

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 what drilling a well costs.

Sources

  1. ILWATER, Water and Related Wells , Illinois State Geological Survey. Accessed November 8, 2026. Well completion records used for depth, casing, and yield distributions.
  2. 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.
  3. 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+.
  4. 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.
  5. 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.
  6. 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).
  7. 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.
  8. 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+.
  9. 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.
  10. 77 Ill. Adm. Code 920, Illinois Water Well Construction Code , Illinois Department of Public Health. Accessed November 9, 2026. 2014 compilation; later amendments not checked. The regulator landing URL in the facts file was not opened.
  11. Ground Water Atlas of the United States, Segment 10 (HA 730-K): Illinois, Indiana, Kentucky, Ohio, Tennessee , USGS. Accessed November 9, 2026.
  12. Water Well Record Database , Indiana Department of Natural Resources. Accessed November 8, 2026. Well completion records used for depth, casing, and yield distributions.
  13. Private Well Tracking System, Wells in Iowa , Iowa Department of Natural Resources. Accessed November 8, 2026. Well completion records used for depth, casing, and yield distributions.
  14. Kentucky Groundwater Data Repository, water wells , Kentucky Geological Survey. Accessed November 8, 2026. Well completion records used for depth, casing, and yield distributions.
  15. Wellogic water well records , Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes, and Energy. Accessed November 8, 2026. Well completion records used for depth, casing, and yield distributions.
  16. The Real Cost of Installing a Septic System and Well in Michigan (2026 Edition) , K2 Excavating (Michigan excavating and septic contractor; not a licensed well driller). Accessed November 8, 2026. Published 2026-02-20. Drilling $15-$65/ft; pump, pressure tank and controls installed $1,500-$3,000; permits $300-$600; initial water testing $150-$300; total $5,000-$15,000 (average about $9,000). Adjacent trade; weaker evidence.
  17. 2025 Environmental Health Fee Schedule (OSTDS & Wells), effective 2025-03-01 , Public Health, Delta & Menominee Counties (MI). Accessed November 8, 2026. Well construction permit, residential/irrigation $334; sand point well $100; double fee if work starts before permit.
  18. Laboratory fee list (EGLE-certified drinking water lab), effective 2026-07-06 , City of Cadillac Laboratory (MI). Accessed November 8, 2026. Drinking water coliforms, total and E. coli P/A $35; nitrate $35.
  19. Water well records (WIMS) , Missouri Department of Natural Resources. Accessed November 8, 2026. Well completion records used for depth, casing, and yield distributions.
  20. Well Construction Reports , Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources. Accessed November 8, 2026. Well completion records used for depth, casing, and yield distributions.
  21. Well Construction Notification , Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources. Accessed November 8, 2026. Undated. The Well Construction Notification fee is $50.50. Some counties add a sanitary permit.
  22. Public Environmental and Water Testing Prices, effective 2026-07-01 , Wisconsin State Laboratory of Hygiene. Accessed November 8, 2026. Bacteria (total coliform/E. coli) P/A $35.00; Nitrate $35.00; Nitrite $38; HUD/FHA-VA loan package $146.00; Homeowner package (5 bottle) $450.00.

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