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Cost to drill a well in Missouri: $11,200–$55,400 by county

A drilled, finished water well in Missouri typically costs $11,200–$55,400, with a midpoint of $30,000. Depth sets most of that price. Domestic wells here have a median depth of 370 ft across 17,558 completion reports filed 2010–2025, priced at national driller rates.1,2,3,4,5,6,7,8

Key figures for Missouri

ItemFigure
Finished well, typical range (midpoint $30,000) $11,200–$55,4001,2,3,4,5,6,7,8
Drilling and casing only (no pump, tank, or hookup) $8,600–$44,3001,2,3,4,5
Median well depth (17,558 reports) 370 ft1
Middle half of wells 280 ft to 490 ft1
Drilling rate (national rates) $25–$75/ft2
Median casing depth 100 ft1
Median reported yield 35 gpm1

Estimate a well in Missouri

Typical total: $11,200–$55,400, midpoint $30,000.1,2,3,4,5,6,7,8

Depths from 17,558 domestic well reports in Missouri, 2010–2025: 275 ft (25th percentile), 370 ft (median), 490 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) (370 ft × $50/ft)$6,900$18,500$36,8002
Casing, installed (100 ft × $28/ft)$1,000$2,800$4,5003
Rig mobilization and setup ($550–$2,500)$600$1,500$2,5004
Well permit ($50–$500)$100$300$5005
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–$250)$100$200$3008
Total$11,200$30,000$55,400

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

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Well depth by county in Missouri

Total depth of domestic wells by county, Missouri. Bar shows the middle half of wells; tick marks the median.
County Reports Median depth (ft) Middle half (ft) 0 to 800 ft
Greene 633 500 430–570
Franklin 550 330 270–390
Newton 550 510 430–580
Webster 536 370 310–450
Polk 464 350 310–400
Jefferson 452 370 290–470
Morgan 444 270 230–310
Stone 426 530 420–620
Christian 422 550 500–630
Benton 406 290 230–360
Lawrence 405 500 430–550
Camden 402 300 250–380
Pettis 376 330 270–400
Howell 375 370 300–450
Barry 374 530 420–620
Douglas 352 370 290–450
Dallas 350 330 290–390
Cole 318 310 250–380
Phelps 312 290 250–350
Wright 310 390 310–460
Washington 308 230 170–290
Miller 304 290 230–350
Crawford 303 270 230–330
Texas 301 330 270–400
St. Francois 298 290 210–400
Jasper 286 450 300–510
Taney 273 510 400–620
Osage 262 350 290–430
McDonald 258 660 560–800
Ozark 257 360 300–430
Warren 255 510 440–560
Lincoln 253 520 400–610
St. Charles 251 640 500–700
Hickory 226 370 310–460
Cape Girardeau 221 410 290–550
Cedar 221 410 350–480
Dent 221 330 260–450
Moniteau 220 310 250–390
Gasconade 217 320 270–400
Dade 206 430 360–490
Oregon 206 340 270–430
Laclede 204 380 310–450
Shannon 198 370 290–430
St. Clair 192 340 300–410
Maries 188 300 250–350
Bollinger 166 310 250–390
Ste. Genevieve 159 310 220–410
Pulaski 156 350 270–430
Henry 153 430 350–530
Perry 140 410 330–560
Stoddard 137 150 110–210
Johnson 132 520 440–710
St. Louis 130 460 350–530
Montgomery 123 460 380–540
Cooper 120 370 310–420
Wayne 110 250 210–330
Madison 107 270 200–360
Reynolds 103 300 240–390
Butler 93 260 200–310
Callaway 87 450 360–540
Scott 82 280 160–480
Boone 78 540 470–640
Iron 76 280 220–450
Ripley 63 240 170–310
Vernon 60 480 340–570
Audrain 58 670 610–750
Cass 53 470 350–680
Pike 50 540 430–660
Nodaway 48 60 40–60
Carter 44 250 230–280
Bates 35 550 420–670
Monroe 33 610 330–660
Atchison 31 90 60–210
Saline* 25 440 310–530
Harrison* 18 60 50–80
Holt* 18 60 40–110
Platte* 17 50 50–90
Barton* 16 630 560–680
Lafayette* 14 400 360–550
Lewis* 14 330 220–360
Clay* 13 60 60–420
Marion* 13 190 160–410
Buchanan* 12 40 30–50
Clinton* 12 60 40–70
Livingston* 12 130 80–150
Jackson* 11 110 80–580
Knox* 11 360 220–420
Carroll* 10 60 50–80
DeKalb* 10 50 40–80
Caldwell* 9 50 40–50
Gentry* 9 30 30–40
Linn* 9 120 110–140
New Madrid* 9 70 40–90
Chariton* 8 90 70–100
Daviess* 8 80 50–140
Ralls* 8 400 280–540
Scotland* 8 340 270–400
Andrew* 7 40 30–40
Howard* 7 370 260–550
Grundy* 6 50 30–90
Clark* 5 380 180–440
Randolph* 5 430 410–440
Ray* 5 40 40–60
Shelby* 5 360 230–600
Dunklin* 3 100 100–110
Pemiscot* 3 100 80–100
Worth* 3 60 50–60
Macon* 1 700 700–700
Mercer* 1 100 100–100

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

Median depth runs from 60 ft in Nodaway County to 670 ft in Audrain County. At national rates that difference is worth about $35,600 at the midpoint estimate. 36 of 109 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 Missouri well

Drilling is billed by the foot at $25–$75/ft, so the hole alone runs $6,900–$36,800 at the depths above. Casing, the steel or PVC pipe that lines the upper borehole, adds $1,000–$4,500 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 Missouri

Water wells in Missouri fall under Missouri Department of Natural Resources, Well Installation Section (Missouri Geological Survey). Missouri does not issue a permit for a private domestic well, but it must be built to the state well construction rules and reported to the Department of Natural Resources within 60 days of installation. Missouri law requires drillers and pump installers to hold a permit from the Department of Natural Resources, though a landowner who drills their own well or installs their own pump is exempt from the permit and still has to follow the construction rules. The driller signs the water well report and files it with the Well Installation Section in Rolla within 60 days of the date the well was completed.

Sources9

Groundwater and well construction in Missouri

Well cap Submersible pump Casing to about 100 ft Total depth about 370 ft Soil and loose rock Open hole in rock
Cross-section of a 370 ft well with casing to 100 ft, the Missouri median

The Ozark Plateaus aquifer system underlies most of southern Missouri and has three aquifers, the upper two mainly carbonate rock and the lowest mainly sandstone. In western Missouri a thick shale confining system overlies it, and the water below that is saline.

A well at the Missouri median reaches 370 ft with casing to about 100 ft. A private well must be at least 50 feet from a septic tank or wastewater holding tank, according to the Missouri Geological Survey table reproduced by MU Extension.

The Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services advises testing a private well once a year for total coliform bacteria, E. coli and nitrate, and again after the well is serviced or the water changes in look, smell or taste.

Sources10,1,11,12

Missouri compared with neighboring states

StateMedian depthTypical finished well
Missouri370 ft$11,200–$55,400
Arkansasno records$6,800–$42,500
Illinois170 ft$6,400–$38,000
Iowa210 ft$8,100–$42,600
Kansas80 ft$5,400–$25,800
Kentucky140 ft$6,500–$32,800
Nebraska160 ft$6,700–$36,100
Oklahoma180 ft$10,400–$30,000
Tennessee220 ft$7,900–$44,800

Sources13,14,2,3,4,5,6,7,8,15,16,17,18,19,20,21,22,23,24

Common questions

How deep is a typical well in Missouri?

Half of the 17,558 domestic wells reported in Missouri from 2010–2025 are between 280 ft and 490 ft deep, and the median is 370 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 Missouri?

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 $81/ft at a depth of 370 ft. Per-foot quotes rarely include the pump.

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

Missouri does not issue a permit for a private domestic well, but it must be built to the state well construction rules and reported to the Department of Natural Resources within 60 days of installation. 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 Missouri?

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. Water well records (WIMS) , Missouri Department of Natural 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. 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).
  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. 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.
  9. Well Installation Frequently Asked Questions (PUB2193) , Missouri Department of Natural Resources. Accessed November 9, 2026. Content read from search excerpts; a few related pages are older, so confirm deadlines with the agency.
  10. HA 730-D, Ozark Plateaus aquifer system , U.S. Geological Survey. Accessed November 9, 2026.
  11. Drinking Water Well Management (EQM103) , University of Missouri Extension. Accessed November 9, 2026. Table credited to Missouri Geological Survey, October 2024.
  12. Well Water Test Kit Information and Services , Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services. Accessed November 9, 2026.
  13. 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.
  14. 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.
  15. ILWATER, Water and Related Wells , Illinois State Geological Survey. Accessed November 8, 2026. Well completion records used for depth, casing, and yield distributions.
  16. 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.
  17. Water Well Completion Records (WWC5) , Kansas Geological Survey. Accessed November 8, 2026. Well completion records used for depth, casing, and yield distributions.
  18. Kentucky Groundwater Data Repository, water wells , Kentucky Geological Survey. Accessed November 8, 2026. Well completion records used for depth, casing, and yield distributions.
  19. Registered groundwater wells , Nebraska Department of Water, Energy, and Environment. Accessed November 8, 2026. Well completion records used for depth, casing, and yield distributions.
  20. Reported Groundwater Well Locations of Oklahoma , Oklahoma Water Resources Board. Accessed November 8, 2026. Well completion records used for depth, casing, and yield distributions.
  21. 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.
  22. 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).
  23. 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.
  24. Water Well Program, well locations , Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation. Accessed November 8, 2026. Well completion records used for depth, casing, and yield distributions.

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