costtodrillawell.com

Cost to drill a well in Nevada: $9,800–$46,500 by county

A drilled, finished water well in Nevada typically costs $9,800–$46,500, with a midpoint of $26,100. Depth sets most of that price. Domestic wells here have a median depth of 230 ft across 4,627 completion reports filed 2016–2025, priced at national driller rates.1,2,3,4,5,6,7,8

Key figures for Nevada

ItemFigure
Finished well, typical range (midpoint $26,100) $9,800–$46,5001,2,3,4,5,6,7,8
Drilling and casing only (no pump, tank, or hookup) $7,200–$35,4001,2,3,4,5
Median well depth (4,627 reports) 230 ft1
Middle half of wells 190 ft to 300 ft1
Drilling rate (national rates) $25–$75/ft2
Median casing depth 220 ft1
Median reported yield 30 gpm1

Estimate a well in Nevada

Typical total: $9,800–$46,500, midpoint $26,100.1,2,3,4,5,6,7,8

Depths from 4,627 domestic well reports in Nevada, 2016–2025: 185 ft (25th percentile), 225 ft (median), 300 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) (225 ft × $50/ft)$4,600$11,300$22,5002
Casing, installed (220 ft × $28/ft)$1,900$6,100$9,9003
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$9,800$26,100$46,500

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

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Well depth by county in Nevada

Total depth of domestic wells by county, Nevada. Bar shows the middle half of wells; tick marks the median.
County Reports Median depth (ft) Middle half (ft) 0 to 510 ft
Nye 1,013 200 200–240
Elko 674 240 180–340
Washoe 592 320 240–460
Lyon 532 240 200–300
Douglas 378 280 250–300
Humboldt 345 220 160–330
Churchill 295 150 110–180
Clark 163 200 140–420
Storey 146 350 240–500
White Pine 116 200 180–300
Pershing 113 180 160–290
Lincoln 84 180 140–220
Lander 67 120 100–180
Eureka 59 260 140–370
Carson City* 24 260 240–350
Esmeralda* 22 350 220–450
Mineral* 4 500 490–510

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

Median depth runs from 120 ft in Lander County to 350 ft in Storey County. At national rates that difference is worth about $18,000 at the midpoint estimate. 3 of 17 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 Nevada well

Drilling is billed by the foot at $25–$75/ft, so the hole alone runs $4,600–$22,500 at the depths above. Casing, the steel or PVC pipe that lines the upper borehole, adds $1,900–$9,900 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 Nevada

Water wells in Nevada fall under Nevada Division of Water Resources (Office of the State Engineer). A domestic well needs no water right if use stays at or under 2 acre-feet per year, but the licensed driller must submit a Notice of Intent to the Nevada Division of Water Resources and get it approved before drilling. A well on a parcel smaller than an acre also needs approval from the Nevada Division of Public and Behavioral Health, which checks the distance to the septic system. The Division of Water Resources says every water well in Nevada must be drilled by a licensed Nevada well driller under NRS 534.160, so an owner cannot drill their own well without a driller's license. The driller must furnish a copy of the log and record of work for every well to the State Engineer within 30 days after the well is completed.

Sources9,10

Groundwater and well construction in Nevada

Well cap Submersible pump Casing to about 220 ft Total depth about 230 ft Soil and loose rock Open hole in rock
Cross-section of a 230 ft well with casing to 220 ft, the Nevada median

Most of Nevada sits over the Basin and Range aquifers: unconsolidated sand and gravel basin fill in the valleys, limestone and dolomite carbonate rock, and volcanic tuff, rhyolite and basalt. The basin-fill deposits are the most productive, and each valley tends to be its own internally drained basin separated by mountain ranges.

A well at the Nevada median reaches 230 ft with casing to about 220 ft. State sewage disposal rules require 100 feet between a water supply well sealed to 50 feet and a septic tank or shallow disposal field.

USGS reports that much of Nevada's groundwater likely contains arsenic, citing a study in which 22 percent of samples from 174 domestic wells exceeded the 10 µg/L drinking water criterion.

Sources11,1,12,13

Nevada compared with neighboring states

StateMedian depthTypical finished well
Nevada230 ft$9,800–$46,500
Arizona410 ft$15,500–$71,200
California310 ft$14,600–$80,900
Idaho200 ft$7,500–$43,800
Oregon190 ft$7,200–$43,300
Utahno records$6,800–$42,500

Sources14,15,3,4,16,8,17,18,6,7,19,2,20,21,22,23,24,25,26,5

Common questions

How deep is a typical well in Nevada?

Half of the 4,627 domestic wells reported in Nevada from 2016–2025 are between 190 ft and 300 ft deep, and the median is 230 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 Nevada?

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 $116/ft at a depth of 230 ft. Per-foot quotes rarely include the pump.

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

A domestic well needs no water right if use stays at or under 2 acre-feet per year, but the licensed driller must submit a Notice of Intent to the Nevada Division of Water Resources and get it approved before drilling. A well on a parcel smaller than an acre also needs approval from the Nevada Division of Public and Behavioral Health, which checks the distance to the septic system. 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 Nevada?

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 well drilling costs.

Sources

  1. Well Driller Reports , Nevada 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. 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. A Guide to Water Wells in Nevada , Nevada Division of Water Resources. Accessed November 9, 2026.
  10. NRS 534.170, driller log and record of work , Nevada Legislature. Accessed November 9, 2026.
  11. HA 730-B, Basin and Range aquifers , U.S. Geological Survey. Accessed November 9, 2026. Direct fetch blocked; wording confirmed from USGS search excerpts.
  12. NAC 444.792, Individual sewage disposal systems: location , State of Nevada (via Justia). Accessed November 9, 2026. Table figure read from a secondary copy; confirm against the official NAC.
  13. Arsenic in Nevada Groundwater , U.S. Geological Survey, Nevada Water Science Center. 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. Well Completion Reports (Online System for Well Completion Reports, OSWCR) , California Department of Water Resources. Accessed November 8, 2026. Statewide well completion report dataset used for depth records.
  18. Environmental Health Fee Schedule, effective 2026-08-08 , Calaveras County Environmental Management Agency (CA). Accessed November 8, 2026. 8607 Well Permit Application $693.00 per well.
  19. Wells , Idaho Department of Water Resources. Accessed November 8, 2026. Well completion records used for depth, casing, and yield distributions.
  20. Idaho Code 42-235 Drilling Permits , Idaho Legislature. Accessed November 8, 2026. $75.00 permit charge for a domestic or monitoring well; $200 otherwise. Confirmed by IDWR Form 235-1 (https://idwr.idaho.gov/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/forms/235-1-application-for-drilling-permit.pdf).
  21. Drinking Water Quality Fees (July 2026) , Central District Health (Boise, ID). Accessed November 8, 2026. Coliform test $20; nitrate test $21; sample collection by CDH $145.
  22. Well Log Query , Oregon Water Resources Department. Accessed November 8, 2026. Well completion records used for depth, casing, and yield distributions.
  23. 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.
  24. Enrolled House Bill 2808 (2025), amending ORS 537.762 and 537.753 , Oregon Legislative Assembly. Accessed November 8, 2026. Start card for construction of a new well: fee of [$350] $490; landowner's permit (owner-drilled) [$500] $550. Effective 2025-07-17 per OWRD (https://www.oregon.gov/owrd/programs/GWWL/WCC/Pages/House-Bill-2808.aspx).
  25. Testing Recommendations (Domestic Well Safety Program) , Oregon Health Authority. Accessed November 8, 2026. Undated. Typical accredited-lab prices: coliform and E. coli $20-$40; nitrate $20-$40; arsenic $25-$45.
  26. 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.

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