costtodrillawell.com

Cost to drill a well in New York: $5,900–$33,900 by county

A drilled, finished water well in New York typically costs $5,900–$33,900, with a midpoint of $17,100. Depth sets most of that price. Domestic wells here have a median depth of 200 ft across 135,570 completion reports filed 2000–2025, priced at New York driller rates.1,2,3,4,5,6,7

Key figures for New York

ItemFigure
Finished well, typical range (midpoint $17,100) $5,900–$33,9001,2,3,4,5,6,7
Drilling and casing only (no pump, tank, or hookup) $3,500–$25,2001,2,3,4,5
Median well depth (135,570 reports) 200 ft1
Middle half of wells 100 ft to 320 ft1
Drilling rate (New York rates) $25–$65/ft2
Median casing depth 40 ft1
Median reported yield 10 gpm1

Estimate a well in New York

Typical total: $5,900–$33,900, midpoint $17,100.1,2,3,4,5,6,7

Depths from 135,570 domestic well reports in New York, 2000–2025: 100 ft (25th percentile), 199 ft (median), 320 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) (199 ft × $45/ft)$2,500$9,000$20,8002
Casing, installed (41 ft × $28/ft)$400$1,100$1,8003
Rig mobilization and setup ($550–$2,500)$600$1,500$2,5004
Well permit ($0–$50)$0$0$1005
Pump, wire, and drop pipe, installed ($800–$2,000)$800$1,400$2,0002
Pressure tank and switch, installed ($500–$1,500)$500$1,000$1,5002
Trench, water line, and electrical to the house ($1,000–$5,000)$1,000$3,000$5,0006
Water quality test ($100–$150)$100$100$2007
Total$5,900$17,100$33,900

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Well depth by county in New York

Total depth of domestic wells by county, New York. Bar shows the middle half of wells; tick marks the median.
County Reports Median depth (ft) Middle half (ft) 0 to 1,100 ft
Orange 9,379 300 210–390
Saratoga 8,329 200 80–330
Ulster 7,664 270 200–400
Dutchess 6,334 350 230–500
Rensselaer 4,485 320 220–420
Columbia 4,413 340 240–440
Sullivan 4,180 300 230–420
Washington 4,120 360 240–480
Warren 3,593 320 210–490
Cattaraugus 3,421 100 60–140
Chautauqua 3,295 80 60–110
Erie 3,032 70 50–90
St. Lawrence 3,003 120 90–180
Oneida 2,996 100 60–160
Steuben 2,956 120 80–170
Greene 2,823 300 200–420
Delaware 2,818 270 180–400
Tompkins 2,654 140 90–200
Allegany 2,534 110 80–150
Jefferson 2,529 110 70–160
Otsego 2,456 180 130–250
Clinton 2,381 160 100–260
Onondaga 2,268 160 80–280
Herkimer 2,223 160 100–270
Madison 2,163 120 70–200
Essex 2,140 350 230–500
Chenango 2,121 200 140–250
Oswego 2,096 80 50–100
Broome 1,982 170 130–230
Fulton 1,937 200 120–300
Tioga 1,909 120 60–180
Franklin 1,872 180 100–330
Albany 1,731 260 160–400
Putnam 1,723 400 290–600
Wyoming 1,699 80 60–110
Cayuga 1,694 120 70–190
Schoharie 1,610 240 160–350
Westchester 1,609 500 330–630
Ontario 1,548 100 70–150
Yates 1,274 110 80–150
Cortland 1,261 160 100–220
Schuyler 1,260 100 60–160
Livingston 1,212 110 80–140
Lewis 1,159 150 90–220
Chemung 1,140 130 80–180
Genesee 1,056 60 40–80
Montgomery 938 200 110–300
Hamilton 914 300 180–400
Seneca 750 100 60–160
Schenectady 733 260 180–340
Monroe 625 70 40–110
Wayne 579 80 50–110
Rockland 525 250 190–320
Orleans 247 50 40–60
Niagara 143 60 40–70
Bronx* 13 510 410–730
Richmond* 11 230 170–520
New York* 10 1,030 400–1,100

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

Median depth runs from 50 ft in Orleans County to 500 ft in Westchester County. At New York rates that difference is worth about $21,000 at the midpoint estimate. 3 of 58 counties have fewer than 30 reports; the calculator uses the statewide figure for those.

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

Where the money goes on a New York well

Drilling is billed by the foot at $25–$65/ft, so the hole alone runs $2,500–$20,800 at the depths above. Casing, the steel or PVC pipe that lines the upper borehole, adds $400–$1,800 at $10–$45/ft. Rig setup is a flat $600–$2,500.

The pump, pressure tank, and trench to the house add $2,300–$8,500 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

Permits and driller licensing in New York

Water wells in New York fall under New York State Department of Health and local health departments; well drillers register with the Department of Environmental Conservation. The state does not set one permit for private wells, but some counties require approval of new and replacement wells. Check with your local health department before you drill. Any business that drills water wells must register annually with the Department of Environmental Conservation before working anywhere in New York State. The water well contractor must notify DEC before drilling starts and file a Water Well Completion Report with DEC when the well is done. The owner gets a copy of that report. The permit or filing fee runs $0–$100.

Sources8,9,5

Groundwater and well construction in New York

Well cap Submersible pump Casing to about 40 ft Total depth about 200 ft Soil and loose rock Open hole in rock
Cross-section of a 200 ft well with casing to 40 ft, the New York median

Glacial sand and gravel valley-fill deposits are the productive surficial aquifers in the region. Much of the bedrock is crystalline rock that yields water through fractures.

A well at the New York median reaches 200 ft with casing to about 40 ft. Appendix 5-B of the state well standards lists 50 feet from a septic tank and 100 feet from an absorption field to a water well. The distances increase by 50 percent if aquifer water enters the well less than 50 feet below grade.

NYSDOH advises private well owners to test for bacteria at least once a year. Nitrate and nitrite fall in the group of tests to run every three to five years.

Sources10,1,11,12

New York compared with neighboring states

StateMedian depthTypical finished well
New York200 ft$5,900–$33,900
Connecticut350 ft$10,100–$53,400
Massachusetts340 ft$9,000–$52,600
New Jerseyno records$6,800–$42,500
Pennsylvaniano records$10,800–$37,600
Rhode Islandno records$6,800–$42,500
Vermont340 ft$9,800–$53,400

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

Common questions

How deep is a typical well in New York?

Half of the 135,570 domestic wells reported in New York from 2000–2025 are between 100 ft and 320 ft deep, and the median is 200 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 New York?

Drilling alone runs $25–$65/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 $86/ft at a depth of 200 ft. Per-foot quotes rarely include the pump.

Do you need a permit to drill a well in New York?

The state does not set one permit for private wells, but some counties require approval of new and replacement wells. Check with your local health department before you drill. Expect a fee of $0–$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 New York?

An installed submersible pump with wire and drop pipe runs $800–$2,000, and a pressure tank with its switch runs $500–$1,500. Together they are often the line items missing from a drilling quote, so a quote for the hole alone will look $2,400 cheaper than a finished well.

Related pages

For every state side by side and the national range, see well drilling costs.

Sources

  1. Water Well Program, wells drilled since 2000 , New York State Department of Environmental Conservation. Accessed November 8, 2026. Well completion records used for depth, casing, and yield distributions.
  2. Well Drilling Cost in Lakewood, NY , McCandless Well Drilling and Services Inc. (Jamestown, NY). Accessed November 8, 2026. Updated February 2026. Western New York drilling $25-$65/ft; pump installed $800-$2,000; pressure tank installed $500-$1,500; complete well and pump system $7,500-$12,000; average depth about 115 ft.
  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. Fees , Dutchess County Department of Behavioral & Community Health (NY). Accessed November 8, 2026. Undated. Individual well permits $45.
  6. 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+.
  7. Environmental Services Fee Schedule (approved 2025-09-19) , Westchester County Department of Laboratories & Research (NY). Accessed November 8, 2026. Total coliform and E. coli P/A $32.10; nitrate as N $80.25; Well Water Package A (Private Well Testing Law) $583.10.
  8. Individual Water Supply Wells, Fact Sheet #6 (Guidance for Code Enforcement Officials) , New York State Department of Health. Accessed November 9, 2026.
  9. Water Well Contractor Program , New York State Department of Environmental Conservation. Accessed November 9, 2026.
  10. Ground Water Atlas of the United States, Segment 12 (HA 730-M) , USGS. Accessed November 9, 2026.
  11. 10 NYCRR Appendix 5-B, Table 1: Required Minimum Separation Distances to Protect Water Wells From Contamination , Cornell Legal Information Institute. Accessed November 9, 2026.
  12. New York State Department of Health Urges Regular Private Well Testing , New York State Department of Health. Accessed November 9, 2026. Nitrate interval is from Fact Sheet #7; content taken from search excerpts.
  13. Well Completion Reports , Connecticut Department of Consumer Protection. Accessed November 8, 2026. Well completion records used for depth, casing, and yield distributions.
  14. 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+.
  15. 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).
  16. 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.
  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. Well Driller Program, well completion reports , Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection. Accessed November 8, 2026. Well completion records used for depth, casing, and yield distributions.
  19. 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.
  20. 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.
  21. Well Drilling Cost in Bucks County, PA (2026 Guide) , CS Garber & Sons, Inc. (southeastern PA). Accessed November 8, 2026. Published 2026-02-04. Drilling plus 6-inch steel casing $35-$55/ft; mobilization $750-$1,500; grouting $8-$14/ft; submersible pump install (1/2-1 hp, complete) $3,500-$6,500; pressure tank $900-$1,800 installed; yield test and water sample $250-$500; turnkey $12,000-$22,000.
  22. Fee schedule , Chester County Health Department (PA). Accessed November 8, 2026. Undated. New well permits $300; second or additional well $175; alteration $100.
  23. Drinking Water Testing , Penn State Agricultural Analytical Services Laboratory. Accessed November 8, 2026. Undated (2026 site). Bacteria (total coliform and E. coli) $40; nitrate-nitrogen $15; WD01 standard package $60; WD04 standard plus nitrate $70.
  24. Private wells , Vermont Agency of Natural Resources. Accessed November 8, 2026. Well completion records used for depth, casing, and yield distributions.

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