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Cost to drill a well in Pennsylvania: $10,800–$37,600

A drilled, finished water well in Pennsylvania typically costs $10,800–$37,600, with a midpoint of $23,400. Depth sets most of that price. Pennsylvania does not publish its well completion reports as a bulk download, so this estimate uses the national depth model of 100 ft to 300 ft, priced at Pennsylvania driller rates.1,2,3,4,5,6,7

Pennsylvania has no bulk well-record download we could use, so this page shows statewide estimates from the national depth model and no county figures.

Key figures for Pennsylvania

ItemFigure
Finished well, typical range (midpoint $23,400) $10,800–$37,6001,2,3,4,5,6,7
Drilling and casing only (no pump, tank, or hookup) $5,300–$24,2001,2,3,4,5
Drilling rate (Pennsylvania rates) $35–$55/ft3

Estimate a well in Pennsylvania

Typical total: $10,800–$37,600, midpoint $23,400.1,2,3,4,5,6,7

No usable well records for this area, so depths use the national model (100 ft to 300 ft).

Low uses the 25th percentile depth at low rates; high uses the 75th percentile at high rates.
Line itemLowMidHigh
Drilling (per foot of depth) (200 ft × $45/ft)$3,500$9,000$16,5003
Casing, installed (130 ft × $28/ft)$1,000$3,600$5,9004
Rig mobilization and setup ($750–$1,500)$800$1,100$1,5003
Well permit ($0–$300)$0$200$3005
Pump, wire, and drop pipe, installed ($3,500–$6,500)$3,500$5,000$6,5003
Pressure tank and switch, installed ($900–$1,800)$900$1,400$1,8003
Trench, water line, and electrical to the house ($1,000–$5,000)$1,000$3,000$5,0006
Water quality test ($50–$100)$100$100$1007
Total$10,800$23,400$37,600

Casing depth of 130 ft is a model assumption; the records for this area do not report casing.2

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Where the money goes on a Pennsylvania well

Drilling is billed by the foot at $35–$55/ft, so the hole alone runs $3,500–$16,500 at the depths above. Casing, the steel or PVC pipe that lines the upper borehole, adds $1,000–$5,900 at $10–$45/ft. Rig setup is a flat $800–$1,500.

The pump, pressure tank, and trench to the house add $5,400–$13,300 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

Permits and driller licensing in Pennsylvania

Water wells in Pennsylvania fall under Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural Resources (driller licensing); no state agency regulates private well construction. Pennsylvania has no statewide construction or siting standards for private water wells, though some municipalities set their own. Check with your township or borough before you drill. Act 610 requires licensed drillers, but exempts a person who drills a well on land they own or lease and use as their residence. The driller must give the owner a copy of the well construction record and keep the record for at least 10 years. The state may not require a completion report until 21 days after the well is completed. The permit or filing fee runs $0–$300.

Sources8,9,10,11,5

Groundwater and well construction in Pennsylvania

Well cap Submersible pump Casing to about 130 ft Total depth about 200 ft Soil and loose rock Open hole in rock
Cross-section of a 200 ft well with casing to 130 ft, the Pennsylvania median

In the Piedmont, dense bedrock yields water mainly through fractures. In the Appalachian Plateaus, fresh ground water circulates only to shallow depths, and saline water can sit close to the surface.

A well at the Pennsylvania median reaches 200 ft with casing to about 130 ft, a model assumption because the records here do not report casing.

No state rule requires you to maintain a private well or test its water. Penn State Extension recommends testing for total coliform bacteria every year and for pH and total dissolved solids every three years.

Sources12,2,13

Pennsylvania compared with neighboring states

StateMedian depthTypical finished well
Pennsylvaniano records$10,800–$37,600
Delaware60 ft$5,200–$23,200
Marylandno records$6,800–$42,500
New Jerseyno records$6,800–$42,500
New York200 ft$5,900–$33,900
Ohio120 ft$6,800–$31,900
West Virginia150 ft$6,500–$40,200

Sources14,15,4,16,17,18,6,19,1,2,20,21,22,23,24,25,26,27,28

Common questions

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

Drilling alone runs $35–$55/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 $117/ft at a depth of 200 ft. Per-foot quotes rarely include the pump.

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

Pennsylvania has no statewide construction or siting standards for private water wells, though some municipalities set their own. Check with your township or borough before you drill. Expect a fee of $0–$300. 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 Pennsylvania?

An installed submersible pump with wire and drop pipe runs $3,500–$6,500, and a pressure tank with its switch runs $900–$1,800. Together they are often the line items missing from a drilling quote, so a quote for the hole alone will look $6,400 cheaper than a finished well.

Related pages

For every state side by side and the national range, see costtodrillawell.com.

Sources

  1. 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.
  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. 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.
  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. Fee schedule , Chester County Health Department (PA). Accessed November 8, 2026. Undated. New well permits $300; second or additional well $175; alteration $100.
  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. 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.
  8. Water Well Drillers Licensing , Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural Resources. Accessed November 8, 2026. Undated. Pennsylvania has no construction standards or permit for private water wells; driller license $60/yr, rig permit $20.
  9. Groundwater , Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural Resources. Accessed November 9, 2026. Content taken from search excerpts.
  10. Water Well Drillers License Act (Act 610 of 1956) , Pennsylvania General Assembly. Accessed November 9, 2026. Content taken from search excerpts.
  11. 17 Pa. Code Chapter 47. Drilling Water Wells , Pennsylvania Code and Bulletin. Accessed November 9, 2026. Fetched 47.7: record kept at least 10 years, copy to owner. 21-day limit is Act 610 sec. 10 (32 P.S. 645.10), corroborated by search.
  12. Ground Water Atlas of the United States, Segment 11 (HA 730-L), Appalachian Plateaus and Piedmont aquifers , USGS. Accessed November 9, 2026.
  13. Private Water Systems FAQs , Penn State Extension. Accessed November 9, 2026. Content taken from search excerpts.
  14. Well Permits , Delaware Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Control. Accessed November 8, 2026. Well completion records used for depth, casing, and yield distributions.
  15. 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+.
  16. 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.
  17. 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).
  18. 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.
  19. 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.
  20. 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.
  21. 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.
  22. Fees , Dutchess County Department of Behavioral & Community Health (NY). Accessed November 8, 2026. Undated. Individual well permits $45.
  23. 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.
  24. Water well log database , Ohio Department of Natural Resources. Accessed November 8, 2026. Well completion records used for depth, casing, and yield distributions.
  25. Complete Water Well System Cost: Full Transparency from an Experienced Driller , K & B Water Well Drilling & Excavation (Mount Gilead, OH). Accessed November 8, 2026. Undated (2026 site). Drilling alone $30-$80+/ft; steel casing sometimes over $100/ft; pump unit $900-$2,500 plus installation; tank and switch $500-$2,000; full installed system $6,000-$16,000.
  26. 2026 Approved Fee Schedule, Private Water System Fees effective 2026-01-01 , Butler County General Health District (OH). Accessed November 8, 2026. New private water system (well), single family dwelling $534 ($440 local + $74 state + $20 ODNR), includes one site visit, one water sample and one inspection; water samples $90 base plus lab costs.
  27. Private Water Systems , Ashland County Health Department (OH). Accessed November 8, 2026. Undated (2026 site). New single family application/permit $309 plus $75 water sample fee = $384.
  28. Monitoring locations: West Virginia groundwater sites (Water Data API) , U.S. Geological Survey. Accessed November 9, 2026. All groundwater sites in the USGS inventory for West Virginia; no water-use field. Used: wells with a construction year 1980 to 2025 and a depth of 20 to 3,000 ft (n=747).

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