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Cost to drill a well in Washington: $17,300–$55,800 by county

A drilled, finished water well in Washington typically costs $17,300–$55,800, with a midpoint of $32,700. Depth sets most of that price. Domestic wells here have a median depth of 170 ft across 36,911 completion reports filed 2016–2025, priced at Washington driller rates.1,2,3,4,5,6

Key figures for Washington

ItemFigure
Finished well, typical range (midpoint $32,700) $17,300–$55,8001,2,3,4,5,6
Drilling and casing only (no pump, tank, or hookup) $10,700–$41,4001,2,3,4
Median well depth (36,911 reports) 170 ft1
Middle half of wells 100 ft to 300 ft1
Drilling rate (Washington rates) $45–$95/ft3
Median reported yield 20 gpm1

Estimate a well in Washington

Typical total: $17,300–$55,800, midpoint $32,700.1,2,3,4,5,6

Depths from 36,911 domestic well reports in Washington, 2016–2025: 100 ft (25th percentile), 174 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) (174 ft × $70/ft)$4,500$12,200$28,5003
Casing, installed (113 ft × $73/ft)$5,500$8,200$10,2003
Rig mobilization and setup ($500–$2,500)$500$1,500$2,5003
Well permit ($200–$200)$200$200$2004
Pump, wire, and drop pipe, installed ($4,500–$7,500)$4,500$6,000$7,5003
Pressure tank and switch, installed ($500–$1,800)$500$1,200$1,8005
Trench, water line, and electrical to the house ($1,500–$5,000)$1,500$3,300$5,0003
Water quality test ($50–$100)$100$100$1006
Total$17,300$32,700$55,800

Casing depth of 113 ft is a model assumption; the records for this area do not report casing.2

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Well depth by county in Washington

Total depth of domestic wells by county, Washington. Bar shows the middle half of wells; tick marks the median.
County Reports Median depth (ft) Middle half (ft) 0 to 500 ft
Spokane 3,853 240 140–390
Lewis 2,554 100 60–180
Stevens 1,914 240 140–400
Cowlitz 1,748 200 120–340
Snohomish 1,622 120 70–200
Pierce 1,563 140 100–210
Grant 1,552 200 130–300
Clark 1,550 200 140–340
Thurston 1,489 120 80–180
Yakima 1,466 220 140–330
Okanogan 1,445 200 100–350
Mason 1,279 140 100–200
Kitsap 1,075 150 100–240
Chelan 1,056 200 90–400
Klickitat 1,048 290 160–440
Benton 1,000 200 130–330
King 924 160 100–260
Kittitas 902 230 150–350
Whatcom 896 60 40–160
Pend Oreille 786 200 100–350
Island 741 170 110–260
Clallam 702 130 80–200
Skagit 593 80 50–140
Grays Harbor 568 90 60–160
Lincoln 523 230 140–400
Walla Walla 508 170 120–320
Franklin 507 240 170–400
Pacific 440 20 20–40
Douglas 402 220 110–360
Ferry 392 220 120–340
Skamania 376 220 130–370
San Juan 357 310 210–500
Whitman 262 230 160–390
Adams 249 290 200–460
Jefferson 233 170 100–270
Asotin 133 280 160–420
Wahkiakum 105 130 90–210
Columbia 62 260 120–400
Garfield 36 240 180–320

Median depth runs from 20 ft in Pacific County to 310 ft in San Juan County. At Washington rates that difference is worth about $32,900 at the midpoint estimate.

Sources1,2,3,4,5,6

Where the money goes on a Washington well

Drilling is billed by the foot at $45–$95/ft, so the hole alone runs $4,500–$28,500 at the depths above. Casing, the steel or PVC pipe that lines the upper borehole, adds $5,500–$10,200 at $55–$90/ft. Rig setup is a flat $500–$2,500.

The pump, pressure tank, and trench to the house add $6,500–$14,300 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

Permits and driller licensing in Washington

Water wells in Washington fall under Washington Department of Ecology, Water Resources Program. The owner, the owner's agent or the well operator must notify Ecology at least 72 hours before starting well construction, using Ecology's notice of intent form. Water wells must be constructed by a driller licensed in Washington under chapter 173-160 WAC. Whoever constructs a well must submit a complete well report to Ecology within 30 days of completing the well. The permit or filing fee runs $200.

Sources7,4

Groundwater and well construction in Washington

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 Washington median

A well at the Washington median reaches 170 ft with casing to about 110 ft, a model assumption because the records here do not report casing. A well must be 50 feet from a septic tank and 100 feet from the edge of a drainfield, including approved proposed and reserve drainfield areas.

Sources2,7

Washington compared with neighboring states

StateMedian depthTypical finished well
Washington170 ft$17,300–$55,800
Idaho200 ft$7,500–$43,800
Oregon190 ft$7,200–$43,300

Sources8,9,10,11,12,5,13,14,15,2,16,17

Common questions

How deep is a typical well in Washington?

Half of the 36,911 domestic wells reported in Washington from 2016–2025 are between 100 ft and 300 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 Washington?

Drilling alone runs $45–$95/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 $188/ft at a depth of 170 ft. Per-foot quotes rarely include the pump.

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

The owner, the owner's agent or the well operator must notify Ecology at least 72 hours before starting well construction, using Ecology's notice of intent form. Expect a fee of $200. 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 Washington?

An installed submersible pump with wire and drop pipe runs $4,500–$7,500, 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 $7,200 cheaper than a finished well.

Related pages

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

Sources

  1. Well Reports , Washington State Department of Ecology. 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. Well Drilling Cost in Washington: 2026 Price Guide , Wenatchee Well Pros (pump and water-system installer, Wenatchee, WA; does not drill). Accessed November 8, 2026. Published 2026-07-02. Soft formation $45-$65/ft; basalt $65-$95/ft; installed 6-inch steel casing $55-$90/ft; pump systems $4,500-$7,500 (200 ft) to $8,000-$12,000 (over 400 ft); mobilization $500-$2,500; trenching and hookup $1,500-$5,000; water testing $150-$400; 200-ft well complete $18,000-$25,000. Not a licensed driller; weaker evidence.
  4. RCW 18.104.055 Well construction fees , Washington State Legislature. Accessed November 8, 2026. 2005 c 84. Fee for one water well with top casing under 12 inches $200; 12 inches or greater $300; paid with the notice of intent to Ecology (https://ecology.wa.gov/regulations-permits/reporting-requirements/well-construction-notice-of-intent adds a 3 percent card fee).
  5. 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.
  6. Water Lab , Thurston County Public Health & Social Services (WA). Accessed November 8, 2026. 2025 schedule. Total coliform and E. coli P/A $32; nitrate $32.
  7. Chapter 173-160 WAC, Minimum standards for construction and maintenance of wells , Washington State Legislature. Accessed November 9, 2026. The Ecology wells page URL on the regulator field was not fetched.
  8. Wells , Idaho Department of Water Resources. Accessed November 8, 2026. Well completion records used for depth, casing, and yield distributions.
  9. 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+.
  10. 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.
  11. 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.
  12. 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).
  13. 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+.
  14. 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.
  15. Well Log Query , Oregon Water Resources Department. Accessed November 8, 2026. Well completion records used for depth, casing, and yield distributions.
  16. 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).
  17. 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.

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