If you farm or ranch in Utah, an irrigation well is one of the largest single investments you will make in your operation. It is also one of the most important. Done right, an ag well will run for thirty or forty years and pay for itself many times over. Done wrong, it can underperform from day one and cost you a season of yield.
The number one question we get from farmers calling Langford Drilling is straightforward: how much does an irrigation well cost in Utah? Here is the honest, line-item answer for 2026, based on the wells we are actually drilling right now in Iron, Beaver, Millard, Sevier, Sanpete, and Juab counties.
The Short Answer for 2026
Most complete irrigation well drilling projects in Utah land somewhere between $50,000 and $150,000 in 2026. That covers the well itself, the pump, basic surface piping, and getting it tied in. Where you fall in that range depends mostly on four things: depth, casing diameter, pump size, and how far the nearest three-phase power is.
Typical Investment Ranges (2026)
-
Small ag / livestock well (300 - 500 ft, 8" casing, 25 - 50 HP)
$45,000 - $70,000
-
Mid-size pivot well (500 - 750 ft, 10" - 12" casing, 60 - 100 HP)
$70,000 - $110,000
-
Large pivot / multi-pivot well (700 - 1,000+ ft, 12" - 16" casing, 100 - 200+ HP)
$110,000 - $175,000+
Cost Breakdown: Where the Money Actually Goes
Farmers usually picture an irrigation well as one big number. In reality it is five or six separate cost buckets stacked on top of each other. Here is how a typical $90,000 mid-size pivot well in Iron or Beaver County actually breaks down:
1. Drilling and Casing - 45% to 55% of the project
The drilling itself is usually charged per foot, with a separate per-foot rate for casing. In 2026, expect roughly $80 to $150 per foot for drilling and another $25 to $80 per foot for steel or PVC casing in larger diameters. A 600-foot, 12-inch ag well lands somewhere around $40,000 to $55,000 just for the hole and casing.
2. Well Development and Yield Testing - 5% to 10%
After the hole is drilled, the well has to be developed (cleaned out, surged, and pumped clear) and tested under load. On an ag well, this is not optional. A proper step-drawdown test tells us the long-term safe pumping rate. Skip it and you risk burning up the pump motor, sand-pumping the column pipe, or oversizing the system. Plan on $4,000 to $8,000.
3. Pump, Motor, and Column Pipe - 20% to 30%
This is where people are surprised. A 75 HP submersible pump with stainless impellers, the motor, the column pipe down the well, the wire, and the discharge head together typically run $18,000 to $35,000 installed. Vertical-turbine setups for large-diameter shallow wells can run higher. Variable-frequency drives (VFDs), if you want one, add $4,000 to $12,000 but usually pay back in energy and motor life.
4. Electrical Service - 5% to 25% (highly variable)
This is the wildcard. If you already have three-phase power at the wellhead, you might spend $3,000 to $8,000 on the disconnect, panel, and wiring. If the nearest three-phase line is half a mile away, the power-company side of the project alone can run $20,000 to $60,000+. Always call Garkane Energy, Rocky Mountain Power, or whoever serves your area before you finalize the well location. A small move on a map can save you tens of thousands.
5. Surface Piping, Tie-In, and Sitework - 5% to 10%
The discharge has to get from the wellhead to the pivot, the flood ditch, or the storage. Underground PVC or HDPE mainline, valves, air-release fittings, and pivot tie-ins typically run $5,000 to $15,000 depending on distance. Sitework (pad, fencing, well house if you want one) adds another $2,000 to $8,000.
6. Permits, Surveys, and Engineering - 1% to 5%
You will need an approved water right and a Start Card from the Utah Division of Water Rights before we drill. If your basin requires hydrogeologic support or a change application, you may need an engineer or water-right consultant. Budget $500 to $5,000. (We do not file paperwork for you, but we will tell you exactly what we need to see before our rig leaves the yard.)
Cost Differences by County
Geology, depth-to-water, and casing requirements change a lot from valley to valley. Here is what we are seeing across central and southern Utah right now:
-
Iron County (Cedar Valley, Parowan, Beryl-Enterprise)
$60k - $120k
-
Beaver County (Milford, Minersville, Beaver Valley)
$70k - $140k
-
Millard County (Delta, Hinckley, Sevier Desert)
$65k - $135k
-
Sevier County (Richfield, Salina)
$55k - $110k
-
Sanpete County (Manti, Ephraim, Sanpete Valley)
$55k - $115k
-
Juab County (Nephi, Levan, Juab Valley)
$60k - $125k
What Drives Your Number Up (or Down)
Five factors tend to move an irrigation well budget more than anything else:
-
Total depth: Every additional 100 feet typically adds $10,000 to $20,000 between drilling, casing, and column pipe.
-
Casing diameter: Going from 10" to 12" casing on a 600-foot well can add $8,000 to $15,000, but it lets you set a much bigger pump and increases long-term well life.
-
Pump and motor size: Doubling the horsepower roughly doubles the pump-end cost, plus your wire, panel, and electrical service all step up with it.
-
Distance to three-phase power: The single most variable cost on the project. Always confirm before you commit to a well location.
-
Geology and unexpected formations: Hard volcanic rock, lost-circulation zones, or a deep water table can add days of rig time. We size every quote around the most likely formation, but ag wells are still partly a discovery process.
Comparing Cost to Value: GPM Per Dollar
Looking at total price alone is misleading. The real number that matters is cost per gallon-per-minute of long-term capacity. A $90,000 well that delivers 1,200 GPM is a much better investment than a $60,000 well that delivers 400 GPM and burns the pump out every five years. When we quote a project, we always tie the price to the expected sustained yield, not just to the depth.
For a head-to-head look at when a new well makes sense vs. fixing an existing one, see our guide on well rehabilitation vs. drilling a new well in Utah. If your existing ag well is losing yield, drilling a new one is not always the answer.
Financing and Payment Structure
Most farmers we work with finance the well through a Farm Credit West, USDA Farm Service Agency, or local ag bank loan. Standard payment terms with Langford Drilling are 50% down before the rig moves and 50% on completion. We accept cashier's checks and bank transfers, with credit cards available (with a processing fee) for smaller portions of the project.
How to Get an Accurate Quote
A real irrigation well quote requires three things from you:
-
The site: Address, parcel, or coordinates of where you want the well.
-
The acreage and crop: What you intend to irrigate, by what method (pivot, flood, drip), and during which months.
-
Your water-right status: Do you already have an irrigation right on the parcel, or are you working through a change application or new appropriation?
With those three things, we can put together a written, line-item estimate so you know exactly what you are spending money on before any work starts. For more on the planning side, see our guide on preparing for an agricultural irrigation well, and learn more about our irrigation well drilling service.
Get a Real Number for Your Farm
Stop guessing what an irrigation well will cost. Call Langford Drilling at 435-233-8954 for a free phone consultation, or learn more about our irrigation well drilling service. Stephen will sit down with you, look at your acreage and water rights, and give you a written estimate you can take to the bank.