If you're building on rural Utah land or need water for livestock, drilling a well is often the most practical (and sometimes only) option. Here's what drives well drilling costs in Utah in 2026, broken down by the factors that matter most.
What Drives Utah Well Drilling Cost by Depth
| Depth range | Relative cost | Common in |
|---|---|---|
| 100–200 ft | Lower | Cache Valley, parts of Utah County |
| 200–400 ft | Moderate | Iron County, Sanpete, Millard |
| 400–600 ft | Higher | Washington County, Kane County |
| 600+ ft | Highest | Deep basalt areas, some Beaver County |
These estimates include drilling, casing, screen, and gravel pack. They do not include the pump system, pressure tank, or trenching to the house — those are typically separate line items, and we can walk you through them when we quote your site.
What's Included in the Drilling Estimate
- Mobilization — getting the drill rig to your property
- Drilling — drilling through whatever geology is there
- Casing — steel or PVC pipe that lines the borehole and keeps it from collapsing
- Screen — the perforated section at the bottom that lets water in and keeps sand out
- Gravel pack — gravel placed around the screen to filter fine sediment
- Well development — pumping and surging the well to clear drilling mud and maximize flow
- Well log — the state-required completion report filed with the Division of Water Rights
What's Extra
- Pump and pressure system: scales with depth, flow rate, and whether you need a booster
- Trenching to the house: priced by the length of the water line from well to home
- Water testing: varies depending on what's tested (bacteria, minerals, metals)
- Permitting: a modest state well drilling permit fee (start card)
- Water treatment: if testing reveals iron, hardness, or other issues — varies widely
What Affects Cost the Most
Geology
Drilling through sandstone or alluvial gravel is straightforward. Drilling through basalt or granite is slower, harder on bits, and costs more. Southern Utah has both — the same county can have easy 200-foot wells on one side and difficult 500-foot wells on the other.
Depth to water
This is the biggest variable and the one hardest to predict before drilling. We use well logs from neighboring properties, geological surveys, and our experience in the area to estimate depth — but the drill confirms it. A well that's affordable at 200 feet becomes significantly more expensive at 500.
Access
A drill rig needs road access to your well site. Steep, narrow, or unimproved access may require site prep before the rig can get in. Remote properties in Brian Head, Duck Creek, or Beaver County mountain areas sometimes need access work.
Well Drilling in Utah That Fits Your Budget
Langford Drilling serves Iron County, Washington County, Beaver County, Garfield County, Kane County, and communities across southern and central Utah — Cedar City, St. George, Brian Head, Panguitch, Beaver, Kanab, and everywhere in between. We provide honest estimates based on local geology and neighboring well data, not guesses.
Call (435) 590-5425 or request a free estimate.