How Much Does It Cost to Drill a Well in Texas?

If you're pricing out the cost to drill a well in Texas, the honest answer is "it depends" — but not in a vague way. Industry cost guides put per-foot drilling costs at roughly $25 to $65 per foot, and a complete system — drilling, casing, pump, pressure tank, and wiring — typically lands somewhere between $6,000 and $30,000. Industry cost guides (welldrillingcosts.com, 2026 figures) put the statewide average residential well at around 225 feet deep, which works out to roughly $8,550 at the midpoint. That's a useful benchmark, not a quote — the actual number depends heavily on where you are and what's under your land.

What Actually Drives Well Drilling Cost in Hood & Parker County

Both counties sit on the Trinity Aquifer, but the aquifer isn't uniform underneath them, and that's the single biggest reason two neighbors can get very different quotes.

• Depth to a productive formation. Parker County's workhorse formation is the Paluxy sand — it supplies more water than every other formation there combined, and it generally sits at a moderate depth. The deeper Twin Mountains formation (also called Travis Peak) is the most prolific producer in North-Central Texas, but reaching it means drilling further, which adds footage cost even before you factor in casing and pump sizing.
• Outcrop vs. downdip location. West of Weatherford and toward Lipan and Millsap, the Twin Mountains formation actually outcrops at the surface, so wells there can be shallower — and cheaper to drill — but the tradeoff is often harder, more mineral-laden water that needs treatment.
• Casing requirements. Casing protects the borehole and keeps shallow, lower-quality water out of your finished well. More casing footage, or larger-diameter casing for a higher-output well, adds material and labor cost.
• Pump sizing. A submersible pump sized for a household with two bathrooms costs less than one sized for irrigation, livestock, or a large home with a constant-pressure system. Pump selection is driven by depth, desired flow rate (GPM), and how the water will be used.
• Trenching and site access. Running power and water lines from the wellhead to the house, and getting a drilling rig onto the property in the first place, varies a lot by lot size, terrain, and how far the well sits from the home.

Registration Is Part of the Job, Not an Add-On

Every new well in Hood and Parker County has to be registered with the Upper Trinity Groundwater Conservation District (UTGCD) before drilling begins. Most household wells are exempt from full permitting — generally those producing under 25 gallons per minute or used solely for domestic or livestock purposes — but registration and the district's siting rules still apply, including a 2-acre minimum tract, 50 feet from property lines, and 150 feet from other registered wells. A licensed driller handles this filing as part of the project, and after the well is complete, state law requires the driller to file a State Well Report — a public record that documents depth, formation, and construction details for that well.

Typical Cost Ranges at a Glance

Item	Typical Range
Drilling, per foot	$25–$65
Statewide average well (~225 ft), drilling only	≈ $8,550
Complete system (drilling, casing, pump, tank)	$6,000–$30,000

Figures are industry cost-guide estimates for 2026, not a quote. Your actual cost depends on depth, formation, casing, and pump sizing for your specific property.

Why Quotes Vary So Much From Company to Company

When you compare well drilling quotes, make sure you're comparing the same scope. A low number might only cover drilling footage and exclude casing, pump, pressure tank, wiring, or UTGCD registration — costs you'll still owe someone before you have running water. A written, itemized quote that spells out depth assumptions, casing, and pump sizing is the only way to compare apples to apples. Site conditions also matter: a property with easy rig access and a known productive formation nearby will usually cost less to drill than a remote lot where the formation depth is uncertain.

Frequently Asked Questions