The cost per foot has crept up because everyone wants a well after those summer droughts where your Bermuda grass turned to straw. Demand is high, drillers are booked out for months, and materials (like steel and fuel) have gone up faster than a Texan’s blood pressure during a Rangers playoff game. In 2026, some companies quoted $45 to $75 per foot for complex jobs, and 2026 isn’t looking much kinder—like inflation decided to move into your backyard.
Digging a Well - How To, Regulations and Permits - GetASitePlan
But here’s the funny part: a well can save you thousands over time. If you’re on municipal water, you’re paying for the city’s broken pipes, their lawyers, and their Christmas party. A well is like cutting the middleman—except the middleman is your own water bill. Once you’re drilled, your only expense is electricity for the pump and the occasional filter change. It’s like switching from a fancy sushi restaurant to catching your own fish.
The “I knew a guy” factor in well drilling
Everyone in Texas knows someone who drilled a well for “$15 a foot back in '92,” but those stories are as mythical as the Chupacabra. Prices have changed, and the only way to get a fair deal is to get three quotes from licensed drillers. Don’t trust the guy who shows up in a pickup truck with a shovel and a dream—he’s probably going to hit a rock and charge you for the therapy.
Also, be ready to wait. In late 2026, some drillers in Central Texas had a six-month backlog. That means you’ll be staring at your dry lawn, sipping bottled water, and wondering if you should have just bought a bigger rain barrel. I waited seven months, and by the time they arrived, I had memorized the entire menu of my local water delivery service.
One final tip: never let the driller talk you into a “dry test” without a written contract. If they hit water, great—if not, you’re paying for a hole in the ground that’s just a very expensive garden feature. I’ve seen a guy’s well come up dry, and he now uses it as a “conversation pit” for his backyard parties. He charges neighbors a dollar to throw coins in it. That’s Texas ingenuity right there.
So, is drilling worth it? If you love water independence, hate monthly bills, and enjoy a good adventure that involves heavy machinery and a lot of dust—absolutely. Just remember: cost per foot is only part of the equation. The rest is patience, a sense of humor, and maybe a backup plan involving a rain dance. Welcome to Texas well ownership—where the water is free, but the journey costs you a king’s ransom and a few gray hairs.
