Research · updated 2026-07-07 · download the county-level CSV
Texas Well Depth & Drilling Cost Index
Drilling a private water well in Texas means paying by the foot — so the two questions every well owner asks are how deep and how much. We computed both for all 252 counties with enough records to be reliable, from 455,171 official TDLR SDR well records.
Statewide, the median well reaches 250 ft, and a complete system — drilling, casing, pump, pressure tank, and hookup — typically runs $14,640–$24,400. But the county spread is large:
Deepest counties to drill in Texas
| County | Median depth | Typical depth range | Complete system |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mcmullen | 3,820 ft | 490 ft–4,231 ft | $196,920–$328,200 |
| La Salle | 1,730 ft | 335 ft–2,850 ft | $33,000–$55,000 |
| Mclennan | 1,090 ft | 79 ft–1,191 ft | $66,000–$110,000 |
| Collin | 910 ft | 719 ft–1,181 ft | $62,400–$104,000 |
| Kenedy | 822 ft | 711 ft–1,010 ft | $51,600–$86,000 |
Most expensive counties to drill in Texas
| County | Complete system | Drilling & casing only | Median depth |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mcmullen | $196,920–$328,200 | $82,050–$213,330 | 3,820 ft |
| Rockwall | $148,500–$247,500 | $61,875–$160,875 | 54 ft |
| Mclennan | $66,000–$110,000 | $27,500–$71,500 | 1,090 ft |
| Collin | $62,400–$104,000 | $26,000–$67,600 | 910 ft |
| Kenedy | $51,600–$86,000 | $21,500–$55,900 | 822 ft |
Download the full county table (CSV)
How to read this
- Depth is measured; cost is modeled. Depths are the median of recorded drilled depths per county. Cost applies published Texas per-foot drilling rates to that local median depth — a planning estimate, not a quote. Actual bids vary with geology, casing, site access, and water depth.
- Counties below 30 records are excluded so a thin sample can't produce a misleading superlative.
- Records are drilling events from the state database, which include some replacement and abandoned wells; deeper counties reflect real local geology (bedrock, aquifer depth).
Sources & methodology
- Texas well records: TDLR SDR (refreshed weekly; see our general methodology).
- Percentiles (p25/median/p75) computed per county; cost from published per-foot rate ranges applied to the local median depth.
The county table is free to use with attribution to Texas Water Well Reports (texaswaterwellreports.com). For a specific county, a custom cut, or the underlying records, email [email protected] — usually same-day.
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