Well Drilling Cost in New Hampshire: $30–$70/ft Price Guide (2026)

New Hampshire has the second-highest rate of private well use in the country — about 46% of households rely on a private well for their drinking water, second only to Vermont. If you’re building a home outside the state’s few municipal water systems, a drilled well is your water supply. Here’s what it costs in 2026.

New Hampshire Well Drilling Costs at a Glance

Cost Factor	Range
Average total project cost	$14,400
Cost per foot	$30–$70
Average well depth	300 feet
Typical depth range	100–700 feet
Permit costs	$75–$300

New Hampshire wells cost more than the national average for two reasons: hard granite bedrock that’s slow and expensive to drill, and deep depths needed to hit productive fracture zones. Budget accordingly — a well under $10,000 is uncommon here.

Cost Per Foot by Region

New Hampshire’s geology is dominated by hard crystalline bedrock, but conditions vary by region.

Southern New Hampshire (Manchester, Nashua, Salem, Derry)

Typical depth: 200–400 feet
Cost per foot: $30–$55
Geology: Granite and gneiss bedrock with some glacial till and sand/gravel deposits

The most populated region has moderate drilling costs for New Hampshire. Some areas near the Merrimack River have glacial sand and gravel aquifers that provide water at shallower depths (100–200 feet). Properties on bedrock hilltops may need 300–400 foot wells into fractured granite. Expect $8,000–$16,000 for a complete system.

Lakes Region and Central NH (Laconia, Plymouth, Meredith, Wolfeboro)

Typical depth: 250–500 feet
Cost per foot: $35–$60
Geology: Granite, gneiss, and schist bedrock; limited glacial drift

The Lakes Region is a popular area for both year-round homes and vacation properties. Bedrock is close to the surface on many hilltop lots, requiring deep drilling to find productive fractures. Lake-adjacent properties sometimes have shallower water tables. Expect $10,000–$22,000. Vacation home wells are subject to the same construction standards as primary residences.

White Mountains and North Country (Conway, Littleton, Berlin, Colebrook)

Typical depth: 300–700 feet
Cost per foot: $40–$70
Geology: Hard Paleozoic granite and metamorphic rock — the most difficult drilling in New Hampshire

The White Mountains region has the deepest and most expensive wells in the state. Massive granite formations yield water only through fracture zones, and it may take hundreds of feet to intersect a productive fracture. Budget $15,000–$30,000+ for a residential well in this region. Dry holes and low-yield wells are more common here than anywhere else in the state.

Connecticut River Valley (Keene, Hanover, Claremont)

Typical depth: 150–350 feet
Cost per foot: $30–$50
Geology: Some valley-fill sand and gravel over metamorphic bedrock

The river valley has the most favorable drilling conditions in New Hampshire. Glacial sand and gravel deposits in the valley floor can yield good water at moderate depths. Properties on the valley edges or hillsides revert to bedrock drilling. Expect $7,000–$15,000 for a complete well system.

Seacoast (Portsmouth, Exeter, Hampton)

Typical depth: 200–400 feet
Cost per foot: $30–$55
Geology: Variable — glacial deposits near the coast, granite bedrock inland

The narrow seacoast strip has mixed conditions. Coastal properties may encounter shallow groundwater in glacial drift, while inland properties hit granite quickly. Saltwater intrusion is a concern for wells drilled too close to tidal areas. Expect $9,000–$18,000. Location of the well relative to the saltwater interface is critical.

What’s Included in the Cost

A typical New Hampshire well drilling quote covers:

Drilling and casing — steel casing through overburden; open borehole in competent bedrock
Grout seal — cement seal between the casing and bedrock to prevent surface contamination
Well development — air-lifting or pumping to clear drilling debris
Well cap — sanitary seal and vent at the casing top
Well completion report — filed with NHDES as required by law

Note on New Hampshire well construction: Most NH wells are drilled into hard bedrock. Unlike wells in soft formations, bedrock wells typically do not use well screen — the open borehole in the rock acts as the intake, and water enters through fractures in the granite.

Not typically included (budget separately):

Additional Cost	Price Range
Submersible pump + installation	$1,200–$4,000
Pressure tank	$400–$1,500
Electrical hookup	$500–$1,500
Water line to house	$500–$3,000
Water testing	$150–$800
Water treatment system	$1,000–$8,000

Water treatment costs are on the high side in New Hampshire because of the state’s granite geology — arsenic, radon, and uranium are common enough that many wells require treatment systems.

New Hampshire Permits and Regulations

Well construction in New Hampshire is regulated by the New Hampshire Department of Environmental Services (NHDES), Water Division.

Key requirements:

Licensed driller required — all well construction must be performed by an NHDES-licensed contractor. No homeowner drilling is permitted — this is one of the strictest states
Well permit — required before drilling ($75–$300). The driller typically handles the application
Well completion report — required within 90 days of completion; becomes part of NH’s well database
Setback distances — minimum 75 feet from septic tanks and 125 feet from septic leach fields (stricter than many states). Also 25 feet from property lines and 75 feet from surface water
Water testing — NHDES recommends testing for bacteria, nitrate, arsenic, radon, uranium, fluoride, and PFAS. Testing for arsenic and radon is especially important in New Hampshire
Abandonment — unused wells must be properly sealed by a licensed contractor; typical cost $1,000–$3,000

New Hampshire’s well database is available through NHDES — search for well logs in your area before getting quotes.

Water Quality Concerns

New Hampshire’s granite bedrock creates specific water quality challenges:

Arsenic — the most significant concern. Naturally occurring arsenic in granite affects roughly 20% of New Hampshire wells at levels above the EPA limit of 10 ppb. Treatment (typically a whole-house arsenic filter) costs $1,500–$4,000
Radon — dissolved radon gas is common throughout the state. An aeration system runs $2,000–$5,000. New Hampshire recommends testing all bedrock wells for radon
Uranium — naturally occurring in granite; can be above drinking water limits in some wells. Treatment is similar to arsenic removal
Manganese — causes staining and taste issues; common in both bedrock and drift wells
MTBE and PFAS — legacy contamination from gasoline additives and firefighting foam. NHDES maintains a database of known contamination areas
Saltwater intrusion — a risk for seacoast wells drilled too deep or during drought periods

Budget $150–$800 for comprehensive water testing — NH wells need a broader test panel than most states because of the granite-related contaminants. Many homebuyers’ lenders require water testing before closing.

Best Time to Drill

New Hampshire’s climate creates a defined drilling season:

April through November is the primary drilling season. Ground thaws by mid-April in the southern tier, late April in the north
Winter drilling is possible in bedrock (granite doesn’t freeze) but access roads can be impassable with snow and mud
Spring runoff (March–April) can make sites temporarily inaccessible
Fall is ideal — ground is dry, access is good, and driller schedules may be less packed than summer
Book 6–10 weeks ahead during the busy May–September season; shorter lead times in October–November

How to Save Money

Get at least 3 quotes — New Hampshire drilling prices vary significantly. Get free estimates from licensed NH drillers.
Check the NHDES well database — knowing what depth nearby wells are gives you a realistic budget. If neighbors have 200-foot wells, you probably will too
Ask about yield guarantees — some drillers offer a minimum yield guarantee or will drill a second hole at reduced cost if the first is low-yield. In granite, this matters
Budget for treatment upfront — with a 20% chance of arsenic issues, factor in $2,000–$4,000 for potential water treatment when budgeting. Better to have it in the budget and not need it
Bundle the work — one company for drilling, pump, and connection saves $500–$2,000 vs. separate contractors
Consider well yield carefully — a low-yield well (under 3 GPM) requires a storage tank and booster system ($2,000–$5,000). Sometimes drilling 50 feet deeper to find a better fracture zone is cheaper than adding storage equipment

Frequently Asked Questions

How deep are most residential wells in New Hampshire? The average is about 300 feet, making NH wells significantly deeper than the national average of 150–200 feet. Southern NH wells typically run 200–400 feet. White Mountains wells often exceed 400 feet and can reach 700 feet.

Can I drill my own well in New Hampshire? No. New Hampshire requires all well construction to be performed by an NHDES-licensed contractor. This is one of the few states with no homeowner exemption. Licensed drillers must pass testing and maintain continuing education.

Why are New Hampshire wells so expensive? Three factors compound: hard granite bedrock is slow and expensive to drill (requiring diamond or tungsten-carbide bits), average depths are 300 feet (50% deeper than the national average), and the state’s strict licensing and construction standards ensure quality but add to costs. New Hampshire wells cost roughly double the national average.

How long does it take to drill a well in New Hampshire? Drilling through granite takes 2–5 days for most residential wells, longer than states with softer geology. The complete project including pump, electrical, and plumbing takes 2–4 weeks.

What if the driller doesn’t hit water? This is more common in New Hampshire’s fractured granite than in most states. A good driller will check the NHDES well database for nearby well records and select the most promising site. If the first borehole is dry or low-yield, the options are: drill deeper in the same hole, try hydrofracturing to open fractures ($3,000–$5,000), or drill a second hole at a different location. Discuss dry-hole policies before drilling begins.

Do I need to test my well water? NHDES strongly recommends testing for bacteria, nitrate, arsenic, radon, uranium, fluoride, and PFAS at a minimum. Given the 20% arsenic rate in NH granite wells, testing is not optional — it’s essential. Many mortgage lenders require water testing before closing on a home with a well.

Get a New Hampshire Well Drilling Quote

New Hampshire well drilling costs range from $7,000 for a moderate-depth Connecticut River Valley well to $30,000+ for a deep White Mountains installation. The hard granite geology means costs here are among the highest in the country — but nearly half the state relies on wells, and experienced local drillers know how to find water efficiently.

Get 3 free quotes from licensed well drilling contractors in New Hampshire, or browse our New Hampshire contractor directory to find drillers near you.