How deep are water wells near you?
The fastest way to estimate well depth is to see how deep the wells around your land go, then confirm it with a local driller. The tool above shows USGS-recorded wells near any US address in seconds. Across our 50-town sample, the median recorded well ranged from 27 to 600 feet, so a national average tells you almost nothing.
How do you use the well depth lookup?
Enter your land, read the typical depth, then check the range. It takes under a minute, and you do not need to sign up.
- Enter a place. Type a street address, a town or coordinates. For raw land, zoom the map and click the spot where the well would go.
- Read the typical depth. This is the median of the recorded wells nearby. Half are shallower and half are deeper.
- Check the middle range. A tight range means wells around you behave alike. A wide one means geology varies, and your budget should allow for that.
- Compare depth with water level. The gap between the two tells you how much water stands in a typical well, and it shapes the pump you need.
- Look at the closest wells. A well one mile away tells you more than a typical figure across ten miles. Click any well to open its USGS record.
- Price it. The button sends the depth to our well drilling cost calculator, where you can change it.
A worked example: Magnolia, Texas
Magnolia sits in the fast-growing ring northwest of Houston. USGS has 150 wells with a recorded depth within 10 miles, and the median is 271 feet. Half fall between 210 and 440 feet.
That doesn't mean a house well there needs to go 271 feet. Many of those records are deep monitoring and public-supply wells. It does tell you which questions to ask a driller: which sand they target, and how deep their last few house wells finished.
How deep are water wells in each state?
It depends far more on the local aquifer than on the state. For each state we took one growing exurban town and pulled every USGS-recorded well depth around it. The right-hand columns show where that state keeps its own well logs.
| State | Town | Median depth | Middle half | Wells | Official state well records |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Alabama | Foley | 120 ft | 66–188 ft | 150 | Geological Survey of Alabama (guide from Alabama Extension) County map of well records. Online records may be out of date. |
| Alaska | Wasilla | 96 ft | 60–141 ft | 2,782 | Alaska DNR well log system (WELTS) |
| Arizona | Prescott | 300 ft | 175–449 ft | 175 | ADWR Registry of Wells (Wells 55) Includes driller reports. |
| Arkansas | Bentonville | 166 ft | 120–1,170 ft | 69 | AR Waterwell driller log search Arkansas Department of Agriculture with USGS. |
| California | Placerville | 275 ft | 163–330 ft | 18 | DWR Well Completion Reports |
| Colorado | Elizabeth | 270 ft | 95–341 ft | 128 | Division of Water Resources well permits |
| Connecticut | Tolland | 125 ft | 36–187 ft | 413 | CT DEEP records Reports are held by DEEP's records file room, not the health department. |
| Delaware | Georgetown | 48 ft | 17–85 ft | 179 | DNREC well permits Ask the well permit office for records. |
| Florida | Lehigh Acres | 90 ft | 55–233 ft | 219 | Southwest Florida WMD well permit search No single state search: each water management district keeps its own. This is the Southwest district. |
| Georgia | Cumming | 215 ft | 151–296 ft | 46 | Georgia EPD We found no statewide online search. Ask EPD or a local driller. |
| Hawaii | Hilo | 210 ft | 86–381 ft | 70 | CWRM well information request The public database was removed. Records need a request form. |
| Idaho | Rathdrum | 290 ft | 200–362 ft | 500 | IDWR Find a Well map |
| Illinois | Manhattan | 355 ft | 190–1,533 ft | 259 | Illinois State Geological Survey ILWATER map |
| Indiana | Noblesville | 58 ft | 30–85 ft | 90 | Indiana DNR Water Well Record Database About 407,000 records. Free to search. |
| Iowa | Adel | 77 ft | 45–633 ft | 60 | Iowa Geological Survey GeoSam |
| Kansas | El Dorado | 72 ft | 43–100 ft | 223 | Kansas Geological Survey WWC5 database |
| Kentucky | La Grange | 83 ft | 49–105 ft | 55 | Kentucky Geological Survey well and spring records |
| Louisiana | Covington | 600 ft | 203–1,373 ft | 524 | SONRIS water well registrations Registrations, under Conservation and Ground Water data. |
| Maine | Sanford | 35 ft | 17–106 ft | 253 | Maine Geological Survey Water Well Database |
| Maryland | Walkersville | 135 ft | 87–220 ft | 1,059 | Maryland Geological Survey About 500,000 paper permits and completion reports, available on request. |
| Massachusetts | Sandwich | 61 ft | 35–99 ft | 3,772 | MassDEP Well Driller Program search |
| Michigan | Howell | 101 ft | 79–129 ft | 16 | EGLE Wellogic |
| Minnesota | Buffalo | 117 ft | 94–152 ft | 1,508 | Minnesota Well Index |
| Mississippi | Hernando | 160 ft | 112–230 ft | 645 | MARIS water permit wells (MDEQ data) Statewide location data, compiled November 2024. |
| Missouri | Ozark | 425 ft | 226–600 ft | 121 | Missouri DNR certified well search (WIMS) Wells certified since July 1987. |
| Montana | Belgrade | 40 ft | 23–80 ft | 710 | Ground Water Information Center |
| Nebraska | Gretna | 72 ft | 50–98 ft | 281 | DWEE registered groundwater wells Older domestic wells may not be registered. |
| Nevada | Dayton | 138 ft | 96–226 ft | 476 | NDWR data and well log search |
| New Hampshire | Hudson | 285 ft | 138–421 ft | 5,159 | NHDES Water Well Inventory Over 135,000 records, through NHDES OneStop. |
| New Jersey | Newton | 165 ft | 97–248 ft | 107 | NJ Geological and Water Survey We could not confirm a public well record search. Ask the Survey. |
| New Mexico | Placitas | 240 ft | 129–400 ft | 294 | State Engineer water rights system (NMWRRS) Includes downloadable well reports. |
| New York | Riverhead | 88 ft | 53–145 ft | 695 | NYSDEC Water Well Program We could not confirm a public report search. Ask DEC. |
| North Carolina | Smithfield | 114 ft | 60–151 ft | 76 | NC DEQ groundwater levels and quality Monitoring data only. For a private well log, ask the county health department. |
| North Dakota | Lincoln | 120 ft | 60–180 ft | 165 | Department of Water Resources Look for well log information, or call 701-328-2754. |
| Ohio | Sunbury | 90 ft | 51–293 ft | 73 | ODNR Water Well Log Filing |
| Oklahoma | Mustang | 51 ft | 39–65 ft | 317 | Oklahoma Water Resources Board Holds the multi-purpose completion reports. Ask OWRB for a specific report. |
| Oregon | La Pine | 42 ft | 30–78 ft | 291 | OWRD Well Report Query |
| Pennsylvania | West Chester | 130 ft | 90–204 ft | 2,022 | PA Groundwater Information System Search through DCNR's PaGEODE map. |
| Rhode Island | Charlestown | 40 ft | 19–74 ft | 803 | RIDOH Center for Drinking Water Quality Completion reports from 1972 onward, on request. |
| South Carolina | Conway | 300 ft | 183–350 ft | 251 | SCDES Coastal Plain Water Well Inventory Coastal Plain only, about 14,000 wells. Elsewhere, ask SCDES. |
| South Dakota | Tea | 27 ft | 17–125 ft | 687 | Well Completion Reports |
| Tennessee | Murfreesboro | 121 ft | 68–175 ft | 32 | TDEC data viewers (Well Data Viewer) |
| Texas | Magnolia | 271 ft | 210–440 ft | 150 | TWDB Groundwater Data Viewer |
| Utah | Hurricane | 223 ft | 130–396 ft | 188 | Division of Water Rights records |
| Vermont | Hinesburg | 250 ft | 165–398 ft | 715 | Well Completion Report database Search by address, owner or driller. |
| Virginia | Purcellville | 220 ft | 135–347 ft | 238 | Virginia DEQ water well registration Most wells exist only as paper reports. Ask DEQ or the county health department. |
| Washington | Deer Park | 150 ft | 83–236 ft | 3,379 | Ecology Well Report Search |
| West Virginia | Martinsburg | 123 ft | 75–220 ft | 932 | We found no statewide water well search. Ask the county health department. |
| Wisconsin | Mukwonago | 184 ft | 100–317 ft | 143 | Wisconsin DNR Well Construction Information System Includes depth, water level and yield. |
| Wyoming | Burns | 110 ft | 90–180 ft | 331 | State Engineer's Office e-Permit |
Basis: USGS groundwater sites with a recorded depth of up to 2,500 feet within 10 miles of the town, widened to 25 miles where fewer than 10 exist. One town cannot represent a state, and a small well count means a weak figure.
What the pattern says: the shallowest medians in this sample are around Tea, SD (27 ft), Sanford, ME (35 ft), Belgrade, MT (40 ft). The deepest are around Covington, LA (600 ft), Ozark, MO (425 ft), Manhattan, IL (355 ft).
What does this lookup actually show?
It shows wells the US Geological Survey has on record, not every well in the ground. USGS publishes the location, depth and aquifer of the groundwater sites it tracks, plus the water levels it measures there.
The EPA says around 15 percent of the US population, more than 43 million people, rely on private wells for drinking water. Most of those wells are not in the USGS records. They sit in state driller reports, which is why the table above links each state's source.
USGS studies aquifers, so its list leans toward monitoring wells, irrigation wells and public-supply wells. Those can be much deeper than a house needs. Use the figure as the outer shape of what's down there, then narrow it with state logs.
Why do well depths vary so much?
Because a well has to reach water that will keep flowing, and that layer sits at a different depth everywhere. Three things do most of the work.
- The aquifer. Sand and gravel aquifers can give good water from one reliable layer. Your result names the main aquifer nearby.
- Bedrock. Water in hard rock moves through cracks. Two wells close together can finish hundreds of feet apart.
- Local water quality and rules. Drillers may pass through a shallow layer that is salty, polluted or too close to the surface, and states set construction standards.
How do you read a well log?
Find four numbers: total depth, static water level, yield and casing depth. A well log is the driller's report on what they drilled through and what they found.
| Item on the log | What it means for you |
|---|---|
| Total depth | How far the hole goes. This drives the drilling bill. |
| Static water level | Where water stands when nobody is pumping. It affects pump size and setting. |
| Yield | Gallons per minute at the driller's test. Low yield may mean you need a storage tank. |
| Casing depth | How far the steel or PVC pipe runs. It is priced separately from drilling. |
| Formation log | The layers drilled, such as clay, sand and limestone. Rock changes the per-foot rate. |
| Drawdown | How far the water level dropped during the pump test. |
How deep does a well need to be?
It needs to reach a dependable aquifer, get below surface contamination, and meet state rules. Most home wells today are drilled. Dug wells, about 10 to 30 feet deep, and driven wells, about 30 to 50 feet, draw water closer to the surface and face more risk.
Our shallow vs deep well guide compares the two on safety, pumps and drought. If you are still buying the land, put water near the top of your raw land checklist, right beside the septic soil check.
How much does depth change the cost of a well?
Depth is the biggest number on the quote, because drilling and casing are both priced by the foot. Ground conditions move the per-foot rate, and the pump, tank and wiring come on top.
The well drilling calculator itemizes all of it, and the well drilling cost guide shows where each rate comes from.
What should you do with the result?
- Pull state logs. Look for private wells near your parcel in the table above.
- Call two local drillers. Ask what recent house wells nearby have finished at, and what yield they got.
- Price the high end. Run the calculator at the top of the middle range as well as the median.
- Read the contract. Ask what happens if the well goes deeper than quoted or comes up dry.
- Test the water. The EPA notes that private wells are not regulated under the Safe Drinking Water Act, so testing is on the owner.
What comes next?
Land preparation runs in a sequence. Getting the order wrong is the most expensive mistake on a raw lot — grading before the septic is sited means paying to move the same dirt twice.
Sources
Every figure on this page traces back to one of these. Open them and check us — that is what they are here for.
- U.S. Geological Survey — Water Data API (groundwater sites and field measurements) The service our well depth lookup reads. Verified 2026-11-09.
- US EPA — Private Drinking Water Wells How many people rely on private wells, and who regulates them. Verified 2026-11-09.
- US Census Bureau — Geocoder Turns a street address into coordinates for the soil lookup.
Links verified August 2026. Tell us at info@landclearingandexcavation.com if one has moved.
Frequently asked questions
How deep is the average water well?
There is no useful national average, because depth depends on local geology. In our sample of 50 towns, the median recorded well ranged from 27 feet to 600 feet. Type your address into the tool above for the figure that matters to you.
How do I find out how deep wells are in my area?
Start with nearby records, then ask a local driller. The tool on this page shows USGS-recorded wells around any US address. Your state's well log database, linked in the table above, may show private wells too. A driller who works your area can tell you what recent wells have finished at.
How deep should a well be for drinking water?
Deep enough to reach a reliable aquifer and meet your state's construction rules. There is no single correct number. Shallow water is more exposed to surface contamination, so drilled wells that are cased and grouted are the usual choice for a home. Our shallow vs deep well guide compares them.
Can I look up well logs online for free?
In most states, yes. Many states publish driller reports through a free search or map. A few hold them on paper or release them on request. The state table on this page shows which is which.
What is the difference between well depth and water level?
Well depth is how far the hole goes. Water level is how far down the water stands in it. A 300-foot well may hold water that stands 80 feet below the surface. Depth drives drilling cost; water level affects the pump you need.
How deep is the water table on my property?
Only a measurement on your land can say for certain. The tool shows recent measured water levels at nearby USGS wells, when any exist. The septic soil check shows the seasonal high water table in the top few feet of soil, which is a different and much shallower question.
Does the depth of nearby wells predict the depth of my well?
It gives you a reasonable range, not a promise. Geology can change over a short distance, particularly in fractured bedrock, where one well can hit water at 150 feet and the neighbor's can miss it at 400.
Why are the wells in this tool so deep?
USGS tends to record wells it studies. Many are monitoring, irrigation or public-supply wells, which can be deeper than a typical house well. Compare the result with your state's well logs or a local driller's experience.
Does the lookup work in my state?
Yes, the lookup covers all 50 states. How many wells you see depends on where USGS has worked. If few are recorded near you, the search widens to 25 miles and the result tells you the sample is thin.