Private water supplies
How much does borehole drilling cost in the UK?
Drilling itself commonly prices at £50–£100 per metre, and a complete private water supply borehole, drilled, cased, pumped, plumbed and commissioned, typically lands at £10,000–£20,000 (typical 2026 quotes). The big unknown on any job is depth, which is why every serious quote starts with a look at your local geology. Most homes never need an abstraction licence: under 20 cubic metres a day, you can generally just drill. Tell us about your job and UK drilling contractors will price it properly.
What happens next
- Tell us what the borehole's for, the site and your timing. Two minutes, no account.
- We pass your details to relevant UK borehole drilling contractors covering your area, and to no one else.
- They contact you directly, usually after a desk check of your local geology, with a real price for your job. Compare, choose, or walk away.
Borehole Drilling Cost is an independent information and introduction service operated by Ellul Solutions Ltd. We are not a drilling contractor and are not affiliated with the Environment Agency or any body named on this site. We pass your details to relevant borehole drilling contractors who quote you directly; we may receive a fee from those contractors, and you pay nothing. Cost figures are typical 2026 quote ranges that vary by region, geology and site; nothing here is legal or engineering advice.
Typical UK borehole costs, 2026
Last updated
What each part of a private water supply borehole typically costs in the UK. These are typical quote ranges observed across the market in 2026, not fixed prices; depth and geology set most of the final number, and both are local.
Ranges reflect typical 2026 quotes for domestic and smallholding water boreholes across the UK. The drilling line is the market's common per-metre rate; the worked drilling examples multiply that rate by common domestic depths (drilling only, before pump and equipment). Pump, treatment and testing figures vary with yield, water chemistry and site plumbing, so treat them as budget guides and get itemised quotes. The full-installation range is what complete drill-to-tap jobs commonly total; it is not the sum of maximums above it.
| Item | Typical cost (2026 quotes) | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Hydrogeological prognosis (desk study) | A few hundred pounds | Predicts depth, yield and quality; most contractors arrange it before quoting firm |
| Drilling and casing | £50–£100 per metre | The core rate; hard rock and tight access sit at the top of it |
| Worked example: 50m borehole, drilling only | £2,500–£5,000 | 50 metres at £50–£100/m; many domestic boreholes fall between 30m and 100m |
| Worked example: 100m borehole, drilling only | £5,000–£10,000 | 100 metres at £50–£100/m |
| Pump, headworks, storage and controls | £2,000–£5,000 | Submersible pump sized to yield and household demand; varies with plumbing runs |
| Water quality testing and treatment (drinking supplies) | £1,000–£3,000 | Filtration or UV as the raw-water tests dictate; some supplies need very little |
| Full private water supply installation, drill to tap | £10,000–£20,000 | The number most complete domestic jobs actually land in |
- UK borehole drilling commonly costs £50–£100 per metre drilled (typical 2026 quotes), so a 50-metre domestic borehole is £2,500–£5,000 of drilling before pump and equipment.
- A complete private water supply borehole installation typically costs £10,000–£20,000 in 2026 UK quotes, drill to tap.
- Abstracting under 20 cubic metres of water a day generally needs no abstraction licence in England; over that threshold you need a licence from the Environment Agency (gov.uk).
Cite this page
“Typical UK borehole costs, 2026”, Borehole Drilling Cost, https://boreholedrillingcost.co.uk/ (updated 2026-08-14). Ranges reflect typical 2026 quotes for domestic and smallholding water boreholes across the UK. The drilling line is the market's common per-metre rate; the worked drilling examples multiply that rate by common domestic depths (drilling only, before pump and equipment). Pump, treatment and testing figures vary with yield, water chemistry and site plumbing, so treat them as budget guides and get itemised quotes. The full-installation range is what complete drill-to-tap jobs commonly total; it is not the sum of maximums above it.
Worth knowing
Every figure sourced and dated.
Borehole drilling cost per metre: 2026 UK rates and what's in them
UK borehole drilling costs £50–£100 per metre in typical 2026 quotes. What the rate includes, what geology does to it, and worked costs at common depths.
Borehole licences and rules: the 20 m³ a day line, plainly
Abstract under 20 cubic metres a day and you generally need no abstraction licence; over it you need an Environment Agency licence. Plus drinking water testing rules.
Ground source heat pump borehole cost: a different job, priced per metre
Heat pump boreholes are closed-loop collectors, not water wells: still priced per metre, but the metres come from your heat demand. How the job and cost differ.
Straight answers
How much does it cost to drill a borehole in the UK?
Drilling commonly costs £50–£100 per metre, and a complete private water supply installation, drilled, cased, pumped, treated and commissioned, typically totals £10,000–£20,000 (typical 2026 quotes). Depth is the big variable and it's set by your local geology, so real quotes start with a desk study of your site.
Do I need permission to drill a borehole?
Usually not for an ordinary domestic water supply: no abstraction licence is generally needed at or under 20 cubic metres a day in England, and over that you apply to the Environment Agency (gov.uk). Planning permission is usually not needed for the borehole itself, but check with your council. Drinking supplies come under local authority testing rules.
How long does drilling a borehole take?
The drilling itself is commonly a few days on site for a domestic bore, with pump installation and commissioning after. The whole job, from desk study through water testing to drinking-quality sign-off, more realistically spans a few weeks. Contractors quoting your job will give real dates; access and geology set the pace.
Is a borehole worth it for a house?
It's a sum you can actually do: a typical £10,000–£20,000 installation against your metered water bill, plus independence from mains supply where that matters. Running costs are mainly the pump's electricity plus periodic servicing and testing. On mains water with modest use, payback is slow; off-main or high-use sites are where boreholes earn their keep.
Is this quote service really free?
Yes, free to you, with no obligation to accept any quote. We pass your details only to relevant UK borehole drilling contractors, who quote you directly; we may receive a fee from those contractors, which is how the service is funded.