Guide
Borehole drilling cost per metre: 2026 UK rates and what's in them
Updated
Per-metre is how drillers price, so it's the number to understand before comparing quotes. The rate itself sits in a fairly tight band; it's the metres that vary, and they vary with geology you can't change.
The rate and what it covers
Typical 2026 UK quotes put drilling at £50–£100 per metre. That usually covers the rig and crew, drilling the bore and installing casing to keep it open and seal off surface water. Check each quote for what else is in the metre rate: some include well screen and grouting, others itemise them. A quote well below this band usually means a small rig for shallow ground, or things moved off the metre rate into extras; read the itemisation before celebrating.
What moves you within the band
- Geology: soft chalk and sandstone drill fast and cheap; hard granite and fractured rock drill slow and sit at £100/m or beyond.
- Access: a rig that walks into a farmyard is cheaper to mobilise than one threaded into a terraced back garden.
- Diameter and casing spec: bigger bores and deeper casing runs cost more per metre.
- Mobilisation: many drillers charge a fixed mobilisation on top of the metre rate; nearby contractors are cheaper to bring to site, which is why quotes should come from firms covering your area.
Worked costs at common depths
| Depth | At £50/m | At £100/m |
|---|---|---|
| 30m | £1,500 | £3,000 |
| 50m | £2,500 | £5,000 |
| 80m | £4,000 | £8,000 |
| 100m | £5,000 | £10,000 |
Many UK domestic water boreholes come in somewhere between 30 and 100 metres, but depth is set by where the water is under your site, not by averages: neighbouring boreholes and a hydrogeological prognosis are the honest guide. That's why a contractor who quotes you a firm depth without a desk study is guessing with your money.
Drilling is roughly half the job. Pump, headworks, storage, treatment and commissioning take a complete installation to the typical £10,000–£20,000 all-in range; see the full cost table, and get quotes built on your actual geology.