Bore Drilling Cost Calculator
Estimate the cost of drilling a water bore in Australia, by depth, geology, casing and headworks.
In most Australian states you need a licence or approval from the state water authority to construct a bore, and often a separate entitlement to take water from it. Drilling without one can result in the bore being ordered decommissioned.
💰 Ways to save
- Talk to your neighbours and check your state's groundwater database before you commit. Existing bore logs in your area tell you the likely depth to water, the yield people are getting and the water quality, all for free. That single hour of research is the difference between a well targeted bore and an expensive dry hole.
- Agree the pricing structure in writing before the rig mobilises, including the per metre rate, the mobilisation charge, what happens if the bore is unsuccessful, and the maximum depth you are authorising. Almost every bore drilling dispute comes from an open ended per metre agreement with no agreed stop point.
- Combine mobilisation with neighbours where you can. Moving a drilling rig is a fixed cost of $800 to $2,500 depending on distance and rig size, so two or three bores drilled on adjoining properties in the same trip share it. In remote areas this is the largest single saving available.
- Test the water before you buy the pump and treatment. Groundwater quality varies enormously across Australia, and salinity, iron, hardness and nitrate levels determine what the water can be used for and what treatment it needs. A $200 to $400 laboratory analysis stops you installing a household pressure system on water that turns out to be suitable only for stock and irrigation.
or from $77/week over 5 years , indicative finance
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## What bore drilling costs in 2026
Pricing reviewed: June 2026.
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Pricing reviewed June 2026. Indicative Australian costs, not a quote.
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Understanding bore drilling costs in Australia
What bore drilling costs in 2026
Water bore drilling in Australia in 2026 is priced principally per metre drilled, generally $100 to $250 a metre for typical residential and rural bores, plus a mobilisation charge of $800 to $2,500 to bring the rig to site. Casing and screen adds $30 to $90 a metre. A shallow sand bore of 20 to 40 metres in easy ground might total $4,000 to $8,000. The common rural case, a 60 to 100 metre bore through clay and weathered rock with PVC casing and a submersible pump, lands at $12,000 to $25,000. Deep hard rock bores past 150 metres can exceed $35,000. The pump, headworks and plumbing are a further $3,000 to $10,000 on top of the hole itself.
Licensing is not optional
In most Australian states and territories you need approval from the state water authority before you construct a bore, and in many cases a separate water access entitlement or licence to actually take water from it. The bodies differ, with WaterNSW in New South Wales, the Department of Environment in Victoria, the Queensland Department of Regional Development, DEW in South Australia and DWER in Western Australia among them, and the rules vary by groundwater area, intended use and volume. Stock and domestic use is treated more leniently than irrigation or commercial extraction in most jurisdictions, but leniently does not mean unregulated. Drillers must also be licensed, and they are required to submit a bore construction log. Drilling without approval risks an order to decommission the bore at your cost.
Depth and geology drive the price
The two variables that set the cost are how deep you have to go and what you have to go through. Sand and alluvial sediments drill quickly with mud rotary methods and are the cheapest per metre. Clay is straightforward but slower. Shale and weathered rock push the rate up. Hard rock such as granite or basalt requires an air hammer, which is slower and consumes expensive bits, and can double the per metre cost. The uncomfortable reality is that neither depth nor geology is fully known until you drill, which is why the per metre pricing model exists and why an agreed stop depth in writing is essential before the rig starts.
The dry hole risk
A bore is exploratory. You are paying for a hole, not for water, and it is entirely possible to drill to the agreed depth and find insufficient yield or unusable water quality. Reputable drillers are upfront about this, and the way to manage it is preparation. Check your state's groundwater database for bore logs near your property, which will usually tell you the depth to water, the typical yield and often the water chemistry that neighbouring bores encountered. Talk to neighbours who have drilled. In marginal areas, some owners commission a hydrogeological assessment or geophysical survey for $1,500 to $5,000 before drilling, which is cheap relative to a failed 100 metre bore.
Casing, screens and construction quality
Once the hole is drilled it has to be built. Casing lines the hole to stop it collapsing, screen allows water in at the producing zone, and a gravel pack around the screen filters fine sediment. Above the screen, a grout or bentonite seal in the annulus stops surface water and shallow contamination running down the outside of the casing into the aquifer, and in most states that seal is a licence condition rather than an option. PVC casing suits most applications and resists corrosion. Steel is used where formations are unstable or collapse risk is high. Cutting cost on casing and sealing is the worst possible saving, because a poorly constructed bore silts up, produces sand that destroys pumps, and can contaminate the aquifer.
Pumps, headworks and running the bore
The pump is a separate project. A submersible bore pump and controller typically runs $2,000 to $5,000 installed depending on depth and flow, plus the electrical work to power it. Adding a pressure tank and plumbing to the house is another $1,500 to $3,000. Solar bore pumping systems cost $3,500 to $8,000 and are excellent for stock water and tank filling where you can pump slowly through the day, but poor at delivering on demand household pressure, so the right configuration for a house is usually solar pumping into a tank with a separate pressure pump. Budget for the electricity or solar capacity, and for periodic pump servicing, since pulling a submersible from 80 metres is not a small job.
Water quality and what the bore can be used for
Groundwater chemistry varies enormously across Australia and determines what the water is fit for. Salinity is the primary issue in many regions, and water perfectly acceptable for stock can be too saline for irrigation of sensitive crops or for household use. Iron and manganese stain fixtures and clog irrigation emitters. Hardness scales up hot water systems. Nitrate matters for drinking water. A laboratory analysis costs $200 to $400 and should be done before you specify the pump, the treatment or the plumbing, and repeated periodically since bore chemistry can change with drawdown and seasons. Treatment, where needed, is a further $1,000 to $6,000 depending on what has to be removed.
Frequently asked questions
How much does it cost to drill a bore in Australia?
Generally $100 to $250 a metre plus a mobilisation charge of $800 to $2,500. A shallow 20 to 40 metre sand bore might total $4,000 to $8,000, a typical 60 to 100 metre rural bore with casing and pump $12,000 to $25,000, and deep hard rock bores past 150 metres can exceed $35,000.
Do I need a licence to drill a bore?
In most Australian states yes. You generally need approval from the state water authority to construct the bore, and often a separate entitlement to take water from it, with rules varying by groundwater area and intended use. Drillers must also be licensed and lodge a construction log. Drilling without approval risks an order to decommission at your cost.
What if the bore comes up dry?
You still pay, because you are buying a hole rather than water. Manage the risk by checking your state's groundwater database for nearby bore logs, talking to neighbours who have drilled, and in marginal areas commissioning a hydrogeological or geophysical assessment for $1,500 to $5,000 before committing. Always agree a maximum authorised depth in writing.
Why does hard rock cost so much more to drill?
Because it requires air hammer drilling rather than mud rotary, which is slower per metre and consumes expensive bits, often doubling the per metre rate. Hard rock is also where depth estimates are least reliable, so fix the per metre rate and an agreed stop depth before the rig arrives.
How much does the pump add to the cost?
A submersible bore pump and controller is typically $2,000 to $5,000 installed depending on depth and flow, plus licensed electrical work. A pressure tank and plumbing to the house adds $1,500 to $3,000. Solar bore pumping systems run $3,500 to $8,000 and suit tank filling and stock water rather than on demand household pressure.
Is bore water safe to drink?
Not automatically. Groundwater chemistry varies widely, and salinity, iron, manganese, hardness and nitrate all affect what the water is fit for. Get a laboratory analysis for $200 to $400 before specifying pumps, treatment or plumbing, and retest periodically since bore chemistry can shift with drawdown and season.
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