Research · updated 2026-08-23 · download the county-level CSV
Alaska Well Depth & Drilling Cost Index
Drilling a private water well in Alaska means paying by the foot — so the two questions every well owner asks are how deep and how much. We computed both for all 24 counties with enough records to be reliable, from 40,043 official Alaska DNR well records.
Statewide, the median well reaches 104 ft, and a complete system — drilling, casing, pump, pressure tank, and hookup — typically runs $6,240–$10,400. But the county spread is large:
Deepest boroughs and census areas to drill in Alaska
| Borough | Median depth | Typical depth range | Complete system |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kodiak Island Borough | 200 ft | 96 ft–219 ft | $12,000–$20,000 |
| Wrangell City and Borough | 175 ft | 107 ft–232 ft | $19,500–$32,500 |
| Denali Borough | 160 ft | 87 ft–222 ft | $9,480–$15,800 |
| Fairbanks North Star Borough | 160 ft | 60 ft–250 ft | $4,440–$7,400 |
| Anchorage Municipality | 156 ft | 95 ft–243 ft | $12,240–$20,400 |
Most expensive boroughs and census areas to drill in Alaska
| Borough | Complete system | Drilling & casing only | Median depth |
|---|---|---|---|
| Juneau City and Borough | $21,900–$36,500 | $9,125–$23,725 | 85 ft |
| Wrangell City and Borough | $19,500–$32,500 | $8,125–$21,125 | 175 ft |
| Nome Census Area | $15,540–$25,900 | $6,475–$16,835 | 150 ft |
| Anchorage Municipality | $12,240–$20,400 | $5,100–$13,260 | 156 ft |
| Hoonah-Angoon Census Area | $12,000–$20,000 | $5,000–$13,000 | 100 ft |
Download the full county table (CSV)
How to read this
- Depth is measured; cost is modeled. Depths are the median of recorded drilled depths per county. Cost applies published Alaska per-foot drilling rates to that local median depth — a planning estimate, not a quote. Actual bids vary with geology, casing, site access, and water depth.
- Boroughs and census areas below 30 records are excluded so a thin sample can't produce a misleading superlative.
- Records are drilling events from the state database, which include some replacement and abandoned wells; deeper boroughs and census areas reflect real local geology (bedrock, aquifer depth).
Sources & methodology
- Alaska well records: Alaska DNR (refreshed weekly; see our general methodology).
- Percentiles (p25/median/p75) computed per county; cost from published per-foot rate ranges applied to the local median depth.
The county table is free to use with attribution to Alaska Well Data (alaskawelldata.com). For a specific county, a custom cut, or the underlying records, email — usually same-day.
Look up any Alaska address free — recorded wells nearby, their depths, and water levels from the official state database.
Check an address