Borehole drilling

Borehole drilling in Australia: prices, licences and what to ask

Updated 5 November 2026

Drilling a borehole in Australia typically costs between A$3,000 and A$15,000, and a shallow sand bore of 20 to 40 metres usually totals A$4,000 to A$8,000. Prices depend on depth, location and ground conditions. To get figures for your own site, post a request on BlaBlaPrice and compare the offers that come back.

Licences and what to check in your state

The rules depend on the state. In South Australia, drilling a well to reach groundwater needs a Well Construction Permit, and the work must be done by a licensed driller; the application fee for 2026–27 is A$337. In Queensland, water bore drillers need a licence, and in Western Australia a Waterwell Driller's Permit is required, which includes a class exam. Across the country, a water licence or a development approval may also be needed, depending on where the bore is and what it is for. Ask the driller for their licence number before you agree on a price.

How drillers charge and what the price depends on

Most drillers quote per metre, and some set a minimum charge of 30 metres. A mobilisation fee for bringing the rig to your property comes on top. Pumps and installation add to the total, so compare the finished price rather than the per-metre rate. In Perth, a finished household bore usually lands between A$3,500 and A$9,000. Ask exactly what the quote covers, including the casing pipe and the pump.

Season and timing

November is late spring in the southern hemisphere, just before summer, which runs from December to February. Water use for gardens and livestock peaks in that period, so a bore finished now is ready when the heat arrives. Ground conditions matter more than the calendar: the depth of the water table and the rock type decide how deep the drill goes, and those change the price more than the month does. Ask drillers for the earliest start date.

What to write in your request

Say what the bore is for: a house supply, a garden, livestock or a commercial site. Name the city or region, the target depth if you know it, and whether the rig can reach the spot. Mention the casing pipe you want and any features you need, such as a pump or a tank connection. Add your deadline and your budget in Australian dollars. Depths are written in metres, the standard unit for bores here, so a driller can quote per metre without converting.

On BlaBlaPrice, describing the job is free for buyers. You write what you need in a chat, and the AI asks for anything missing, such as depth or rig access. It then looks through drillers' websites and price lists in your area and shows the prices and businesses it finds. Drillers registered on BlaBlaPrice receive your request and reply in the chat with their offer, price and terms, while your contacts stay hidden until you decide who to contact. For the wider project, see construction and renovation, or start a request on the home page.