Free Tool · Geothermal

Geothermal Loop Borehole Cost Estimator

Estimate the vertical drilling for a ground-source heat pump loop field — total bore footage, number of boreholes, and drilling cost by ground type.

Heat pump system size

Ground type

Soft / unconsolidated Sand, clay, soil — drills fast ($8–$15/ft) Hard rock Granite, basalt, dense bedrock ($25–$40/ft)

Estimated loop-field drilling

Drilling cost range

$3,600 – $9,000

Total bore length

450 – 600 ft

Boreholes

2 – 3 holes

Heads up: drilling is 50–70% of the total loop-field cost — the heat pump, headers & connections are separate. This is the loop-field drilling estimate only.

2025–2026 market estimate. Actual cost depends on local geology, water table, site access and permits — always confirm with a licensed driller before you budget.

Loop Field Types

Choosing the right ground loop

The calculator above estimates vertical borehole drilling — the most common loop type. Here is how all four loop configurations compare, so you can discuss the best fit with your installer.

Vertical closed loop

Boreholes drilled 150–300 ft deep with U-tube pipe loops grouted in place. Needs the least land — fits most residential lots. Higher drilling cost, but reliable year-round performance.

Best when: limited yard space, rock close to surface, or new construction.

Horizontal closed loop

Pipe buried in trenches 4–6 ft deep across the yard. Lower drilling cost since trenching is cheaper than deep boring, but needs considerably more land area and works best in soil with consistent moisture.

Best when: large open lot, deep soil, and excavation access.

Pond or lake loop

Coiled pipe sunk to the bottom of a nearby pond or lake. Often the lowest installation cost because there is no drilling or trenching — but the water body must be large enough and deep enough to avoid freezing to the coils.

Best when: a qualifying pond or lake is within a reasonable distance of the house.

Open loop (well water)

Groundwater is pumped from a well through the heat pump and returned to a second well or surface discharge. Can be very efficient where water quality and quantity allow, but local regulations and water chemistry must be checked.

Best when: clean, abundant groundwater and local regulations permit discharge.

Installation process: a typical vertical-loop project takes 2–5 days for the drilling and loop installation, plus a separate day for the heat pump and indoor connections. The total cost (loop field + heat pump + ductwork modifications) ranges from roughly $18,000 to $35,000 for a residential system before any tax credits or incentives. The federal residential clean energy credit currently covers 30% of the installed cost for qualifying geothermal heat pump systems.

Next steps

Before you act on this number.

How geothermal loop fields work Vertical, horizontal and pond loops, and when each is used.
Water well cost estimator The same rig, different job — useful for comparison.
Find a driller who does loop fields Not every water-well driller takes on geothermal boreholes.

Common questions

Reading this properly.

Because it is the part that varies most. Heat pumps and indoor equipment are priced from a catalogue; the ground is not. Drilling several hundred feet through hard rock costs very differently from the same depth through sand, and that difference usually decides whether a vertical loop makes sense on your site at all.

From the heating and cooling load the building needs, converted into a required length of buried pipe, then divided into boreholes of a workable depth. The ground’s ability to move heat matters as much as the load, which is why the same house needs a different loop field in different soil.

The heat pump, the indoor distribution, the header trenching back to the building, grouting specifics, and any permit or inspection fees. It estimates the drilling, not the installed system.

No. Where there is land available, a horizontal loop is usually cheaper because it is trenched rather than drilled. Vertical loops earn their cost on small sites, on rocky ground where trenching is hard, or where you do not want the yard disturbed.

Ready to get a real quote?

Geothermal loop drilling is specialty work — compare verified, licensed drillers near you who do ground-source loop fields.

Find a licensed well driller →

Geothermal Loop Borehole Estimator

Geothermal Loop Borehole Cost Estimator

Choosing the right ground loop

Before you act on this number.

Reading this properly.

Ready to get a real quote?