Has the site been surveyed?
Borehole Drilling Prices South Africa are quoted per metre rather than per hole, because the rock decides the depth and nobody knows it until the hole is down. That is why two quotations are hard to read side by side. Below is what each line item usually runs to, and which ones move the total.
- See what each line item should cost, so you never pay too much.
- Send the same brief to several contractors, and quotes come back fast.
- From LEADERR APPROVED providers, vetted and backed by many verified 5-star reviews. Peace of mind that the figure you compare is the figure you pay.
Send your site details once and get priced quotations to compare.
Get the Best QuoteBorehole Drilling Prices Prices
Ballpark figures across the common items, so you can check a quotation.
| Item | Ballpark price |
|---|---|
| Drilling, per metre, 165mm domestic hole | R450 - R850 |
| Drilling, per metre, larger diameter or hard rock | R700 - R1,400 |
| uPVC casing, per metre supplied and installed | R220 - R480 |
| Steel casing, per metre supplied and installed | R650 - R1,500 |
| Mobilisation, within a metro | R2,500 - R6,500 |
| Mobilisation, rural or long haul | R6,500 - R25,000 |
| Development and blowing clean | R1,500 - R5,000 |
| Geophysical siting survey | R2,500 - R7,500 |
| Test pumping and yield certificate | R3,500 - R12,000 |
| Submersible pump, installed, domestic | R18,000 - R48,000 |
| Typical 60m hole, drilled, cased and pumped | R65,000 - R130,000 |
Prices JUST UPDATED. Ballpark figures, rounded, excluding VAT. They reflect typical South African borehole drilling, pump and water treatment rates. They are not our prices or quotations, and no provider is bound by them. Drilling is quoted PER METRE and the depth is not known until the hole is down, so confirm what each quotation includes, such as mobilisation, casing, development and what you pay if no water is found.
The Five Items on Every Quote
- Mobilisation. A fixed charge to get the rig, compressor and water to site. Distance is everything here.
- Drilling, per metre. The headline rate. It usually covers the hole only, not the lining.
- Casing, per metre. Quoted separately, and the item most often left out of a cheap looking quote.
- Development. Blowing or airlifting until the water runs clear. Sometimes an hourly rate.
- Yield measurement. A blown figure is included on most quotes. A proper test pump is extra.
Where Quotes Differ Most
- Whether casing is included. A rate per metre with casing excluded is not comparable to one with it in.
- The dry hole term. Full rate, reduced rate or no charge. Worth more than a small difference in the metre rate.
- Minimum depth billed. Many quotes carry a minimum, often around 40 metres, whether the water is at 25.
- Travel. Some quote mobilisation, some build it into the rate, some charge per kilometre.
- Whether the pump is in. A turnkey figure and a drilling only figure are different jobs.
- VAT. Some contractors quote excluding it. On a R70,000 job that is a real difference.
Reading a Quotation
- Ask for it itemised. One lump sum cannot be compared with anything.
- Work out the all in per metre. Drilling plus casing plus mobilisation divided by the likely depth.
- Price the worst case. Take the quote to the deepest likely depth, not the shallowest.
- Check the payment terms. A deposit on booking and the balance on completion is normal. Full payment upfront is not.
- Check what is excluded. Rock bits, extra casing, a second attempt and the pump are the usual exclusions.
Get a figure for your own hole rather than a range.
Get the Best QuoteWhat Affects the Price
- Depth. The one item nobody can price upfront, and the one that moves the total most.
- Distance from the depot. Mobilisation on a farm quote can exceed the drilling on a shallow hole.
- The rock. Dolomite and quartzite are slow. A slow hole costs more even at the same rate.
- Casing length. Loose ground means casing most of the way down instead of a few metres at the top.
- Diameter. Wider holes cost more a metre and are only needed for a bigger pump.
- Whether the pump is included. The pump, cable, pipe and electrical work can be a third of the total.
- How busy the rigs are. Rates firm up in a dry season when every rig in the province is booked.
What to Include in Your Request
- The address. Suburb and town, so travel can be priced properly.
- The survey result. If you have one, the target depth and position.
- What the water is for. It sets the yield you need and therefore the pump.
- Access. Gate width, ground conditions and how close a truck can get.
- Whether you want a turnkey price. Hole only, or hole plus pump, tank and electrical.
- Your timing. A job that can wait for a rig in the area is cheaper than one that cannot.
Questions That Change the Number
- Is casing included, and how much? The most common reason a cheap quote ends up dearest.
- What is the dry hole rate? Get it in writing before booking.
- Is there a minimum billed depth? And does it apply if the water comes in shallow?
- Is the yield figure blown or test pumped? They are not the same number and a pump sized off the wrong one fails.
- Is VAT included? Ask plainly rather than assuming.
- What would a second attempt cost? Nearby, on the same mobilisation, it is far cheaper than a fresh visit.
Borehole Drilling Prices FAQs
Why is borehole drilling quoted per metre?
Because the depth is unknown until the hole is drilled. A contractor who quotes a fixed total for an unsurveyed site is either carrying the risk in a high price or planning to stop at a depth that suits them. A rate per metre with a clear casing rate and a stated dry hole term is the honest shape.
What is a realistic total for a domestic borehole?
Around R45,000 to R85,000 for a 60 metre hole drilled and cased, and roughly R65,000 to R130,000 by the time a submersible pump, pipework, cable and electrical work are in. Distance from the contractor and the hardness of the ground move it most.
Is the cheapest quote usually the cheapest job?
Not often. The two items that decide it are whether casing is in the rate and what happens on a dry hole. A low metre rate with casing excluded and a full charge on a dry hole can end up double a higher rate that includes both.
Do I pay if no water is found?
Usually something, and how much is the term to negotiate. Full rate, a reduced dry hole rate, or nothing on a surveyed site are all offered in the market. It is the single most valuable line in the quotation.
Does a survey save money?
It costs a few thousand rand and improves the chance of a wet hole and a sensible target depth. Against a dry hole that can run to tens of thousands, most people find it pays for itself. It is not a guarantee and no reputable geohydrologist will call it one.
Why is the mobilisation charge so high on a farm?
A drilling rig, a compressor and a water bowser are three heavy vehicles. Moving them two hundred kilometres and back costs real money whether the hole is ten metres or a hundred. A contractor with a depot nearer you often beats a lower metre rate from further away.
Prices are the first thing most people ask Borehole Drillers South Africa about, and the reason the quotations are worth lining up.
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