Free HDD Bore Cost Calculator
Quick ballpark for a directional bore: production, days on site, a low/high cost range and $/ft. Estimates only — real prices depend on your ground, your rig and your market.
Production–ft/day
Days on site–
Low estimate–
High estimate–
$/ft–
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How it estimates
- Unit price range ($/ft, dirt): 1–1.5" $8–18 · 1×2" $12–24 · 2×2" $15–30 · 3–4 duct / 4" $18–36 · 2×4" / 6" $24–50 · 8–12" $40–76.
- Soil: cobble ×1.4–1.8, rock ×2–3 (rock adders on public bid tabs run +$32 to +$120/ft).
- Depth: +3% per foot past 6 ft. Region: ×0.9 to ×1.35.
- Production (ft/day, small/mid rig): dirt 600–900 for 1–2", down to ~250 for 8–12"; cobble ~45%; rock ~20%. Each shot adds ~¼ day setup. Crew-day cost (days × day rate) is blended with the unit range so the low/high cover both ways contractors price.
- Mobilization: fixed charge, commonly $700–$5,000 — why short bores cost more per foot.
Sources
- City of Cuyahoga Falls, OH — 2024 Directional Boring bid tab (1×2" HDPE $12.50–27.80/ft; 2×2" $17.50–37.36; 1×6" $24–51; rock adder $32–120/ft)
- City of Loveland, CO — directional boring bid (Attachment A) (2" HDPE $12/ft soil, $20 rock; mobilization $700)
- Underground Drilling LLC — boring cost table (fiber 2–4" $6–30/ft; 4–8" $20–40; 8–12" cobble $40–76)
- Nevantin — What directional boring costs (2–4" soft soil $8–20/ft; mobilization $1,500–5,000+; rock $100+/ft)
- Trinity Boring Solutions — HDD cost per foot (rock 2–3× soil; hardpan +25–40%)
Production rates and extras are Underground Weekly planning assumptions from field experience, not quotes. Always verify locates (call 811) and get a real bid.
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