How deep are wells in Michigan? Depth by county from 1,082,337 state well logs
The Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes, and Energy (EGLE) keeps the logs drillers file for household water wells. Across the 1,078,996 that give a depth, the median Michigan well is 94 feet deep, and the middle 80% run from 45 to 204 feet. 83 of 83 counties have 30 or more logs and appear in the table.
94 ft median depth, statewide
45 to 204 ft 10th to 90th percentile
26 ft median static water level
1,082,337 logs in 83 counties
Deepest and shallowest counties by median depth
Among the 83 counties with 30 or more logs that give a depth. The logs column is the count behind each median.
| Deepest | Median depth | Logs | Shallowest | Median depth | Logs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Clinton | 215 ft | 14,197 | Muskegon | 47 ft | 23,021 |
| Lapeer | 185 ft | 24,063 | Branch | 58 ft | 9,178 |
| Genesee | 180 ft | 54,229 | Menominee | 67 ft | 5,184 |
| Tuscola | 180 ft | 12,192 | St. Joseph | 68 ft | 12,336 |
| Keweenaw | 156 ft | 810 | Oceana | 68 ft | 10,436 |
Every Michigan county with 30 or more logs
Depth is the total depth the driller reported. "Middle 80%" is the 10th to 90th percentile: one log in ten is shallower than the first number and one in ten deeper than the second. Water level is the median static water level (how far below the ground the water stood when the well was finished), from the logs that record one. Years: the span of the middle 90% of dated logs. Download the table (CSV).
| County | Logs | Median depth | Middle 80% | Water level | Years | Our town pages |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Alcona | 5,852 | 73 ft | 38 to 150 ft | 29 ft | 1971 to 2023 | |
| Alger | 2,941 | 78 ft | 43 to 145 ft | 20 ft | 1973 to 2022 | |
| Allegan | 30,177 | 80 ft | 41 to 155 ft | 28 ft | 1973 to 2023 | Holland |
| Alpena | 4,652 | 82 ft | 38 to 200 ft | 15 ft | 1971 to 2022 | |
| Antrim | 9,216 | 102 ft | 47 to 213 ft | 42 ft | 1974 to 2024 | |
| Arenac | 4,771 | 80 ft | 42 to 220 ft | 16 ft | 1972 to 2022 | |
| Baraga | 1,570 | 145 ft | 53 to 245 ft | 18 ft | 1971 to 2022 | |
| Barry | 19,090 | 80 ft | 41 to 202 ft | 30 ft | 1975 to 2022 | |
| Bay | 5,201 | 132 ft | 80 to 270 ft | 22 ft | 1969 to 2020 | |
| Benzie | 7,530 | 94 ft | 45 to 199 ft | 44 ft | 1976 to 2023 | |
| Berrien | 21,718 | 92 ft | 48 to 167 ft | 35 ft | 1970 to 2022 | |
| Branch | 9,230 | 58 ft | 35 to 105 ft | 14 ft | 1972 to 2023 | |
| Calhoun | 19,599 | 100 ft | 57 to 160 ft | 26 ft | 1971 to 2020 | Battle Creek, Springport |
| Cass | 15,955 | 80 ft | 44 to 140 ft | 24 ft | 1973 to 2023 | Dowagiac |
| Charlevoix | 7,458 | 100 ft | 45 to 229 ft | 31 ft | 1973 to 2023 | |
| Cheboygan | 9,858 | 108 ft | 55 to 233 ft | 30 ft | 1973 to 2022 | Cheboygan, Indian River |
| Chippewa | 8,954 | 105 ft | 52 to 215 ft | 16 ft | 1972 to 2022 | |
| Clare | 16,611 | 80 ft | 45 to 151 ft | 30 ft | 1968 to 2023 | Harrison |
| Clinton | 14,203 | 215 ft | 110 to 280 ft | 32 ft | 1969 to 2019 | Lansing |
| Crawford | 5,838 | 74 ft | 42 to 166 ft | 25 ft | 1972 to 2023 | |
| Delta | 6,398 | 120 ft | 48 to 315 ft | 18 ft | 1971 to 2021 | |
| Dickinson | 2,537 | 105 ft | 48 to 300 ft | 26 ft | 1972 to 2022 | |
| Eaton | 15,080 | 138 ft | 74 to 245 ft | 25 ft | 1969 to 2018 | |
| Emmet | 8,773 | 138 ft | 60 to 315 ft | 60 ft | 1973 to 2023 | |
| Genesee | 54,285 | 180 ft | 67 to 245 ft | 30 ft | 1969 to 2020 | Flint |
| Gladwin | 14,178 | 88 ft | 45 to 260 ft | 15 ft | 1972 to 2022 | |
| Gogebic | 2,023 | 91 ft | 41 to 243 ft | 20 ft | 1975 to 2023 | |
| Grand Traverse | 22,299 | 106 ft | 51 to 222 ft | 48 ft | 1973 to 2022 | Traverse City |
| Gratiot | 6,524 | 108 ft | 51 to 266 ft | 19 ft | 1971 to 2022 | |
| Hillsdale | 11,612 | 85 ft | 46 to 150 ft | 28 ft | 1971 to 2022 | |
| Houghton | 3,905 | 133 ft | 57 to 242 ft | 20 ft | 1972 to 2024 | |
| Huron | 6,429 | 130 ft | 62 to 231 ft | 18 ft | 1970 to 2019 | |
| Ingham | 14,042 | 150 ft | 95 to 280 ft | 23 ft | 1969 to 2019 | |
| Ionia | 12,553 | 106 ft | 46 to 251 ft | 33 ft | 1972 to 2022 | Belding, Lake Odessa, Portland |
| Iosco | 6,867 | 71 ft | 36 to 257 ft | 20 ft | 1972 to 2023 | Hale |
| Iron | 1,519 | 80 ft | 40 to 242 ft | 25 ft | 1977 to 2023 | |
| Isabella | 13,505 | 85 ft | 45 to 156 ft | 20 ft | 1972 to 2023 | Mt Pleasant |
| Jackson | 23,493 | 113 ft | 61 to 181 ft | 25 ft | 1971 to 2021 | |
| Kalamazoo | 23,696 | 85 ft | 42 to 150 ft | 30 ft | 1973 to 2021 | |
| Kalkaska | 7,931 | 80 ft | 45 to 167 ft | 37 ft | 1979 to 2023 | Mancelona |
| Kent | 49,999 | 87 ft | 44 to 180 ft | 36 ft | 1972 to 2022 | Grand Rapids, Sparta |
| Keweenaw | 811 | 156 ft | 61 to 262 ft | 12 ft | 1978 to 2023 | |
| Lake | 8,008 | 68 ft | 40 to 148 ft | 28 ft | 1973 to 2024 | |
| Lapeer | 24,082 | 185 ft | 78 to 270 ft | 28 ft | 1973 to 2021 | Lapeer |
| Leelanau | 11,691 | 102 ft | 44 to 258 ft | 39 ft | 1974 to 2023 | |
| Lenawee | 18,540 | 85 ft | 46 to 153 ft | 25 ft | 1970 to 2021 | |
| Livingston | 46,898 | 86 ft | 51 to 158 ft | 25 ft | 1972 to 2020 | Howell |
| Luce | 2,085 | 82 ft | 43 to 152 ft | 33 ft | 1974 to 2022 | |
| Mackinac | 5,079 | 99 ft | 45 to 220 ft | 15 ft | 1973 to 2022 | |
| Macomb | 13,044 | 75 ft | 35 to 160 ft | 15 ft | 1969 to 2021 | Richmond |
| Manistee | 8,201 | 92 ft | 42 to 187 ft | 37 ft | 1971 to 2023 | |
| Marquette | 8,531 | 77 ft | 38 to 204 ft | 20 ft | 1973 to 2021 | |
| Mason | 7,941 | 70 ft | 40 to 147 ft | 25 ft | 1973 to 2023 | |
| Mecosta | 12,031 | 70 ft | 41 to 146 ft | 29 ft | 1972 to 2024 | Paris |
| Menominee | 5,210 | 67 ft | 36 to 181 ft | 14 ft | 1969 to 2020 | Menominee |
| Midland | 11,157 | 100 ft | 42 to 335 ft | 12 ft | 1970 to 2020 | |
| Missaukee | 5,902 | 77 ft | 44 to 185 ft | 29 ft | 1976 to 2024 | |
| Monroe | 17,038 | 80 ft | 53 to 122 ft | 30 ft | 1964 to 2018 | Petersburg |
| Montcalm | 17,842 | 70 ft | 41 to 139 ft | 20 ft | 1975 to 2023 | |
| Montmorency | 5,239 | 70 ft | 45 to 167 ft | 28 ft | 1974 to 2023 | |
| Muskegon | 23,382 | 47 ft | 30 to 97 ft | 17 ft | 1972 to 2022 | Muskegon |
| Newaygo | 17,700 | 72 ft | 40 to 160 ft | 28 ft | 1972 to 2023 | White Cloud |
| Oakland | 64,069 | 88 ft | 49 to 170 ft | 25 ft | 1970 to 2021 | Holly, Oxford, White Lake |
| Oceana | 10,452 | 68 ft | 35 to 162 ft | 29 ft | 1972 to 2023 | |
| Ogemaw | 10,435 | 75 ft | 42 to 173 ft | 28 ft | 1972 to 2023 | |
| Ontonagon | 1,398 | 110 ft | 55 to 240 ft | 20 ft | 1970 to 2023 | |
| Osceola | 8,253 | 98 ft | 45 to 185 ft | 40 ft | 1971 to 2023 | |
| Oscoda | 5,264 | 95 ft | 48 to 208 ft | 42 ft | 1972 to 2023 | |
| Otsego | 8,807 | 94 ft | 46 to 176 ft | 46 ft | 1973 to 2023 | |
| Ottawa | 21,179 | 86 ft | 33 to 200 ft | 28 ft | 1972 to 2023 | Zeeland |
| Presque Isle | 4,810 | 127 ft | 58 to 259 ft | 26 ft | 1971 to 2022 | |
| Roscommon | 14,378 | 81 ft | 44 to 161 ft | 15 ft | 1971 to 2023 | |
| Saginaw | 11,907 | 120 ft | 55 to 207 ft | 15 ft | 1970 to 2020 | |
| Sanilac | 7,414 | 100 ft | 43 to 195 ft | 18 ft | 1971 to 2021 | |
| Schoolcraft | 2,685 | 97 ft | 50 to 180 ft | 19 ft | 1974 to 2023 | |
| Shiawassee | 13,999 | 140 ft | 49 to 230 ft | 20 ft | 1971 to 2019 | Corunna, Laingsburg |
| St. Clair | 14,748 | 107 ft | 52 to 161 ft | 30 ft | 1971 to 2021 | |
| St. Joseph | 12,371 | 68 ft | 40 to 130 ft | 20 ft | 1972 to 2023 | |
| Tuscola | 12,224 | 180 ft | 100 to 270 ft | 21 ft | 1971 to 2020 | |
| Van Buren | 19,150 | 79 ft | 46 to 135 ft | 25 ft | 1973 to 2023 | |
| Washtenaw | 30,441 | 92 ft | 54 to 171 ft | 30 ft | 1970 to 2021 | |
| Wayne | 1,316 | 98 ft | 59 to 178 ft | 33 ft | 1967 to 2020 | |
| Wexford | 8,553 | 103 ft | 50 to 205 ft | 57 ft | 1972 to 2023 | Cadillac |
Method
- Source: the Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes, and Energy (EGLE), Wellogic statewide water well database (Michigan Wellogic Wells open data layer). We downloaded it on October 10, 2026 from the state's own server.
- Rows counted: household water wells. Field filter as run: WELL_TYPE = HOSHLD; depth = WELL_DEPTH unless DEPTH_FLAG is set; level = SWL unless SWL_FLAG is set, 999.99 or a flowing well.
- Each log is placed in the county the state file gives, matched to Census county names. 1,082,337 logs matched a Michigan county.
- A depth outside 1 to 5,000 feet is treated as a typing error and left out. A water level counts only when it is above zero and shallower than the well's depth. Medians and percentiles use the standard linear method.
- A county shows figures only with 30 or more logs that give a depth (water level: 30 or more levels). Nothing is estimated or filled in.
Limits
- Well logs cover drilled wells that a driller reported to the state. They are not a count of every well: older wells, hand-dug wells and wells from before reporting began are often missing.
- Depths and water levels are as each driller wrote them on the day the well was finished. Water levels move with season, drought and nearby pumping, so an old reading is not today's level.
- Dates vary by county. The years column shows when most of the logs were drilled; a county with mostly older logs describes older wells.
- A county figure says nothing certain about one lot. Depth can change a lot across a county, from hilltop to valley. A local driller's logs for nearby wells are the better guide for a single property.
Data: Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes, and Energy (EGLE), Wellogic statewide water well database (Michigan Wellogic Wells open data layer), read October 10, 2026. CSV of this table. Built by WellsNear from the state file; the code is the same for every state.
How to cite this: WellsNear, "How deep are wells in Michigan? Depth by county from state well logs," updated October 10, 2026, https://wellsnear.com/research/well-depth-by-county-michigan/