Well Pump Types: Submersible vs Jet Pump Cost and Guide (2026)

Updated April 2026

Your well depth determines the pump type. Here is a complete breakdown of every residential pump type with costs, specifications, pros and cons, and brand recommendations.

Comparison at a Glance

TypeWell DepthInstalled CostLifespan
Shallow jet pumpUnder 25 ft$500 - $1,00015 - 20 yrs
Deep jet pump25 - 100 ft$700 - $1,50015 - 20 yrs
Submersible (standard)25 - 150 ft$1,000 - $2,00010 - 15 yrs
Submersible (deep)150 - 400+ ft$1,500 - $5,00010 - 15 yrs
Constant pressureAny$2,300 - $4,50010 - 15 yrs
1

Shallow well jet pump

Lowest cost
Depth: Under 25 ftCost: $500 - $1,000Lifespan: 15 - 20 yearsLocation: Above ground (pump house or basement)

How it works

Creates suction by forcing water through a jet nozzle, which pulls water up from the well. Limited by physics to about 25 feet of suction lift.

Pros

  • +Cheapest to replace ($500 - $1,000)
  • +Located above ground for easy access
  • +Longest lifespan (15 - 20 years)
  • +DIY replacement is realistic

Cons

  • -Only works for shallow wells under 25 feet
  • -Noisier than submersible pumps
  • -Less efficient than submersible pumps
  • -Susceptible to freezing if pump house is unheated

Best for: Older properties with high water tables, wells under 25 feet deep, homeowners who want easy maintenance access.

Recommended brands: Wayne, Flotec, Goulds (J series)

2

Deep well jet pump

Medium depth
Depth: 25 - 100 ftCost: $700 - $1,500Lifespan: 15 - 20 yearsLocation: Motor above ground, jet assembly inside well

How it works

Uses a two-pipe system. One pipe sends pressurized water down to a jet assembly inside the well, and the other returns water to the surface. The jet assembly sits at the water level and creates additional suction to pull water from greater depths.

Pros

  • +Motor is above ground for easy service
  • +Works for medium-depth wells
  • +No need to pull equipment from inside the well for motor repairs

Cons

  • -Less efficient than submersible pumps (recirculates some water)
  • -Two-pipe system is more complex to install
  • -Jet assembly inside the well can wear out
  • -Being phased out in favor of submersible pumps for new installations

Best for: Existing wells 25 to 100 feet deep where the homeowner wants to keep the motor accessible above ground. Rarely chosen for new installations.

Recommended brands: Goulds (JRS series), Flotec

3

Submersible pump (standard depth)

Most common
Depth: 25 - 150 ftCost: $1,000 - $2,000Lifespan: 10 - 15 yearsLocation: Inside well casing, underwater

How it works

The entire motor and pump assembly sits inside the well casing, submerged in water typically 10 to 20 feet above the well bottom. Water is pushed up through a drop pipe to the pressure tank. No suction involved, which makes it more efficient than jet pumps.

Pros

  • +Most efficient residential pump type
  • +Quiet (motor is underground)
  • +Reliable and well-proven technology
  • +No priming needed

Cons

  • -Replacement requires pulling pump from inside the well
  • -Cannot be inspected without pulling
  • -Shorter lifespan than jet pumps (10 - 15 years)
  • -Higher replacement cost due to labor

Best for: The standard choice for most residential wells 25 to 150 feet deep. This is what the majority of US well owners have.

Recommended brands: Franklin Electric (FPS series), Goulds (GS series), Grundfos (SQ series)

4

Submersible pump (deep well)

Deep wells
Depth: 150 - 400+ ftCost: $1,500 - $5,000Lifespan: 10 - 15 yearsLocation: Inside well casing, underwater

How it works

Same technology as standard submersible pumps but with higher horsepower motors (1 to 2 HP) to push water from greater depths. Requires more drop pipe, more wire, and significantly more labor to pull and reinstall.

Pros

  • +Only reliable option for deep wells
  • +Efficient water delivery even from 400+ feet
  • +Modern deep well pumps are highly reliable

Cons

  • -Expensive to replace ($1,500 - $5,000)
  • -Half-day labor job for 300+ foot wells
  • -May require crane truck for very deep pulls
  • -More pipe and wire to replace

Best for: Wells in hard-rock regions of New England, Appalachians, and Mountain West where wells are commonly 200 to 400+ feet deep.

Recommended brands: Franklin Electric (FPS series), Goulds (GS series), Grundfos (SP series)

5

Constant pressure system (variable speed)

Premium
Depth: Any depthCost: $2,300 - $4,500Lifespan: 10 - 15 yearsLocation: Pump inside well, VFD controller above ground

How it works

Uses a variable frequency drive (VFD) controller to adjust the pump motor speed in real time. Instead of running at full speed or off, the pump ramps up and down to match demand, maintaining nearly constant pressure (typically 60 PSI) regardless of how many fixtures are running.

Pros

  • +Consistent water pressure at all times
  • +Less stress on pump motor (fewer hard starts)
  • +Better performance during high-demand periods
  • +Energy efficient at partial loads

Cons

  • -$500 - $1,500 premium over standard submersible
  • -VFD controller can fail separately from the pump
  • -More complex electronics to diagnose
  • -Requires compatible pump motor

Best for: Homes with irrigation systems, multiple bathrooms, or anyone who wants consistent pressure. Particularly valuable when replacing a pump in an existing system to upgrade the experience.

Recommended brands: Grundfos (SQE series), Franklin Electric (SubDrive), Goulds (Aquavar)

Pump Sizing Guide: Horsepower and GPM

More horsepower is not always better. An oversized pump short-cycles (starts and stops too frequently), wearing out faster. Match horsepower to your well depth and household demand.

HPFlow RateHouseholdMax Depth
1/2 HP5 - 10 GPM1 - 2 peopleUnder 100 ft
3/4 HP10 - 15 GPM2 - 3 peopleUnder 200 ft
1 HP15 - 20 GPM3 - 4 people100 - 300 ft
1.5 HP20 - 25 GPM4+ people200 - 400 ft
2 HP25 - 35 GPMLarge home / farm300+ ft

2-Wire vs 3-Wire Submersible Pumps

This is one of the most common confusion points for homeowners replacing a submersible pump. The wire count refers to how the pump motor starts, not just the number of physical wires.

2-Wire Pump

Starting components (capacitor and relay) are built into the motor housing inside the well. Only two power wires run from the surface to the pump (plus a ground wire).

  • + Simpler installation with fewer wires
  • + Fewer connections that can fail underground
  • - If the starting components fail, the entire pump must be pulled
  • - Harder to diagnose from the surface

3-Wire Pump

Starting components are housed in an external control box mounted near the pressure tank. Three power wires run from the control box to the pump (plus a ground wire).

  • + Control box is accessible at the surface for easy replacement ($150 - $400)
  • + Easier to diagnose starting issues from the surface
  • - More wires mean more potential failure points underground
  • - Control box adds $150 - $400 to the system cost

Important: You must replace a 2-wire pump with a 2-wire pump, and a 3-wire with a 3-wire, unless you also replace all the wiring. Ask your installer which type you currently have before ordering a replacement.

Which Pump Type Do You Need?

1

Well depth determines type

Under 25 ft: shallow jet pump. 25-100 ft: deep jet or submersible. Over 100 ft: submersible only.

2

Household size determines horsepower

1-2 people: 1/2 HP. 3-4 people: 3/4 to 1 HP. Large homes or irrigation: 1.5+ HP.

3

Budget determines brand tier

Budget: Flotec, Wayne. Mid-range: Franklin Electric, Goulds. Premium: Grundfos, Goulds high-end. See our brand comparison.

Full Cost Breakdown

Calculator and cost tables

Brand Comparison

Goulds vs Franklin vs Grundfos

Warning Signs

Know when to replace

Updated 2026-04-27