Deep well submersible pumps

A submersible well pump sits down in the well casing, usually a 4-inch well, and pushes water up to your pressure tank. The most common mistake is buying on the maximum head printed on the box. That figure is the height the pump can lift with zero flow; to deliver useful flow at your pressure setting, it needs head to spare.

Two other choices matter. Voltage: 230 V is standard for most submersibles and needs smaller wire on deep runs; 115 V models suit shallower wells. 2-wire vs 3-wire: 2-wire pumps have the start components inside the motor (simpler, nothing above ground); 3-wire pumps use a control box at the surface, so a failed capacitor can be replaced without pulling the pump.

#1 · Best all-round for typical wells

Red Lion RL12G07-2W2V 3/4 HP 2-Wire Deep Well Pump

A 3/4 hp, 230 V, 2-wire stainless pump listed at 291 ft of maximum head and 12 gpm. That headroom covers a pumping level of around 100 to 150 ft at a normal 40/60 or 50/70 pressure setting, the situation of most rural homes. At $626.12 it costs more than budget brands but comes from an established well-pump maker.

$626.12Check price at MRO SupremeFull reference

#2 · Best 3-wire for easy servicing

Red Lion RL12G05-3W2V 1/2 HP 3-Wire Deep Well Pump

A 1/2 hp, 230 V, 3-wire pump listed at 231 ft of maximum head and 12 gpm, for $545.11. The 3-wire design puts the start capacitor and relay in a surface control box, so the most common failure parts can be replaced without pulling the pump. Suited to pumping levels up to about 80 to 100 ft.

$545.11Check price at MRO SupremeFull reference

#3 · Mid-depth 3/4 hp alternative

Flotec FP2222 3/4 HP 230V Deep Well Submersible Pump

Flotec's 3/4 hp, 230 V, 2-wire stainless submersible, listed at 200 ft of maximum head, for $601.14. It covers moderate pumping levels of roughly 60 to 90 ft at standard pressure settings. Compare it with the Red Lion 3/4 hp, which offers more head for a similar price.

$601.14Check price at MRO SupremeFull reference

#4 · For 115 V service

Flotec FP2211 1/2 HP 115V Deep Well Submersible Pump

A 1/2 hp, 115 V model listed at 150 ft of maximum head, for $603.53. Choose it only where 230 V is not available at the well; 150 ft of head limits it to shallow pumping levels (roughly 30 ft or less at a 40/60 setting) once pressure head and friction are counted.

$603.53Check price at MRO SupremeFull reference

#5 · Budget 1 hp pump

Hallmark Industries MA0414X-7 1 HP Deep Well Pump

Listed at 1 hp, 207 ft of maximum head and 115 V for $149.97, about a quarter of the price of the established brands. It is an option for a seasonal cabin or a backup pump. For a primary home water supply, the higher price of the Red Lion and Flotec picks buys a longer track record and easier parts and service.

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#6 · Budget pick for deep wells

Hallmark Industries MA0419X-12A 2 HP Deep Well Pump

A 2 hp, 220 V pump listed at 420 ft of maximum head for $219.97, the most head on this list. It can reach deep pumping levels of 200 ft or more, but a 2 hp motor needs a correctly sized breaker and wire; have an electrician or well contractor confirm the run before installing.

Check price on AmazonFull reference

Side by side

How to choose between them

1. Find your pumping water level from the well log or a well contractor (not just the static level when the pump is off).
2. Add pressure head: your cut-out pressure × 2.31 (60 psi = 139 ft).
3. Add 10 to 20% for pipe friction and the rise to the house.
4. Choose a pump whose curve still delivers your flow (typically 7 to 12 gpm for a home) at that total head, not just one whose maximum head exceeds it.

Match the voltage and wiring to what is already in the well to avoid rewiring, and replace the pressure switch and check valve at the same time if they are old. See shallow vs deep well pumps, pressure tank sizing and pressure switch settings.

When a different pump fits

For wells with water within about 25 ft of the surface, a shallow-well jet pump above ground is simpler; between about 25 and 90 ft, a convertible jet pump is an alternative to a submersible.

Questions readers ask

Picks are chosen and ordered by our editors from makers' published specifications and listed prices; every pick meets the list's own requirement. How we research · Disclosure