The information provided on this page is for general informational purposes only and does not constitute legal, financial, or investment advice. Oil and gas laws, mineral rights regulations, and royalty structures vary significantly by state and jurisdiction. While we strive to provide accurate and up-to-date information, no guarantee is made to that effect, and laws may have changed since publication.
You should consult with a licensed attorney specializing in oil and gas law in your jurisdiction, a qualified financial advisor, or other appropriate professionals before making any decisions based on this material. Neither the author nor the publisher assumes any liability for actions taken in reliance upon the information contained herein.
Mineral rights can be an extremely valuable asset. If you suspect there may be oil, gas, or any other kind of precious metal sitting beneath the subsurface of your property, then you have the opportunity to earn an income through resource extraction.
As in any transaction, with a mineral rights lease, you will want a good deal. If you are exploring potential buyers, or if an oil and gas company has reached out to you directly, then your negotiation skills will determine how profitable your mineral rights can be.
Factors that Influence the Average Price Per Acre for Mineral Rights
- Location
- Size of Plot (Often Higher Prices for Larger Pieces of Land)
- Existing or Past Operations
- Producing vs. Non-Producing
- Estimated Mineral Amount
Mineral Leases Average Price Per Acre
Of course, a good baseline to understand when leasing your mineral rights is the average price per acre for mineral rights leases. Unfortunately, mineral rights transactions are not always made public knowledge. For this reason, there is a limited amount of data available to calculate the average price per acre of mineral leases.
Plus, the cost, opportunities, and average prices of mineral rights transactions are highly variable across different states. With all of this in mind, there are still many local resources that may you understand some of the averages for modern mineral rights leases in your area.
Nationally, mineral rights owners can expect anywhere from $100 to $5,000 per acre for their mineral rights lease. The most valuable mineral rights leases are on producing parcels of land that are still expected to hold many more precious minerals.
States with Highest Average Price Per Acre For Mineral Rights Leases
Although the states vary from year to year, generally, some of the most valuable states for leasing mineral rights are:
- Nevada
- Arizona
- Texas
- California
- Minnesota
- Alaska
