The problem of determining the optimal length of the drill pipes from which stands are constructed is considered. On the basis of a study of the effect of the length of a drill stand on the technical and economic indices of drilling operations, it is shown that for the most widely used drilling rigs BU-125 and BU-160 it is economically advantageous to use stands with a length of 27 to 29 meters, i. e. , stands consisting of 9-meter pipes.