Exhibit 23.1

CONSENT OF INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM

We hereby consent to the incorporation by reference in this Registration Statement on Form S-3 of our report dated February 10, 2016 relating to the consolidated financial statements, financial statement schedule and the effectiveness of internal control over financial reporting, which appears in Patterson-UTI Energy Inc.’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2015. We also consent to the reference to us under the heading “Experts” in such Registration Statement.

/s/ PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP

Houston, Texas

January 24, 2017