Tree removal costs $200–$2,000+ per tree in 2026, with most jobs landing $400–$1,200 for a mid-size tree in a typical yard. The biggest cost drivers are the height and trunk diameter, how close the tree is to the house or power lines, and whether stump grinding and debris hauling are included. Emergency removals (storm damage, leaning trees) cost 50–100% more. This guide breaks down what each tree size typically costs, what hides behind a low quote, and where DIY makes sense versus where it really doesn't.
| Service | Typical cost |
|---|---|
| Small tree (under 30 ft) | $200–$500 |
| Medium tree (30–60 ft) | $400–$1,000 |
| Large tree (60–80 ft) | $900–$1,800 |
| Very large tree (80+ ft) | $1,500–$3,500+ |
| Stump grinding (per stump) | $100–$400 |
| Stump grinding (per inch diameter) | $3–$5 |
| Debris hauling and disposal | $50–$200 add-on |
| Emergency / storm removal | +50–100% premium |
| Tree trimming (per tree) | $200–$800 |
Most quotes include cutting the tree down, but stump grinding and debris hauling are often priced separately. Confirm what's included in writing before signing.
The single biggest driver. A 25-ft maple comes down in under an hour with a chainsaw. An 80-ft oak with a 4-ft trunk is a half-day job for a 3-person crew with a crane and a chipper. Pricing scales nonlinearly with size — doubling the height often triples the cost.
Hardwoods (oak, hickory, maple) are denser, heavier, and harder on saw chains and crew. Softwoods (pine, fir, spruce) come down faster. Brittle species (silver maple, willow) are dangerous because branches break unpredictably — expect a premium for the added risk.
An open-yard tree is the cheap case — just fell it and chip it. A tree leaning over the house, garage, or fence requires rigging each section down by rope or crane. A tree near power lines may need the utility company involved to drop or shield the line — that adds days and several hundred dollars.
Cutting the tree to a stump is one job. Removing the stump is another. Grinding (chipping the stump 4–6 inches below grade) runs $100–$400 per stump or $3–$5 per inch of diameter. Full extraction (digging out roots) is rare and runs $300–$800 because it tears up the lawn.
Most tree-removal companies chip branches on-site and haul logs and chips away. Some leave the wood for you (free firewood if you want it). Confirm whether cleanup is included or billed at $50–$200 extra. Stump grindings (a pile of mulch) are usually left on-site unless you ask for hauling.
High-cost metros (NYC, SF, Boston, Seattle) run 30–50% above national medians. Storm season and post-hurricane weeks can double prices for emergency calls due to demand. Off-season scheduled removals (late fall through early spring, before leaf-out) are sometimes 10–20% cheaper.
High-cost metros
$700–$2,500 per tree
New York, San Francisco, Seattle, Boston
Mid-size cities
$400–$1,500 per tree
Denver, Atlanta, Dallas, Chicago
Smaller cities & rural
$250–$900 per tree
Rural Midwest, rural South, smaller towns
Regional ranges are approximate and vary by city, neighborhood, and individual contractor.
Most residential tree removals take 2–6 hours from arrival to cleanup, depending on size and access. A small open-yard tree can be down and chipped in under two hours. A large tree near the house with crane work can run a full day, and a particularly complex job (multiple trees, tight access, power lines) can stretch over two days. Get a written timeline so you can plan around the noise and yard disruption.
Sometimes — but not for routine removal. Insurance typically covers tree removal only if the tree fell on a covered structure (house, garage, fence) during a covered event (windstorm, lightning, weight of snow). Coverage usually pays $500–$1,500 toward removal in those cases. Trees that fall in the open yard, dead trees being preventatively removed, and trees damaging nothing are not covered. Always check your policy and call your agent before hiring.
It depends on your municipality. Many cities and HOAs require permits for trees over a certain trunk diameter (often 6–12 inches), trees of protected species, or any tree in a setback or right-of-way. Permits typically cost $50–$200 and can take a few days to issue. Removing a permit-required tree without one can mean fines of $500–$5,000 plus replacement-tree requirements. A reputable arborist will know your local rules — ask before signing.
Grinding is worth it for most homeowners — a leftover stump is unsightly, attracts termites and carpenter ants, sprouts new shoots from many species, and gets in the way of mowing. Grinding runs $100–$400 per stump and is usually best done at the same time as the removal because the crew and equipment are already on-site. Leaving the stump is a reasonable choice only if it's in a far corner of the lot or you plan to use it as a planter or a seat.
Small trees (under 20 ft, well clear of structures) are realistically DIY for a careful homeowner with a chainsaw, proper PPE, and felling experience. Anything taller, anything near a house or power line, anything leaning, and anything with rot or disease is professional-only. Tree-removal injuries are common and severe — falls from height, kickback from chainsaws, and crush injuries from misjudged felling direction. The DIY savings of $400–$1,500 is rarely worth a hospital visit, a damaged roof, or a downed power line. Cleanup alone (renting a chipper, hauling logs) often eats most of the savings.
Common signs that justify removal: large dead branches throughout the canopy, a hollow or cavity in the trunk that exceeds a third of its diameter, severe lean (especially a recent or worsening one), fungal growth at the base (often a sign of root rot), heaving soil on the side opposite the lean, or proximity to a target (house, driveway, power line) combined with any of the above. A certified arborist's hazard assessment runs $100–$300 and is worth getting before spending $1,000+ on removal — sometimes pruning or cabling is enough.
Get at least three quotes for any job over $500. Make sure each quote specifies: the trees being removed (mark them with ribbon and confirm), whether stump grinding is included, who hauls the debris, insurance and licensing details (ask for a Certificate of Insurance — uninsured tree work that damages your property leaves you on the hook), permit responsibility, and the timeline. The lowest quote often skips stump grinding, debris hauling, or carries inadequate insurance — read the line items, not just the bottom number.
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