Tree removal cost has a wide spread because no two trees come down the same way. A 20-foot ornamental in an open yard can go for a couple hundred dollars. A 90-foot oak leaning over the garage can run several thousand.
Most quotes land between about $300 and $2,000. Where yours falls depends less on the species than on height, what the tree could hit on the way down, and whether a truck and chipper can reach it.
Quick Answer: HomeGuide puts most tree removals at $300 to $2,000, with a national average around $1,150; This Old House puts the typical job at $820 to $992. Small trees under 30 feet usually cost $150 to $500. Trees over 80 feet run $1,200 to $2,700 or more. Some crews price at $5 to $25 per foot of height or $65 to $140 per hour. Stump grinding, cranes, permits, and emergency work are usually extra. On LawnGuru, tree work jobs average $425, with most between $300 and $1,200.
Tree Removal Cost at a Glance
Two of the biggest cost guides in the search results publish different averages, and both are reasonable. They use different data sets and size brackets.
| Source | Typical range | Average |
|---|---|---|
| HomeGuide (member project data) | $300 to $2,000 | $1,150 |
| This Old House | $820 to $992 | $906 |
| LawnGuru tree work jobs | $300 to $1,200 | $425 |
LawnGuru’s figure covers tree work broadly, including trimming as well as removals, so it skews lower than removal-only averages. Use it as a sense of what everyday tree jobs cost, and the size table below for full removals.
Tree Removal Cost by Size
Height is the biggest single factor. Taller trees take more cuts, more rigging, more cleanup, and sometimes a crane.
| Tree height | HomeGuide | This Old House | Shy Tree (Maryland) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Small, under 30 ft | $150 to $500 | $150 to $450 | $300 to $800 |
| Medium, 30 to 60 ft | $300 to $1,000 | n/a | $600 to $1,500 |
| Large, 60 to 80 ft | $650 to $2,000 | n/a | $1,500 to $3,000 (60 to 100 ft) |
| Extra-large, over 80 ft | $1,200 to $2,700 | $1,000 to $2,000 | $3,000+ (over 100 ft) |
Local tree companies tend to quote higher than national averages, partly because their prices include cleanup and insurance overhead that national ranges sometimes don’t. Shy Tree’s Maryland ranges are a good example.
How Much Does It Cost to Take Down a 30ft Tree?
Usually $150 to $500, per HomeGuide’s small-tree bracket, if it’s in an open spot and the crew can drop it in one piece or a few sections. HomeGuide says a 30-foot tree takes about 2 to 4 hours including cleanup. Put the same tree between a house and a fence and the price climbs toward the medium range.
Per Foot vs. Per Hour vs. Per Tree
Contractors charge in one of three ways, per HomeGuide:
| Pricing model | Typical rate | When it’s used |
|---|---|---|
| Per tree | $300 to $2,000 | Most residential jobs |
| Per foot of height | $5 to $25 per foot | Simple removals where height drives the work |
| Per hour | $65 to $140 per hour | Multiple trees, uncertain scope, cleanup-heavy jobs |
Per-foot pricing is easy to sanity-check: a 50-foot tree at $10 to $15 per foot is $500 to $750. Hourly pricing is fair for odd jobs but makes the final bill harder to predict. Ask for a not-to-exceed number.
Tree Removal Cost by Species
Species matters because of wood density, branch spread, and typical mature height. Hardwoods like oak and maple are heavier and slower to cut. HomeGuide’s averages:
| Species | Typical removal cost | Typical mature height |
|---|---|---|
| Palm | $150 to $900 | 30 to 50 ft |
| Pine | $200 to $1,600 | 50 to 100 ft |
| Oak | $250 to $2,500 | 40 to 80 ft |
| Bradford pear | $400 to $1,000 | 30 to 50 ft |
| Maple | $600 to $2,800 | 50 to 100 ft |
| Elm | $600 to $3,000 | 40 to 80 ft |
| Ash | $800 to $1,900 | 60 to 120 ft |
| Poplar | $1,100 to $3,000 | 40 to 165 ft |
This Old House’s ranges differ for some species. It lists palm removal at $650 to $1,500, well above HomeGuide’s $150 to $900, which reflects how much palm height varies. HomeGuide notes a mature oak can cost $3,000 to $6,000 by itself.
How Much Does It Cost to Remove a Large Ash Tree?
HomeGuide puts ash removal at $800 to $1,900, but dead ash trees often cost more, and timing matters. Ash is the tree most often removed because of the emerald ash borer.
Michigan State University’s emerald ash borer FAQ explains why waiting is expensive. Once symptoms show, a third to half of the branches can die in a year, and most of the canopy is dead within two years. Small trees can die within one to two years of infestation and large trees within three to four. Dead ash becomes brittle, and HomeGuide puts dead tree removal at $800 to $1,600 because crews have to take extra precautions with wood that can snap unpredictably.
Two more points from MSU: look for D-shaped exit holes about 1/8 inch across in the bark, and don’t move ash firewood out of a quarantined area. If you plan to keep the wood, ask the crew to leave it on your property.
What Drives Tree Removal Cost Up
Access and Location
ArborTech, a Connecticut tree company, calls access the factor homeowners underestimate most. A tree alone in an open backyard is the easy case. A tree squeezed between a house and a fence, on a slope, or behind a gate a machine can’t fit through means more climbing, more rigging, and more hand labor.
Power Lines and Structures
When a tree can’t be felled in one piece, crews take it down in sections and lower each piece with ropes. That’s slower and needs more people. For trees touching power lines, call the utility company first. HomeGuide notes utilities often remove trees threatening their lines for free.
Crane or Bucket Truck
HomeGuide says crane-assisted removal adds $500 to $2,500 per day for transport, fuel, operator, and insurance. Cranes are used when a tree is too big or too close to structures to climb safely. If a street closure is needed, flagging crews add $175 to $225 per hour.
Tree Condition
Dead, diseased, or leaning trees cost more because they’re unpredictable. Fallen trees cost less: HomeGuide puts fallen tree removal at $100 to $600, two to three times less than cutting a standing tree.
Permits
HomeGuide puts tree removal permits at $75 to $450 depending on location. Many cities protect large or heritage trees, and some neighborhoods have their own rules. Search your city’s website for “tree permit” before you book. A good contractor will tell you if one is needed.
Number of Trees
Removing several trees in one visit lowers the per-tree price, since mobilization (trucks, chipper, crew travel) is paid once.
Add-On Costs: Stumps, Debris, and Wood
Removal quotes often cover only taking the tree down. Ask what’s included.
| Add-on | Typical cost (HomeGuide) |
|---|---|
| Stump grinding, first stump | $120 to $400 |
| Each additional stump | $30 to $60 |
| Debris hauling | $75 to $250 per dump trip (often included) |
| Wood chipping | $100 to $150 per hour |
| Log splitting | $50 to $100 per hour |
| Arborist inspection | $100 to $250 per hour |
| Dump fees | $30 to $100 per ton |
Stump grinding usually goes 8 to 12 inches below grade, according to Iowa State University Extension, and leaves a pile of shavings unless you ask the crew to haul it. Our breakdown of stump grinding cost covers sizing and pricing, and stump removal cost compares grinding with full removal. If you’d rather keep things simple and the crew won’t haul the brush, a separate junk removal pickup is another option.
Emergency Tree Removal Cost
Storm damage costs more. HomeGuide puts emergency rates at $150 to $250 per hour; This Old House says emergency jobs can reach $5,000. You’re paying for after-hours crews, urgency, and work around damaged structures. The International Society of Arboriculture notes that removing storm-damaged trees is dangerous work best left to trained arborists.
Does Insurance Cover Tree Removal?
Sometimes. HomeGuide and This Old House both say homeowners insurance usually pays when a tree falls on an insured structure because of a covered event, like a windstorm. It generally won’t pay to remove a healthy tree that hasn’t fallen, or to clean up damage from a tree that was dead or neglected beforehand. Deductibles and policy limits apply, so call your insurer before you book.
DIY Tree Removal vs. Hiring a Pro
Family Handyman quotes a Davey Tree arborist’s rule that’s easy to remember: if you’d need a ladder to reach the limbs, the tree is too big to work on safely yourself. Small saplings and shrubs are reasonable DIY jobs. Anything that could hit a house, fence, car, or power line isn’t.
The ISA says tree work should only be done by people trained and equipped to do it safely. Pros carry the climbing gear, rigging, chippers, and insurance the job needs.
What Equipment Is Needed for Tree Removal?
For a typical residential removal: chainsaws, climbing gear or a bucket truck, ropes and rigging to lower sections, a wood chipper, and a stump grinder if the stump is coming out. Big or tight jobs add a crane. Crews also need protective gear (helmets, eye and hearing protection, chaps).
How to Hire a Tree Removal Company
Before you sign:
- Get at least three written bids. HomeGuide recommends comparing three.
- Ask for ISA certification. The ISA Certified Arborist credential requires continuing education, so certified arborists are more likely to use current practices.
- See proof of liability insurance and workers’ compensation. Family Handyman’s arborist source says uninsured damage or injuries can land on you.
- Get the scope in writing. Does it include stump grinding, chipping, hauling, and permits? ArborTech notes lowball quotes often leave these out and add them back later.
- Don’t pay in full upfront.
What a Good Tree Removal Quote Includes
Two quotes for the same tree can be $800 apart, and the gap is usually scope, not greed. A clear written quote should spell out:
- The tree itself: species, height, and trunk diameter. Diameter matters as much as height, since a thick trunk means more cuts, heavier pieces, and a bigger stump to grind.
- The method: felled in one piece, taken down in sections, or crane-assisted.
- Debris removal: whether brush is chipped and hauled, and whether logs are cut to firewood length and left or taken away.
- Stump work: none, ground flush, or ground below grade with shavings hauled.
- Permits and utility calls: who pulls the permit and who calls the utility company if lines are nearby.
- Damage and cleanup: how the crew protects the lawn, beds, and driveway from equipment ruts.
If one bid is far below the others, compare these line by line before you book. A low price that leaves you with a yard full of logs isn’t a bargain. If your schedule is flexible, ask each company whether they offer off-season pricing for late fall or winter.
What Is the Cheapest Time of Year for Tree Removal?
Late fall through winter, for planned removals. HomeGuide says winter work can come with discounts of 10% or more, and ArborTech notes demand drops in late fall and early winter while the ground is firmer for equipment. Bare deciduous trees also weigh less and are easier to inspect. Spring, summer, and the days after storms are the busiest and most expensive.
If you’re also planning pruning, see when to trim trees to line both jobs up.
How to Save on Tree Removal
- Schedule non-urgent removals in late fall or winter.
- Bundle several trees, or removal plus stump grinding, into one visit.
- Keep the wood as firewood or the chips as mulch instead of paying to haul it.
- Leave the stump if it’s not in the way.
- Clear the work area of furniture and vehicles before the crew arrives.
To compare local quotes, LawnGuru’s tree work service averages $425 per job, with most between $300 and $1,200. Add stump grinding to the request to avoid a second trip. For other yard projects, see our full landscaping cost guide.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much does it cost to remove a tree?
Most removals run $300 to $2,000. HomeGuide’s national average is about $1,150; This Old House puts typical jobs at $820 to $992.
How to get your tree cut down for free?
HomeGuide lists a few options: the electric company may remove trees threatening its lines, loggers or firewood companies sometimes take valuable trees for the wood, and homeowners insurance may pay when a tree falls on an insured structure from a covered event.
Why does tree removal cost so much?
It’s dangerous, equipment-heavy work. You’re paying for a trained crew, insurance, climbing and rigging gear, chippers, trucks, and disposal.
Is stump grinding included in tree removal?
Usually not. HomeGuide prices it at $120 to $400 for the first stump. Ask for it on the same quote.
How long does it take to remove a tree?
HomeGuide says small trees in open areas take 15 to 60 minutes, a 30-foot tree 2 to 4 hours with cleanup, and large trees up to a full day.
Who pays to remove a tree on the property line?
HomeGuide says both neighbors share the cost, and neither can remove a boundary tree without the other’s written permission.
Do I need a permit to remove a tree?
It depends on your city. HomeGuide puts permit fees at $75 to $450. Large or heritage trees are the most likely to need one.
Should I tip tree removal workers?
HomeGuide says crews don’t expect tips. A $20 to $50 tip is a nice gesture for an unusually hard job.
Is it cheaper to trim a tree than remove it?
Usually, yes. If the tree is healthy and the problem is a few limbs, trimming or pruning costs less and keeps the tree.
