Home owners across the U.S often spend a lot of time and money removing the tree stump from their property. Tree stump removal costs can range from $300 to over $1,000 depending on the size and extent of the project. Small projects are cheaper than large ones, and can cost as low as $80
Your stump removal will be affected by several factors, such as stump size, root complexity, and hourly rate. If you need additional stump removal or debris cleaned up, you’ll be charged an additional fee. Most homeowners can expect to pay between $170 and over $500 for a typical stump removal job.
How Much Does Stump Removal Cost?
If you need to make a big change in your landscape to create a new look, your first step is to find out how much you are going to spend. But, how much is the stump removal service going to cost you?
- National Average Cost: $300 plus
- Typical Price Range: $180 to $520
- Extreme Low End: $80
- Extreme High End: over $1,000
The estimates above should help you make a reasonable guess of how much it will cost to remove your tree stumps. Do note that there are many factors that can affect the final stump bill, including the type of tree that you’re removing, soil condition and the size of the stump.
There are tree care companies who charge by the hour, usually charge $90 to $170/ hour for stump removal.
However, if you have multiple stumps to remove, there will be an additional fee. The price range usually goes from $40 to $80 per addition stump by the professionals
Cost Estimator by Stump Size
The diameter of a stump is a measurement of its size. Most professionals charge an average of $2 to $5 per diameter inch to remove a stump.
The larger the diameter of the stump, the higher the cost of stump removal. The stump’s diameters will not only add few more dollars to the bill, but it may also increase the professionals’ work hours. You’ll have to pay for those extra inches, as well as the time it takes to remove them.
Many professionals charge around $2 to $5 per diameter inch for stump removal. The larger the diameter, the more you will pay to remove it. This not only increases the cost of removing the stump, but it could also increase the amount of time it takes to remove the stump. You might have to pay for that extra work and removal time.
Pro Tip: When measuring a tree stump, it is important to take your measurement between the widest points of the stump.
Other Factors That Affect Cost
Stump removal is complicated. The costs of removing a stump are affected by many factors, including poor soil conditions or an extensive root system. Look below at some of the most common factors that affect how much your stump removal costs.
Root System Complexity
Unlike stump grinding, which is similar to clearing a path through the forest, removing the whole root system along with the stump means that the entire root system has to be removed. If the root system is large or close to other structures, the removal project could be complicated. The longer more complicated the project is, the higher your bill will be. Learn more about tree removals with roots.
Completion Time
Some tree service companies charge a flat fee to remove your stump. Others charge by the hour, and if your stump takes a particularly long time to remove, you may see your bill climb. The cost of hourly stump removal typically runs between $90 and $170.
Stump Type
Most woodworking professionals charge the same per-stump or per-inch rate regardless of the type of tree they are working on. But some others may adjust their rates if the stump type is challenging for them to work on.
Stumps and roots are major factors in how long it takes a professional to remove them. Hardwoods, such as hickory, oak, or birch, may take longer to remove than softwoods, like pine or palm, because they’re denser and have thicker roots.
Soil Condition
You may pay an additional fee for stumps that are anchored in rocky terrain. This may happen because rocky terrain can dull or damage a professional’s equipment.
Tree care professionals base their prices on the type of soil and location where they live, which includes what’s normal in the area. If the soil in your area is rocky, tree care companies may already have this figured in their rates.
When your tree service company quotes a price for removing a stump, they are likely to leave out the cost of removing debris. If you’d like to have the stump and roots removed, expect to pay a few dollars per inch of stump diameter. Some companies may charge a flat fee for debris removal instead of by the inch.
Tree Removal
Whether you need to have a whole tree cut down before you pay to have its stump removed, it’s important to know that stump removal usually isn’t included in the cost of tree removal. Tree removal costs generally range from $390 to $1,080, and most homeowners pay about $630.
Extra Services
While you’re tending to the stump in your side yard, you might notice that there are a few other tree tasks that need to be handled. Perhaps a tree branch is growing too close to the windows, or perhaps a smaller tree would look great in your rock garden if relocated. We’ll go over some of the extra tree-care services you could add to your list in the sections below.
Stump Grinding
Stump grinding eliminates only the visible section of the stump, leaving the root system intact. Stump grinding takes less time and is usually less expensive than stump removal. The cost of grinding down a stump can range from $160 to $470. Find out how much it cost to grind a stump in Austin.
Tree Trimming
Trimming your trees will simply make your yard look really well organized. Tree trimming charges generally range from $320 to $710, depending on the size of the tree.
Tree Transplanting
Transplanting a tree might cost as few as $180. A high-end tree transplant job, such as relocating a big tree to a new location, will set you back $800 or more.
Cost of DIY Stump Removal
Without the assistance of a professional, extracting a stump can be a time-consuming and labor-intensive process.
Without the appropriate equipment, removing the root system from the ground can be extremely challenging. A tree service company with the necessary experience and tools may easily remove a stump’s whole root system.
If you’re going to remove a stump and its root system manually, make sure you follow all local rules and don’t damage any utility lines.
Manual Stump Removal
First, cut or trim the stump’s visible part to ground level. When you’ve reached the root system, start digging with your shovel and physically removing the tree roots.
First, cut or slice the stump’s visible part to ground level. When you’ve reached the root system, start digging with your shovel and physically removing the tree roots.
The following are the items you’ll require, along with their approximate costs:
Renting a Stump Grinder
Stump grinding is a common method for removing the visible part of a stump from the surface, but it leaves the root system intact. You’ll have to manually remove the roots if you want them gone.
The cost of renting a grinder varies from $190 to $380 a day. Keep in mind that doing it yourself could cost you as much as hiring a professional, which averages $326 for most households.
Chemical Decomposition
Chemical decomposition is easier on weak, vulnerable wood than it is on sturdy, healthy wood. Potassium nitrate, such as Spectracide Stump Remover Granules, can be used to weaken the stump for $6. Form holes in the stump with a power drill and fill with granules. A power drill will set you back around $86 on average.
Remember that it will take weeks for the stump remover granules to soften the wood. Chemical decomposing is not a fast way to get rid of a stump.
You can burn or chop up the stump once it has decomposed and become weak. Before igniting the stump, check with the local fire department and take all necessary precautions. Always keep an eye on the flames.
Important: The root system will not be removed by chemical decomposition; only the visible part of the stump will be removed. The root system will not be removed by burning either.
Professional Stump Removal vs. DIY Stump Removal cost
Manually removing a tree and chemically decomposing the stump may be less expensive than hiring a professional, but it will not save time. During the root removal process, these do-it-yourself approaches involve a lot of hard work. Another problem is that most people lack the advanced equipment required to effectively remove a root system.
It might be exhausting to grind a stump and then physically remove its roots. Furthermore, renting a grinder might be just as expensive as hiring a specialist.
The bottom line: It is feasible to remove stumps on your own, although it is not always less expensive than hiring an expert. DIY methods take time, and eliminating the root system without a professional’s specialized equipment is tough.
Stump Removal Costs by Location
Stump removal services vary in price based on where you live.
Factors such as soil condition and widely planted types may have a role in different pricing by location.
Due to the risk of damaging the equipment, tree professionals may raise their fees if the soil type in your area is rocky. If hardwoods such as aspen, elm, or oak are popular in your area, some tree removal companies may adjust their pricing accordingly.
Expert Tip: Call several tree and stump removal companies, examine their pricing, and look for any online evaluations of their work. Read more about tree stump removal & grinding services here.
