Loan Tree Removal Cost Estimator
Tree quotes swing from a few hundred to several thousand for reasons that are mostly visible from the ground. This estimator prices them openly: published height bands, an access multiplier, stump grinding by diameter — the same structure the pros quote from.
The height bands are built from published US cost guides fetched Nov 2026 (HomeAdvisor puts the average removal at $750 with a normal range of $200–$2,000; HomeGuide, Angi and Airtasker US publish matching height bands). They are planning ranges, printed as such — a licensed arborist’s on-site quote is the only firm price, and dead, leaning or line-adjacent trees belong to professionals, full stop.
How it works
Start with the height band: small (under 30 ft) $150–$500, medium (30–60 ft) $450–$1,200, large (60–80 ft) $800–$1,700, extra large (80 ft+) $1,000–$2,500. Access adjusts the band: open ×1.0, tight ×1.25 (rigging and piecing down instead of felling), hazard ×1.5 (over structures, lines, or a dead/leaning trunk). Stump grinding prices by diameter at $2–$5 per inch with a $100 minimum and a band at least $50 wide — a 24 in stump prices at $100–$150. Haul-away adds $70–$200; a crane day adds $250–$600. Multiple trees multiply the per-tree figure, though real crews usually discount the second tree’s mobilization.
Method & worked example
Method: Cost = height band × access multiplier + stump + haul-away + crane, per tree. Bands (published US guide consensus, Nov 2026): small $150–$500, medium $450–$1,200, large $800–$1,700, extra large $1,000–$2,500. Access: open ×1.0, tight ×1.25, hazard ×1.5. Stump grinding $2–$5 per inch of diameter, $100 minimum, band at least $50 wide. Haul-away $70–$200; crane $250–$600.
Worked example: A medium tree, open access, 18 in stump ground: $450–$1,200 + $100–$150 stump = $550–$1,350 (midpoint $950).
When to use this
- A tree service quote landed and you want a sanity check before signing.
- You are budgeting a yard cleanup with several removals.
- A dead or leaning tree needs a planning number for insurance or a sale.
- You are deciding between grinding the stump and leaving it.
How to use it, step by step
- Estimate the height honestly — a two-story house is about 25 ft at the eaves; most mature shade trees are 40–60 ft.
- Pick the access rating by what is underneath and beside the tree, not by how the yard feels.
- Measure the stump (or trunk) diameter at its widest, flare included.
- Add haul-away or crane only if they truly apply.
- Read the range and the midpoint; get two on-site quotes for anything in the hazard class.
What the inputs mean
| Input | What it is | Typical values |
|---|---|---|
| Height band | The single biggest price driver — crew size, rigging and risk all scale with it | Medium 30–60 ft covers most suburban shade trees |
| Access | What the tree can fall on, and whether a truck/chipper can reach it | Open lawn ×1.0; over a roof ×1.5 |
| Stump diameter | Sets grinding price at $2–$5 per inch | 12–24 in typical; measure the flare |
| Crane | Full picks over structures when nothing can be dropped | $250–$600 planning range |
Another worked example
Two large trees (60–80 ft) rated hazard, 24 in stumps ground, debris hauled: per tree ($800–$1,700 × 1.5) + stump $100–$150 + haul $70–$200 = $1,370–$2,900; two trees $2,740–$5,800, midpoint $4,270. This is the class of job where the second quote matters most — rigging-heavy work is where bids diverge.
Frequently asked questions
What does it cost to remove a medium tree?
A 30–60 ft tree in the open with an 18 in stump ground: $550–$1,350, midpoint about $950. That matches the published guides’ center of gravity — HomeAdvisor’s national average removal is $750 before stump work. Tight access or a hazard rating pushes the same tree toward $1,500+.
Why does access change the price so much?
An open tree can be felled in one or two cuts. A tree over your roof has to be climbed and lowered piece by piece on ropes — hours of skilled labor instead of minutes, with real risk priced in. The multipliers here (×1.25 tight, ×1.5 hazard) are the planning-level version of that difference.
How is stump grinding priced?
By diameter, because grinding time scales with the cross-section: guides put it at $2–$5 per inch of diameter, typically with a minimum around $100–$150 per stump, and full removal of the root ball costs far more. An 18 in stump prices at $100–$150 here. Measuring across the widest point, flare included, is the honest diameter.
Is it cheaper to remove several trees at once?
Usually, yes — the crew, truck and chipper are already there. This estimator multiplies the full per-tree range, so treat its multi-tree total as the ceiling: two large hazard trees with haul-away price at $2,740–$5,800 here, and a real crew bidding both on one visit commonly lands under the top of that range. Get it quoted as one job, not two.
Can I save money by keeping the wood?
Keeping the wood skips haul-away ($70–$200) and some crews discount further if you take the brush too. Firewood value is real only if the species burns well and you will split and season it — a cord of green oak is a winter of work, not a windfall. Never keep wood from a diseased tree near healthy ones of the same species.
When is a crane actually needed?
When there is no drop zone at all — a tree boxed in by structures, a pool and lines, or a dead trunk too unsafe to climb. The crane lifts sections out whole. It adds $250–$600 at planning level here, and on genuinely boxed-in trees it can be the cheaper option versus a full day of rigging.
Do I need a permit to remove my own tree?
Sometimes. Many cities protect street trees, heritage trees above a trunk diameter, and trees in setback or conservation zones — and HOAs add their own rules. The permit is usually cheap; the fine for skipping it is not. Check before the crew arrives, not after.