How Much Does Tree Removal Cost? (2026)
Updated September 2026
Tree removal runs $400–$1,100 (typ $435) per tree on the any-size headline (Fixr's size-anchored national average $435 for a medium 19–24-ft tree; Angi's 2026 survey average is $435 in a wider band — different bases, both cited) — and by size tier it prices as $150–$400 (small, up to 30 ft) · $450–$700 (medium, 30–60 ft) · $900–$1,200 (large, 60–100 ft) · $1,300–$2,000 (very large, 100+ ft). Trimming runs $175–$750 (typ $450) per tree; stump grinding $150–$300 (typ $200) per stump. The honest caveat this page leads with: tree pricing is the widest-banded category this site prices — the publishers don't agree on where the size bands cut, so the bands are shown per source and never averaged, and jobs near power lines or structures can leave the band entirely.
The scope question: what “one tree” includes
Three services, three prices, one tree. The dataset's service rows are the spine:
- Removal — the tree comes down and is hauled (per-tree, size-tiered bands below).
- Trimming / pruning — $175–$750 (typ $450) per tree, size-tiered, about $450 typical; the maintenance service.
- Stump work — grinding the stump in place ($150–$300 (typ $200)) vs full extraction ($200–$700).
Cost by tree size (height bands)
Per tree, removed, from the dataset (Fixr size table; cross-checks cited):
| Size class (height) | Cost per tree | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Small (up to 30 ft) | $150–$400 | Angi: shorter trees “closer to $150” — consistent at the floor |
| Medium (30–60 ft) | $450–$700 | Most common residential removal size |
| Large (60–100 ft) | $900–$1,200 | Equipment access starts to matter |
| Very large (100+ ft) | $1,300–$2,000 | Height-band conflict flagged: power-line-adjacent removals recorded separately (the hazard regime) |
| Any size (headline) | $400–$1,100 (typ $435) | Fixr avg $435 (size-anchored); Angi avg $750, band $200–$2,000+ — different survey bases |
The height-band conflict is the dataset's mandatory honesty flag: publishers define the size classes differently, and the very-large class carries a real second universe — standard guides top out around $2,000, while power-line-adjacent removals are a different job recorded at $10,000+. This page shows each band per source rather than blending them, and treats any single national figure as a starting point, not a quote. HomeGuide's June-2026 snapshot adds a third read on every class (its medium row runs about 2× Fixr's at the top).
Stump grinding vs full stump removal
The honest comparison the dataset supports:
- Grinding: $150–$300 (typ $200) per stump (about $200 typical) — the surface-level option; the Fixr page carries a per-inch pricing caveat (a method note — no per-inch rate is published) and a $100 travel/equipment minimum. Machine rate: $150–$200/hr.
- Full extraction: $200–$700 — removing the stump and root mass; a 72-inch stump can reach $1,100, with about a $100 minimum, and Fixr cites a $380 national average for a 24-inch stump.
Emergency & storm-response premiums
Storm and hazard removals carry a $50–$200+ surcharge on standard rates (the dataset's emergency row; hazard-vs-standard kept separate — no invented multiplier). What the dataset does not publish is a dedicated emergency-removal national band — no neutral publisher provides one, so this page states the surcharge regime and does not invent a removal band.
Crane-assisted removal
When a tree can't come down by conventional rigging — leaning over a house, too close to a structure, or out of reach — crane-assisted removal adds $1,500–$2,500 per project (single-source row, flagged; Angi's power-line removals are recorded separately at $10,000+). Access is the variable that moves a job out of its size band.
Permits, debris & disposal
The dataset's line items: tree removal permit $60–$150 per permit; cleanup and debris removal $50–$1,500 (scale-dependent). City-specific permit norms are a local question — this page states the recorded rows and flags the norm rather than inventing one.
DIY or hire an arborist?
The dataset holds no DIY-vs-arborist boundary facts (it records crew rates only: a tree surgeon starts at around $50 per hour; trimming crews run $50–$80/hr per worker; grinding equipment $150–$200/hr). What the rate rows support, stated plainly: this is crew-and-equipment work priced by the hour plus the size bands above — whether that's DIY or arborist territory for your tree is a decision the dataset cannot make and this page does not guess at. Section held open per the brief until the context facts land.
What moves the number
- Height band — the #1 driver (the four tiers above).
- Access — crane premium $1,500–$2,500; structure/power-line proximity leaves the band ($10,000 conflict case).
- Emergency timing — the $50–$200+ surcharge regime.
- Disposal volume — cleanup $50–$1,500 scale-dependent.
- Crew rates — the $50–$200/hr spread across services.
FAQ
How much does tree removal cost?
$400 typical / $1,100 high per tree, any size (Fixr; Angi's 2026 average $750 in a $200–$2,000+ band — different survey bases, both cited). By size tier: small $150–$400, medium $450–$700, large $900–$1,200, very large $1,300–$2,000. Bands are per-source, never averaged.
How much does it cost to remove a large tree?
$900–$1,200 for a large (60–100 ft) tree, or $1,300–$2,000 for very large (100+ ft). Power-line-adjacent removals are recorded separately (Angi reports $10,000+ cases) — the height-band conflict, stated honestly.
How much does tree trimming cost?
$175–$750 per tree, about $450 typical, size-tiered; crew rates run $50–$80/hr per worker.
How much does stump grinding cost?
$150–$300 per stump (about $200 typical), with a per-inch pricing caveat and a ~$100 minimum. Full extraction runs $200–$700; Fixr's page cites a $380 national average for a 24-inch stump.
Do I need a permit to remove a tree?
The dataset records a permit line item at $60–$150 per permit — but city-specific permit norms are a local question this page does not guess at; check your city's tree ordinance before scheduling work.
Is emergency tree removal more expensive?
Yes — storm and hazard jobs carry a documented $50–$200+ surcharge on standard rates; the dataset records the hazard regime separately from standard pricing, and no neutral publisher publishes a dedicated emergency-removal band.
Sources
Every figure comes from the tree-care cost dataset (12 products / 68 price points / 8 sources / 7 flags, merges 5834239 + honesty lift):
- Fixr — Tree Removal / Trimming / Stump Grinding / Stump Removal guides — www.fixr.com/costs/tree-removal-cost (fetched live; Jan 31, 2025 editions — staleness flagged)
- Angi — How Much Does Tree Removal Cost (article Jul 8, 2026 via archive snapshot 20260814)
- HomeGuide — Tree Trimming + Tree Removal (trimming Dec-2025 snapshot (vintage-flagged); removal June-2026 snapshot)
- Category #18 GO scoring (measured keyword pool (OpenSEO, 2026-09-28))
Estimate only — get local written quotes. Bands are per-source, never averaged: the height-band conflict, single-source rows, and vintage/staleness flags are carried as the dataset records them. Hub: tree removal & tree service costs; calculator: tree care calculator. Related outdoor trades: driveway costs (excavation/flatwork overlap) and garage doors (storm damage is the shared trade).