That stubborn stump in your yard isn’t just an eyesore, it’s a trip hazard and a haven for termites, carpenter ants and other pests. On average, the cost to remove a stump runs about $150 to $300 per stump, including labor, materials, and fees.
Stump size, type of removal method, root complexity, and hourly rate will all affect your final bill. For manual removal projects, you can expect to pay up to $630. Small projects can cost as little as $27 (plus fixed rates).
This guide draws data from both small and large cities across the U.S., so you can estimate the prices for stump removal.
An alternative to stump removal is stump grinding. Check out the cost of stump grinding here.
Cost by Location
The cost of stump removal services will vary depending on where you live. Reasons for varied prices by area may include factors like soil condition and common tree types.
If your local soil type is rocky, tree specialists may increase their rates due to the risk of damaging their equipment. If hardwoods are common where you live, like aspen, elm, or oak, some professionals may take this into account and increase their tree removal rates.
Moreover, in big cities with high costs of living, stump removal will naturally cost more. See the table below for the average cost per tree trump across the country:
| City | Average Cost Per Stump (Including Labor and Materials) |
| Northeast U.S. | |
| Providence, RI | $162 – $320 |
| New York, NY | $173 – $350 |
| Southeast U.S. | |
| Dothan, AL | $136 – $270 |
| Orlando, FL | $144 – $280 |
| Midwest U.S. | |
| South Bend, IN | $147 – $270 |
| Chicago, IL | $145 – $270 |
| Northwest U.S. | |
| Salem, OR | $160 – $320 |
| Seattle, WA | $153 – $310 |
| Southwest U.S. | |
| Houston, TX | $143 – $280 |
| Roswell, NM | $149 – $290 |
| San Diego, CA | $174 – $370 |
Tip: Call a couple of tree and stump removal services, compare their prices, and check any online reviews of their services.
Cost by Stump Size
A stump’s diameter measures its size. The average stump removal cost is between $2 and $5 per diameter inch.
The bigger the diameter of the stump, the higher the cost of tree stump removal. Not only will the stump’s large diameter add a few more dollars, but its large size might also extend the professionals’ work time. You will have to pay for those extra inches and possibly additional removal time.
| Stump Diameter (inches) | Average Cost for Stump Removal |
| Up to 12 | $27 – $63 |
| 24 | $49 – $128 |
| 36 | $72 – $190 |
| 48 | $96 – $253 |
| 60 | $120 – $315 |
| 72 | $145 – $378 |
Tip: To get an accurate measurement of a stump’s diameter, you must measure between the stump’s widest points. Note that most professionals will have a minimum charge of around $100 to cover travel costs and other expenses.
Cost by Removal Method
There are four ways in which you can have the stump in your yard removed. Stump grinding is the most common, but chemical rotting is the least expensive. Check the table below for the average costs per stump by removal method:
| Removal Method | Average Cost Per Stump |
| Chemical rotting | $76 – $200 |
| Burning | $80 – $200 |
| Grinding | $131 – $438 |
| Manual removal | $190 – $630 |
Chemical Rotting
Chemical rotting is the most DIY and budget-friendly route for stump removal. It consists of drilling holes into the stump, loading them with chemicals like potassium nitrate and nitric acid, and waiting for the acid to do the heavy lifting. Over the next four to six weeks, the trunk softens and begins to crumble.
However, thick or deep-rooted stumps can shrug off the treatment. Moreover, handling concentrated chemicals can be dangerous, especially if you have kids or pets at home.
Burning
Burning moves faster, often in a single afternoon, but ups the risk factors. After drilling holes and packing them with nitrogen, you ignite it. Done safely, it eliminates most of the wood within hours. Done carelessly, stray members and rising sparks can ignite fences, mulch, or even parched lawns. Always make sure to check local burn bans.
Grinding
Stump grinding trades flames and chemicals for horsepower. Typically, a gasoline-powered grinder shreds the stump in minutes, leaving a pile of chips. However, this method doesn’t remove the roots.
Manual Removal
For manual removal, landscapers excavate around the trunk, sever lateral roots, lever out the root ball, and haul the whole mass away. It is the priciest option, but it’s the only method that gets rid of the roots and guarantees a blank slate for patios, or a fresh tree in the same spot.
Pro Cost vs. DIY Stump Removal
Removing a stump without the help of a professional might help you save money, but it can be a time-consuming, labor-intensive endeavor.
Removing the root system from the ground without the necessary equipment can be especially difficult. A professional tree service company will have the required expertise and equipment to remove a stump’s entire root system with ease.
If removing a stump and its root system yourself, remember to follow all local codes and ensure you are not damaging utility lines.
Here are the costs for three DIY methods:
- Manual stump removal: You’ll spend around $433 on tools and equipment, such as chainsaw chaps and a shovel.
- Renting a stump grinder: Renting a grinder typically ranges between $190 to $360 per day, but it can be dangerous with no training.
- Chemical rotting: Stump remover granules usually cost around $10, but will take a long time to desintengrate.
For more information, check out our guide: How to Remove a Tree Stump
Other Factors That Affect Cost
A lot goes into calculating tree stump removal prices. Even poor soil conditions or an extensive root system can run up the bill. Take a look below at the most common factors that affect cost so that you can better estimate how much your particular stump will pull from your wallet.
Root System Complexity
Root removal is a complicated job, especially if the root system is large or close to another structure. The more complex the root system, the longer the project will take, and the higher your bill will be if the company charges by the hour.
Pros typically charge $100 to $185 per hour to remove the root system.
Stump Type
Most professionals charge the same rate per stump or diameter inch regardless of the tree type. However, some professionals may adjust their rates if a particular stump type is challenging for them to remove.
Tree stump removal costs will escalate the more difficult the stump and its root system are to remove. Hardwoods like hickory, oak, or birch may take longer to remove than softwoods like pine or palm due to their dense wood and root systems.
Soil Condition
Stump removal may cost an additional fee if the stump to be removed is anchored in rocky terrain. Why might this cost you extra? Rocky terrain can dull or damage a professional’s equipment.
Most stump removal experts will reflect the area’s dominant soil condition in their pricing. If rocky soil is ordinary where you live, tree care companies may already have this accounted for in their rates.
Cleanup
Tree experts won’t always include the price of hauling away debris in a stump removal job.
If you’d like to have the remaining stump and its roots hauled off your property, expect to pay an additional $1.5 to $4 per diameter inch. Some tree care companies may charge a flat fee for debris removal instead of by the inch.
Tree Removal
Need to have a whole tree cut down before you pay to have its stump removed? Tree removal costs typically range between $505 and $980.
Keep in mind that stump removal usually isn’t included in the price of tree removal service. Both are considered separate services by most tree removal companies.
Budget Tips for Stump Removal
Want to spend less without cutting corners? These quick tweaks can save you some dollars without sacrificing the service’s quality or safety:
- Bundle stumps in one visit: Per-stump rates usually drop after the first, so get all the stumps you need bundled in the same service.
- Be flexible on scheduling: Avoid emergency calls and ask about off-peak pricing.
- Improve access: Clear rocks, decorations, and kids’ toys that might be in the way; open or remove a fence panel if needed; and mark sprinkler heads so crews can roll the grinder straight in.
- Expose easy roots: Rake back mulch and soil around the stump so surface roots are visible and faster to remove.
- Handle debris yourself: Keep the wood chips for mulch or dispose of them yourself. Opting out of haul-away can cut fees.
- Call 811 before anyone digs: Utility marking prevents costly delays or rescheduling.
FAQ
In most cases, stump removal cannot be bundled with tree removal to save on costs. Most tree companies consider stump removal and tree removal as two separate services. So if you want the stump removed after an arborist cuts down your tree, you will pay extra.
Stump grinding is a type of stump removal. It breaks down the stump into mulch or sawdust while leaving the roots in the earth.
However, some experts refer to stump removal only when talking about pulling the entire stump out from the ground along with its root system.
There are plenty of reasons to remove a tree stump from your yard, including:
• Stumps can lower curb appeal.
• Stumps can be tripping hazards.
• Stumps can attract pests to your home or yard, including termites and ants.
• If a stump is diseased, you will want to have it removed to protect surrounding trees.
• The root system below the stump could be damaging your home or plumbing system.
• Hitting a stump damages your lawn mower’s blades.
Goodbye Stump, Hello Space
Hiring a professional to remove your tree stump can save you time and backache. Call a local tree care professional near you to do the dirty work for you, so you don’t have to lift a finger (or pull a muscle).
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Main Image: Close-up of a tree stump. Image Credit: Alina / Adobe Stock
