Homeowners across the U.S. pay an average of $326 for professional tree stump removal. For extensive tree stump removal projects, homeowners can expect to pay closer to $1,033. Small projects can cost as low as $77.
Stump size, root complexity, and hourly rate will all affect your final bill. Want to have the debris cleaned up or an additional stump removed? That will cost you extra. Most homeowners can expect to pay between $175 to $516 for a typical stump removal job.
How Much Does Stump Removal Cost?
A tree stump’s chipping bark and rotting wood don’t make your landscape stand out the way you want it to. But how much is removing that eyesore going to cost you?
- National Average Cost: $326
- Typical Price Range: $175 to $516
- Extreme Low End: $77
- Extreme High End: $1,033
The national averages listed above should help you make a reasonable estimate of how much your tree stump removal project will cost. Remember that several factors affect the final cost, such as tree type, soil condition, and the size of the stump.
Some tree care companies who charge by the hour, typically charge $94 to $163 an hour for professional stump removal.
If you need more than one stump removed, professionals typically charge a reduced rate after the first stump is removed, usually between $40 to $83 per additional stump.
On This Page
- Cost Estimator by Stump Size
- Other Factors That Affect Cost
- Extra Services
- Cost of DIY Stump Removal
- Cost of Stump removal by Location
- FAQ About Stump Removal
- Conclusion
Cost Estimator by Stump Size
A stump’s diameter measures its size. Most professionals charge an average of $2 to $5 per diameter inch to remove a stump.
The bigger the stump’s diameter, the more you will pay for removal of the stump. 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.
Pro Tip: To get an accurate measurement of a stump’s diameter, you must measure between the stump’s widest points.
Other Factors That Affect Cost
A lot goes into calculating the price of stump removal. 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
Unlike stump grinding, where most of the root system remains in the ground, stump removal includes pulling out the whole root system along with the stump.
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.
Completion time
Some tree service companies charge a flat stump removal fee, while others may charge by the hour.
If the company you’ve hired charges by the hour and your stump takes an exceptionally long time to remove, expect the cost to rise. Factors like a complex root system or large stump size may increase removal time. Hourly stump removal rates have an average range between $94 and $163.
Stump type
Most professionals charge the same rate per stump or diameter inch regardless of the tree type. But some professionals may adjust their rates if a particular stump type is challenging for them to remove.
The more difficult the stump and its root system are to remove, the longer the professional will need to work, increasing your total cost. 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 $2 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 $385 to $1,070, with most homeowners paying $630.
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.
Extra Services
As you tend to the stump sitting in your side yard, you may find that there are few other tree tasks you need taken care of. Perhaps a tree branch is getting too close to the windows, or maybe a small tree, if transplanted, would fit perfectly in your rock garden.
Below, we’ll cover additional tree care services you may want to tack onto your tree removal bill. After all, a tree care company is already on its way, so why not add a few more tree services to the list?
Stump grinding
Stump grinding removes the visible portion of the stump without removing the whole root system. Stump grinding takes less time than stump removal and will usually result in a lower cost. Homeowners can expect to pay between $158 to $450 to grind down a stump.
Tree trimming
Trimming your trees can help your yard look manicured and pristine in no time. Typical tree trimming costs range between $315 and $700 and will usually depend on the tree’s size.
Tree transplanting
On the low end, transplanting a tree can cost $175. A high-end tree transplant project, such as a large tree or moving the tree to a new site, will cost $800 or more.
Cost of DIY Stump Removal
Removing a stump without the help of a professional 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.
Manual stump removal
First, saw or chop the visible portion of the stump down to ground level. Once you reach the root system, you can start to dig the earth with the shovel and manually remove the tree roots.
Here are the items you’ll need and their average costs:
| EQUIPMENT NEEDED FOR DIY STUMP REMOVAL | COST |
| Safety glasses | $13 |
| Work gloves | $14 |
| Shovel | $24 |
| Hearing protection | $25 |
| Ax | $36 |
| Chainsaw chaps | $71 |
| Steel toe work boots | $100 |
| Chainsaw | $150 |
| TOTAL | $433 |
Renting a stump grinder
Stump grinding is a common way to remove a stump’s visible portion from the landscape, but it doesn’t remove the root system. If you want the roots removed, you’ll have to do so manually.
Renting a grinder typically ranges between $190 to $380 per day. Keep in mind that DIY stump grinding might even cost you as much as hiring a professional, which costs $326 for most homeowners.
Chemical rotting
Weak, porous wood is easier to remove by chemical rotting than strong, healthy wood. Consider weakening the stump with potassium nitrate, such as Spectracide Stump Remover Granules, for $6. Use a power drill to form holes in the stump and fill them with the granules. A power drill will cost an average of $86.
Keep in mind that the stump remover granules will take weeks to soften the wood. Chemical rotting is not an immediate solution to stump removal.
Once the stump has disintegrated and become porous, you can burn or chop up and remove the stump. Check with your local fire department and follow all safety measures before burning the stump. Never leave the fire unattended.
Remember: Chemical rotting will not remove the root system, only the visible portion of the stump. Burning the stump will not remove the root system either.
DIY cost vs. professional stump removal cost
Removing a tree manually and chemical rotting of the stump may cost less than hiring a professional, but this won’t save time. These DIY methods also require intense labor during the root removal process. Another issue: Most homeowners don’t have the advanced equipment needed to remove a root system with ease.
Grinding a stump and then manually removing its roots can also be draining work. Plus, renting a grinder can cost just as much as hiring a professional.
The bottom line: DIY stump removal is possible but not always cheaper than hiring a professional. DIY solutions are time-consuming, and removing the root system is difficult without a professional’s advanced equipment.
Cost of Stump Removal 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.
Expert Tip: Call a couple of tree and stump removal services, compare their prices, and check any online reviews of their services.
FAQ About Stump Removal
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 breaks down the stump into mulch or sawdust while leaving the roots in the earth. Stump removal, on the other hand, pulls the entire stump out from the ground along with its root system.
Your tree care expert will help you determine which solution is best for you and your landscape. If you want to plant a new tree where the old stump was, you likely will want to have the old tree’s root system removed. Removing the root systems eliminates the possibility of any unsightly sprouts or interference with future landscaping projects.
Stump grinding is faster, cheaper, and less labor-intensive than stump removal. It also leaves your property in a better state.
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.
Conclusion
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).
You can expect to pay between $175 to $516 for professional stump removal, with most homeowners paying $326. If it’s a small stump with minimal root complexity, you may even pay under $100. But if it’s a large stump with a complicated root system, you might have to put the over $1,000 stump removal cost on a credit card.
Main Photo Credit: Jan Tik / Flickr / CC BY 2.0
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