Tree Removal Cost Calculator

Nationally, most single-tree removals run $462–$2,571 all-in. Angi's 2026 guide averages about $750 with a $200–$2,000 span by size; LawnStarter puts the typical job at $385–$1,070, or $10–$14 per foot of height. A 40-ft yard tree with stump grinding and full haul-away computes to about $1,095 here.

When the tree can't simply be felled, the crew dismantles it piece by piece and lowers each cut on ropes — slower, riskier work with more crew members. Angi reports hard-to-reach trees cost 25–50% more, which is why the same 30–60 ft tree moves from about $1,095 open-access to about $1,495 when it hangs over a structure. A crane adds roughly $500 (Angi: $250–$600/day) but often saves labor hours on big lifts.

Grinding runs about $154 for a 16-inch stump and $238 at 30 inches — a $130 minimum covers the trip for small stumps. Full stump-and-root extraction costs more (LawnStarter: $175–$516, averaging $326) and tears up more yard. Grinding 6–8 inches below grade is enough to re-sod the spot; the roots rot on their own.

It depends entirely on your city or county. Angi pegs tree-removal permits at $60–$150 (modeled at $105 here), and the usual triggers are a trunk past a set diameter, street or right-of-way trees, and protected or heritage species lists — some cities protect certain species at any size. The fastest check is one call to the city's forestry or code office with the species and trunk diameter; a crew that won't make that call for you is a crew to skip, because fines for unpermitted removal run far above the permit fee and can include a mandatory replanting. HOAs can add their own approval layer on top of the city's.

Usually by a wide margin. A structural prune on the default 30–60 ft tree computes to about $549 versus $1,095 for removal with stump grinding, and the tree keeps adding shade and property value. Angi's trim range runs $75–$1,500 per tree; LawnStarter's by-height table spans $315–$700. Switch the first field of this calculator to “trim it instead” to compare your exact tree.

Keep the wood: if the crew leaves trunk logs and chips instead of hauling everything, this model drops about $165 from a mid-size job. Scheduling in winter (dormant season, slower calendar) often beats peak spring, and grouping several trees into one mobilization earns a per-tree discount — crews price the truck and chipper once.

Usually only when the tree has damaged a covered structure — insurers typically pay to remove a tree off your roof or garage, often with a debris-removal cap separate from your dwelling limit, and usually exclude preventive removal of a standing (even dead) tree. The exception worth testing: a documented hazard — an arborist report (~$860 per Angi) flagging a dead tree over the house — sometimes persuades a carrier to cover removal, so ask before declining the job. Photograph everything before the crew starts and keep the itemized invoice; claims pay on documentation. Emergency storm work runs hot: Angi notes complex emergency removals can reach $5,000+, more than a policy may reimburse without pre-approval.

Huge trunks over structures with no crane pad, hollow or split trunks that can't take rigging loads, and jobs touching active power lines (your utility must de-energize or clear them first). Angi prices complex removals at $6,000–$7,000. An arborist report (~$860 per Angi) or a disputed property line adds time and fees — get those settled before the crew arrives.