How we calculate
Every number this site produces comes from the formula below. It is published in full so you can check it, argue with it, or take it to a contractor.
The formula
base = heightBand × speciesDensity × canopySpread adjusted = base × access × condition × localWages × urgency range = adjusted × 0.8 … adjusted × 1.3 total = range + add-ons
Access conditions are not cumulative. A tree that is in a backyard and over a roofand needs a crane is charged the crane rate once, because that is how a crew prices the hardest part of a job.
Height bands
The starting point for a healthy pine in an open yard, before any other factor.
| Under 30 ft | $320 |
|---|---|
| 30–60 ft | $700 |
| 60–80 ft | $1,300 |
| Over 80 ft | $2,400 |
Species density factors
Denser wood means more saw time and heavier sections to lower. Values are relative to pine at 1.00, derived from published Janka hardness and green weight tables.
| Species | Factor | Mature height |
|---|---|---|
| Eucalyptus | 1.30 | 180 ft |
| Oak | 1.20 | 80 ft |
| Hickory | 1.18 | 90 ft |
| Walnut | 1.15 | 75 ft |
| Maple | 1.10 | 70 ft |
| Elm | 1.10 | 80 ft |
| Ash | 1.08 | 70 ft |
| Sycamore | 1.08 | 100 ft |
| Sweetgum | 1.05 | 75 ft |
| Willow | 1.05 | 50 ft |
| Pine | 1.00 | 100 ft |
| Poplar | 0.95 | 90 ft |
| Birch | 0.95 | 50 ft |
| Cedar | 0.95 | 60 ft |
| Spruce | 0.95 | 80 ft |
| Cottonwood | 0.90 | 100 ft |
| Magnolia | 0.90 | 60 ft |
| Palm | 0.75 | 60 ft |
Access and condition
| Open yard, truck can reach the tree | ×1.00 |
|---|---|
| Backyard with a narrow gate or path | ×1.30 |
| Within 10 ft of a building | ×1.35 |
| Near power lines | ×1.55 |
| Overhanging the house or roof | ×1.60 |
| Crane required | ×1.80 |
| Healthy | ×1.00 |
|---|---|
| Dead and dry | ×1.15 |
| Diseased or rotting | ×1.25 |
| Leaning or storm damaged | ×1.35 |
| Already on the ground | ×0.60 |
Emergency work booked inside 48 hours adds ×1.40. A tree that is already on the ground is cheaper because nobody has to climb or rig it.
The local adjustment
This is where we differ from every calculator that quotes a national average. Labor is roughly 55 percent of a tree job; equipment, disposal, insurance and overhead make up the rest and vary far less between states. So we scale only the labor share by the local wage:
multiplier = 0.45 + 0.55 × (state wage ÷ national wage)
A state paying 28 percent above the national mean therefore raises the price by about 15 percent, not 28. Wages come from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, for Tree Trimmers and Pruners (SOC 37-3013).
Source: BLS OEWS 37-3013· National mean $25.94/hr · Data updated
Review
This method has not yet been reviewed by a certified arborist. We will name the reviewer here, with their ISA certification number and review date, once it has been.
What this method cannot do
- It is an estimate, not a quote. Nothing here is binding on us or on any contractor.
- It cannot see your tree. Internal decay, root condition, brittle unions and soil stability all change the job and are invisible from the inputs you can give a form.
- It works at state resolution, not city. Dense urban cores run above their state average; rural areas run below.
- It does not know your permits. Some cities require a permit to remove a protected tree, and some charge for it.
Only an on-site inspection produces a real price. The point of this method is that you walk into that conversation knowing roughly what the number should be.