Stump Removal Cost Calculator
Stumps are priced by the inch. Measure across the top and get a range for your area.
Estimated cost
Most homeowners pay around $100
This is a national average. Crew wages vary by state, so your local price will differ.
| Labor | $60 |
|---|---|
| Equipment | $30 |
| Disposal | $10 |
| Typical total | $100 |
Booking in winter, while trees are dormant, runs 15–25% cheaper on work that can wait.
Get 3 real quotes from local prosFree, and you are never obligated to hire.
Measure it right, or the quote will change on the day
Crews price by diameter measured straight across the top of the stump at ground level. Two mistakes are common. The first is measuring around the stump instead of across it, which roughly triples the number. The second is measuring the trunk higher up, above the flare, which understates it.
If the stump has a wide root flare, measure across the widest point of the flare. That is what the grinder has to chew through, and it is what the crew will re-measure when they arrive.
Common questions
- How much does stump grinding cost?
- Around $3 per inch of diameter, with most crews holding a $100 minimum. A 24-inch stump is therefore usually a minimum-charge job, while a 40-inch stump runs about $120 on its own. Access and the number of stumps move the final number more than anything else.
- What is the difference between grinding and full removal?
- Grinding chips the stump to roughly 6 to 12 inches below grade and leaves the root system in the soil. Full removal digs out the root ball. Grinding is enough for lawn or mulch beds. You need full removal if you are pouring a patio, setting a foundation or planting a new tree in the same hole.
- Why was stump grinding not in my tree removal quote?
- It rarely is. Grinding needs a different machine, so most crews quote it as a separate line. Always ask whether the removal price includes the stump, hauling the logs and chipping the brush, because that is where quotes most often differ.
- What happens to the wood chips?
- A ground stump produces a surprising volume of chips, usually more than fills the hole. Most crews leave them on site by default and charge extra to haul them away. They make acceptable mulch for beds, though they tie up nitrogen as they break down, so keep them away from anything you are trying to grow.
- Can I grind a stump myself?
- A rental grinder runs $100 to $200 a day plus transport, so on a single average stump you save little and take on real risk: the machine throws debris and can kick. It starts to make sense at four or five stumps in one weekend. Never attempt it near a utility line without a locate.
Pricing something else?
Tree removal cost
For taking the whole tree down. Costs three to five times what trimming the same tree does, so it is worth checking whether the tree can be saved first.
Tree trimming cost
For a tree that stays. If the problem is branches over the roof or a crown that has outgrown its spot, trimming usually solves it for a fraction of removal.