Tree Removal Cost Calculator

1. Enter the number of trees, the height in feet and the trunk diameter in inches.
2. Replace the example rates with your own: a rate per foot of height, a stump grinding rate per inch, a haul-away fee and any permit fee.
3. Read the total and the breakdown. Add a contractor quote to see how far it sits from your estimate.

The currency menu changes the symbol only. It does not convert amounts.

A tree removal cost estimate is a planning figure for taking down a tree, built from the size of the tree and the services you want with it.

It helps a homeowner set a budget before calling contractors, and it gives a yardstick for reading the quotes that come back. NC State Extension notes that tree work is usually priced as a single fee for the whole job, or on an hourly basis plus materials. A per-foot rate is a way to turn those whole-job fees into a number you can compare.

It is not a quote. No national price list applies to your yard. Prices depend on the region, the season, the species, the site and the company. This page prints no price table for that reason. Every rate in the tool is yours to set.

Four services make up most jobs: felling and cutting the tree, grinding the stump, hauling the wood and debris away, and any permit your city requires.

The calculator multiplies each service by the measurement that drives it, then adds the parts.

1. Removal. Height in feet times your rate per foot, times the number of trees.
2. Difficulty. Your extra percent is applied to the removal figure. It does not change stump, haul-away or permit costs.
3. Stump grinding. Trunk diameter in inches times your rate per inch, times the number of trees.
4. Haul-away and permit. The debris fee for each tree, plus one permit fee for the job.
5. Quote check. (Quote - estimate) / estimate x 100 gives the percent gap.

To find a local rate per foot, divide a written quote for felling by the height of the tree. A quote of 1,200 for a 50 ft tree works out to 24 per foot. Two or three quotes give you a range.

Both examples use the example rates from the preset buttons. They show the math, not what a job costs in your area.

One tree, open site. A 40 ft tree with an 18 in trunk, at an example rate of 12 per foot. Removal is 1 x 40 x 12 = 480. Stump grinding at 3 per inch is 18 x 3 = 54. Haul-away is 75. The total is 480 + 54 + 75 = 609.

Two trees, hard access. Two 60 ft trees with 24 in trunks, at an example rate of 15 per foot. Removal is 2 x 60 x 15 = 1,800. A 25 percent difficulty adjustment adds 450. Stump grinding at 4 per inch is 2 x 24 x 4 = 192. Haul-away is 2 x 100 = 200. The permit is 50. The total is 2,692. A quote of 3,000 is 11.4 percent above that estimate, so the tool marks it in amber.

Size sets the base cost. The site, the services and local rules move it from there.

Tree Height

A taller tree takes more cuts, more rigging and more time. Height is the main driver in this model, so a wrong height changes the estimate in direct proportion.

Trunk Diameter

A wider trunk means a wider stump to grind. Measure across the trunk at chest height. With a tape around the trunk, divide the girth by 3.14: a 57 in girth is about an 18 in diameter.

Access and Hazards

Buildings, fences and wires near the tree slow the work. NC State Extension notes that working near downed electrical power lines requires special certification and licensing. Use the difficulty adjustment for a hard site.

Stump Grinding

Removal does not always include the stump. NC State Extension advises that the contract state whether removal includes grinding the stump and surface roots to one foot below grade, filling with topsoil and planting grass.

Haul-away and Who Keeps the Wood

Clean-up is a separate line on many quotes. Both extension guides say the contract should cover clean-up. NC State Extension adds that it should state who gets the firewood or wood chips.

Equipment and Overhead

NC State Extension lists trucks, hydraulic booms, chippers, stump cutters, labor, insurance and safety training as costs behind a quote. That is why a professional price is higher than the hours on site suggest.

A written quote should name each service, so you can match it to the lines in this calculator.

NC State Extension suggests two ways to lower cost: schedule the work well in advance, and coordinate with neighbors for a possible group discount. It also says never to pay in advance. University of Minnesota Extension says not to feel obliged to pay in full until the work is complete.

For crew work billed by the hour, the hourly cost calculator turns hours and a rate into a total. The sales tax calculator adds tax where a quote leaves it out.

Hire a certified, insured professional and check local rules first. Tree removal involves chain saws, climbing, heavy falling wood and sometimes power lines.

Insurance

NC State Extension advises asking for a certificate of insurance sent directly from the insurance agent, covering liability for personal and property damage, and asking whether the firm carries workers compensation. Under some circumstances a homeowner can be held financially responsible when an uninsured worker is hurt on the property.

Certification and Safety Gear

University of Minnesota Extension calls ISA (International Society of Arboriculture) certification the industry standard. It says a reputable arborist always wears personal protective equipment. NC State Extension suggests the contract require work to the ANSI Z133 safety standard.

Permits and Local Licenses

Tree rules are local. University of Minnesota Extension notes that most cities in Minnesota require tree companies to hold a city license. Call your city or county office before work starts and ask whether a removal permit or a licensed contractor is required.

Buried Utilities

Stump grinding cuts below ground level. The 811 service asks anyone planning to dig to contact 811 a few business days ahead, so buried utility lines are marked first.

After Storms

NC State Extension warns about people soliciting tree work door to door after storms. Storm damage creates high-risk conditions for workers and homeowners.

Before You Call Contractors

Set a rough budget from the tree size, so the first quote is not a surprise.

Comparing Two or Three Quotes

Both extension guides advise getting more than one estimate. Enter each quote to see its percent gap and its implied rate per foot.

Deciding on the Stump and the Wood

Set the stump rate or the haul-away fee to 0 to see what each service adds. A ground stump leaves a hole to fill, and the topsoil calculator estimates the soil for it.

1. Treating Example Rates as Prices

The default rates only make the tool work on load. Replace them with numbers from local quotes.

2. Taking the Lowest Bid on Price Alone

University of Minnesota Extension says to beware of estimates that fall well below other quotes. There may be hidden costs, or the person may not be fully insured or certified.

3. Assuming the Stump Is Included

Many quotes cover felling only. Check the contract wording before comparing totals.

4. Guessing the Height

Height drives the largest line. A 60 ft tree entered as 40 ft cuts the removal figure by a third.

5. Skipping the Permit Check

Tree rules vary by city and county. One call to the local office before work starts settles the question.

6. Doing Dangerous Work Yourself

Tree removal is work for a trained crew with the right equipment. NC State Extension notes that work near downed power lines needs special certification and licensing.

The arithmetic is exact. The estimate is only as good as the rates you enter, and a simple per-foot model cannot see your site.

It depends on the height, the site and local rates, so no single price applies. Enter the tree height and a rate per foot taken from local quotes, and the calculator adds stump grinding, haul-away and permit costs.

Divide a written quote for felling by the height of the tree. A quote of 1,200 for a 50 ft tree is 24 per foot. Use two or three quotes to see the local range.

Not always. NC State Extension advises that the contract state whether removal includes grinding the stump and surface roots, filling the hole and planting grass.

It depends on your city or county. Rules are local, so call the local office before work starts and ask whether a permit or a licensed contractor is required.

They let the calculator show a result on load. They are not survey data or market prices, and this page publishes no national price table.

More than one. NC State Extension and University of Minnesota Extension both advise getting estimates from more than one arborist before choosing.

Not on price alone. University of Minnesota Extension warns that an estimate well below the others may hide costs or come from someone who is not fully insured or certified.

Liability cover for personal and property damage, and workers compensation. NC State Extension suggests having the certificate sent directly from the insurance agent and calling to confirm the policy is current.

Measure across the trunk at chest height. With a tape around the trunk, divide the girth by 3.14. A 57 in girth is about an 18 in diameter.

This page does not advise it. Tree removal involves chain saws, heights and heavy falling wood, and both extension guides recommend a trained, insured professional.

No. The calculator runs in your browser and nothing goes to our servers. Saved results stay in this browser only.

• How to hire a tree care professional: insurance, estimates, cost and contract terms (NC State Extension).
• How to hire a tree care professional: certification, safety equipment, city licensing and low bids (University of Minnesota Extension).
• 811, the national before-you-dig service (Common Ground Alliance, 811).