When you’re ready to have a tree on your property come down, it’s time to call an arborist. The national average price range for tree-trimming costs is $270-$450. Tree removal costs can vary based on the height, diameter, location and health of the tree, and on whether you want to remove the stump. Height plays a major role in tree removal costs. Small trees, no more than 30 feet tall, are usually thinner in diameter and easier and safer for an arborist to manage. Removal of a small tree can cost anywhere from under $150 to over $450. Removal of medium-height trees, from 30 feet to 60 feet tall, could cost anywhere between $150 and $850 or more. Tall trees, typically 60 feet to 80 feet tall, may start at $500 or cost more than $1,000 to cut down. As the height and diameter increase, so does the cost.
Location is critical, too. Removing a tree in an open space is quicker and presents fewer obstacles than removing a tree that is growing flush to your house. Arborists can assess your tree and provide you with quotes based on the variables involved. For example, removing a medium-size hackberry tree that was growing too close to a home — the roots were damaging the home’s foundation — cost $1,500. This price included rope-down, house protection, tree quartering and stacking, and stump removal.
If you need to have a tree cut down, have you planned what will happen next? Arborists often charge an additional fee to quarter and remove the fallen tree from your property, so anticipate this as part of your tree removal costs. You can elect to have the wood cut for use in your fireplace, or you may prefer to have it hauled away completely.
Tree removal costs may vary based on the height and the width of the felled tree. Size affects the labor required for removal, which will be reflected in the cost. For example, a tree service company may charge an additional $100-$120 to haul away the pieces of a felled tree. The service may cost as little as $75 in some regions and more than $150 in others. Regional labor rates, the cost of living and the cost to do business in your area will be reflected in your tree removal cost.