Summary: Summary: Tree removal in 2026 costs $200 to $700 for small trees under 30 feet, $700 to $1,400 for medium trees of 30 to 60 feet, and $1,400 to $2,000 or more for large trees over 60 feet. Trunk diameter and canopy spread matter as much as height. Hazard proximity to structures or power lines adds 30 to 80 percent, crane work adds $800 to $1,200, and stump grinding adds $150 to $500. Get three written quotes: tree-work bids vary more than any other home service.
Small trees (under 30 feet tall, under 12 inches trunk diameter) are the simplest jobs: fell, cut, chip, and haul in a few hours. Expect $200 to $700, with easy-access ornamental trees at the low end. These are the only removals where a skilled homeowner might DIY, and even then only with a clear drop zone away from everything.
Medium trees (30 to 60 feet) need a crew, rigging, and usually a full day: $700 to $1,400. Large trees (over 60 feet, trunks over 24 inches) are multi-day operations with cranes or complex rigging: $1,400 to $2,000 at the low end, $3,000 to $5,000 for hazardous urban trees with tight access. These bands assume good equipment access; a backyard with no truck access adds labor fast.
Arborists price on trunk diameter at chest height and canopy spread as much as on height, because wood volume and rigging complexity follow those numbers. A tree under 12 inches in diameter with a small canopy might run $226 to $596. The same height tree with a canopy over 30 feet wide can reach $359 to $946. Massive trees with trunks over 24 inches and large canopies run $1,562 to $4,117 before equipment and labor add-ons of $155 to $363.
This is why phone quotes are unreliable: no one can price your tree without seeing the trunk, the lean, the canopy, and the obstacles. Any company that quotes a firm price from a photo alone is guessing. Reputable companies do free on-site estimates because the site visit is where the real pricing happens.
Crane requirement is the biggest adder: $800 to $1,200 for the crane plus the crew time to use it, effectively adding 50 to 100 percent on large jobs. Power-line proximity adds 30 to 80 percent and may require the utility to de-energize lines first, which adds scheduling time. Structural hazards (leaning over a roof, hollow trunk, storm damage) add 40 to 100 percent because the crew cannot climb safely and must dismantle piece by piece.
Permits add $300 to $1,500 in cities with tree protection ordinances, and heritage or protected trees can require arborist reports at $300 to $860. Stump grinding adds $150 to $500 per stump. Debris hauling and chipping, if not included, adds $50 to $300. Ask for each as a line item so you can see what you are buying.
Removing several trees in one visit earns 15 to 25 percent off per additional tree, because mobilization, the crew, and the chipper are already there. If you have two or three candidates, do them together. Winter is often the cheapest season: crews are less busy, deciduous trees are leafless (lighter, easier), and frozen ground reduces lawn damage from equipment.
Post-storm is the most expensive time: demand surges, prices rise 30 to 50 percent, and the market fills with storm-chasers of dubious quality. If the tree is not an immediate hazard, waiting a few weeks after a storm for prices and crews to normalize can save hundreds. For hazardous trees, do not wait: the cost of a tree through your roof dwarfs any seasonal discount.
Get three written quotes from insured local companies, all on identical scope: felling or dismantling, stump grinding depth (6 to 8 inches below grade is standard), hauling and chipping included, and lawn repair for equipment damage. Verify general liability and workers compensation certificates directly, not just the company's word: tree work injuries are common and you do not want liability.
Red flags: door-knockers after storms, demands for large cash deposits, no written contract, no insurance certificates, and prices far below the other bids (the scope is different, or the company will not be around if something goes wrong). A fair price from an insured crew beats a cheap price from a crew that disappears.
Data current as of October 2026. Sources: Angi and national arborist pricing data. Estimates only, not a quote. Always get multiple written quotes from insured local tree companies.