Tree Removal Cost in 2026
Removing a tree costs $200–$2,000 for most homeowners in 2026, averaging about $750. Height sets the base price — under $500 for a small tree, four figures once you're past 60 feet — but condition and location (over the house? near power lines?) decide the quote you'll actually get.
Quick answer: what it costs in 2026
| Tree removal (per tree, felled and removed) | Low | Typical | High |
|---|---|---|---|
| Most single-tree removals | $200 | $750 | $2,000 |
| Small tree (under 30 ft) | $150 | $300 | $500 |
| Large tree (60–80 ft) | $1,000 | $1,400 | $1,800 |
Based on Angi's 2026 cost data. Stump grinding is usually separate ($100–$500). Hazardous removals — dead, leaning, or over structures — and emergency storm work sit well above the typical band, occasionally reaching $5,000–$10,000.
Estimates based on published ranges from Angi, HomeAdvisor, Fixr and the Cost vs. Value Report, checked November 9, 2026. Your local price will differ — see the regional table below and our research method.
Tree work is priced like the risk business it is. Angi's 2026 data puts the national average removal at $750, with most single-tree jobs falling between $200 and $2,000 — and the published height ladder explains most quotes you'll receive: under $500 for trees under 30 feet, $500–$1,000 for the 30–60 ft band, and $1,000–$1,800 once a tree passes 60 feet.
What the ladder doesn't capture is everything the arborist sees standing in your yard: a healthy pine in an open field can be felled in one piece and is cheap for its size. The same tree dead, leaning over your roof, threaded through power lines and reachable only through a 36-inch gate becomes a rigging job — a climber or crane, a ground crew, and hours of lowering pieces one at a time. That is the quote that shocks people, and it is usually honest.
Two process points protect you. First, many cities require a permit for removing larger or protected trees, and some species are protected outright — check before the saws start, because fines attach to the homeowner. Second, never hire tree work without a certificate of insurance naming workers' comp and liability: tree removal is among the most dangerous trades, and an uninsured injury on your property can become your problem.
What the price normally includes
- Cutting down the tree and lowering/removing all sections
- Hauling away logs, limbs and brush (confirm — some quotes leave wood on site)
- Chipping brush on site (chips may be left for mulch if you ask)
- Site cleanup of sawdust and debris to a reasonable standard
- NOT usually included: stump grinding ($100–$500), root removal, log splitting/firewood processing, or permit fees
Tree removal cost by height
| Tree height | Typical removal cost | Typical examples | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Under 30 ft | $150–$500 | Young maple, dogwood, small ornamental | Often felled whole; fastest jobs |
| 30–60 ft | $500–$1,000 | Mature oak, pine, most suburban trees | The most common band |
| 60–80 ft | $1,000–$1,800 | Large oak, mature pine, cottonwood | Climbing/rigging usually required |
| 80 ft and over | $1,500–$3,000+ | Old-growth canopy trees | Crane access can push higher |
| Stump grinding (add-on) | $100–$500 | Per stump | Priced by diameter; ≈$2–$5 per inch |
| Emergency / storm removal | $1,000–$5,000+ | Fallen or hung-up trees | After-hours and hazard premium |
Bands compiled from Angi (Oct 2026) and corroborating 2026 guides (Housecall Pro, Lawn Love, This Old House compilations). Species matters: brittle, heavy or decayed trees (silver maple, dead ash) cost more than their height alone suggests.
What drives the price up or down
Height and trunk diameter
The baseline driver: taller and thicker means more cuts, more rigging, more loads to haul. Price per tree roughly doubles between the under-30-ft and 60–80-ft bands.
Condition and lean
Dead, diseased, split or leaning trees cannot always be climbed safely, which forces crane work ($500–$2,000/day of the quote) or slow, careful rigging. A dead tree removed promptly is cheaper than the same tree removed after another year of rot — dead trees get more expensive, never less.
Location and obstacles
Trees over houses, fences, pools, gardens or power lines must come down in pieces, each one roped and lowered. Utility-line proximity may require the power company's involvement or a line-clearance-certified crew. Open-ground trees are the bargains of this industry.
Access
If a bucket truck or crane cannot reach the tree — narrow gates, soft ground, no alley — everything moves by hand and climber. Access alone can add 30–50% to a quote; conversely, clearing a path can be the cheapest 'discount' available.
Number of trees
Crews are priced by the day as much as by the tree: three medium trees in one visit routinely cost far less than three separate visits. If several trees need to go over the next few years, bundling is the industry's real volume discount.
Cost by region
| Region | Typical range | Why |
|---|---|---|
| South / Southeast | $450–$1,400 per tree | Long growing season, tall fast-growing species; storm-demand spikes |
| Midwest | $500–$1,600 per tree | Emerald ash borer legacy demand in many states |
| Northeast | $600–$1,900 per tree | Higher labour; mature canopy trees common |
| West Coast | $650–$2,200 per tree | Highest labour; protected-tree permitting in many cities |
Regional bands compiled from published 2026 regional tree-service guides, framed around Angi's national average. Dense metros and post-storm periods sit above these bands; multiple-tree jobs sit below them per tree.
Ways to keep the cost down
- Get two or three quotes in writing, each stating whether hauling, chipping and stump grinding are included — the 'cheap' quote often just leaves the wood.
- Ask for the certificate of insurance (liability + workers' comp) and verify the licence your state/city requires. This is non-negotiable in tree work.
- Bundle multiple trees into one visit, and ask neighbours — crews already on your street often price add-on trees keenly.
- If the tree is healthy and you like it, price pruning before removal: a $300–$800 trim sometimes solves the actual problem (roof clearance, light, storm safety) at a third of removal cost.
- Check permit and protected-species rules with your city first — oaks and heritage trees are protected in many municipalities.
- Keep the wood if you burn it: asking the crew to leave cut rounds (and skip hauling) can trim $100–$300 from the quote.
Frequently asked questions
Is stump grinding included in tree removal?
Usually not. Removal gets the tree down and gone; the stump is ground separately for $100–$500 depending on diameter and root spread. If a quote seems low, this is the first line to check.
Do I need a permit to remove a tree on my own property?
Often, yes — many cities require permits for trees above a certain trunk diameter, protected species, or trees in front yards and easements, and HOAs add their own rules. The tree company usually knows the local rules, but the legal responsibility is yours.
Will insurance pay to remove a tree?
Homeowners insurance typically pays when a covered event (storm) brings a tree down onto a covered structure — and often covers removal of that fallen tree. It does not pay to remove a standing tree just because it is old or worrying; that's maintenance. A tree that falls harmlessly in the yard is usually your cost too.
How long does a tree removal take?
A straightforward small tree: under an hour. A large rigged removal over a house: most of a day, sometimes two with a crane. Multiple-tree jobs are quoted by crew-days.
What's the cheapest time of year to remove a tree?
Late winter, before spring growth and storm season, is the industry's quiet period in most regions and often the softest pricing. After major storms, expect the opposite — surge demand and long waits.
Should I remove a dead tree immediately?
Yes, as soon as reasonably possible. Dead trees become brittle and unpredictable, arborists charge more (or refuse climbing) as decay advances, and a dead tree that falls can create liability questions a live one doesn't. It is the rare home expense that reliably grows by waiting.
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Typical: $8,320 · $30–$60 per sq ftSources: Angi tree removal cost guide (updated Oct 2026); Housecall Pro and Lawn Love 2026 tree removal price data; This Old House tree removal cost compilation. Full source list and methodology: How we research. Spotted a price that looks wrong in your area? Tell us — we re-check reader-flagged figures first.