How Much Does Tree Removal Cost? Size, Type, Permits, and More

Tree removal is sometimes necessary to clear land for construction, improve views, or add natural light. Dangerous trees may have to be removed to protect safety and property.

While you can remove some small trees yourself, tree removal is a complex and potentially dangerous project that is best left to an experienced tree care team.

The average cost of tree removal is $875 per tree. Tree removal costs start at $295 and go up to $1,455.

Cost By Size

	Average Cost	Low Cost	High Cost
Small: Up to 20 Feet	$270	$135	$405
Medium: 20 to 30 Feet	$335	$215	$450
Large: 30 to 50 Feet	$690	$475	$900
Extra Large: 50 Feet or More	$1,335	$960	$,1705

Tree removal costs increase as tree height increases. Removing taller trees will cost more per linear meter. This is because taller trees may require increasingly expensive tools and services, such as cranes, power outage services or traffic management.

Small trees: 10 to 20 feet.
Small tree removal costs start at $135 and go up to $405, with an average cost of $270.
Small trees can be cut down by the homeowner. Before felling, small trees can be cut down to a more manageable size using a trimmer or handsaw.

Small plants:

Dawn mahogany
Harlequin Glory Blower
Japanese maple

Medium Trees: 20 to 30 Feet

The average cost to remove a medium-sized tree is $335. The price for removing a medium-sized tree ranges from $215 to $450. A medium-sized tree can grow to about 30 feet in height.

Medium size trees:

crab apple
Sim pancakes
dogwood
paper birch

Large Trees: 30 to 50 Feet

Large tree removal costs about $690. Large tree removal costs can start at $475 and go up to $900.

Large trees grow up to 50 feet tall. Tethered climbers may need to access the tree to remove problem branches before felling the tree. A crane may be needed.

Large tree type:

maple
oak
pine
spruce

Extremely large trees: 50 feet or more.

The average cost to remove a very large tree is about $1,335. The cost to cut a very large tree ranges from $960 to $1,705.

Removing very large trees requires additional tools and services.

Very large trees:

cotton tree
oak
Palm
The tree is crying
Willow was crying

Cost By Type of Tree (Species)

	Average Cost	Low Cost	High Cost
Cypress	$1,000	$800	$1,200
Maple	$1,500	$1,065	$1,935
Oak	$1,200	$800	$1,600
Palm	$555	$240	$875
Pine	$1,250	$250	$2,250

The cost of tree removal by type or species often depends on size. Some trees, such as Japanese maples, rarely exceed a height of 20 to 30 feet. Blackhawk, deciduous holly, mulberry, hawthorn and dogwood are less than 30 feet tall.

Evergreen trees such as bald cypress, eastern white pine, red pine, and shortleaf pine can grow to 60 feet tall or higher.9

License for cutting down trees
Tree removal permits start at about $50 per tree and can go up to $600-$800. Most tree removal permits cost around $200.

Municipalities often issue expedited permits to remove dead or dangerous trees, or may allow you to cut down the tree first and then apply for the permit retroactively.10

Manufacturer’s report
An arborist’s report on a tree can cost anywhere from $450 to $950. An arborist can give an opinion on whether the tree should be cut down.

Dead or dangerous trees
Dead or dangerous tree removal costs between $140 and $1,200, with an average cost of $670.

A dead or dangerous tree is a tree that is completely dead or nearly dead and poses a danger to people and nearby structures. These plants should be removed.

Tree maintenance crews should not climb on dead trees to reduce their height. Dry trees cannot be used as firewood, but they can be split.

Emergency tree removal
The average cost for emergency tree removal is $2,990 per tree and ranges from $1,475 to $4,500.
How much does it cost to remove a tree? Fixed

Emergency tree removal is a tree removal service that typically arrives within a few hours and removes fallen trees from homes, cars, fences, yards and other personal property.

Slivers
Timber sawing after tree felling costs an average of $145 per hour and ranges from $75 to $215.

Cutting down trees will generate a significant amount of waste. You can always leave the branches and logs in place, but removing all but the smallest trees is very difficult.

Shredding wood with a professional wood chipper will turn trees into dense, large piles of wood chips that can be used as mulch around trees or in beds.

Grind or remove stump
The average cost of stump grinding is $290. Smaller stump removal can cost around $150, while larger stumps can cost up to $425. The cost of stump removal is approximately the same as the cost of stump grinding.

The rotating disc blade of a stump grinder will grind the stump until it is 4 to 8 inches above the ground. The hole can be filled with earth.

Stump removal uses chemical or mechanical methods to hollow out most of the stump. Generally, stump removal does not involve removing the root system.

Crane rental
Cranes can add anywhere from $875 to $1,040 to the cost of tree removal, or an average of $1,200.

Cranes may be required for tall trees or trees located in confined spaces. For some trees, removal is done from top to bottom. The crane worker starts at the top and gradually cuts the tree down to the ground.

Motion Control
The average cost of traffic control is $200 per hour and ranges from $175 to $225 per hour.

When private tree removal operations disrupt public roadways, most communities require that traffic be diverted or away from the tree removal project.

The tree service company may have personnel to handle traffic control (for an additional fee), or may need to contract with a traffic control company to perform this work.

Do-it-yourself tree removal versus professional removal
You can cut down a tree safely if it is small enough and you follow all safety precautions. Trees with a trunk diameter of about 2 inches or less and a height of 8 to 12 feet can be safely cut. You can cut down larger trees, but the danger increases exponentially as the size of the tree increases.

In most cases, it is best to hire a tree service company to remove the tree. Trees seem easy to fall, but they can fall in unpredictable directions. If you misjudge the tree’s height, it could hit power lines, fences, or buildings.