Well, well, well, the million-dollar question! Do you have a tree that’s causing trouble? Whether it’s about to topple over, casting a vampire-worthy shadow, or being a nuisance, you’re probably wondering how to get rid of it. Maybe the local squirrels are using it as their personal amusement park, pelting you with acorns like they’re waging a tiny war. Trees are great, but when they become a problem, you want them gone safely and quickly.
In my arboreal journeys, if there’s a question I get asked more than any other, it’s “how much does it cost to take down my tree?” And the million-dollar answer is: it depends! I know that’s terribly dissatisfying, but I’ll explain. Hopefully, by the end of this article, you’ll have a better idea of what it might cost to send your tree to the great forest in the sky!
First off, let’s talk about how the tree is situated. Size matters! Is it an enormous elm or more of a Charlie Brown Christmas twig? Then there’s the obstacle factor. Is it casually lounging in a field, or is it threatening to drop acorns on a greenhouse filled with fine china? And don’t forget the “funk” factor. Is the tree as sturdy as an oak, or is it teetering like a Jenga tower after a squirrel party? Get the picture? Opting for a crane to evict a colossal, rotten ash looming over your roof will definitely cost more than gently nudging down a dainty ornamental pear in your backyard.
The next thing to consider is how much work you want to invest. That’s right! If you’re handy with a chainsaw and a rake, you can save quite a bit of money by doing the cleanup yourself. But if you’d rather not transform your yard into a post-apocalyptic wasteland for the next three months while you wage war on branches every weekend, then it might be worth paying extra for the cleanup. Tree services have all kinds of fancy chippers, grapples, and tractors to do it quickly, but it does come at a cost.
Finally, it’s important to consider the risk factor in whom you hire. If it’s a simple job, “Pickup Pete” might do the trick on the cheap, but if it’s a 120’ sycamore with a split stem leaning towards your prized garden gnome, you’ll want the pros (cue shameless plug for TreemasterLLC). Above all, it’s important to hire someone who is experienced, has the right equipment for the job, and is properly insured—because the last thing you want is for “half-price” Harry to come after you for his hospital bill!
With all of that in mind, let’s talk numbers. I may not know what others charge, but I do know what it takes to keep our crew and equipment running. Let’s start on the low end. Our minimum “first cousin” price is $600. I occasionally cut deals when we’re helping sweet grandmas, but to get our crew moving, it takes at least $600 to keep us from going out on a limb financially. On the other end of the spectrum, the most we’ve ever charged for a single tree is $8,000. All I will say is, it was huge, extremely hazardous, involved power lines, and required a giant crane! These mammoths are rare but necessary to take care of.
Having said all of that, a range of $600-$8000 is probably not helpful to determine the cost of your tree removal, but since you have read this far I will offer you an idea of what a typical tree job might cost. Keeping in mind the size, location, and condition of your tree, here are some broad sample ranges, assuming it includes the cleanup:
- Small-sized trees (between 10'-30' height):
- Open Space (easy access, no obstacles): $200 - $400
- Moderate Challenge (some obstacles or limited access): $400 - $700
- High Difficulty (obstacles like buildings or power lines): $700 - $1,000
- Medium-sized trees (between 30'-60' height):
- Open Space: $500 - $1,000
- Moderate Challenge: $800- $1,500
- High Difficulty: $1,500 - $2,500
- Large-sized trees (between 60'-120' height):
- Open Space: $1,600 - $2,500
- Moderate Challenge: $2,500 - $3,500
- High Difficulty: $3,500 - $5,000
Additionally, if you have a forest of trees to deal with, the price per tree drops significantly. Once the equipment and crew are already there, adding more trees is a breeze. For instance, if you have the misfortune of owning a lot with 30 ash trees that met their fate due to the Emerald Ash Borer (a nefarious beetle I’ve written about here previously), those trees might only range from $100-$400 per tree. It adds up, but it’s much cheaper per tree than coming out for a single removal. My disclaimer is that many of our jobs include multiple removals or no removals at all (we arborist tree huggers also do a lot of pruning, saving beautiful specimens of spectacular trees that just need a little TLC). All in all, before you budget how much it may cost for your tree removal from the broad ranges above, take time to meet with a professional, have a discussion of your options, check on all qualifications, insurance, reliability, and then obtain the quote for a better understanding of the cost for your tree removal.
So, there you have it—a little insight into the world of tree removal pricing. It’s a bit like asking how much a car costs. It depends on the make, model, condition, and whether or not it comes with a moonroof. Trees are similar, except they don’t come with moonroofs (usually).
Mike White is an ISA board certified master arborist and owns Treemaster LLC. If you’re interested in learning more about tree related issues, you’ll find him to be moderately obsessed. You can reach him at mike@treemasterllc.com
