2026 Tree Removal Cost Index
Updated 2026-07-02
A medium tree (30 to 60 feet) costs $500 to $1,500 to remove on this site's own calculator model before ZIP and access adjustments, and This Old House's 2026 benchmark data puts the same size band at $450 to $1,200, with a national average of $906 across all tree sizes (This Old House, updated March 5, 2026). Stump grinding or removal adds $75 to $500 on average, at $340 nationally (This Old House, updated March 26, 2026). Every figure below carries its source and the date it was checked, and the full table downloads as a CSV.
Tree removal cost by size, modeled vs. benchmark
These modeled ranges come directly from the constants behind this site's own tree removal cost calculator: a $500 to $1,500 national baseline for a single medium tree (30 to 60 feet) with open access and the stump left in place, scaled by the calculator's own size multiplier. ZIP-level regional adjustment is left out here so the table shows one national baseline; plug in a ZIP on the calculator to localize any row.
| Tree size | Modeled range (this site's calculator) | Benchmark range (This Old House, 2026) |
|---|---|---|
| Small (under 30 ft) | $225 - $675 | $150 - $450 |
| Medium (30-60 ft) | $500 - $1,500 | $450 - $1,200 |
| Large (60-80 ft) | $900 - $2,700 | $800 - $1,500 |
| Very large (80 ft+) | $1,400 - $4,200 | $1,000 - $2,000 |
Both sets of numbers rise the same way with tree size, though this site's modeled ranges run a bit wider at the top end because the calculator's 2.8x very-large multiplier is a national ceiling rather than an average. Download the full table as a CSV: tree-removal-cost-2026.csv.
How these numbers are built
The baseline, a $500 to $1,500 range for one medium tree, is the calculator's BL/BH constants (500 and 1500) before any multiplier is applied. From there the model scales by three factors: tree size (0.45x for a small tree up to 2.8x for a very large one), access and hazards (1.4x when the tree is near a house or power line, versus 1.0x for open access), and stump removal (1.2x if you choose to grind or remove the stump, versus 1.0x to leave it). A ZIP-code multiplier of roughly 0.90x to 1.35x is layered on last, based on regional labor-cost data built into the calculator; the ranges in the table above use no ZIP adjustment so they represent one national baseline.
This Old House's tree removal figures, updated March 5, 2026, are reported as flat ranges by the same four size bands this site's calculator already uses (up to 30 feet, 30 to 60 feet, 60 to 80 feet, and over 80 feet), which is why the two sets of numbers line up closely enough to check against each other despite coming from different methods.
Last updated 2026-07-02.
What access and stump removal add
Two of the calculator's multipliers move the price independent of tree size. Choosing "near house or power lines" instead of open access multiplies the whole estimate by 1.4x, and choosing to grind or remove the stump multiplies it by an additional 1.2x. Applied to the medium-tree baseline:
| Scenario (medium tree, 30-60 ft) | Modeled range |
|---|---|
| Open access, stump left in place (baseline) | $500 - $1,500 |
| Open access, stump ground or removed (1.2x) | $600 - $1,800 |
| Near house or power lines, stump left (1.4x) | $700 - $2,100 |
| Near house or power lines, stump removed (1.4x × 1.2x) | $840 - $2,520 |
In plain terms, stump removal on the calculator is not a flat add-on. It is a percentage on top of the whole job, so it costs more in dollar terms on a large tree than on a small one, even though the multiplier is the same 1.2x either way.
Stump grinding and removal cost by diameter
This Old House's stump removal data, updated March 26, 2026, puts the national average at $340, with most homeowners paying $75 to $500. Professionals typically charge $2 to $5 per diameter inch, which is why cost scales directly with stump size rather than tree height:
| Stump diameter | Typical cost |
|---|---|
| Up to 12 in | $30 - $60 |
| 24 in | $48 - $120 |
| 36 in | $72 - $180 |
| 48 in | $92 - $240 |
| 60 in | $120 - $300 |
| 72 in | $144 - $360 |
Grinding, which shreds the stump below grade and leaves the root system in the ground, is the cheapest method This Old House tracks at around $200 typical cost. Full removal, which pulls the stump and major roots out of the ground, tends to run higher because it takes more equipment time and often leaves a hole to backfill.
Worked example
Take a 45-foot maple in an open backyard, no structures or power lines nearby, with the stump ground down afterward. That is a medium tree (1x), open access (1x), with stump removal (1.2x), and no ZIP adjustment: $500 × 1.2 = $600 on the low end, $1,500 × 1.2 = $1,800 on the high end. This Old House's benchmark for the same size band, stump not included, is $450 to $1,200, so the calculator's stump-inclusive estimate sitting above that range is expected: it is pricing a bigger job (removal plus grinding) than the benchmark's removal-only figure.
Methodology
- Modeled ranges: computed from treeremovalcost.org's own calculator constants: a $500 to $1,500 base range for one medium tree (30 to 60 ft) with open access and the stump left in place, multiplied by the calculator's own size multipliers (small 0.45, medium 1, large 1.8, very large 2.8), access multiplier (open 1, near house/power lines 1.4), and stump multiplier (leave 1, grind/remove 1.2). No ZIP regional multiplier is applied in the tables above, so these are national baselines. Reviewed 2026-07-02.
- Tree removal benchmark: This Old House, "How Much Does Tree Removal Cost?", updated March 5, 2026.
- Stump removal benchmark: This Old House, "How Much Does Stump Removal Cost?", updated March 26, 2026.
- Rows we skipped: emergency and hazard-tree premiums are not broken out by size in either source we could verify with a real update date, so they are covered qualitatively in the emergency tree removal guide instead of in this table.
These are estimates, not contractor bids. Get at least two written quotes from licensed, insured arborists before committing to a removal.
Cite this page
Tree Removal Cost, "2026 Tree Removal Cost Index," treeremovalcost.org/tree-removal-cost-2026/, 2026. The underlying table is available as a CSV download for reuse with attribution.
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Frequently asked questions
What is the average cost to remove a tree in 2026?
A medium tree (30 to 60 feet) costs $500 to $1,500 to remove on this site's calculator model before ZIP and access adjustments. This Old House's 2026 benchmark data puts the national average at $906 across all tree sizes, with most homeowners paying between $820 and $992 (This Old House, updated March 5, 2026).
How much does stump grinding or removal cost?
Stump removal averages $340 nationally, with most homeowners paying $75 to $500, and professionals typically charge $2 to $5 per diameter inch (This Old House, updated March 26, 2026). On this site's calculator, choosing stump grinding or removal adds a 1.2x multiplier to the base tree removal estimate.
Related guides
- How Much Does Tree Removal Cost in 2026?
- Large Tree Removal Cost: Oak, Pine, and Trees Over 60 Feet (2026)
- Stump Removal Cost: Grinding vs. Full Removal in 2026
- Tree Removal Cost Factors: What Drives the Price Up or Down in 2026
- Tree Removal Cost Guide
Jessica Martinez spent six years pricing home-improvement bids before she started writing about them full time. She covers what contractors actually charge and where homeowners lose money to vague estimates.