However, it\u2019s risky to ignore a struggling tree. One homeowner in the northern Boston suburbs was recently horrified to witness a tree crash down on his home<\/a>, damaging the roof, porch, and front yard, while he stood helplessly with two others from the inside during a storm. (The neighborhood reportedly has a lot of dead trees.) In addition, if you plan to sell this home anytime soon, you may be required to disclose the ailing tree to buyers<\/a>, resulting in a price discount.<\/p>\n So let\u2019s get to planning for that tree removal, shall we? Our budgeting guide combines multiple cost aggregations from the internet with the expertise of an experienced arborist and a top real estate agent who\u2019s helped many clients navigate the tree removal process.<\/p>\n While the price tag for removing a tree varies widely, these ballpark estimates from trusted home improvement companies give you an idea of what to expect:<\/p>\n Average cost to remove a tree: <\/b>$750 (does not include stump removal)<\/a> Average cost to remove a tree: <\/b>$985<\/a> Average cost to remove a tree: <\/b>$700<\/a> Your arborist will consider a number of factors to come up with an accurate estimate for your tree removal project. Here are a few to keep in mind:<\/p>\n Size is a good place to start. But some arborists, like Bob Emerich, owner of Bob\u2019s Tree Service<\/a> in Mill Valley, California, warn against relying too heavily on size to quantify costs. Even though two trees may be the same height, the price to remove each one will differ depending on the species.<\/p>\n \u201cA large tree can be a 100-foot redwood or a 100-foot pine,\u201d explains Emerich. \u201cThe pine has much larger branches and is thus more expensive to remove. A 125-foot cypress has even more branches than a pine. And a 200-foot eucalyptus would usually cost more than any of them because the wood is so dense and heavy. Medium trees vary all over the place as well.\u201d<\/p>\n For more insight into how the type of tree affects pricing, check out these numbers from HomeAdvisor<\/a>:<\/p>\n If you\u2019re dealing with a tree that\u2019s 80 feet or taller, you may need a crane. According to HomeAdvisor, daily crane rentals range from $200 to $500,<\/a> depending on the size and type of the crane. Tack on another $50 to $100 for someone to operate the machine.<\/p>\n Country living is dandy for relaxation and tranquility. But being far from a large town or city can cost you when you need to remove a tree. Most tree service companies serve a set area.<\/a> If your home is beyond their boundaries, many will charge a mileage fee of roughly $0.50 per mile. Others charge flat rates from about $50 to $200.<\/p>\n The ease or difficulty of getting to a tree plays a big role in removal costs. If a tree is hanging over wires, delicate plants, a roof, or other parts of a home, removing it will require more finesse and time, which translates into more money.<\/p>\n Emerich adds that the distance between a felled tree and the chipper truck, or having to haul pieces up a steep hill, can also bump up prices. \u201cIf the canopy and trunks need to be carried a long way to the truck, or if the path to a truck involves a lot of careful maneuvering, steps, and\/or slippery slopes, this can add a lot of time to the job,\u201d he says.<\/p>\n Tree stumps aren\u2019t just eyesores. They can be dangerous, too. Stumps can decay and become infested with pests like termites. So it\u2019s probably worth paying a bit extra to get rid of yours. The average price to remove a stump<\/a> runs from $160 to $355. Removal options include grinding or burning your stump with a chemical mixture. It\u2019s also essential to remove all roots to prevent them from spreading. Your tree service professional will help you figure out the best plan of attack<\/a>.\u00a0<\/b><\/p>\n From basic to complex, these snapshots of real-life tree removals illustrate the range of circumstances that impact cost (all featured sources spoke directly to HomeLight and asked to use their first name only):<\/p>\n In Colorado, Betsy\u2019s experience was quick and easy. She paid a mere $150 to remove an unruly apple tree. This was a one-man job as the tree was small and the stump didn\u2019t have to go.<\/p>\n Anne, a homeowner in the San Francisco Bay Area, spent about $8,000 to remove six diseased Monterey pines from her property. The price covered a crew of eight who chopped down the trees, ground up the pieces and removed them. Although the project was expensive, Anne appreciated the speed and efficiency of the team who completed the job in less than two days.<\/p>\n When Mindy, a Marin County resident, and her family were on the hunt for a place to build their forever home, they chose the property where they now live for one reason: the giant Valley Oak that graced the backyard.<\/p>\n Sadly, the beautiful tree eventually toppled due to root problems caused by an underground stream. The oak was also a heritage tree.<\/a> These trees are protected in many cities \u2014 and some states \u2014 for unique characteristics such as size, species, age and historical value. You need special permits to chop down or remove a heritage tree.<\/p>\n Cutting the trunk and branches cost $5,860; grinding the remains added another $1,240 to the project. In addition, because the tree crushed a shared fence, Mindy\u2019s family had to split the cost of building a new one with their neighbors. Since the heritage tree was valued at $70,000, the county knocked a small percentage off their homeowner taxes to compensate for the loss. \u201cThe heartbreak was the hardest part,\u201d says Mindy. \u201cNo matter how much money we got back, we\u2019d still rather have the tree.\u201d<\/p>\n From extreme weather to region-specific diseases, trees face a number of threats that can turn them from pretty to troublesome. Take the unusual ice storms that swept through Texas last winter, leaving a sea of zombie trees<\/a> in their wake. The spooky looking dead trees can topple without warning. If you suspect you have one, contact an arborist<\/a> promptly.<\/p>\n Here are some other issues that can make it necessary to say good-bye to a tree:<\/p>\n Since the mid-\u201990s, Sudden Oak Death<\/a> has killed millions of oak trees in coastal California. The disease spreads easily to other plants and trees and can cause dangerous internal decay that may not be visible. Hiring a knowledgeable arborist to properly remove an afflicted oak is essential.<\/p>\n The emerald ash borer<\/a> is a beetle responsible for the deaths of hundreds of millions of ash trees in North America, many of them in the Midwest. Down south, another bug, the black twig borer<\/a> feasts on a variety of trees. They\u2019re a problem in Florida, Georgia, North Carolina and other southern states, as well as Hawaii.<\/p>\n Over time, roots from that tree in your front yard can clog pipes that transport wastewater from your home to the local sewer system \u201cAs communities have grown and matured, trees are one of the top causes of damage to sewage lines,\u201d says Rick Fuller<\/a>, a top real estate agent in Antioch, California. Roots can also cause concrete surfaces \u2014 like sidewalks and driveways \u2014 to crack and buckle. It\u2019s not a good look, and treacherous to boot. People can trip on the uneven pavement.<\/p>\n![\"Several](\"https:\/\/www.homelight.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/07\/how-much-does-it-cost-to-cut-down-a-tree-stumps-666x381.png\")
<\/a>Cost overview<\/h2>\n
Source: HomeAdvisor<\/h4>\n
\nAverage cost with stump removal<\/b>: Additional $150\u2013$500
\nLow and high end: <\/b>$200\u2013$2,000
\nMethodology: <\/b>The company gathers data based on actual project costs reported by 117,223 HomeAdvisor members around the country.<\/p>\nSource: Thumbtack<\/h4>\n
\nAverage cost with stump removal<\/b>: $1,072 (total)
\nLow to high end: <\/b>$155\u2013$2,000+
\nMethodology: <\/b>Thumbtack analyzes millions of bids from tree-removal pros across the nation. \u00a0<\/b><\/p>\nSource: HomeGuide<\/h4>\n
\nAverage cost with stump removal:<\/b> Additional $50\u2013$800
\nLow to high end: <\/b>$100\u2013$1,800
\nMethodology: <\/b>HomeGuide tracks millions of user-submitted project estimates and correlates them with local professional estimates to provide accurate average costs.<\/p>\nCalculating your tree removal expenses<\/h2>\n
Size<\/h3>\n
Tree Type<\/h3>\n
\n
Crane rental<\/h3>\n
Location<\/h3>\n
Accessibility<\/h3>\n
Stump removal<\/h3>\n
![\"A](\"https:\/\/www.homelight.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/07\/how-much-does-it-cost-to-cut-down-a-tree-chainsaw-666x381.png\")
<\/a>True tales of tree removal<\/h2>\n
Keeping it simple<\/h3>\n
Tackling multiple diseased trees<\/h3>\n
Dealing with a heritage tree<\/h3>\n
Common reasons for removing a tree<\/h2>\n
Pests and disease<\/h3>\n
Wayward roots<\/h3>\n
Fire hazards<\/h3>\n