Tree Removal Cost Calculator

Tree removal cost calculator: price by height

A tree removal cost calculator does not use a formula. It looks up a planning price tier for the height you enter. A tree up to 30 ft is about $300, from 31 to 60 ft about $700, from 61 to 80 ft about $1,200, and over 80 ft about $1,800. A 50 ft tree falls in the second tier at about $700.

These tiers are rough guides, built into the calculator, and not quotes. Prices vary by region, access and the condition of the tree.

How the tiers work

The calculator checks the height against each tier’s upper limit and returns the first one that fits. A tree of exactly 30 ft is in the lowest tier, and 30.5 ft moves up. The same applies at 60 and 80 ft, so a measurement near a boundary can change the planning number by hundreds of dollars.

Worked example, a backyard maple

You measure a maple at 50 ft.

• 50 is above 30 and at or below 60
• Tier: 31 to 60 ft
• Planning cost: about $700

Worked example, a tall pine

A pine along the fence measures 72 ft.

• 72 is above 60 and at or below 80
• Tier: 61 to 80 ft
• Planning cost: about $1,200

The 22 ft of extra height between the two trees adds about $500 to the planning figure, which shows how steeply cost climbs with size.

Planning tiers by height

Height	Planning cost
Up to 30 ft	about $300
31 to 60 ft	about $700
61 to 80 ft	about $1,200
Over 80 ft	about $1,800

How to measure the height

• Shadow method. On a sunny day, measure your own shadow and the tree’s shadow. Tree height = tree shadow × (your height ÷ your shadow).
• Pacing method. Walk away until the top of the tree lines up with a stick held at arm’s length, then pace the distance. It is not precise, but it gets you close.
• Photo method. Stand a measured distance back and compare against a known object, like a person or a ladder, in the same shot.
• When in doubt, round up. A quote comes after an inspection, and the arborist measures the tree properly.

What moves the price

• Power lines, buildings, fences and sheds close to the tree.
• Whether a truck or lift can reach the tree.
• Dead, diseased or leaning trees, which are riskier to cut.
• Whether the quote includes stump grinding, wood hauling and cleanup.
• Local permits or protected tree rules.

Common mistakes

• Treating the tier as a quote. Get at least two written quotes.
• Hiring without proof of insurance. Ask for it, because an uninsured worker’s injury or a damaged roof can fall on you.
• Cutting near power lines yourself. Call the utility.
• Forgetting the cleanup. Wood and brush pile up fast, and hauling them can cost extra.
• Skipping the permit check.

Getting a useful quote

Call at least two licensed, insured arborists and have them look at the tree in person. Ask for the price in writing, and ask what it covers. Does it include cutting the wood into pieces, hauling it away, grinding the stump and raking up? Two prices only compare if they cover the same tasks.

Hold the quote up against the planning tier. If the planning figure for your 50 ft tree is $700 and a quote comes in at $1,400, ask what drives the difference. It may be a power line, a house under the branches or a dead trunk, and those are real costs. If nothing explains it, the next quote will tell you more.

Related pages

If you also plan to remove a structure, see the shed removal cost calculator. The dumpster weight calculator helps with debris, and the land clearing cost calculator covers larger jobs.