How much should I charge to trim a tree?

HomeGuide's 2026 average is $400 to $900 per tree (national average $650), with small trees from $80 and very large or neglected trees over $2,500. Thumbtack lists a national range of $397 to $1,154. Most pros set a minimum job fee, which HomeGuide puts at $100 to $300 or more.

How much should I charge to remove a tree?

HomeGuide lists $400 to $1,200 on average (national average $850, small trees under 30 feet $200 to $500). Thumbtack lists $450 to $1,450 with an average of $985, and $1,072 when the stump is removed too. Height, access, nearby structures and power lines move the price most.

How much should I charge for stump grinding?

Angi's 2026 guide puts most jobs at $120 to $400 (average $250), priced at about $2 to $5 per inch of stump diameter with a minimum fee of about $100. Many pros charge $100 to $150 for the first stump and $40 to $75 for each additional one. Thumbtack lists $307 to $426 for a single stump.

What hourly rate do tree trimmers charge?

Thumbtack says tree trimmers average $60 to $80 per hour, although many companies quote flat rates by the tree instead. Thumbtack also notes emergency storm work can run as high as $250 an hour.

How to Price Tree Service

Typical prices for tree service

These are consumer-facing figures from 2026 cost guides, not rules. They show where the market sits so you can tell whether your price is far above or below it.

What is priced	Published 2026 range
Tree trimming, per tree (HomeGuide)	$400 – $900 typical, $650 average; $80 to $2,500+ overall
Tree trimming, per tree (Thumbtack)	$397 – $1,154 typical; $181 – $2,496 overall
Tree trimming, by height (Lawn Love, via Zarla)	under 30 ft $80 – $420; 30 – 60 ft $210 – $790; over 60 ft $470 – $1,840
Minimum job fee (HomeGuide)	$100 – $300+
Hourly rate for trimming (Thumbtack)	$60 – $80; emergency work up to $250
Tree removal, per tree (HomeGuide)	$400 – $1,200 typical, $850 average; small trees under 30 ft $200 – $500; up to $3,000
Tree removal, per tree (Thumbtack)	$450 – $1,450 typical, $985 average; with stump removal $1,072 average
Crane service (Angi)	$250 – $600 per day
Stump grinding (Angi)	$120 – $400, $250 average; about $2 – $5 per inch of diameter; $100 minimum
Extra stumps (Angi)	$100 – $150 for the first, $40 – $75 for each additional
Stump grinding, one stump (Thumbtack)	$307 – $426 typical; $220 – $544 overall
Wood chipping / debris hauling (HomeGuide)	chipping $50 – $100; hauling trimmings $75 – $250

The sources disagree, partly because they count different things: some include cleanup and some do not, and the cost of removal changes sharply with height and what stands under the tree. Compare several sources and your local competitors before you set a rate.

Per tree, per hour, or by the day

Flat price per tree. The usual method for trimming and removal. Price it from height, spread, condition and what is underneath, then name what is included: cleanup, chipping, wood left on site.
Hourly crew rate. Fits storm cleanup and jobs where the scope is unclear. Thumbtack lists an average of $60 to $80 per hour for trimming, with emergency work much higher.
Per inch of diameter. The normal method for stump grinding, with a minimum fee so that small stumps still pay for the trip.
Day rate for equipment. A crane or lift is a separate line, since Angi lists $250 to $600 per day.

What moves the price

Height and trunk diameter. Small ornamentals and tall hardwoods are different jobs.
Access and targets. Fences, roofs, power lines and tight yards mean rigging, lowering pieces and more labor.
Condition. Dead, damaged or diseased trees have to be taken down in sections, which raises the price.
Cleanup. Chipping, hauling brush and logs, and grinding or leaving the stump are separate lines.
Emergency and storm work. Charge an emergency rate and say so before work starts.
Permits and heritage trees. Some towns require a permit. Check local rules.

Check the price against your costs

Add paid labor for the whole crew, the truck and chipper, fuel, insurance (tree work is high risk), software, the unbillable hours and overhead, then divide by the hours you can really bill. See how to calculate labor cost and your overhead rate, and use the hourly rate calculator to find your floor.

A worked quote

Removing one medium tree and grinding its stump, using example rates (yours will differ). The takedown is priced at $900 flat. The stump is 30 inches across and ground at $4 per inch: 30 × $4 = $120.00, which clears a typical $100 minimum. Hauling the brush and logs is $150.

Total	$1,170.00
Tree removal, sectional takedown	$900.00
Stump grinding, 30 in. × $4	$120.00
Haul-away of brush and logs	$150.00

Check it against the market: $900 for removal sits inside HomeGuide's $400 to $1,200 and Thumbtack's $450 to $1,450 ranges, $4 per inch is inside Angi's $2 to $5, $120 is inside Angi's $120 to $400 for most stumps, $150 hauling is inside HomeGuide's $75 to $250, and $1,170 is inside Thumbtack's $884 to $1,627 for removing a tree and its stump. These figures are examples, not recommended prices.

Common mistakes

Quoting from the ground without checking what the tree overhangs, then eating the cost of rigging.
Not stating whether cleanup, wood and the stump are included.
Forgetting the minimum job fee, so a small trim loses money on the drive alone.
Skipping a written estimate. Read how to write a contractor estimate for what to include.

Sources

HomeGuide, How Much Does Tree Trimming Cost? (January 2026) and How Much Does Tree Removal Cost? (February 2026) (homeguide.com).
Thumbtack, Tree Trimming Cost (updated October 2026), Tree Removal Costs and Stump Grinding Cost (thumbtack.com).
Angi, How Much Does Stump Grinding Cost?, Stump Removal Cost and Tree Removal Cost, 2026 (angi.com).
Lawn Love height-based trimming ranges as summarized by Zarla (zarla.com), October 2026; not read directly.

Prices are published averages read in November 2026 and vary by region. Read from search excerpts, not full pages. For planning only. This is not accounting, tax or legal advice.