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How much does tree removal cost

Most people look to remove a tree for several reasons, commonly some trees are removed as they may pose a risk to nearby structures in the event of a storm, the reasons are more so due to diseased, leaning and damaged trees. In some rare cases a tree with a large root system can potentially damage your home’s foundation. More than likely you’ll receive a quote for a tree removal based on the height of the tree. There are additional factors in determining the price, like the species, condition, and even the season of the year. 

Factors to consider when pricing tree removal tree

Pricing on Tree removal has several factors and a range for tree removal is quite broad, services range anywhere from $100 to $2,000 dollars. It’s important to have an understanding of your needs and these key factors to determine a fair price. An average tree will cost anywhere from $400-$800. Larger trees around 3 feet in diameter can run the gambit of $2000 to remove.

Some tree removal services will sometimes offer deals that include stump grinding service as part of the tree removal if you spend a certain amount of money. Disposal of the actual debris could also be included as surcharges. When getting quotes on tree removal it’s important to ask what comes included with the service as there can be add-on pricing.

Size of the tree

As previously stated above the height and width are a factor in pricing, we’ve highlighted a few helpful tips on sizing and pricing below.

  • 30 foot and under are commonly referred to as small trees, the trunks of the trees will likely also have small diameters. Common example would be a white birch tree, trunks range in size of 16 inches in diameter. A small to medium sized tree can run around $100-$500.
  • A slightly larger tree above 30 feet with a wider diameter can run from $400-$1,300
  • A larger tree with a thick trunk anywhere from 75-80 feet like New Jersey’s state tree, the Northern Red Oak, may run from $1000 to $2,200.
  • Different species of trees will also have an impact on pricing different densities and thickness of the wood play a factor in the difficulty or easiness of cutting down a tree. Some trees even have complicated root systems that increase the price as they need to be removed. 

Health of the tree

A very common reason to remove a tree from your property is s deteriorating tree; from disease, pest, a dead tree, and one that could have been affected by natural disaster, like a thunder strike.  

  • Often trees that have fallen down due to mother nature are cheaper to remove since they are already on the ground, depending on the labor needed prices will be significantly less if a tree just needs to be removed from  your land; expect price in the $100-500 range.
  • Tree removal can also be cheaper if a tree has been weakened to the point that cutting it down has been made significantly easier.
  • Sometimes a tree may be in a position where an impending fall could cause damage to property, in situations like this a team will have to be more careful in how they remove the damaged tree. Unfortunately in a situation you might expect to pay more for tree removal.

Emergency Tree Removal

As mentioned above the state of the tree determines the price, but another factor to consider is how quickly you need a tree removed. Expedited services for most things in life cost more money, tree service is not an exception to this rule. While emergency tree removal can reach up into the area of $5,000, it’s important to reach out to your homeowners insurance policy provider, in most cases they will cover the removal service. In addition to requesting expedited tree removal, there could be an increased risk of danger to the crew removing your tree. Crew members will also have to be careful and diligent to not damage your property any further.

At Arbor Quotes we try to provide customers with the best possible service providers both in price and quality, this helps to bring transparency to the consumer. After severe storms and natural disasters it’s important to be aware of potential price gouging when paying out of policy, as it is something to be aware of due to increased demand. 

Other costs to consider

There are several other factors that result in varying costs, they include your location and municipality, conditions of the soil. Tight spaces and slanted surfaces can also make it difficult for equipment to reach the tree. If your tree is near power lines expect to pay more for a tree removal.

Stump grinding and debris removal

In addition to actually cutting down the tree, sometimes the cost of cleanup and stump removal are baked into the total cost of the service. When consulting a tree care specialist, remember to ask questions on what services are included in their estimates. Some providers have a great price and you may learn later that there are other fees.

  • Things to look for when shopping
    • Some providers offer special offers including discounts on stump grinding or offer it free when you spend a certain amount.
    • On average expect root and stump removal to range from $150 to $600 
    • Disposing of additional debris might have a $50 to $125 charge, which is well worth it when a small dumpster rental might run you $500, also consider your time!

Tree removal permits

In New Jersey the permit cost for tree removal varies a lot depending on the municipality and townships. Prices for a tree removal permit in New Jersey can range from $40 for a permit, with some areas including tree removal as part of a building permit. Some towns charge upward of $100 for each tree removed. And of course some towns only require a permit to remove a tree when it meets certain criteria, for example some towns only require a permit when the trunk diameter is larger than 12 inches. A local Tree care service should be able to help you acquire the permit needed for the job at hand.

Potential surcharges

Depending on the size of the job larger equipment may be needed like several dump trucks and cranes. These vehicles may need to be brought out to you over a long distance to your location. Expect to pay more if the provider is far from you. Take location into consideration and shop local when possible, the upfront cost may be more but you’ll pay less in surcharges like destination and fuel charges for heavy equipment. 

Shop and find the answers to your Tree removal questions with the help of Arbor Quotes.