How much does tree removal, trimming or stump grinding cost in Pennsylvania?

Updated November 10, 2026 · KeystoneProGuide editorial team

What does tree work usually cost?

Two national cost surveys put the typical removal of one tree in the hundreds of dollars, with large or awkward trees running into the thousands. Angi gives a national average of $750 for tree removal, with most homeowners paying between $200 and $2,000 and the most difficult jobs reaching $10,000. Fixr gives an average range of $400 to $1,100 and a national average of $435 for a medium-sized tree. Trimming and stump grinding cost less per job. Neither survey publishes a figure for Pennsylvania or for any county, so treat these as national benchmarks, not local prices.

The table sets the published ranges side by side.

The two surveys measure slightly different things. Fixr's removal average is for a tree of 19 to 24 feet, while Angi's covers trees of every size. Where they disagree, both figures are shown here, and neither has been adjusted or averaged.

How much does the height of the tree change the price?

More than anything else. Fixr weights height, volume and diameter at 30 percent of the cost, ahead of the type of tree at 20 percent and the tree's health and the obstacles around it at 15 percent each. Both surveys break removal prices down by height.

Trimming follows the same pattern. Angi puts trimming a tree under 25 feet at $80 to $350 and a tree over 50 feet at $300 to $1,800. Fixr gives $75 to $300 for a tree of 10 to 20 feet and $300 to $1,800 for one of 50 to 100 feet.

What else pushes a removal quote up?

• Access. Angi says a tight, hard-to-reach or unsafe location often adds 25 to 50 percent.
• A crane. Angi puts crane service at roughly $500 a day, in a range of $250 to $600, and says crane costs on the hardest removals can climb to $6,000 to $7,000.
• An emergency. Angi says removal after a storm, when demand is high, can cost up to $5,000.
• A dead tree. Penn State Extension's Master Gardeners say removing a live tree is usually less expensive than removing a dead one, because dead wood becomes brittle and needs extra safety measures.
• Power lines. Angi's top figure of $10,000 is for large trees near power lines. The utilities also draw a line here: PECO says it does not do non-emergency trimming around the wire that runs to your meter, and PPL says that wire is the property owner's responsibility, though both will disconnect it so the work can be done safely.

Some things bring the price down. Fixr says fallen or uprooted trees cost $150 to $300 to clear. Angi says bundling several trees into one visit saves around $100 per tree on average.

What is usually extra?

Read every quote for what it leaves out. Angi lists debris haul-away at about $70, chipping at about $95 and splitting wood into firewood at about $70. Stump work is often separate: Angi gives $100 to $150 for the first stump and $50 for each one after it on its removal page, and $120 to $400 for a typical grinding job on its stump page.

Stump grinding is priced by the width of the stump. Both surveys say most jobs run $2 to $5 per inch of diameter, and both mention a minimum charge of about $100. Angi adds $50 to $200 for hauling away the grindings.

An assessment can also be a line item. Angi puts an arborist consultation at $75 to $150, a written report covering several trees at $450 to $700, and cabling a weak limb at $200 to $400.

Is there a cheaper time of year?

The sources point to the colder months. Penn State Extension suggests trying to schedule tree work in fall or winter, "when rates may drop", and Angi says winter can save up to 20 percent on tree and stump work. That only applies to work that can wait. A tree that is cracked, leaning toward the house or hung up in another tree is not a job to postpone for a better price.

Will insurance pay for removing a tree?

Sometimes, and only up to a limit. The Insurance Information Institute says that when a tree falls on your house or another insured structure, a standard homeowners policy generally covers removing it, up to about $500 to $1,000 depending on the insurer and policy. If the tree fell without hitting an insured structure, there is generally no coverage for removal, though some insurers will pay when a tree blocks a driveway. Check with your insurer before you sign for the work.

How do you compare two quotes fairly?

Penn State Extension recommends getting at least two or three written bids and not accepting the lowest one blindly, because poor work on a tree is difficult or impossible to undo. To compare like with like, check that each quote states:

• which trees, and whether each one is being removed or pruned, and how much;
• whether the stump is ground, how deep, and whether the grindings are taken away;
• what happens to the wood and brush: chipped, hauled, or left in rounds;
• whether a crane or bucket truck is included;
• the total cost of the job, not only a price per tree;
• the terms of payment.

Penn State also suggests paying after the work is done to your satisfaction, and asking each bidder for proof of liability and workers' compensation insurance. That last point matters for safety more than price, and it is covered in how to choose a tree service.

Are Pennsylvania prices higher or lower?

No published survey answers that. Angi shows a price box for the visitor's own location, which changes from reader to reader, so it is not used here. If your quotes fall far outside the ranges above, ask each company to explain the difference. Some towns also charge for a tree permit; the rules are in what Pennsylvania and its towns require. Businesses that serve your area are on the tree services directory page.

Sources

1. How Much Does Tree Removal Cost?, Angi
2. How Much Does Professional Tree Trimming Cost?, Angi
3. Stump Grinding Cost, Angi
4. How Much Does an Arborist Cost?, Angi
5. Tree Removal Cost, Fixr
6. Tree Trimming Cost, Fixr
7. Stump Grinding Cost, Fixr
8. Pruning Landscape Trees, Penn State Extension
9. When to Call an Arborist, Penn State Extension (Allegheny County Master Gardeners)
10. If a tree falls on your house, are you covered?, Insurance Information Institute
11. Tree Trimming Assistance, PECO
12. Line Clearing, PPL Electric Utilities