Stump grinding or stump removal: costs, 811 calls and what is left behind

Updated November 10, 2026 · KeystoneProGuide editorial team

What is stump grinding?

A machine chews the stump away below the surface. Iowa State University Extension calls hiring an arborist to grind a stump "the quickest, easiest, and safest way" to remove one. It says the machines grind away the stump and any large side roots, typically to 8 to 12 inches below the ground, and that the stump is gone within hours with little manual labor. The drawback, it says, is cost.

What is left behind, and the slower alternatives, are covered below.

What does stump grinding cost?

Usually a few hundred dollars for one stump, according to two national cost surveys. Neither publishes a Pennsylvania figure.

Angi says a large-diameter stump can push the total to $1,600, and adds $50 to $200 for hauling away the grindings. It also says winter can save up to 20 percent on stump work. Iowa State says arborists charge by the size of the stump, measured at its widest point, so measure yours before you ask for prices. The prices for the tree work that usually comes first are in what tree work costs.

Do you need to call 811 first?

The rule covers it, and the call should come from the crew. Pennsylvania One Call says that if you plan to disturb the earth with powered equipment, Act 287 obligates you to notify the utilities, and that it does not matter how deep you are digging. The Public Utility Commission says the call must be made at least three business days before the work. One Call's homeowner page does not mention stump grinding by name, but a stump grinder is powered equipment working in the soil.

Two details are worth knowing:

• Who calls. One Call says a homeowner should not call on behalf of a hired excavator, because the excavator is not protected by the homeowner's notification. Ask the contractor for its eleven-digit One Call serial number, which proves it made the call.
• What is not marked. One Call says utilities mark only the lines they own or maintain. Lines such as power to a pool or grill, invisible pet fences, septic systems, sprinkler and drainage pipes and propane lines may not be marked. If you have any near the stump, tell the crew, or have a private locating company mark them.

Is the machine dangerous?

It is heavy equipment, so keep clear while it runs. The Occupational Safety and Health Administration lists stump cutters among the machines covered by its guarding standards, and says that for line-clearance work, stump cutters must have enclosures or guards to protect workers. Keep children and pets away from the work area.

What is left after grinding?

A hole full of wood shavings. Iowa State says most arborists will not remove the shavings or fill the hole unless asked, and that both usually cost extra. It says the shavings change the structure, moisture and nutrient balance of the soil, making it hard for new grass or plants to grow, so they are best removed before new topsoil goes in and the spot is replanted. Shavings or soil can go to a compost pile or a municipal composting site. Agree in advance whether the price includes hauling, filling and leveling.

What are the alternatives?

Iowa State describes three.

• Let it rot. Natural decay is cheap, easy and safe but can take more than ten years. Cutting the stump as low as possible and drilling one-inch holes at least ten inches deep, no more than 12 inches apart, speeds it up; with fertilizer in the holes, a stump can usually be broken up with a spade after one to three years. Commercial stump removal products, it says, are mostly a form of fertilizer.
• Dig it out. Practical only for small stumps, under about 12 inches across, and hard work. Iowa State warns that chains or ropes that slip or break while pulling a stump can cause great harm.
• Leave it. A stump can feed and shelter insects, birds and other wildlife, but should be checked regularly and removed when it could fall on people or property.

Renting a grinder is a further option. Angi puts the rental at $100 to $300 a day. The same 811 rule applies to a homeowner with a rented machine, and the safety points in doing it yourself or hiring a professional apply too.

What should you not do?

Burn it. Iowa State says burning is not recommended: accelerants such as diesel can leach into the soil, stump fires can burn for days and are hard to put out, and many places do not allow burning. It also says that herbicide poured into a stump long after the tree was cut does not speed decay and may damage nearby plants. Some stumps send up sprouts, and Iowa State says herbicide applied to the living ring under the bark right after cutting can reduce that.

Can you move the stump or the grindings off the property?

With care. The Department of Agriculture's spotted lanternfly quarantine lists "Logs, stumps, or any tree parts" among the regulated articles whose movement it controls. In Philadelphia, stumps of street trees are a city matter: the Parks & Recreation request form offers stump removal along with pruning and removal. Businesses that serve your area are on the tree services directory page.

Sources

1. How to Remove Tree Stumps, Iowa State University Extension and Outreach
2. Stump Grinding Cost, Angi
3. Stump Grinding Cost, Fixr
4. FAQs Homeowners, Pennsylvania One Call System
5. Private Lines, Pennsylvania One Call System
6. PA One Call - 811, Pennsylvania Public Utility Commission
7. Inspection Guidance for Tree Care and Tree Removal Operations, Occupational Safety and Health Administration
8. Spotted Lanternfly Quarantine and Permitting, Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture
9. Request street tree maintenance, City of Philadelphia, Parks & Recreation