2026 Per-Tree Pricing by Size
| Tree size | Low | Mid | High |
|---|---|---|---|
| Small (under 30 ft) | $285 | $485 | $785 |
| Medium (30-60 ft) | $485 | $885 | $1,485 |
| Large (60-80 ft) | $985 | $1,685 | $2,685 |
| Extra large (80+ ft) | $1,685 | $2,485 | $4,485 |
| Hazardous / over-house / power lines | +25-50% | +25-50% | +25-50% |
| Emergency / after-hours | +50-100% | +50-100% | +50-100% |
Drivers of cost beyond raw size: proximity to structures, access for equipment (bucket truck vs climbing-only), power line clearance work, and disposal volume.
Stump Grinding + Add-Ons
- Stump grinding: $3-$8 per inch of diameter, minimum $150-$250
- Wood chip disposal: $75-$200 (often bundled in removal price)
- Log removal (vs leaving on-site): $150-$400 depending on volume
- Crown reduction / pruning: $185-$685 per mature tree
- Cabling + bracing: $285-$985 per tree
- Lot clearing (per acre): $2,500-$8,500
Real Cost Structure (Medium Tree Example)
30-50 ft oak, 24" diameter, in a residential yard with bucket truck access:
- Crew labor (3 people × 4 hrs × $48 burdened): $576
- Bucket truck operating cost (4 hrs × $35/hr): $140
- Chipper operating cost: $80
- Disposal (dump fees): $60
- Fuel + supplies: $50
- Allocated overhead (insurance, office, marketing): $200
- Total cost: ~$1,106
- Target 45% margin → price: $2,010
- Realistic charge: $1,485-$1,985 in mid-market region
Insurance — The Cost of Entry
Tree work is one of the most insurance-expensive trades. The reason: roof damage, structure damage, and worker injuries are common claims.
- General liability: $3,500-$12,000/year for a 3-person crew (vs $800-$2,000 for landscaping)
- Workers comp: 8-22% of payroll — sometimes the highest rate of any trade
- Commercial auto: $2,500-$5,000/truck
- Tools + equipment coverage: $1,000-$3,000 (chippers, bucket trucks)
Annual insurance for a 3-person tree operation runs $25,000-$45,000 before payroll. Your hourly rate must absorb this — if you bid like a $40/hr landscaper, insurance will swallow your margin.
Target Margin
- Survival: 30-40% gross
- Healthy: 45-55%
- Top-tier (specialized hazardous work): 55%+
Net margin after overhead is typically 8-15 points lower. Equipment-heavy trades like tree care depreciate fast — budget 10-15% of revenue for equipment replacement reserve.
Common Pricing Mistakes
- Bidding by hour, not by tree. Skilled crews finish in 3 hours what a slow crew takes 6. Hourly pricing punishes you for being good.
- Skipping the hazard premium. Trees over houses or near power lines are 25-50% premium. They're also where insurance claims come from.
- Not pricing stump separately. Many homeowners want the tree gone but not the stump — separating lets you close the cheaper option.
- Quoting before walking the site. Phone-quoted prices lose money on access issues you can't see.