The Cost of Stump Grinding
So you got a pesky stump, or two, taking up space in your yard and you’re thinking about having it removed or removing it yourself. Removing a stump used to be a huge pain in the you know what, but now…enter the stump grinder. In this article, we will cover the varying prices and overall cost of stump grinding to remove a tree stump.
The cost of stump removal will depend on a few different things, mostly depending on whether you do it yourself or hire a professional. Armed with all the facts, we hope to give you a clearer picture of the best choices available about the costs and prices associated with removing a tree stump using the stump grinding method.
DIY Stump Removal vs Professional Stump Removal
To hire or not to hire, that is the question. Do you want to do it yourself or hire a professional stump grinding service to get the job done? On the face of things, it may not seem like there is a huge difference in price between hiring the pros and renting a stump grinder. However, many small but important factors can influence the net amount that it’s going to cost. For example, time is money and that needs to be kept in mind as well. If you’d like the work to be handled quickly and efficiently, you’ll probably find that the cost of stump grinding by a professional to have that stump removed is worth every penny.
Professional Stump Removal Prices
Nationally, the average price for professional stump removal is around $300, and it generally takes about an hour. Professional companies may charge based on different criteria:
- By Diameter – If you are charged based on the diameter of the stump that needs to be removed, you can expect to pay around $4-$5 per inch of diameter. Most companies charge a minimum of $100.
- By Total Number of Stumps – Many companies offer price breaks to customers who have more than one stump that needs to be removed. For example, you may be charged $250 to $300 for the first stump and between $30 and $50 for each additional stump.
- Clearing Land – In the event that you need a large expanse of land to be cleared and a huge number of stumps to go along with it, you can expect to pay a flat hourly fee. On average, customers are typically charged around $250 per hour. You may be charged based on the average diameter of the stumps that need to be removed. If the average diameter is 12 inches and you have 200 stumps, 2400 inches need to be cleared. At $2 per inch, you will pay $4,800.
DIY Tree Stump Removal Prices
The national average for removing a stump yourself is approximately $100, but it takes an average of three hours to get the job done. Home improvement stores rent out hydraulic stump grinders in half-day and full-day increments. The average cost to rent such a machine for half a day is $75 to $100 while the average cost to rent one for a full day is $150 to $400.
The Limitations of Removing a Tree Stump Yourself
Although hydraulic tree stump grinders are available for rent, they are usually only designed to handle very small stumps. Due to the rather high cost of renting such a machine, it’s usually only worth your while if you have several small stumps to remove. Furthermore, you will need a trailer hitch in order to get it home, or you will have to pay extra to have it delivered.
As you can see, the cost of removing a stump yourself depends on a variety of factors, such as how much you value your time or how motivated you are to do it yourself. Your total tree stump removal cost will usually be more if you hire professionals, but the job will be done quickly, efficiently, and thorough. Unless you just have a small stump to remove, hiring a company to do it for you is probably the most viable option.
