Tree Removal Near Me: $400 to $1,200 + Permits, Power Lines

How much does tree removal cost

Prices for removing one tree. Stump grinding, hauling and permits are often separate lines on the quote.

The three cost guides land in the same band for an ordinary yard tree. HomeGuide says $400 to $1,200 with an $850 average, Angi says about $750 in its July 2026 data, and Fixr's older January 2025 guide says $435. The top end is where they split: HomeGuide tops out at $3,000 for a large or complex job, while Angi says tall trees can reach $10,000 and large trees near power lines can go higher than that. HomeGuide lists hourly rates of $100 to $400 or more for tree crews.

Tree removal cost by height

Height is the biggest price driver: a tree under 30 feet costs $200 to $500 to take down in HomeGuide's figures and $150 to $450 in Angi's.

Installed price to remove one tree, before stump grinding.

Tree removal cost by type

Price to remove one tree of each species.

What affects the price of tree removal

Fixr breaks a tree removal quote into shares: height, volume and trunk diameter make up 30% of the price, tree type 20%, health and condition 15%, obstacles and access 15%, the company 10%, and time of year 5%. The specifics from the cost guides:

• Trunk size. HomeGuide says trunks over 24 inches across cost significantly more. Fixr's high end of $2,015 is for trees over 36 inches.
• Access. Angi says tight, hard-to-reach or unsafe spots add 25% to 50%.
• A crane. Angi puts a crane at about $500, or $250 to $600 a day, and difficult crane removals at about $6,000 to $7,000. Fixr lists crane-assisted removal at $1,500 to $2,500.
• Condition. HomeGuide says dead or damaged trees often cost more. Fixr and Angi both price a diseased tree at $400 to $900.
• Season. HomeGuide says prices run 10% to 20% higher in summer and fall.
• Several trees. HomeGuide says volume discounts run 10% to 25% per tree.
• Cleanup. Angi lists hauling at about $70 and chipping at about $95. HomeGuide prices log splitting at $50 to $100.

Tree removal cost by state

Florida has the highest range of our states in Angi's July 2026 data, at $750 to $1,500; Colorado ($350 to $650) and Texas ($300 to $850) sit lower.

Angi, July 2026. Angi publishes no state range for Arizona or Nevada.

Emergency tree removal: what to do first

Emergency tree removal costs more than a planned job: HomeGuide and Fixr both say emergency work often runs 2 to 3 times the normal rate, and Angi says it can reach $5,000. Before you call anyone, do these in order:

1. Stay away from wires. If the tree or a limb is on a power line, FPL says to stay far away, treat every wire as live, and call 911 for a downed line. Then call the electric utility.
2. Keep clear of the tree. Keep people and pets away from it and leave the cutting to the crew.
3. Photograph everything. The Maryland Insurance Administration says to photograph or video the damage before any debris is removed.
4. Call your insurer first if it hit the house. The same agency says not to remove damaged property until the adjuster has seen it, and to make only the repairs needed to prevent further damage.
5. Then book the tree work. Ask for the price in writing before the crew starts cutting.

Fallen tree on the house: call your insurer first

A tree that falls on the house may be an insurance claim, so call your insurer before any tree crew starts. The Maryland Insurance Administration says many homeowners policies cover damage when a tree falls on the home or another insured structure, such as a fence or detached garage, even when the tree was a neighbor's.

Coverage has limits. HomeGuide says it typically runs $500 to $1,000 per tree when a tree damages a covered structure. If the tree hits nothing, the Maryland agency says many policies pay a limited amount for removal, usually $500 to $1,000 per event, while HomeGuide says insurance generally does not cover trees that fall without damaging property. HomeGuide adds that preventive removal is rarely covered. Call your insurer before you hire anyone, and do not sign an assignment of benefits or any contract that hands your claim to a tree company.

Once the tree is off, the roof and ceiling are separate jobs. Emergency roof repair covers tarping and the first visit, ceiling water damage repair covers stains and sagging drywall, and gutter repair covers gutters torn off by a falling limb. Our roof line is for work you pay for yourself, not insurance claims. After a big storm, read storm damage contractor laws by state before you sign anything.

Trees on power lines are the utility's job

Trimming or removing branches near power lines is work for the electric utility or a trained line-clearance crew, not a homeowner or a general tree service. FPL tells customers never to trim vegetation near power lines and to keep themselves and their tools at least 10 feet from neighborhood lines and 30 feet from all other power lines. The ISA says never to remove branches from or near power lines and to call your electricity provider if tree parts touch them.

The line from the pole to your house is different. Tampa Electric trims trees near its pole-to-pole lines but not trees near the service line to a home, which are the owner's responsibility; it will temporarily disconnect the service line so a tree crew can work, if you call two weeks ahead. Ask your utility how it handles this before you book. Tree trimming covers branch work near the house.

Signs a tree is dead, dying or leaning dangerously

A tree with large dead branches, deep trunk cracks, mushrooms at the base or a new lean should be looked at by an ISA Certified Arborist, according to the ISA's tree risk checklist. The signs it lists:

• Dead wood. Large dead branches, or broken branches hanging in the canopy. HomeGuide flags dead or dying branches across more than 50% of the canopy as a removal sign.
• Cracks and splits. Cracks or splits in the trunk or where branches attach. Split trunks are often failure points, the ISA says.
• Decay. Cavities, rotten wood, loose bark, and mushrooms or other fungus at the base or under the tree.
• Root movement. Cracked or lifting soil at the base, especially when the tree leans. HomeGuide flags a lean that suddenly changed or is more than 15 degrees.
• Site changes. Recent construction or a change in soil level around the tree.
• Leaf changes. Unusual yellowing or smaller leaves than normal.
• Past topping. The ISA lists a topped or heavily pruned tree as a risk sign.

The ISA's options for a risky tree are pruning out the bad branches, cabling and bracing (which it says is no guarantee), routine care, or removal when the risk cannot be brought down. Prices for dead trees vary: Fixr lists dead tree removal at $75 to $400, while HomeGuide says dead or damaged trees often cost more to remove.

Do you need a permit to remove a tree

Many cities require a permit to remove a tree on private property, and Angi and Fixr both say permits typically cost $60 to $150 and are generally needed for trees over 10 feet. Rules are set locally.

Austin, Texas, for example. The city requires a permit to remove a Protected tree, which it defines as 19 inches or more in diameter measured 4.5 feet above the ground. Heritage trees of listed species 24 inches or more can be removed only as the city code allows. Austin also takes permit applications for dead, diseased or dangerous trees.

Florida also has a state rule for houses. Under Florida Statutes section 163.045, a city or county cannot require a permit, fee or replacement tree to remove a tree on single-family residential property if the owner has documentation from an ISA certified arborist or a Florida licensed landscape architect showing the tree poses an unacceptable risk. Mangroves are excepted. Angi says a city-required arborist report averages about $860. Ask the tree company whether it pulls the permit or you do.

Tree removal service near me: how to choose a company

The ISA's hiring checklist starts with credentials and insurance, because a crew working on a large tree near your house needs both:

• Ask for an ISA credential. The ISA says certification is voluntary and nongovernmental, and certified arborists must keep up continuing education. You can check a name with the ISA's Verify a Credential tool.
• Ask for proof of insurance and call the insurer. That is the ISA's own advice. Ask for the license number too, if your state or city licenses tree work.
• Get more than one estimate, in writing. The ISA says to get more than one estimate, ask for references, and not always take the lowest bid.
• Be wary of door-to-door offers. The ISA warns about people who go door to door offering bargains.
• Ask what the price includes. Stump grinding, hauling, chipping, permits and a crane are each separate lines in the cost guides.

Tree trimming and stump grinding

Removal is not the only fix. Tree trimming costs $400 to $900 per tree in HomeGuide's 2026 figures and can deal with dead limbs or branches over the roof without losing the tree. If the tree is already down, stump grinding adds $100 to $500 or more per stump in HomeGuide's removal guide. If a limb has already damaged the shingles, roof repair lists what fixing it costs. Tree work also sits on our home repair costs table.

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