# Stump Grinding Cost: What Tree Services Charge (2026)

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Publisher: SimplyWise, Inc. (https://www.simplywise.com)
Published: September 11, 2026
Updated: October 23, 2026
Category: Project Cost Guides
Summary: Stump grinding cost for 2026: $250 to $2,500 per stump by diameter from tree services that post rates, plus the call-out minimum and grinder rental.

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## Stump Grinding Cost: What Tree Services Charge in 2026

Stump grinding cost from tree services that post their own rates: $250 to $2,500 per stump by diameter, a $400 call-out minimum, the per-inch model, and grinder rental at $132 to $215 a day.

Stump grinding cost, at a glance

1. Two tree services post rate cards: $250 to $400 under 12 inches, up to $800 to $2,500 above 36 inches.
2. Sound Tree Care posts a $400 call-out minimum that covers about one hour of grinding.
3. Five tree services describe $2 to $10 per inch of diameter as typical, never as their own sheet.
4. Measure at ground level, at the widest point, where root flare adds inches.
5. Walk-behind grinders rent for $132 to $215 a day at three yards. Track units run $437 to $467.
6. Tree trimmers and pruners earn a $24.50 median hourly wage (BLS, May 2025).

## What does stump grinding cost per stump?

Stump grinding cost runs $250 to $400 for a stump under 12 inches. Above 36 inches it runs $800 to $2,500 or more. Those are the rate cards two tree services post on their own pages. Tiers move on diameter.

## What do the tree services that post rates actually charge?

| Stump diameter | Sound Tree Care (WA, 2026-06-27) | DC Tree Cutting (NC, 2026-03-29) | Blended |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Under 12 inches | $400 minimum | $250 to $400 | $250 to $400 |
| 12 to 24 inches | $400 to $750 | $400 to $600 | $400 to $750 |
| 24 to 36 inches | $750 to $1,250 | $600 to $800 | $600 to $1,250 |
| 36 inches and up | $1,250 to $2,500 or more | $800 to $1,000 or more | $800 to $2,500 or more |

The two cards disagree at the top, and that is the point. A 36 inch stump in Seattle posts at $1,250 and up. In eastern North Carolina it posts at $800 and up.

## How much does stump grinding cost per inch?

Five tree services describe the per-inch model, and none posts it as its own sheet. Shults Tree Service and Miller Tree Service say $2 to $5 per inch of diameter. Omar Tree Service and Escamilla Tree Service say $3 to $5. Sound Tree Care spreads it by difficulty. Good access is $4 to $5. Ground matting pushes it to $5 to $8. A large stump or bad access runs $8 to $10 or more. A 20 inch stump at $4 per inch is $80 on paper, and then the minimum wins.

## Why does the minimum decide small stumps?

Sound Tree Care charges a $400 minimum call-out that covers about one hour of grinding. Shults Tree Service describes minimums of $75 to $150 as typical. A 1992 City of Toledo study in the ISA journal points the same way. Man-hour values for the smaller stumps did not separate, which its authors said may suggest a minimum set-up time independent of stump size.

## How do I build a stump grinding quote?

1. Measure at ground level Take the widest point across the cut surface. Root flare can turn an 18 inch trunk into a 26 inch stump.
2. Price the tier, then the minimum Read the diameter off your card or multiply inches by your rate. If it lands under your minimum, the minimum is the price.
3. Add the extras by line Sound Tree Care prices root removal, chip haul-away, and topsoil backfill outside the base price. DC Tree Cutting charges extra to grind 12 inches or deeper and factors surface roots into the quote.
4. Batch the job DC Tree Cutting did six pines for about $1,800, near $300 each against $350 to $400 alone.

## What are the extras worth?

DC Tree Cutting includes grinding 6 to 8 inches below grade and rakes the chips back into the hole. Deeper grinding for construction runs 12 inches or more at an additional charge. Its grapple truck hauls debris at $900 a load. Sound Tree Care puts a typical grind at about 6 to 18 inches deep. Three university extension services, Illinois, South Dakota State, and Iowa State, put a standard grind at 8 to 12 inches below ground. Iowa State adds that chips and backfill cost extra.

## What does a stump grinder rental cost per day?

| Rental yard | Walk-behind, per day | Track or pro unit, per day |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Rent Equip (PA and VA) | $132 (13 HP) | $437 (37 HP track) |
| Rent ‘n King (TN) | $167 | $467 (Vermeer SC48TX) |
| Quality Rental and Sales (IL) | $215 (25 HP) | Not listed |

BLS puts tree trimmers and pruners at a $24.50 median and $26.91 mean hourly wage (May 2025). Landscaping and groundskeeping workers sit at $18.82 and $20.33. There is no stump grinding occupation among its 830 detailed occupations. Our contractor hourly labor rates by trade (https://www.simplywise.com/blog/contractor-hourly-labor-rates-by-trade/) guide covers why the billed rate runs above the wage.

## SimplyWise Cost Estimator for a stump grinding quote

SimplyWise Cost Estimator turns a job-site photo into an itemized estimate in about 6 seconds. It is $29.99/mo or $239.99/yr, about $20/mo on annual, with a 7-day free trial.

## Keep reading

- Landscaping Contractor Pricing Guide (https://www.simplywise.com/blog/landscaping-contractor-pricing-guide/)
- Contractor Hourly Labor Rates by Trade (https://www.simplywise.com/blog/contractor-hourly-labor-rates-by-trade/)

## Sources

- Sound Tree Care LLC (https://www.soundtreecarellc.com/tree-stump-removal-cost-explained-costs-of-stump-removal) (updated 2026-06-27); DC Tree Cutting and Land Service (https://dctreecutting.com/blog/stump-grinding-cost/) (2026-03-29).
- Shults Tree Service (https://www.shultstreeservice.com/post/understanding-stump-grinding-pricing-what-you-need-to-know) (2026-05-25); Miller Tree Service (https://www.millertreeservices.com/post/how-much-does-it-cost-to-grind-a-tree-stump) (2025-05-25); Omar Tree Service (https://omartreeservice.com/stump-grinding-cost/) (2025-09-08); Escamilla Tree Service (https://escamillastreeservice.com/stump-grinding-cost/) (2026-06-19).
- Rent Equip (https://rentequiphere.com/product-category/property-maintenance-equipment/stump-grinders/); Rent ‘n King (https://rentnking.com/product-categories/stump-grinder-rental); Quality Rental and Sales (https://qualityrentalandsales.com/product/stump-grinder/).
- Illinois Extension (https://extension.illinois.edu/blogs/ilriverhort/2014-06-20-removing-tree-stumps) (2014); SDSU Extension (https://extension.sdstate.edu/how-remove-stump) (2019); Iowa State Extension (https://yardandgarden.extension.iastate.edu/how-to/how-remove-tree-stumps) (2025); Journal of Arboriculture 18(6) (https://auf.isa-arbor.com/content/18/6/307), Toledo stump study (1992).
- BLS OEWS (https://www.bls.gov/oes/tables.htm), May 2025 national file (oesm25nat.zip), SOC 37-3013 and 37-3011; BLS Employment Projections 2025 to 2035 (https://data.bls.gov/projections/occupationProj). All retrieved 2026-09-02.
- SimplyWise Cost Estimator on the App Store (https://apps.apple.com/us/app/simplywise-cost-estimator/id6670619664) (4.8 rating).

## Frequently asked questions about stump grinding cost

**How much does stump grinding cost per stump?**

From the two tree services that post rate cards: $250 to $400 under 12 inches and $400 to $750 at 12 to 24 inches. Then $600 to $1,250 at 24 to 36 inches and $800 to $2,500 or more above that. Diameter at ground level sets the tier.

**How much does stump grinding cost per inch?**

Five tree services describe $2 to $10 per inch of diameter as typical. The common band is $2 to $5, with $8 to $10 for bad access. None posts it as its own sheet, and every page adds a minimum.

**What is a typical stump grinding minimum charge?**

Sound Tree Care posts a $400 call-out minimum covering about one hour of grinding. Shults Tree Service describes $75 to $150 as typical. The minimum covers mobilization, setup, utility checks, and cleanup. A 1992 ISA journal study of City of Toledo crews found that man-hour values for the smaller stumps did not separate, which its authors said may suggest a minimum set-up time independent of stump size.

**Can I measure a stump with my phone camera instead of a tape?**

SimplyWise Cost Estimator turns a photo of the stump into an itemized estimate in about 6 seconds. On a Pro iPhone, the LiDAR room scan captures measurements. Keep a tape for the diameter at ground level, which sets the tier.

**How much does a stump grinder rental cost per day?**

Walk-behind grinders rent for $132 to $215 a day at Rent Equip, Rent ‘n King, and Quality Rental and Sales. Track and pro units run $437 to $467 a day.

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