Stump Grinding Cost Calculator

With the defaults, three stumps of 18 in diameter at standard depth and open access come to $228. The first stump is $63 (18 in at $3.50), each of the other two is $45 (18 in at $2.50), and the $75 trip charge is added once. That is $153 of grinding plus $75, or about $4.22 for every inch of stump diameter.

The number of stumps matters because the trip charge is spread across them. A single 18 in stump comes to $138, and five stumps of the same size come to $318, about $3.53 per inch. One small stump will hit the floor: a 12 in stump works out to $117, which the calculator raises to the $125 minimum job charge, and a 6 in stump does the same.

Real quotes also depend on stump height, species, rocks or fencing near the stump, and local rates, so use the pricing section to enter the figures from a company and compare quotes on the same footing.

The bigger the stump, the more wood the grinder has to cut, which is why companies measure the diameter in inches at the widest point above the ground and multiply by a rate. A per-inch rate is an easy way to quote, and many firms adjust it for very large or hard-to-reach stumps.

The calculator uses a higher rate for the first stump and a lower rate for the rest because the set-up cost, moving the machine and walking the site, is paid once. Ten stumps of 24 in come to $699: $84 for the first, nine more at $60 each, and the $75 trip charge. That is about $2.91 per inch, compared with $6.63 per inch for a single 24 in stump at $159.

If you are comparing quotes, ask whether the figure is per inch, per stump or for the whole job, and whether the diameter is measured at the ground or at a set height. The calculator shows the cost per inch as a result so you can line up different quotes.

Standard depth, about 8 in below grade, is enough to put grass or ground cover back over the stump. If you plan to plant another tree or build over the spot, ask for a deeper cut. The calculator uses about 12 in for deep grinding and multiplies the grinding line by 1.3. The default job goes from $228 to $274, and combined with tight access it is $314. Tight access alone multiplies the grinding line by 1.2 and makes the default job $259.

Grinding removes the stump but leaves the roots in the ground, and large surface roots can show after the stump is gone. The calculator can add surface root grinding at $45 per stump. For the default three stumps that is $135.

The machine leaves a pile of wood chips and soil. Three 18 in stumps leave about 0.3 cubic yards of loose grindings at standard depth and about 0.4 at deep grinding. You can use the chips as mulch or have them hauled away at $30 per stump, which adds $90. Backfilling the holes with topsoil and seed is $35 per stump, or $105. With roots, chip removal and backfill all switched on, the default job comes to $558.

Grinding is the usual choice when you want the stump gone from sight without digging up the yard. A machine cuts the wood below the surface and leaves chips behind. The roots and the lower part of the stump stay in the ground, where they break down over time.

Full stump removal pulls out the stump and the main roots, typically with an excavator, and leaves a large hole to fill. It can make sense when you must put in a foundation or pool. This calculator prices grinding only, so ask for a separate quote for removal.

Before any grinding or digging, call 811 or visit call811.com to have buried utility lines marked. The service is free. Do this even when the stump looks easy to reach, and tell the crew where the marks are.