This guide is designed to give you an accurate price on what you can expect to be charged for stump removal in your city.
The average cost of tree stump removal is $ $225 but can cost anywhere from $75 and $450 for a single stump, depending on its size and location on your property.
Below is a list of prices but stump sizes for your preference.
If you are, in fact, after a price on whole tree removal, including the stump, you will need to see our guide on tree removal costs.
There are 2 main categories of stumps, palm stumps which are very soft and very easy to remove and everything else. Hardwood stumps are everything else.
| Stump size | Palm stumps | Hardwood stumps |
|---|---|---|
| 15 – 25cm | $40 | $60 |
| 25 – 40cm | $80 | $120 |
| 45 – 60cm | $120 | $200 |
| 65 – 80cm | $175 | $300 |
| 85 – 120cm | $250 | $400 |
Why are Palm stumps cheaper?
Palm trees are monocot plants, meaning they do not form hard woody tissue like regular dicot trees. This allows them to be more flexible and perfect for tropical environments with lots of wind.
They are very soft and quite easy and quick to remove. You can expect to pay a lot less for palm tree stump removal due to the time taken to remove the stump being halved.
Underground hazards to be aware of
Before you get someone in to remove your tree stump, you need to know where certain services run to your home, such as gas, water, and fiber optic cables.
If a tree services company damages an underground service when grinding out your stump, they do not assume responsibility as it is up to the owner to make them aware of where all services are located.
You can easily find this information by calling 1100 dial before you dig in Australia. There you can get very accurate information about potential hazards that lie below the surface.
Tree root removal
First and foremost, stump removal does not generally include the removal of all the roots. Normal practice for stump removal is to use a stump grinding machine to grind the stump 20 – 30 cm below the surface of the ground, then just cover it over. The remaining roots will naturally decompose in time.
There are a couple of exceptions to this though, surface root removal or full root ball extraction for building purposes.
Surface root removal
These are roots that are protruding above the ground level running away from the trunk of the tree. They are very common in some types of trees such as Liquidambar. These roots cannot be removed unless you plan on removing the whole tree and its stump.
When removing the tree stump the operator will also grind the exposed roots below the surface.
Hide exposed roots
If you did want to keep the tree and didn’t want to have exposed roots above the surface of your lawn, then there are 2 options;
Hide option A: Build up the lawn level.
You can slowly build up the level of the law over 2 or 3 seasons and bury the tree roots to the proper depth so they are not visible. Spread a thin layer of 3 – 4cm of topsoil on the affected areas. If you do this in spring, within a couple of months the grass would have grown through and you will be 1 step closer to hiding the exposed roots. Repeat this as many times as necessary to completely hide the roots.
You can also do it in 1 go and just plant new grass seeds or lay the turf.
Hide option B.
Build a garden around the base of the tree. This second option is another quick fix and looks really good. Be careful not to build too much dirt up around the base of the tree (no more than 10cm) or you will do more harm than good.
Full root ball extraction
This would only be needed if you need to build something in the place of the tree, for example, a fence or the foundations of a building, a pool, etc. In most cases, you will need a small excavator to dig the root ball out. Stump grinding machines are not designed to go any deeper than about 1 foot below the surface.
If you are building something, chances are your builder will be using an excavator to dig footings they will remove the stump before they begin.
DIY Stump removal hacks
Hack #1 – Hire a stump grinder and do the job yourself.
Stump grinders are freely available to hire from your local hire center and cost about half of what it would cost you to get someone in to do the job.
Hack #2 – Dig the stump out
I only recommend this if the stump diameter is small than 15cm. Anything bigger and you are taking on quite a large job. In that case, you are best using another hack.
Hack #3 – Burn the stump
You will need to find out first if it is legal where you are and I only suggest doing it in the winter months. This will also only work if the stump is dead and has been dead for at least 2 years. Green timber does not burn.
Author: Ben McInerney is a qualified arborist with over 15 years of industry experience. He uses his in-depth knowledge of the tree service industry to give readers to most accurate information on tree service costs and helps to educate them about the benefits of using a certified arborist for tree trimming and removal work.
