Stump Grinding Cost: $120–$400 per Stump (Average $250) in 2026
Author: CostGuideHQ Editorial·✓ Fact-checked·Updated July 2026·5 min read·4 sources Quick answerQuick answer: Stump grinding typically costs $120 to $400 per stump, averaging about $250 nationally (Angi, HomeGuide). Pricing usually runs $2 to $6 per inch of stump diameter, with an $80 to $160 minimum service fee. At the extreme high end, large or hard-to-grind stumps can push costs toward $600 to $1,600.
- ✓The national average cost for stump grinding is about $250 per stump, with typical jobs running $120 to $400 (Angi, HomeGuide).
- ✓Stump grinding costs $2 to $6 per inch of diameter (HomeGuide, Fixr, Angi), and most companies charge a minimum service fee of $80 to $160 (HomeGuide).
- ✓Grinding additional stumps on the same visit costs less — often $30 to $75 each versus $80 to $150 for the first stump (Fixr, Angi).
- ✓At the extreme high end, sources' highest-reported figures for large or hard-to-grind stumps top out around $600 to $1,600 (Fixr, Angi).
How much does stump grinding cost?
National average
$250
per stump
Typical range
$120–$400
Most projects
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Cost by material / type
| Type | Low | High |
|---|
| up to 12" diameter | $30 | $70 |
| 24" diameter | $50 | $150 |
| 36" diameter | $70 | $220 |
| 48" diameter | $100 | $290 |
| 60" diameter | $120 | $360 |
| 72" diameter | $150 | $430 |
What affects the cost?
- Stump diameter, measured at ground level (drives per-inch pricing)
- Wood type/hardness — hardwood species like oak, walnut, and maple cost more to grind than softwoods (Angi)
- Number of stumps — additional stumps ground in the same visit cost far less per unit than the first (Fixr, Angi, HomeGuide)
- Minimum service/callout fee, typically $80-$160, that applies regardless of stump size (HomeGuide; Fixr and Angi cite a similar ~$100 minimum)
- Grinding depth — standard service grinds 4"-6" below grade; full removal down to 18" for replanting costs more (HomeGuide)
- Accessibility — stumps near foundations, fences, or on sloped/rocky terrain raise labor costs (Angi, HomeGuide)
- Debris and grindings cleanup/haul-away, often billed separately at $2-$4 per inch or as a flat hauling fee (HomeGuide, Thumbtack)
- Tree removal permits, where required, typically $75-$450 (HomeGuide)
- Regional labor rates and local demand (Angi)
Why does stump grinding cost so much?
The price mainly tracks the stump’s diameter and the minimum callout fee contractors charge to show up. Most homeowners pay $120 to $400 to grind a single stump, averaging around $250 nationally (Angi, HomeGuide). Underneath that headline number, pricing usually breaks down two ways: a flat minimum service fee of $80 to $160 that covers the crew’s travel and setup (HomeGuide), or a per-inch rate of $2 to $6 based on the stump’s diameter at ground level (HomeGuide, Angi, Fixr). A small stump under 12 inches across can cost as little as $30 to $75 (HomeGuide, Fixr), while at the extreme high end, large or hard-to-grind stumps can run $600 to $1,600 (Fixr, Angi). Some sources, like Thumbtack, quote noticeably higher fixed prices ($307 to $426 typical) because their figures already fold in the minimum fee, travel, and debris hauling rather than pricing grinding alone.
What affects the cost?
- Stump diameter. This is the main driver of both per-inch pricing and total job time — the wider the stump, the more wood a grinder has to chew through (HomeGuide, Angi, Fixr).
- Wood type. Hardwoods like oak, walnut, and maple take longer to grind than softwoods and often carry a higher labor charge (Angi).
- Number of stumps. Grinding several stumps in one visit is much cheaper per stump — expect $80 to $150 for the first stump and $30 to $75 for each additional one (Fixr, Angi, HomeGuide).
- Minimum service fee. Even a small job typically costs at least $80 to $160 just to cover the crew’s travel and equipment setup (HomeGuide).
- Grinding depth. Standard grinding removes the stump 4 to 6 inches below the surface; grinding deeper — closer to 18 inches, needed if you plan to replant — adds cost (HomeGuide).
- Accessibility. Stumps near a foundation, fence, or utility line, or on sloped or rocky ground, take longer and cost more to grind safely (Angi, HomeGuide).
- Cleanup and permits. Hauling away the wood chip debris can add $2 to $4 per inch or a flat $100 to $120 fee if it’s not bundled into the quote, and a tree removal permit, if your area requires one, typically runs $75 to $450 (HomeGuide, Thumbtack).
How to lower your stump grinding cost
- Bundle multiple stumps into one visit. Since the first stump absorbs most of the minimum service fee, adding more stumps to the same job is far cheaper per stump than scheduling separate visits (Angi, Fixr, HomeGuide).
- Skip extra-deep grinding unless you’re replanting. Standard 4-to-6-inch grinding costs less than grinding down to 18 inches, which is only necessary if you want to plant a new tree in the same spot (HomeGuide).
- Ask what’s included before you book. Some quotes bundle cleanup and hauling, while others bill it separately at $2 to $4 per inch — knowing which you’re getting avoids surprise add-ons (HomeGuide, Thumbtack).
- Haul away the chips yourself. If you’re comfortable spreading or bagging the wood chip debris, ask whether skipping the haul-away service lowers your quote.
- Get multiple quotes. Given how much the minimum fee and per-inch rate can vary between contractors, comparing two or three local bids is the most reliable way to find a fair price for your specific stump.
Actual pricing depends on your stump’s size, wood type, and how easy it is for a crew to access. Use the figures above as a planning budget and confirm what’s included, especially cleanup and depth of grind, before booking.
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Frequently asked questions
How much does it cost to grind an average-sized tree stump?+
Most homeowners pay $120 to $400 to grind a single stump, with a national average around $250 (Angi, HomeGuide). Smaller stumps under 12 inches in diameter tend to fall on the low end, around $30 to $75 (HomeGuide, Fixr).
How is stump grinding priced — by the stump or by the inch?+
Contractors typically charge whichever is higher: a per-stump minimum fee of $80 to $160 (HomeGuide), or a per-inch rate of $2 to $6 based on the stump's diameter measured at ground level (HomeGuide, Angi, Fixr).
Does grinding multiple stumps cost less per stump?+
Yes. Most companies charge a base rate of $80 to $150 for the first stump (Fixr, Angi), then $30 to $75 for each additional stump ground during the same visit (Fixr, Angi, HomeGuide).
What makes a stump more expensive to grind?+
Diameter is the biggest factor, but hardwood species like oak, walnut, and maple also cost more than softwoods, as do stumps in hard-to-access spots or ones ground deeper than the standard 4 to 6 inches below grade (Angi, HomeGuide).
Is debris cleanup included in the stump grinding price?+
Not always. Some companies fold cleanup into the labor cost, while others charge separately — Thumbtack reports a hauling add-on of $100 to $120, and HomeGuide cites $2 to $4 per inch for debris removal when it's billed apart from grinding.
Why do some quotes for stump grinding run so much higher than others?+
Fixed-price quotes that already bundle the minimum fee, travel, and cleanup — like Thumbtack's typical $307 to $426 per stump — read higher than bare per-stump or per-inch grinding rates from other sources. Large or hard-to-grind stumps can also push costs toward the extreme high end reported across sources, $600 to $1,600 (Fixr, Angi).
Sources
Figures synthesized and cross-checked across these sources (retrieved 2026-07-24):
- Fixr — National average $200; average range $150-$300; low-end $100, high-end $600. Per inch of diameter: $2 to $5 (18-inch example costs $36-$90). Per stump: $30 to $200 per unit; base rate for first stump $80-$150; additional stumps $40-$75 each. By size: small (up to 12 in) $40-$75; medium $75-$150; large (over 48 in) $150-$250. Hourly rate $150-$200. Many companies have a minimum rate of $100. Labor is about 90% of cost ($180 of $200), machinery/materials about 10% ($20). Root grinding $100-$200/hour; cleanup $2-$3 per inch of stump.
- Thumbtack — Stump grinding costs $307-$426 (fixed price for one stump). Low-end cost range $220-$253; high-end cost range $498-$544. By size: small (under 12 in) $267-$354; medium (12-24 in) $324-$443; large (24-36 in) $355-$486; extra large (36-48 in) $372-$494. Per-inch rate example $4/inch (includes cleanup). Multiple stumps: $150 for one stump, $75 for each additional stump. Hourly rate about $150/hour. Hauling service $100-$120.
- HomeGuide — $120-$400 average cost to grind the first stump; $30-$60 per additional stump; extra-large stumps $300-$800 each. $2-$6 per inch of diameter; $100-$200 per hour; $800-$1,600 per day. Minimum service fees $80-$160. By diameter: up to 12 in $30-$70; 24 in $50-$150; 36 in $70-$220; 48 in $100-$290; 60 in $120-$360; 72 in $150-$430. Debris cleanup/disposal adds $2-$4 per inch. Tree removal permits $75-$450.
- Angi — Normal range for the U.S. $120-$400; average $250; low end $30; high end $1,600. Per diameter inch $2-$5 (up to $7 in pricier areas); minimum fee around $100. By diameter: 6-inch stump $118-$130; 12-inch $124-$160; 18-inch $136-$190; 24-inch $148-$220. Multiple stumps: 1 stump $100-$150; 2 stumps $140-$175; 3 stumps $180-$250; 4 stumps $220-$325; 5 stumps $260-$400; additional stumps roughly $40-$75 each. Debris hauling and permits budget $150-$700.
Angi and HomeGuide independently agree on a $120-$400 typical range with roughly a $250 average, so that pairing anchors the headline figures. Fixr reports a lower national average ($200, typical range $150-$300) with extremes of $100-$600. Thumbtack's figures run notably higher ($307-$426 typical single-stump price, up to $498-$544), which likely reflects an all-in fixed-price quote that already bundles the minimum callout fee, travel, and cleanup rather than a bare per-stump or per-inch grinding rate. The guide's extreme high-end figure ($600-$1,600) is a synthesized range combining Fixr's overall high-end extreme ($600) with Angi's overall high-end extreme ($1,600) — no single source states this exact range, but both endpoints are drawn directly from each source's own reported figures, and both sources separately tie their highest prices to larger, harder-to-grind stumps (wood hardness and access are both sourced cost factors per Angi/HomeGuide). The first-stump base price ($80-$150) synthesizes Fixr's stated first-stump base ($80-$150) and Angi's single-stump price ($100-$150); it excludes HomeGuide's broader $120-$400 'first stump' figure, which duplicates HomeGuide's overall national range rather than describing a distinct first-vs-additional discount structure like Fixr and Angi do. The $80-$160 minimum service fee is HomeGuide's literal figure; Fixr and Angi each mention only a point estimate (~$100 minimum), not a range, so they are not cited for the range itself. Root grinding/removal, full stump excavation, sod/topsoil fill-in, and permits are generally NOT included in the base grinding price and are billed as add-ons.