Stump grinding is usually the last line item on a tree job, and it is priced on its own logic - mostly by the stump’s diameter, sometimes by the inch, the hour, or the day. The national cost guides put a single stump somewhere in the low hundreds, with extra-large stumps and add-on fees moving the total from there. If you are pricing the whole tree, not just the stump, start with our tree removal cost guide; this page zooms in on the grind.
Every figure below is quoted from a named published guide so you can size up a quote before the grinder shows up.
Pricing note - reviewed August 7, 2026: Every figure on this page is quoted from a named published cost guide, each opened on August 7, 2026. These are national published ranges, not local quotes or Arbor Compass averages - stump work is priced job by job, and prices vary by market. Confirm the itemized total on site with a licensed, insured company.
How Much Does Stump Grinding Cost?
For a single stump, the guides cluster fairly tightly. Angi lists a normal range of $120 to $400 with a standard job at $250, and notes large-diameter stumps can push the total to $1,600, with a low end of $30. HomeGuide lists the same $120 to $400 for one stump, with extra-large stumps at $300 to $800 each. HomeAdvisor lists grinding at $120 to $500. Fixr puts the general figure at $100 to $500 per stump, or a flat rate of $100 to $400.
The reason a single service spans $30 to $1,600 is that “a stump” ranges from a 6-inch sapling remnant to a 3-foot hardwood base, and the guides bill accordingly. The two main pricing methods below - by diameter and by the inch - explain most of that spread.
Stump Grinding Cost by Diameter
Diameter is the primary driver, because a wider stump means more wood to chew through and more time on the machine. Angi and HomeGuide both publish diameter tables, though they measure different bands: Angi runs from 6 to 24 inches, and HomeGuide runs from 12 to 72 inches, reaching much larger stumps.
Angi lists a 6-inch stump at $118 to $130, a 12-inch at $124 to $160, an 18-inch at $136 to $190, and a 24-inch at $148 to $220. HomeGuide starts lower for small stumps and climbs higher for big ones.
Published guide figures by diameter
| Diameter | Angi | HomeGuide |
|---|---|---|
| 6 in | $118-$130 | not listed |
| 12 in | $124-$160 | up to 12 in: $30-$70 |
| 18 in | $136-$190 | not listed |
| 24 in | $148-$220 | $50-$150 |
| 36 in | not listed | $70-$220 |
| 48 in | not listed | $100-$290 |
| 60 in | not listed | $120-$360 |
| 72 in | not listed | $150-$430 |
Angi and HomeGuide bracket the stump differently - Angi starts at a 6-inch stump ($118 to $130) and tops out at 24 inches, while HomeGuide’s table begins at “up to 12 inches” and runs all the way to 72 inches. Read the two columns as separate scales rather than one merged ladder.
Per-Inch, Hourly, and Daily Rates
When a job is not priced per stump, it is usually priced per diameter inch. Angi lists $2 to $5 per diameter inch, with most contractors charging a minimum fee of $100. HomeGuide lists $2 to $6 per inch, or $100 to $200 hourly, with minimum fees of $80 to $160, and up to $800 to $1,600 for a full day. Fixr lists $100 to $150 per hour.
The minimum fee is the one to watch on a small stump: at $2 to $6 per inch, a 10-inch stump pencils out below the $80 to $160 floor most guides cite, so you pay the minimum, not the per-inch math.
Additional Stumps
The first stump carries the setup and travel; each one after it is cheaper because the machine is already on site. Angi lists additional stumps at about $40 to $75 each, and HomeGuide lists $30 to $60 per additional stump. If you have a row of stumps to clear, ask for the per-additional price rather than multiplying the single-stump figure - that is where the volume saving lives. On a large day of grinding, HomeGuide’s full-day figure of $800 to $1,600 can come out cheaper per stump than paying a first-stump rate over and over.
What Goes Into a Stump Quote
The diameter tables are the starting point, but a real quote adds a few things the raw inch count does not capture. Knowing them helps you read why two bids on the same stump differ.
- Diameter and root spread. Wider stumps take longer, and a broad root flare above grade adds to the grind. This is why the per-inch method ($2 to $6, per HomeGuide) and the minimum fee ($80 to $160) both exist - the inch count sets the price until the job is small enough that the floor takes over.
- Access. A stump a machine can roll straight up to grinds faster than one behind a gate or on a slope. Tight access is a common reason a quote lands above the table figure.
- Number of stumps. The first stump ($120 to $400 on Angi and HomeGuide) carries the setup; each additional one is cheaper, at $40 to $75 on Angi and $30 to $60 on HomeGuide.
- What happens to the grindings. Grinding produces a pile of mulch and chips. Ask whether hauling that away is included or a separate line, the same way debris is priced on a full removal.
- Permits. Where a permit is required, HomeGuide lists tree removal permits at $75 to $450, and notes they typically include stump grinding - so the stump may already be covered by the removal permit rather than a separate fee.
Stump grinding is also frequently the tail end of a removal rather than a standalone visit. Thumbtack’s figure for a tree and stump together ($1,072) runs above its removal-only average ($985), which is roughly the cost of the grind folded into the same trip. If you are having a tree taken out anyway, ask for the stump to be priced as part of that job.
Grinding vs. Removal
Grinding and full removal are two different jobs at two different prices. Grinding chews the stump down to mulch below grade and leaves the root system in the ground; full removal pulls the entire stump and roots out.
HomeAdvisor draws the line cleanly: pulling the stump out completely runs $100 to $150, while stump grinding mulches it for $120 to $500. Grinding is the more common service on the guides, and it is what the diameter tables above describe. Full extraction is a bigger dig, and a company will scope which one your site needs in person. Whichever you choose, our stump grinding services page lists crews that handle it, and the full directory covers your area.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much does it cost to grind one stump?
The guides put a single stump in the low hundreds. Angi lists a normal range of $120 to $400 with a standard job at $250, HomeGuide lists $120 to $400 for one stump, and Fixr lists $100 to $500. Extra-large stumps run higher - HomeGuide lists $300 to $800 each, and Angi notes large-diameter stumps can reach $1,600.
How is stump grinding priced - by the inch or by the stump?
Both methods appear in the guides. Per stump, Angi and HomeGuide list $120 to $400. Per inch, Angi lists $2 to $5 per diameter inch and HomeGuide lists $2 to $6, with minimum fees of $80 to $160. HomeGuide also lists hourly work at $100 to $200 and full days up to $800 to $1,600. Ask which method a quote uses before you compare.
How much does it cost to grind multiple stumps?
Less per stump than doing one. Angi lists additional stumps at $40 to $75 each and HomeGuide at $30 to $60 per additional stump, on top of the first stump’s $120 to $400. The first one carries the setup; the rest ride along cheaper.
Is grinding cheaper than pulling the stump out?
They are different jobs. HomeAdvisor lists stump pull-out at $100 to $150 and grinding at $120 to $500. Grinding leaves the roots and mulches the stump to below grade, while removal extracts the whole thing. A company will tell you in person which one your site calls for.
Find stump grinding near you
Compare top-rated companies offering stump grinding in Houston, Denver, Atlanta, Dallas and Charlotte.
Browse stump grinding companies →
Service scope and rates vary by company and city - confirm the details with a written estimate directly from the company.
