The short answer
Most tree services quote stump grinding at $2 to $7 per inch of diameter, with a minimum charge of $100 to $200 for the first stump. Hardwoods sit at the top of that range and softwoods at the bottom. A single 24-inch stump usually costs $125 to $200. A yard with ten stumps averaging 18 inches runs about $550 to $1,000.
Stump grinding price chart
Diameter is measured across the widest part of the cut face at ground level. Every price below has a $125 minimum applied, which is why small stumps cost the same whatever the rate.
| Diameter | $3 per inch | $5 per inch | $7 per inch |
|---|---|---|---|
| 12" | $125 | $125 | $125 |
| 18" | $125 | $125 | $126 |
| 24" | $125 | $125 | $168 |
| 30" | $125 | $150 | $210 |
| 36" | $125 | $180 | $252 |
| 48" | $144 | $240 | $336 |
What moves the price
- Wood. Oak, hickory and maple grind slower than pine.
- Depth. Four to six inches below grade is standard. Twelve inches or more, for replanting or paving, takes longer.
- Roots and rock. Surface roots add grinding; rocky soil wears teeth fast.
- Access. Most walk-behind grinders fit through a 36-inch gate. A tight backyard rules out the bigger, faster machines.
- Cleanup and restoration. Hauling the chips, backfilling with topsoil and seeding are extras, usually quoted separately.
- Utilities. Gas and electric lines near the stump need a locate call before anyone grinds.
Setting your own per-inch rate
If you own the grinder, the market range only tells you what customers expect to hear. Your floor comes from what an hour of grinding costs you and how many inches you grind in that hour.
| Grinder ownership and fuel | $45.00 / hr |
| Teeth, averaged over normal soil | $8.00 / hr |
| Operator, loaded wage | $38.00 / hr |
| Truck and trailer | $20.00 / hr |
| Overhead | $20.00 / hr |
| Cost per hour | $131.00 |
|---|---|
| At 60 inches an hour, including moving between stumps | $2.18 per inch |
| Price at 30% margin (÷ 0.70) | $3.12 per inch |
That rate covers the grinding. It does not cover getting there. Loading, the drive and setup take about half an hour on a typical job, which is $65.50 at this cost, and that is what the minimum charge is for.
Grinding speed is the number that makes or breaks the rate. Sixty inches an hour is a working assumption for a mid-size grinder in mixed soil. Time your own jobs for a month and use the real figure. The stump grinding calculator does this math with depth, soil and root adjustments.
Pricing several stumps
Once the machine is off the trailer, each extra stump costs only its grinding time. That is why many services charge the minimum for the first stump and $40 to $75 for each additional one, or price every stump per inch with one minimum for the job. Ten stumps averaging 18 inches is 180 inches: three hours of grinding at 60 inches an hour, $393 of cost plus $65.50 to get there, and $655 at a 30% margin. That works out to about $3.64 an inch across the job.
Common questions
Is stump grinding the same as stump removal?
No. Grinding chews the stump down below the surface and leaves the roots to rot. Removal digs out the root ball, takes far longer, leaves a large hole, and usually costs several times as much.
Why is the minimum so high for one small stump?
Because most of the cost of a small job is loading the machine, driving and setting up, not grinding. A 12-inch stump takes minutes; getting there takes the same half hour as a big one.
