Stump Grinding Cost Calculator
Stump grinding typically costs $100–$400 per stump in 2026, with most contractors charging $2–$5 per inch of stump diameter and a minimum service fee around $100. Add each stump below, pick your job options, and compare per-inch quotes against per-stump flat pricing and DIY rental — all computed in your browser, nothing leaves your device.
typical per stump, first stump $2–$5
per inch of diameter $30–$60
each additional stump $100
typical minimum service fee
Your stumps
Measure the widest diameter at ground level, not the cut surface — contractors price the root flare. Include surface roots you want ground too.
Job options
DIY grinder rental
Uses the stumps and job options from the Estimate tab. Rental rates run $150–$400/day at major rental centers; fuel, oil and tooth wear add about $30/day.
Is this quote fair?
Uses the stumps and job options from the Estimate tab. Enter a contractor’s written quote for the grinding work (before or after cleanup — match the cleanup option above to the quote).
How stump grinding is priced
Contractors use three pricing methods. Per inch of diameter is the most common: the rate ($2–$5/inch in 2026 guides) times the stump’s widest ground-level diameter. Per stump flat pricing charges a first-stump premium ($120–$400) with discounted additional stumps ($30–$60 each) because mobilization is a one-time cost. Per hour ($100–$200/hr) shows up on large or commercial jobs. Almost everyone enforces a minimum service fee around $100 per visit — small stumps effectively cost the minimum.
| Stump diameter | Low | Mid | High |
|---|---|---|---|
| 6 in | $15 | $21 | $30 |
| 12 in | $30 | $42 | $60 |
| 18 in | $45 | $63 | $90 |
| 24 in | $60 | $84 | $120 |
| 30 in | $75 | $105 | $150 |
| 36 in | $90 | $126 | $180 |
| 48 in | $140 | $196 | $280 |
| 60 in | $200 | $280 | $400 |
Table: pure per-inch math at $2.50 / $3.50 / $5.00 per inch, easy baseline conditions. Real quotes add the factors below, and the $100 minimum applies per visit — so small stumps cluster at the minimum.
What changes the price
Diameter is the biggest driver, but six more factors move the number:
- Grind depth. Standard 6–8 inches below grade is enough for grass or sod. Going 12+ inches deep — needed to replant a tree in the same spot — takes roughly 35% more machine time.
- Wood type. Dense hardwoods (oak, maple, hickory) grind slower than pine or fir.
- Surface roots. Extra passes over the root flare add a per-stump charge.
- Access. A grinder that must be hand-carried through a narrow gate, up a slope, or around garden beds costs more than one rolled across an open lawn.
- Soil and buried debris. Rocky soil chips the carbide cutting teeth, and crews price that wear in.
- Region. Labor and insurance costs vary — coastal metros run well above the Midwest baseline.
Grind depth
| Option | Price factor |
|---|---|
| Standard (6-8 in deep) (deep enough to replant grass or lay sod) | x1.00 |
| Deep (12+ in deep) (for replanting a new tree; roughly 35% more machine time) | x1.35 |
Wood type
| Option | Price factor |
|---|---|
| Softwood (pine, fir, spruce) (baseline) | x1.00 |
| Hardwood (oak, maple, hickory) (dense wood grinds slower) | x1.15 |
| Not sure (midpoint estimate) | x1.05 |
Site access
| Option | Price factor |
|---|---|
| Easy - open yard, wide gate | x1.00 |
| Moderate - backyard, narrow gate | x1.15 |
| Difficult - slope, garden beds, near structure (hand-carry or crane the machine in) | x1.30 |
Soil
| Option | Price factor |
|---|---|
| Normal soil | x1.00 |
| Rocky soil / buried debris (rock chips the carbide cutting teeth) | x1.15 |
Region
| Option | Price factor |
|---|---|
| Midwest (baseline) | x1.00 |
| Northeast | x1.15 |
| South | x0.95 |
| West | x1.15 |
| Coastal / major metro (urban labor and insurance premiums) | x1.35 |
Cleanup and disposal: leave the chips, haul them, or backfill
Grinding a stump produces a large pile of chips — roughly the volume of the stump plus the root flare. What happens to them is a separate line item:
| Option | Typical cost | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Leave the chips on site | $0 | Free mulch for beds and paths |
| Haul chips away | $2–$4 / inch of diameter | Crew loads and dumps off site |
| Backfill + topsoil + seed | $65–$140 / stump | Hole filled, leveled, seeded |
Leaving the chips is the budget move: aged chips make excellent mulch for beds and paths (fresh chips can rob nitrogen from soil, so keep them out of planting holes for a season). Hauling runs $2–$4 per inch of stump width. Full backfill — hole filled, topped with soil and seeded — runs $65–$140 per stump and leaves a lawn-ready spot.
DIY vs hiring a pro
Walk-behind grinder rentals run $150–$400/day, plus about $30/day in fuel, oil and tooth wear — and your weekend. The math only works with enough stumps: grinding one 18-inch oak stump costs about $100 from a pro versus about $510 DIY for a two-day rental — the pro wins easily. But six stumps (18–36 in) price around $573 professionally versus about $255 for a one-day rental — DIY wins by a wide margin.
DIY reality check: call 811 before you dig or grind deep (buried utilities), wear eye, ear and leg protection, and respect the machine — grinders kick and throw debris. Transport needs a trailer or truck, and dull teeth double your time. If any stump sits near a foundation, septic field or retaining wall, get a pro.
Stump grinding vs full stump removal
Grinding chews the stump to 6–12 inches below grade and leaves the roots to decay naturally — fine for lawns and beds. Full removal excavates the entire root ball with a backhoe or excavator ($200–$1,000+), leaving a large hole to backfill; it is the choice when you need every root gone (near foundations, pipes or new construction). Removing the standing tree itself is a separate job — see our tree removal cost calculator.
Worked examples
Example 1: one 24-inch oak stump, deep grind, Northeast
- Base: 24 in × $3.50/in = $84
- Deep grind (12+ in, for replanting): ×1.35 = $113
- Hardwood: ×1.15 = $130
- Heavy surface roots: +$60 = $190
- Moderate access (×1.15), rocky soil (×1.15), Northeast (×1.15): $290
- Haul chips away: 24 in × $3.00/in × 1.15 region = $83
- Total: $373 (typical range $288–$485)
Example 2: three pine stumps (12, 24 and 36 in), easy yard, Midwest
- Per-inch: $67 + $109 + $151 (few surface roots each) = $327 (range $255–$435)
- Per-stump flat on the same job: first stump $233, extras $83 + $100 = $416 (range $294–$541)
- Takeaway: per-inch wins on small, easy stumps; flat pricing wins when stumps are big or access is hard — always compare both.
7 ways to pay less for stump grinding
- Batch your stumps. The crew mobilizes once — additional stumps on the same visit run $30–$60 each instead of a full first-stump price.
- Leave the chips. Skipping haul-away saves $2–$4 per inch; aged chips are free mulch.
- Choose standard depth unless you are replanting a tree in the exact spot.
- Combine with tree removal. The crew and chipper are already there — ask for a bundled price. (Tree removal cost calculator)
- Book off-season. Late fall and winter demand dips can shave 10–20%.
- Clear the access path yourself — move planters, unlock gates, mark sprinkler heads.
- Get three itemized quotes and run them through the Check-a-quote tab above; anything within about 15% of the mid estimate is a fair price.
Frequently asked questions
How much does stump grinding cost?
How is stump grinding priced: per inch, per stump, or per hour?
What does it cost to grind a 24-inch stump?
Does grinding depth affect the price?
Do surface roots cost extra?
What happens to the wood chips? Is cleanup included?
Is it cheaper to grind several stumps at once?
Should I rent a stump grinder and do it myself?
What is the difference between stump grinding and stump removal?
Will the stump grow back after grinding?
How do I know if a stump grinding quote is fair?
How is this different from the tree removal cost calculator?
Related calculators
Felling the tree and grinding the stump are usually quoted separately — price both before you book.
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