How Much Does Tree Removal Cost in Hampstead, NC?
Most removals cost between $1,500–$3,500, with a $800 minimum on any removal and stump grinding from $200. These are my real numbers, not a national average — the same tree can come in at two different prices and the section below explains exactly why.
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What does tree removal cost, by size of job?
$800 is the floor and $1,500–$3,500 covers most of what I do. Past that, the bands below are about how hard the tree is to get at, not only how big it is.
| Job | Price | What that covers |
|---|---|---|
| Minimum | $800 | Smallest job we will roll a crew for. |
| Most removals | $1,500–$3,500 | — |
| Large removals | $3,500–$6,000 | — |
| Next to the house | $6,000–$8,000 | — |
| Emergency | $6,000–$15,000+ | — |
The emergency band is a different job from the rest — here is what changes when the tree is already down.
What does it cost to take down a pine?
Between $1,500–$2,500 for a small one and $10,000+ for a tall one standing over the roof. Pines are most of the big removals around here, so these are the four sizes I get asked about by name.
| Job | Price | What that covers |
|---|---|---|
| Small pine | $1,500–$2,500 | 12–18 in diameter, 30–45 ft tall. |
| 70–80 ft pine, open yard | $3,000–$4,000 | 28–32 in diameter, room to work. |
| ~90 ft pine, some room to work | about $6,000 | 36–38 in diameter, stump grinding included. |
| 90–100 ft pine over the house, obstacles | $10,000+ | — |
Why a tree over the roof costs what it does · What access through a 36-inch gate changes.
Why can the same tree be two different prices?
Four things, and height is only one of them. Two identical pines a street apart can genuinely differ by thousands of dollars.
- Access. Whether a machine can get to the trunk. A tree I can set a lift beside is a different job from one at the back of a fenced yard that everything has to be carried into. My equipment fits a 36-inch gate, which solves a lot of these, but a gate that does not open at all still means hand-carrying every piece.
- What is underneath it. Open grass means we can drop sections and clean up after. A roof, a fence, a septic lid, a pool or a shed means every piece has to be roped down slowly under control.
- Power lines. A line running through the canopy changes the order of the whole job and sometimes means waiting on the utility before we can start.
- Diameter, not just height. Trunk thickness is what actually sets the weight of each section and how long the cutting takes. A 36-inch trunk is a much bigger day than a 28-inch trunk of the same height, which is why the pine table above lists diameter next to the height.
This is also why I will not price a tree off a phone description alone if I can help it. Looking at it is free.
How much does stump grinding cost?
$7 per inch of diameter, with a $200 minimum, and I grind up to 12 inches below grade so the spot can be filled and seeded. If the removal is mine, the grinding happens on the same visit with the same crew.
Work out your own stump price, and what happens to the grindings.
How much does tree trimming cost?
Trimming starts at $400 where the work can be reached from the ground or on rope, and at $800 where the lift has to come out. Hauling the lift and setting it is most of a day before anybody cuts a limb, which is why that one thing moves the price more than the tree does.
| Job | Price | What that covers |
|---|---|---|
| Trimming, no lift needed | From $400 | Reached from the ground or on rope. |
| Trimming that needs the lift | From $800 | The lift has to be hauled out, set up and worked from. |
What I actually cut, and what the yard looks like afterwards.
How much does storm cleanup cost?
Storm cleanup is priced like any other job, with a $800 minimum. If all you need is the debris loaded and taken away — my dump trailer and a skid steer or tractor — that first $800 covers two dump loads locally, or one load from the outskirts of the service area.
Do you give discounts?
Yes — for seniors, military, more than one stump at the same address, and contractors and tree companies with ongoing work. Tell me which one applies when you call and I'll work it into the estimate.
Price questions I get asked
- Most removals cost between $1,500–$3,500, with a $800 minimum on any removal. Large trees run $3,500–$6,000, trees next to the house $6,000–$8,000, and storm emergencies $6,000–$15,000+.
- A 70 to 80 foot pine in an open yard runs $3,000–$4,000, and a 90 footer with some room to work is about $6,000 with the stump ground. A smaller one, 30 to 45 feet, is $1,500–$2,500.
- Access, almost always. The same pine takes longer when the lift can't get near it, when it's over a roof or a fence or a power line, and when the trunk is thicker than it looks from the ground. There's no separate access charge for that — it's the same price list, just further along it.
- $7 per inch of diameter, with a $200 minimum, and I grind up to 12 inches below grade. If you've got several stumps at the same address, tell me when you call — there's a better rate for more than one.
- Yes, I'm fully insured, and I'll give you a free estimate before any work starts.
- Yes — seniors, military, more than one stump at the same address, and special rates for contractors and tree companies with steady work. Ask when you call and I'll tell you where you land.
Want a real number for your tree?
The estimate is free and I can usually get out pretty quick. Or read how a removal actually runs first.