After a tree comes down, the stump remains: a trip hazard, a home for insects and an obstacle for mowing or planting. Grinding it below ground is the fastest way to remove it. This calculator estimates the cost and compares it with renting a grinder.
How stump grinding is priced
Many tree services charge by the diameter of the stump at ground level, measured across the widest point including the root flare:
cost = number of stumps × diameter × price per inch, with a minimum charge
Prices commonly range from about $2 to $5 per inch, with a minimum of $75 to $150 for the visit. At $3 per inch, three 24 in stumps cost 3 × 24 × 3 = $216, or $72 each. Expect higher prices for hardwoods, large surface roots, difficult access, rocky soil or stumps near foundations and fences. Some companies offer a discount for additional stumps or price by the hour instead.
Renting a grinder
Equipment rental shops rent walk-behind stump grinders, often for about $150 to $300 a day plus delivery. Renting can pay off when you have many stumps and some experience. Grinders are powerful and dangerous: they throw chips and stones, so wear eye and ear protection, sturdy boots and long sleeves, keep people and pets away, and read the operating instructions.
How deep?
Most grinding goes 6 to 12 in below grade, enough to plant grass or a flower bed. Grinding deeper is needed to plant a new tree in the same spot, though it is usually better to plant a few feet away. Main roots remain underground and decay over the years.
After grinding
Grinding leaves a pile of wood chips mixed with soil, usually more than the stump’s volume. You can use them as mulch elsewhere once they have aged, but avoid working fresh chips into garden soil, as they tie up nitrogen as they decay.
Rake out the chips and fill the hole with topsoil:
fill = π × diameter² ÷ 4 × depth
Three 24 in stumps ground 8 in deep need about 6.3 cu ft of soil. Overfill a little, since it settles, then seed or plant.
Before you start
Call 811 to locate buried utilities, which often run near trees. Removing a stump with chemicals or by burning is slow, and burning is banned in many areas.