Tree Removal Costs

To work with tree removal professionals, Lexington property owners spend an average of $400 to $1,200. However, depending on how small or big your tree is, you could spend as low as $200 or as high as $2000, with the typical medium-sized tree having a removal cost of $750. 

The cost of removing a tree changes from tree to tree depending on various factors. In this tree removal cost guide, we will take a deeper look at each of these factors. 

Factors Affecting the Tree Removal Cost in Lexington  

1. Tree Size 

Tree height has a significant effect on the tree removal cost, with most tree removal experts charging $8 – $15 per foot of the tree. This shows that as the height of the tree increases from 30 feet to 100 feet, the tree removal cost changes from between $240 and $450 to between $800 and $1500. 

Taller trees are generally heavier and hence their removal is often handled with more complicated machinery. A 100-foot oak tree will have a bigger risk area compared to a 30-foot California juniper – when removing the oak tree, more planning will be needed to minimize the chances of property damage. 

Basic tree removal involves cutting through the base of the tree.  As the height of a tree increases, its trunk diameter also increases. Taller trees take more time to cut through the trunk – this also contributes to a higher tree removal cost. 

Small Tree Removal Cost 

If your trees are below 30 feet in height and have a trunk diameter of below 15 inches, they will be the most affordable to remove. Professionals can remove small trees in under one hour. Lexington property owners generally pay $150 – $400 to remove their small trees. 

Medium Tree Removal Cost 

These trees have a height of between 30 and 60 feet, with their trunks growing to a diameter of 15 to 19 inches. Compared to the trees in the small category, they often take more time to remove, although most experts can bring the trees down in about 4 to 8 hours. To get rid of a medium-sized tree, you will pay $450 to $750. 

Large Tree Removal Cost 

The trees grow to a height of 60 to 100 feet. They have a trunk diameter of 20 – 24 inches. On average, large tree removal consumes an entire day. However, if the tree is in a complicated situation, the tree removal process might take a couple of days. Removing large trees will set you back $900 to $1,200. 

Very Large Tree Removal Costs 

These trees are not very common in Lexington. They require large planting areas since they grow to heights of above 100 feet, and can even reach 150 feet. The trunk diameter is generally bigger than 25 inches. The trees have the highest tree removal cost, with professionals charging $1,300 to $2000. 

2. Crane-Assisted Removal 

It is not uncommon for property owners in Lexington to have large trees in very risky situations. You could have a 100-foot tree leaning dangerously over your house. To make the removal of such a tree safe, professional may need a crane. 

Since most tree service providers do not own cranes, these have to be rented by the homeowner. To the quoted tree removal cost, tree owners are often required to add some extra money to pay for the crane’s rental cost. 

In Lexington, you can rent a crane for an average of $250 to $700 (including the crane operator cost) per day. Therefore, If you had been charged $1,500 to remove a tree without a crane, you may pay $1750 to $2200 for crane-assisted removal. 

3. Tree Species

Different tree species have varying levels of difficulty when it comes to removal. If you have oak trees on your landscape, tree removal professionals will probably have to deal with a hardwood tree taller than 100 feet. On the other hand, when removing crepe myrtle trees, the work will be much easier since the tree only grows to a height of between 3 and 30 feet and is softwood. 

Oak Tree Removal Cost 

The cost of removing oak trees varies depending on how tall the tree is. If your oak tree has a height of 30 to 60 feet, your tree removal cost will be $200 – $800. If the tree is mature and has a height of 60 to 100 feet, the removal cost may increase to between $800 and $1000. 

Sycamore Tree Removal Cost 

Sycamores are medium-sized trees, generally reaching heights of between 30 and 60 feet. To remove a sycamore tree from your home, you should expect a tree removal cost of $600 to $900. 

Pine Tree Removal Cost 

The regular pine tree will grow to a height of 40 to 80 feet. White pines, however, can reach heights of above 150 feet. Depending on your pine tree’s height, you should expect a tree removal cost of $200 to over $2000. 

Eucalyptus Tree Removal Cost 

Eucalyptus trees are one of the costliest trees to remove. Because of their extremely big size (both height and diameter), the trees have a tree removal cost of between $1,200 and $3000. 

Conifer Tree Removal Cost 

The removal of conifer trees is generally easier compared to other large tree species. This makes the tree much more affordable to get rid of. On average, you should expect to pay $800 to $1,100. 

Maple Tree Removal Cost 

Maple trees mature at heights of above 100 feet. The tree has a complicated removal process and can take days to bring down. In Lexington, property owners spend $1000 to $1700 on the tree’s removal. 

4. Tree Condition 

A wide range of conditions can affect the amount of money you spend on tree removal. In Lexington, however, the common conditions are: 

Cavities and Decays 

If your tree trunk is decaying, this is an indicator that its stability is compromised. Excess forces could make the tree crack and fall unexpectedly. To avoid property damages and injuries, tree removal experts often have to use advanced precautions to maintain the tree’s stability throughout the removal process. 

Weak Branches 

If the branches on your tree feature the risk of detaching and falling unexpectedly, tree pruning may be conducted before tree removal. While this may increase the amount of money you spend on tree removal, it can help you avoid injuries and property damage. 

Significant Lean 

Trees leaning on over buildings and utility lines cost more to get rid of. In most cases, the professional may have to use cranes to keep the trees from falling on these amenities. The cost of renting the crane may increase the overall tree removal cost. 

Fallen Tree Removal Cost 

In most cases, fallen trees are easier to remove – this reduces the overall tree removal cost to about $75 to $150. In some cases, however, the trees are lying on sensitive structures – for these trees, more finesse is needed, which often drives the tree removal cost up. 

Dead Tree Removal Cost 

Since dead trees are lighter than their live counterparts, their removal is generally easier. Depending on how big the tree is, the removal cost sits between $75 and $400. 

5. Accessibility 

Trees that are on open grounds – that is, trees that are not surrounded by important amenities – are cheaper to remove since the only operation needed is cutting through their base. However, trees that are surrounded by important structures need more operations to keep them from falling in the wrong areas and causing destruction – this increases the tree removal cost. 

6. Additional Services 

Some of the services needed after tree removal are not covered by the quoted cost. Tree owners often pay extra money for the following services: 

Tree Chipping 

This procedure involves reducing the tree trunk into small sizes. This facilitates the trunk removal from your home. For tree chipping, you may need to pay $50 to $100. 

Wood Splitting 

If you use firewood in your home, this service could benefit you. To convert the tree trunk into firewood, Lexington tree service providers charge $100. 

Inconvenience Costs 

Lexington property owners are no strangers to having trees in compromised situations. Storms and high winds can destabilize trees, leaving them leaning dangerously over buildings or utility lines. The only way to avoid property damage is to invest in emergency tree removal. 

Since tree removal experts do not get enough time to prepare for the procedure (they are generally needed to respond within the hour), they often require tree owners to pay an inconvenience charge of about 10% of the normal tree removal cost. 

Stump Removal 

To get rid of a single tree stump, you will be charged an average of $100 to $150. However, if your goal is to remove multiple tree stumps, the following charges might apply: 

• Per diameter inch – Each diameter inch will cost you $2 to $3. However, there may be a minimum cost of $100. 
• Per stump – The first tree stump may cost you $150. For each of the remaining tree stumps, you may be charged $50.
• Per hour – When clearing large areas, professionals charge $150 per hour.