How much does tree removal cost in Virginia?

What sets the price

Every company prices differently, but the same few things move the number up or down.

Size and condition. A taller tree with a thicker trunk means more cutting, more rigging and more wood to handle. A dead or decayed tree can be harder to climb and harder to predict, which usually adds time.

What it could hit. A tree in an open yard can sometimes be dropped in one piece. A tree leaning over a roof, a deck, a fence or a neighbor's garage has to come down in small pieces lowered on ropes, sometimes with a crane. That is slower, needs more crew and costs more.

Access. Whether a bucket truck, crane or chipper can get close matters a great deal. A backyard tree behind a house with a narrow gate may have to be carried out by hand.

Power lines. Virginia's Overhead High Voltage Line Safety Act says no one working in a trade may bring people or equipment within 10 feet of an overhead high voltage line.^[3][2] To work closer, the line's owner or operator has to be notified and safety arrangements agreed and completed first.^[4] That can mean waiting for the utility, and sometimes a bill: On residential property, the cost of those arrangements passed to the person responsible for the work is limited to actual expenses above $1,000.^[4] The same section says the utility has to provide an estimate of the scope and cost of the safety arrangements when asked,^[4] so ask before you sign anything.

Storm work. A tree already broken, hung up in another tree or resting on a roof is under tension and harder to take apart safely. Emergency calls after a storm often cost more, and crews are busiest then.

How many trees. Several trees on one visit can cost less per tree than separate trips, because the truck, crew and chipper are already there.

The stump and the wood

Two parts of the job are often priced separately, so read the quote line by line.

The stump. A basic removal usually leaves the stump at ground level. Grinding it is extra at many companies. Grinding breaks ground, and Virginia 811 names removing stumps among the jobs that need a utility-marking request at least 3 working days ahead, and the marking is free.^[5] In Virginia's contractor regulations, the landscape service contracting specialty is the one that "may remove stumps and roots below grade."^[10]

The wood. Hauling logs away takes time and a truck, and some companies charge for it. If you heat with wood or know someone who does, the Tree Owner's Manual suggests you have the arborist cut the wood and leave it in moveable chunks for firewood.^[1] Chips are worth keeping too: the Virginia Department of Forestry notes that arborist wood chips fresh off the truck are one of the best mulches.^[9]

What homeowners insurance covers

Insurance helps in narrower cases than most people expect. Virginia's Bureau of Insurance explains that the coverage on trees, shrubs and plants is provided only against certain perils, and that "damage to greenery caused by windstorm or ice is not usually covered".^[6] What the policy pays for trees, shrubs and plants is "usually limited to 5% of the policy limit on your dwelling with a $500 maximum per item."^[6]

Debris removal is the more useful part. The same guide says "your policy will also pay to remove fallen trees that cause damage to your covered property."^[6] That money sits inside your policy limit, and "If the loss exceeds your policy limit, the policy will pay an additional 5% for debris removal."^[6] If a tree has hit your house, call your insurer, take photos, and ask how the removal should be handled before the crew starts. Your own policy decides what is paid.

Getting quotes you can compare

The Board for Contractors' consumer guide advises getting "at least three written bids or estimates using identical plans and specifications".^[7] For a tree, "identical" means every company prices the same thing: the same tree or trees, the same treatment of the stump, and the same plan for wood and chips.

Ask each company to put in writing when the work will start and finish, who is responsible for clean-up, and the hourly rate for additional work.^[1] Ask for certificates of insurance too. The Tree Owner's Manual recommends general liability insurance of at least $1 million per occurrence and $2 million aggregate, and worker's compensation insurance of $1 million.^[1] A low bid from an uninsured crew is not a saving: "If an arborist is uninsured, homeowners could be held responsible for damages and injuries that occur as a result of the tree work."^[1] The manual's last two points: do not automatically accept the lowest bid, and never pay in advance.^[1]

Ways to spend less

• Make sure it has to go. A tree with one bad limb may need pruning, not removal. The Virginia Department of Forestry's advice before removing a tree is simple: "Get a checkup for your trees by an ISA-certified arborist."^[8] How to tell if a tree is dead or dangerous lists the warning signs.
• Act before it fails. A planned removal is usually easier to schedule and price than an emergency call after the tree has come down on something.
• Keep the wood and chips if you can use them, and ask what that takes off the price.
• Bundle jobs. Pruning, removal and stump grinding on one visit can cost less than three trips.

When to call a licensed pro

Tree removal is pro-only on Loclis. The cost of a mistake with a chainsaw near a house or a wire is far higher than any quote. Hire a company that carries insurance, ideally with an ISA Certified Arborist, and look up any contractor licence it gives you. Do tree removal companies need a licence in Virginia? explains what the state licenses, and what happens when a tree service removes a tree walks through the job itself.

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Describe the tree once and local tree services send written quotes you can compare.