Tree removal pricing depends on more than just height — access, condition, and what's around the tree all factor in. Here's a realistic breakdown for St. Louis homeowners.
Average cost by tree size
- Small trees (under 30 ft): roughly $250–$600. Think ornamental trees or young trees that haven't fully matured.
- Medium trees (30–60 ft): roughly $600–$1,500. This covers most mature shade trees in a typical yard.
- Large trees (60+ ft): roughly $1,500–$3,000+. Large oaks, sycamores, and similar mature trees fall in this range, especially if they're heavily branched.
What affects the price beyond height
- Access. A tree in an open front yard is far cheaper to remove than one wedged between a house and a fence, where everything has to come down in sections by hand or crane.
- Condition. Dead, diseased, or storm-damaged trees are often more dangerous to remove and require extra care, which can add cost.
- Proximity to structures. Trees near a house, garage, power lines, or a neighbor's property need to be taken down in carefully controlled sections rather than felled in one piece.
- Stump removal. Grinding a stump down is usually a separate line item, typically $100–$400 depending on diameter.
- Debris hauling. Whether wood and branches are hauled away or left for you to deal with affects the total price.
Emergency vs. planned removal
A tree that's already fallen or is actively threatening a structure after a storm typically costs more than a planned removal, both because of the urgency and the added complexity of removing a tree that's already partially down or leaning on something. If you're seeing warning signs early — leaning, dead limbs, fungus at the base — scheduling removal before it becomes an emergency is almost always the cheaper and safer route.
Getting an accurate quote
Because access and condition vary so much tree to tree, we always do a free on-site assessment before quoting — photos alone often don't tell the full story of what a crew will be working with.
Have a tree that needs a look? Request a free assessment and we'll give you a straight answer.