Removal: national figures
Thumbtack's guide to the cost of removing a tree, updated March 24, 2026, gives a national range of $450 to $1,450 to cut down one tree, with a low end of $373 to $432 and a high end of $2,500 to $3,300. Taking out the stump too raises the usual range to $884 to $1,627. It prices by trunk diameter and canopy width rather than height:
| Trunk diameter | Canopy under 30 ft | Canopy over 30 ft |
|---|---|---|
| Under 12 inches | $226–$596 | $359–$946 |
| 12 to 24 inches | $517–$1,364 | $808–$2,132 |
| 24 to 36 inches | $976–$2,573 | $1,562–$4,117 |
Trimming: national figures
Thumbtack's separate trimming guide, updated October 23, 2026, gives $402 to $1,158 as the national average range, with a low-end average of $186 and a high-end average of $2,456. By height it runs from $474 to $848 for a 5- to 10-foot tree up to $1,126 to $1,957 for a tree over 40 feet. The full table is on tree trimming.
Stump grinding: national figures
Grinding alone, after the tree is down, runs $267 to $354 for a stump under 12 inches, $324 to $443 for 12 to 24 inches, $355 to $486 for 24 to 36 inches, and $372 to $494 for 36 to 48 inches, in the same March 2026 Thumbtack guide. More on stump grinding.
Worked example: a large laurel oak behind the house
Say the tree is a laurel oak with a trunk about 20 inches across at chest height and a canopy about 35 feet wide, and you want the stump ground.
- Removal, 12- to 24-inch trunk, canopy over 30 feet: $808 to $2,132.
- Stump grinding, 12 to 24 inches: $324 to $443.
- Together, by the national tiers: $1,132 to $2,575.
That doesn't include the city permit fee or a replacement tree if the lot owes one, and it assumes ordinary access. A trunk over a pool cage that has to come down in lowered pieces will sit toward the top of the range or beyond it. The 20-inch trunk is also above the city's 18-inch specimen line for oaks, so one replacement shade tree would be owed on a developed lot.
What moves a Palm Coast quote
| Factor | Why it matters here |
|---|---|
| Trunk and canopy | Thumbtack's tiers more than double from the small to the large trunk sizes |
| What's below | Roofs, pool cages, fences, seawalls and lines mean pieces are lowered on ropes instead of dropped |
| Access | A fenced backyard or a lot backing onto a canal limits where a truck, lift or loader can reach |
| Hauling | The city's yard-waste notice says tree trimmers must haul away the waste they create |
| The stump | Ground at the same visit or left; grinding is priced by diameter |
| Permit | Most trees need a city permit; ask Building Services at (386) 986-3780 for the fee |
| Replacement tree | Owed if the lot drops below its tree minimum, or for a specimen or historic tree |
| Storm damage | A tree on a roof or tangled in a fence is slower, riskier work than a standing tree |
| Number of trees | Several trees in one visit spread the cost of getting a crew and equipment there |
When insurance pays part of it
The Insurance Information Institute said in 2010 that when a covered peril such as wind knocks a tree onto an insured structure, standard policies cover the damage to the structure and generally pay for removal up to around $500 to $1,000, depending on the insurer and the policy. A tree that falls in the yard without hitting anything is usually not covered. Read your policy and talk to your agent; see storm and emergency removal.
What the written quote should list
- Which trees, by location and kind, and the trunk size of each.
- The method: felled whole, taken down in sections, or lifted.
- Whether the stump is ground, and how deep.
- What leaves the property and what stays: brush, logs, chips.
- Who applies for the city permit, and whether its fee is included.
- Protection for the lawn, irrigation, driveway and anything under the tree.
- The total price, the deposit if any, and when the balance is due.
Questions homeowners ask
Why is there no Palm Coast price on this page?
No local contractor's prices were collected for this site, and the city's tree permit records don't show job values. National figures give a starting range; the contractor's written quote is the local number.
Is a big tree always more expensive?
Usually, but what's under it can matter as much. A large tree with open lawn on every side can cost less than a smaller one leaning over a pool cage.
Does the price include the permit?
Only if the quote says so. Ask who applies and who pays the city's fee.
Can I save money by keeping the logs?
Sometimes. Hauling is part of the job's cost. Ask for the price both ways.
This site passes your request to one independent local contractor. It does no tree work itself.
- Thumbtack, cost to remove a tree, updated March 24, 2026; tree trimming cost guide, updated October 23, 2026.
- City of Palm Coast Unified Land Development Code Chapter 11 and landscape requirements summary; yard debris notice, September 27, 2024; permit search, type TR.
- Insurance Information Institute, guidance on insurance for fallen trees (2010).