Tree removal is a job most homeowners do rarely, often under time pressure (storm damage, a dead or leaning tree), with wide swings in pricing between contractors and no easy way to sanity-check a bid. TreeRemovalCalculator exists to answer one question first: roughly what should this cost, given my tree?
Cost is built from four inputs — tree height, trunk diameter, species, and site accessibility — plus an optional stump grinding add-on. The base rate (roughly $9.50-$14.50 per foot of height) is calibrated directly against Angi's published 2026 height-bucket figures; species and accessibility multipliers are cross-referenced from Angi, HomeGuide, and LawnLove's 2026 cost breakdowns by wood density and site access. A flat crane-fee surcharge applies above 80 feet, where a crane typically becomes necessary. The same numbers power both the calculator and the worked examples on the cost pages, so they never disagree with each other.
It's not a quote. No calculator has seen your tree's exact lean, its condition, or the specific hazards on your property (fences, roofs, wires, slope, other landscaping) — all of which move the real number. Use this to walk into a contractor conversation with a realistic range in hand, not to skip getting an actual on-site bid from a licensed, insured tree service.
We're building a network of local, insured tree removal contractors — homeowners who request quotes get connected to pros in their area when one is available, and that referral relationship is how this stays free to use. It never changes the numbers the calculator shows you.