Most stumps in Northeast Ohio cost between $100 and $400 to grind. Small stumps land near the bottom of that range, big oak and maple stumps near the top, and truly large stumps (four feet across and up) can run $500 or more.
That is the short answer. Below is how those numbers actually get calculated, so you can estimate your own stump before you ever pick up the phone. We handle stump work across Geauga and Lake County, and the pricing here reflects what jobs really cost in this area, not a national average from a lead-generation site.
Stump Grinding Price Chart
Prices are per stump, ground 6 to 12 inches below grade, based on the diameter of the stump measured at ground level.
| Stump Diameter | Typical Cost | Common Trees This Size |
|---|---|---|
| Under 15 inches | $100 – $180 | Ornamentals, small pines, young maples |
| 15 – 24 inches | $120 – $250 | Mature pines, cherry, mid-size maples |
| 25 – 36 inches | $150 – $350 | Mature maples, ash, red oak |
| 36 – 48 inches | $250 – $500 | Large oaks, old silver maples |
| 48+ inches | $400 and up | Old-growth oaks, giant cottonwoods |
One thing that surprises people: you measure a stump at its widest point at ground level, including the root flare, not the narrow part of the trunk. A tree that was 20 inches across at chest height often has a 30-inch stump at the dirt. That is the number a grinder operator prices from, because that is the wood the machine has to chew through.
Stump Grinding Cost Calculator
Measure your stump at the widest point at ground level, root flare included, and get a working estimate.
Stump Grinding Estimator
Estimated cost
$120 – $180
Based on typical Northeast Ohio rates of $4 to $7 per inch of diameter, with a minimum service charge. Access, roots, and wood type can move the real quote.
How Stump Grinding Is Actually Priced
Most tree services in our area, ours included, price stump grinding one of two ways.
Per inch of diameter. The going rate in Northeast Ohio is roughly $4 to $7 per inch, measured at the widest point at ground level. A 30-inch maple stump at $5 per inch is $150. This is the most common method because diameter tracks closely with machine time.
Flat rate per stump. For typical residential stumps, many operators just quote a flat number after seeing a photo or the stump itself. The flat number is usually the per-inch math with the risk built in.
Nearly every company also has a minimum service charge, often in the $100 to $200 range. Loading a grinder on a trailer, driving it out, and unloading it costs the same whether the stump is 8 inches or 28 inches, so tiny stumps do not get proportionally tiny prices. This is also why grinding several stumps in one visit is the best value in the business. The trip is already paid for, so each additional stump is cheaper than the first.
What Makes a Stump Cost More (or Less)
- Diameter. The single biggest factor. Double the diameter is far more than double the wood.
- Wood type. Oak, hickory, and elm are dense and slow to grind. Pine and spruce chew fast. Two stumps the same size can take very different machine time.
- Age of the stump. A stump that has sat for a few years is drier and softer than a fresh-cut one. If you can live with the stump for a season, it will grind slightly easier, though the price difference is usually modest.
- Access. A stump in an open front yard is easy. A stump behind a fence, on a slope, or squeezed between a foundation and a septic line takes maneuvering and care. Gates narrower than the machine can force a smaller grinder and more time.
- Surface roots. Big flaring roots that run across the lawn extend the grind area well beyond the stump itself. We include major surface roots in the grind area on our jobs, but a root system that sprawls 10 feet in every direction is priced as the work it really is.
- Grind depth. Standard depth is 6 to 12 inches below grade, which is plenty for grass or garden beds. If you are planting a new tree in the same spot or pouring concrete, you may need a deeper grind, and that costs more.
- Cleanup. Grinding a 30-inch stump produces a surprising mountain of wood chips. Leaving the chips (they settle and compost fine, or work as mulch) is free. Hauling them off and backfilling with topsoil is an add-on, typically $50 to $150 depending on volume.
Stump Grinding vs. Full Stump Removal
These are different jobs, and the price gap is large.
Stump grinding turns the stump into chips down to 6 to 12 inches below grade. The major roots stay in the ground and decay naturally over the following years. Cost: the $100 to $400 range this guide covers. Done in under an hour for most stumps.
Full stump removal means excavating the entire stump and root ball out of the ground with a machine, then dealing with the crater and a truckload of soil-tangled wood. Cost commonly runs $400 to $1,000+ per stump, and it tears up the surrounding yard.
For a lawn, garden bed, or general landscaping, grinding is the right call almost every time. Full excavation only makes sense when something is being built exactly where the root ball sits, like a foundation, a pool, or a driveway. If that is your situation, you are really looking at lot clearing work, and it gets priced as part of the site prep.
Can You Rent a Grinder and Do It Yourself?
You can. Rental yards around Northeast Ohio rent walk-behind stump grinders for roughly $150 to $350 per day depending on the machine. For one small stump, DIY can pencil out. Here is what the rental price does not include:
- Trailer and towing. The capable machines are heavy. You need a truck, a hitch, and comfort towing equipment.
- Machine size. Rental units are far less powerful than commercial grinders. A stump we finish in 30 minutes can take a rental machine several hours, and big hardwood stumps can be beyond what a rental unit will realistically finish in a day.
- Utility risk. Grinding near a gas line, buried electric, or an irrigation system is not the place to learn. We check utility proximity before every grind.
- Flying debris. A grinder throws wood and rock at serious speed. Operators work behind guards for a reason, and a cracked window or dented siding eats the savings fast.
If you have one soft, small stump in an open yard and you already own a truck, renting can save some money. For hardwood stumps, multiple stumps, or anything near structures and utilities, hiring it out is cheaper than it looks once your time and the risk are on the scale.
Why Prices in Geauga and Lake County Look Like They Do
Our service area is heavy on mature hardwoods. The maples, oaks, and ash trees that make Chardon, Chesterland, and Mentor neighborhoods look the way they do also leave big, dense stumps, which is why local jobs often land in the middle and upper parts of the national price ranges. Ash stumps are especially common right now, a lasting effect of the emerald ash borer wiping out ash trees across the region. If you lost an ash and the stump is still sitting there, you have plenty of company.
The good news: because stump work is so common here, multi-stump visits are routine, and that is where the pricing gets efficient. If a storm or a removal project left you with several stumps, quote them together. Same trip, better rate. If the tree is still standing, our tree removal and stump grinding crews can quote both in one number so there are no surprises after the tree comes down.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much does it cost to grind a 24 inch stump?
At typical Northeast Ohio rates of $4 to $7 per inch, a 24-inch stump runs about $100 to $170. Remember to measure at the widest point at ground level, root flare included. Many “24-inch trees” have 30-inch stumps.
Is it cheaper to grind a stump or remove it?
Grinding, by a wide margin. Grinding typically costs $100 to $400 per stump. Full excavation of the stump and root ball commonly costs $400 to $1,000 or more, plus yard repair. Unless you are building directly on that spot, grind it.
How is stump grinding priced?
Most companies charge per inch of diameter ($4 to $7 per inch in our area) or a flat rate per stump based on the same math, with a minimum service charge of roughly $100 to $200 per visit. Additional stumps ground in the same visit cost less than the first.
Can I get stump grinding done for free?
Not usually, but two situations come close. If a tree fell on a structure during a storm, your homeowner’s insurance may cover removal costs, sometimes including the stump. And if a utility company removes a tree for line clearance, ask what they do with the stump before assuming. Read our guide on what to do after storm damage before you file a claim.
What happens to the roots after grinding?
They stay in the ground and decay over 5 to 10 years. They will not sprout a new tree for most species, though some (willows, poplars, black locust) can send up sucker growth for a while. Grinding the visible surface roots along with the stump keeps the lawn mowable in the meantime.
Can I plant grass right after grinding?
Yes. Rake out the chips, backfill the hole with topsoil, seed, and water. Chips left mixed into the soil tie up nitrogen as they break down, so pull most of them out of the hole first if you want the grass to fill in fast.
Get a Real Number for Your Stump
The chart and calculator above will get you close, but an exact quote takes about two minutes: text us a photo of the stump with something for scale, or request a free quote and we will take a look. We serve Chardon, all of Geauga County, and Lake County, usually with same-week scheduling for stump work.