If you've ever called around for a tree removal quote, you've probably run into the same wall: nobody wants to give you a number over the phone. That's not always a dodge — price genuinely depends on the specific tree — but it leaves you guessing about whether an estimate is fair. Here's what actually drives the price, in plain terms.
A small tree under 30 feet, the kind you could mostly reach with a ladder, usually falls in the $150–$500 range. Medium trees in the 30–60 foot range — a lot of East Texas pines and oaks land here — typically run $500–$1,200. Anything over 60 feet, which is common in the older Piney Woods lots around Lufkin and Nacogdoches, can run $1,200–$2,800 or more, mostly because of the rigging and time involved in taking it down safely in sections.
Proximity to your house, a fence, or power lines is the next biggest factor. A tree in an open field can often be felled in one piece. The same tree ten feet from your roof has to come down branch by branch, which takes longer and costs more. Storm damage and dead or rotted trees also carry a premium, because they're more dangerous to work on — the wood can be unpredictable.
Good access matters. If a crew can get a truck and equipment close to the tree, the job goes faster than if everything has to be carried in through a narrow gate. Bundling services also helps — if you're already having a tree removed, adding stump grinding at the same time is usually cheaper than calling separately later.
We publish a full cost guide with ranges for every service because we think you should walk into a quote already knowing roughly what to expect. It also means when we give you a free estimate, you can tell right away if it's in a reasonable range — not just take our word for it.