Key takeaways
- No honest price exists without seeing the tree, its surroundings and the stump plan.
- Height, trunk size, lean and decay change the method, and the method changes the cost.
- Access, buildings, fences and power lines can turn a ground job into a crane job.
- Ask each company whether stump grinding, hauling and cleanup are included.
- Compare scope line by line, not the bottom number.
We do not publish prices on this site, and we will not guess at one here. What we can do is show you the factors that move an estimate up or down, so two quotes can be compared on the same terms. Battle Born Tree Service gives free estimates, and a certified arborist assesses every job before work begins.
What factors set the cost of removing a tree?
Five factors do most of the work: the size of the tree, its condition, how close it stands to things that can be damaged, how the crew can reach it, and what is included when the wood is down. A tall tree with a wide trunk takes more crew time, more equipment and more wood handling than a small one.
Condition matters as much as size. A dead or decayed tree can be unpredictable to take apart, so a crew may choose a different method than for a healthy tree of the same height. A certified arborist looks at that before choosing how the tree comes down.
The same tree can also be priced differently in two yards. A tree in the middle of a lawn with a driveway beside it gives the crew room to work. The same tree behind a house, with a locked gate and a fence on both sides, does not.
- Size: height, trunk diameter and the spread of the crown.
- Condition: dead wood, decay, cracks, lean or storm damage.
- Targets: houses, fences, wires, pools, neighbors' property.
- Access: gates, slopes, soft ground, narrow side yards, no truck room.
- Scope: stump, hauling, chipping, firewood-sized rounds, final raking.
When does a removal turn into a crane job?
A removal becomes a crane job when there is no safe place for pieces to fall and no clear route to rig them down by hand. Think of a large tree leaning over a roof, boxed in by fences, or standing among wires.
Battle Born Tree Service owns a crane and a 75-foot Altec boom truck. Its own description of crane-assisted removal is less time on site, less impact on the surroundings, and a no-impact removal at a lower cost than traditional methods, so ask for both options when the tree is tight. Our crane-assisted removal page explains the five steps.
Do power lines and permits change the price?
Yes, both can add steps. A tree touching or near a line has to be handled with the utility, and a tree in a city right-of-way or the Lake Tahoe Basin may need approval before anyone cuts.
NV Energy says the property owner is responsible for keeping trees clear of the service line from the pole to the house, and that NV Energy prunes trees that grow too close to its high-voltage lines. Our guide on trees and power lines covers who does what. Permit rules differ by place, so read the permit guide before you book.
Is the stump part of the estimate?
Not automatically. A stump is a separate job with its own equipment, and some estimates price it separately or leave it out.
Battle Born's own site puts it this way: all estimates are tailored to each client and their needs, so say up front whether you want the stump ground. Read the stump grinding cost guide for what changes that line.
How do you compare two tree removal estimates?
Put them side by side and compare what is covered, not just the total. Two numbers mean little if one includes hauling and the other leaves the pile in your driveway.
The International Society of Arboriculture suggests getting more than one estimate, warns against choosing on price alone, and says to compare credentials, specifications, scope and professionalism. It also advises asking for proof of insurance and calling the insurer to confirm it.
- Ask each company for the same scope: removal, stump, hauling, chipping and wood.
- Ask who will be on site and whether a certified arborist assesses the tree first.
- Ask for proof of insurance and confirm it with the insurer (see our proof of insurance guide).
- Ask what happens if the tree turns out to be harder than it looked.
- Compare scope line by line before you compare totals.
Why does a company need to see the tree first?
Because photos and phone descriptions cannot show decay, ground conditions, wires or the route a crew has to take. A site visit is how the estimate gets tied to your real tree.
Battle Born Tree Service estimates are free, detailed and easy to understand, and the office phone is answered seven days a week. Messages are returned within 8 hours.
For a tree that is leaning, cracked or on a structure, treat it as urgent and read the first hour checklist.
Sources
- International Society of Arboriculture, Trees Are Good: Why Hire an Arborist (PDF) (read October 17, 2026)
- NV Energy: A Tree on Your Property (Tree Pruning Explained brochure, rev. 2017-05) (read October 17, 2026)
- NV Energy: Trees and power lines (read October 1, 2026)