How Much Does Tree Removal Cost?

Homeowners ask us this every week, so here's the honest answer with real Brunswick County numbers — not the national averages you'll find on generic sites.

Typical price ranges (2026, Brunswick County)

• Small tree, under 30 ft (ornamentals, small pines, dead dogwoods): $250–$700
• Medium tree, 30–60 ft (typical loblolly pine, mid-size oak): $600–$1,600
• Large tree, 60–90 ft (mature pine, larger oak): $1,400–$3,200
• Very large or hazardous (leaning over the house, near power lines, huge live oak): $2,800–$5,500+
• Emergency post-storm removal (tree already on the house): $1,500–$6,000+, often billed hourly at $250–$450/hr per crew.

Stump grinding typically adds $100–$350 per stump and is almost always billed separately.

What actually moves the price

Size is the obvious factor, but on a typical quote, these matter more than most homeowners realize:

• Access. A crew that can back a bucket truck up to the tree pays half the labor of one hand-climbing over a fence.
• Drop zone. Room to fell the tree in one piece is cheap. Rigging it down in sections over a roof is expensive — sometimes 3–4× more.
• Target risk. Anything within falling distance of a house, pool, fence, or power line adds rigging time and insurance exposure.
• Debris haul-off. Leaving chips and logs on-site can knock 20–30% off. Full haul-off with a grapple truck adds it back.
• Stump. Assume grinding is extra unless it's explicitly in writing.
• Utility coordination. If Duke Energy or Brunswick Electric has to drop the line, that's a scheduling delay and sometimes a separate charge.

What should be in every written estimate

Never accept a verbal quote. A legitimate Brunswick County tree company will give you a written estimate that includes:

1. Exact trees to be removed (with location or tag)

2. Whether stump grinding is included and to what depth

3. Debris disposal terms

4. Certificate of insurance — general liability *and* workers' comp

5. Proof of NC business registration

6. Written start window and cleanup expectations

If a crew won't put it in writing or won't show insurance, that's your answer. Move on.

Red flags after a storm

Hurricane season brings out-of-state and uninsured crews going door to door. Common patterns:

• "We're already working next door, we can do yours for cash today."
• No local address, no truck signage, no written estimate.
• Demands for a large deposit up front.
• Prices dramatically below (or above) written quotes from established local companies.

You are not obligated to hire anyone standing in your driveway. Take the number, call two local companies, compare in writing.

When cheaper actually costs more

The single most expensive tree removal is the one that damages your house because the crew wasn't insured or wasn't experienced enough for the rigging job. A $1,200 quote that puts a limb through your kitchen ceiling becomes a $20,000 problem. Pay for insurance and certification — every time.

Getting a fair price

Get two written estimates from established local companies. Ask each what they'd do differently. If one is dramatically cheaper, ask why — often it's because they're skipping the stump, skipping haul-off, or skipping the insurance you thought you were paying for.

We're happy to review any quote you get. Send it over and we'll tell you honestly whether it's fair.