Tree Removal Costs

In Louisville, cutting down and getting rid of a tree has an average cost of between $400 and $1200, with most tree owners spending $750. Extreme tree removal projects can hit $2000, with the cost of removing the smallest trees being around $200.

You will pay about $8 to $15 per foot of the tree, with this range coming from a wide range of factors, including job complexity and accessibility. In the section that follows, we will take a deeper look at the factors that affect tree removal cost.

Tree Removal Cost Factors in Louisville

1. Tree Height

As the height of a tree increases, its removal cost increases. Larger tree trunks and crowns carry more weight – this often requires heavier tree removal gear to avoid accidents.

The removal of a tall tree may require more planning before execution, compared to the removal of an average-sized or short tree. Below, we have outlined the costs to expect when removing trees of varying heights:

• Below 30 feet – These are the shortest trees in Louisville. The trees will cost $200 to $450 to cut down and remove.
• 30 to 60 feet – Medium-sized trees have a higher cost, with most property owners spending $800 to $1500 on the tree’s removal.
• Over 80 feet – These trees fall in the extremely large category. They have an average tree removal cost of $1000 to $2000.

2. Crane-Assisted Removal

In some cases, the removal of extremely tall trees cannot be managed without a crane. The crane will act as a support mechanism, allowing the tree removal professionals to manage the tree’s extreme weight in delicate situations. ‘

If a crane has to be used, you should expect the cost of removing the tree to be higher. This is because you will have to pay the cost of renting the crane and the cost of hiring an operator. Renting a crane in Louisville costs $200 to $600, depending on how powerful the crane is. On average, crane operators are paid $50 to $100 per day to operate a crane.

If the average cost of removing a 100-foot oak tree is $1800 without a crane, you could spend an average of $2400, if you have to rent a crane at a total of $600 per day.

3. Tree Species

The species of a tree affects how tall the tree will grow, how hard its wood is, and overall, how complicated it will be to get rid of. In Louisville, some tree species will never grow beyond 30 feet while some species reach a height of over $100 feet – these tree species will have different tree removal costs.

To help you estimate the cost of removing the tree species in your home, we have outlined the removal costs for different types of trees:

Oak Trees

If your oak grew to a height of 60 to 100 feet, you may need $800 to $1000 to remove it. Oak trees shorter than 60 feet, however, will cost $200 to $800 to get rid of.

Palm Trees

To remove palm trees shorter than 30 feet, professionals charge $200 – $500. To get rid of palm trees taller than 80 feet, professionals may charge you $1,100 t0 $1,500.

Pine Trees

To remove pines with a height of about 40 feet, homeowners spend $400. To get rid of pines with a height of 80+ feet, Louisville residents spend $1,500+.

4. Condition of the Tree

Tree removal is easier for trees that do not have underlying problems – if the trees are on open ground, all that is needed is sawing off their base. Trees with underlying conditions – for example, stability problems – will require the professionals to use stabilization mechanisms to keep the tree from falling unexpectedly and causing damage or injuries.

Some of the underlying conditions that often drive the tree removal cost up include:

• Weak branches – During tree removal, the tree trunk may have to deal with a lot of movement. If the link between the branches and the trunk is weak, the limbs may detach and fall unexpectedly. To avoid injuries or property damages that could result from this issue, tree removal professionals may need to invest their time in tree pruning before conducting removal.
• Cavities and decays – These are an indicator that the wood structure on a tree is damaged. Such a tree can break down and fall off without warning. To keep this from happening, tree removal professionals may need to invest in stabilization mechanisms before removing the tree.
• Multiple trunks – Multiple trunks are not a problem if they have a strong connection between them. If the trees, however, have a weak link, they could split and fall apart during tree removal – in such a scenario, the trunks may need to be removed separately before main trunk removal is conducted.
• Leaning – If a tree has a significant lean – especially in the wrong direction – a lot of work may have to be carried out to change the direction of the lean. This is generally crucial if the tree is leaning over houses or other important structures.

Removing a Fallen Tree

If your tree has fallen on open ground, much of the work is already done. This means that the tree removal professionals will have very little to do – this can keep the amount you spend on the removal between $75 and $150.

If, however, the tree is lying on utility lines or your house, a lot of work will have to be done to keep the tree from causing further damage. The extra time and effort needed can increase the removal cost.

5. Tree Diameter

In its most basic form, tree removal involves sawing off a tree at the base. The bigger the trunk diameter, the more time will be needed to saw through the base. This can increase the tree removal cost.

6. Location of the Tree

Tree removal professionals have predefined zones in which they offer their services without charging a travel fee. If they have to handle tree removal for clients residing outside their service zone, the professionals may decide to charge a travel fee. The travel fee is generally in the amounts of $50 to $200 depending on the distance. Sometimes, however, the professionals may charge $0.5 per mile covered.

7. Accessibility

Trees surrounded by utility lines and/or houses will be difficult to bring down. A lot of effort will be needed to avoid causing damage – this could include cutting the tree down foot by foot or pruning the tree first to keep its branches from touching the utilities. All this can increase the tree removal cost.

8. Additional Services

In most cases, the price quoted by tree removal professionals does not always cover all the services needed by property owners. Some of the services you may need will have to be paid for separately. The additional services might include:

Stump Removal

Tree stumps are generally left in the ground after the tree has been cut down and removed. If, however, you want to get rid of the stump, you may incur the following costs:

• Diameter cost – Professionals charge an average of $2 to $3 per diameter inch. Most stump removal professionals, however, have a fixed minimum cost of $100.
• Per stump cost – The first stump may have a cost of $150. The price may reduce to $50 per stump for the remaining stumps.
• Hourly cost – If you would like to clear a large piece of land, you may be charged $150 per hour spent removing the stumps.

Log Removal Cost

Tree trunks can make your home look messy. You can, however, pay for log chipping and removal to clear your compound. Log chipping costs $65 to $150 while the removal costs an average of $50.

Log to Firewood Conversion

If you use firewood in your home, you may want to spend money on wood splitting. This service can cost up to $75.

Permits and Licenses

Louisville property owners are required to have legal licenses and permits before conducting tree removal. These can set you back $60 – $150 depending on tree size and other factors like tree location.

Clean-up

Tree removal can leave your home looking messy – for example, it could leave the compound with sawdust, leaves, and branches. With a clean-up fee, however, you can get the tree removal professionals to help you with the cleanup.

Tree Transplanting

It is not uncommon for property owners to have healthy, beautiful trees in spaces they would like to use for other purposes – say, to construct new buildings or swimming pools. Such trees may not deserve complete removal – tree transplanting may be a more ideal solution.

Tree transplanting helps relocate a tree. However, compared to tree removal, the process is more complicated and may have a higher cost. To transplant a tree, professionals will have to dig a hole wide enough to accommodate the tree roots, uproot the tree with its healthy roots intact, transport the tree to its new location, and then plant it.

If a tree would cost you $1000 to remove completely, transplanting it can cost an extra $125 to $500. Therefore, the total transplanting cost could amount to $1125 to $1,500.