Two estimates for the same tree can come back hundreds of dollars apart, and the cheaper one is not always the better deal. Most of the time the gap is not the price of cutting the tree down. It is everything around the cutting: how the crew gets to the tree, what happens to the wood, what happens to the stump, and what shape your yard is in when the truck pulls away.
This is how we write an estimate, and the questions worth asking of anyone else’s.
Where the number comes from
The single biggest factor is the size of the tree, measured at the trunk. A 40-inch oak is not twice the work of a 20-inch oak. It is heavier in every section, it needs bigger equipment to hold it, and it produces far more wood to haul. Our instant estimate starts from trunk diameter for exactly that reason.
After size, the three things that move the price are access, what is around the tree, and its condition.
Access means how close the equipment can get. A tree by the driveway with nothing in the way is the easy case. A tree behind the house, through a gate, on a slope, or over a septic field takes longer and sometimes takes a different machine. Our spider lift rolls through a standard gate on turf tires, which is often the difference between a normal removal and one that needs a crane.
What is around it means the roof, the fence, the power drop, the neighbor’s shed, the flower beds. Anything the tree could land on has to be worked around, and that usually means lowering sections under control rather than felling the tree whole.
Condition matters most on dead and dying trees. Dead ash in particular is brittle, and a tree that cannot be safely climbed has to be worked from a lift or picked apart with a grapple. That is slower and it is priced accordingly, because the alternative is putting somebody in a tree that might not hold them.
What should be in the estimate
Read the estimate for these five things. If one is missing, ask.
The wood. Does the price include hauling it away, or does it stay in your yard? Some estimates leave the trunk cut into rounds and call that done. Ours includes hauling unless you tell us you want firewood, in which case we cut it to length and leave it stacked where you want it.
The brush. Same question for the limbs and small branches. Chipped and hauled, or piled?
The stump. Tree removal and stump grinding are separate jobs, and most estimates price them separately. A removal that leaves a stump at ground level is not incomplete, but you should know that is what you are getting.
Cleanup. Raking, blowing off the driveway, and hauling the debris. This is where a lot of low estimates quietly save their money.
Property protection. How the crew plans to keep from rutting the lawn and where the equipment will sit. On soft ground we lay mats where the machines travel. On a frozen January morning we often do not need them at all, which is one reason winter removals can cost less.
What is not in it
An estimate is not a guarantee against surprises inside the tree. Rot, a hollow trunk, or a hornet nest can change the plan on the day. A good crew tells you before they change the price, not after.
It also does not include permits, if your city requires one. Most towns in our area do not for a tree on private property, but some do for larger trees or trees near the street. Our permit guide covers the local rules.
Who writes the estimate matters
At TreeTec, estimates are written by our ISA Certified Arborist. That is not a sales credential. It means the person pricing the job is also qualified to tell you whether the tree needs to come down at all. A fair number of the calls we go out on end with a recommendation to prune, treat, or leave the tree alone. If the only person who has looked at your tree is the one paid to remove it, get a second opinion.
Comparing two estimates
Put them side by side and check that they include the same work. Wood hauled, brush chipped, stump ground or not, cleanup, insurance. Ask each company for a certificate of insurance before the day of the job, not after. Then compare the numbers.
If you want a starting figure before anyone comes out, the instant estimate gives you a range from three questions. It is the same math we use, and it is a range on purpose. The written estimate after we have seen the tree is the number we stand behind.
TreeTec is based in Cokato, Minnesota and works across Wright, Meeker, McLeod and Carver counties. If you are looking at a tree you are not sure about, call (612) 472-8733 or send us a photo of it. Somebody will pick up.
Related: tree removal, health and risk assessment, and the instant estimate.