Tree Removal Costs

Kansas City property owners spend $200 to $2000 to remove a tree from their commercial and residential properties. The average tree removal cost, however, is $750.

Tree removal professionals calculate their fees using the per-foot method – that is, the professionals will have a certain price for each foot of tree height. Depending on how complicated the removal process is, property owners are charged $8 to $15 per foot.

From the per-foot price, it is easy to see why a 20 feet tree will have a tree removal cost of $160 to $300. In the following section, we will take a deeper look at the factors that affect the cost of removing a tree.

Kansas City Tree Removal Cost Factors

1. Tree Height

In Kansas City, most tall trees are heavier than their shorter counterparts. For this reason, removing a taller tree is generally riskier and needs more effort than the removal of a shorter tree. In almost all cases, more sophisticated (and hence costly) gear has to be used for taller than average trees. All this suggests that the removal cost of taller trees is higher than that of short and average-sized trees.

Below, we will show you the cost estimates to expect for different tree heights:

• Below 30 feet – Small trees with a height of under 30 feet have a removal cost of $200 to $450.
• 30 – 60 feet – Average-sized trees have a removal cost of between $800 and $1500.
• Over 80 feet – Trees whose height exceeds 80 feet cost $1000 to $2000 to remove.

2. Crane-Assisted Removal

Thick, tall trees are generally too heavy for their removal to be handled without a crane. The cost of hiring and operating a crane can increase the average removal cost.

Renting a crane costs $500 plus another $50 to $100 to pay the crane operator. In Kansas City, tree owners spend $200 – $600 to rent a crane for a day. This cost will be added to the amount charged by the tree removal expert.

For example, if a crane is necessary to remove an 80 feet tree, tree removal professionals may quote $2000 as the tree removal cost. If you get charged $500 to rent a crane, the total cost will be $2500.

3. Tree Species

Tree species have a huge influence on tree height and the wood’s hardness. For example, while Crepe Myrtle has a maximum height of 30 feet, white pines reach 150+ feet at maturity. Sawing through the trunk of a hardwood tree generally takes more time compared to removing softwood trees.

Below, we have outlined the costs of removing the trees species that are common in Kansas City:

Oak Trees

Oak trees fitting in the 60 to 100 feet height range cost about $800 to $1000 to get rid of. If the tree falls below 60 feet, you can spend between $200 and $800 on its removal.

Palm Trees

Palm trees shorter than 30 feet have a removal cost of $200 to $500. When the height increases to 80 feet, you may spend $1,100 to $1,500.

Pine Tree

Pines with an average height of 40 feet cost $400 to get rid of. Those that are taller than 80 feet can cost $1,500+ to remove.

4. Tree Condition

Underlying conditions – for example, a hollow trunk, damaged roots, or rotting structure – increase the risk when working on tree removal. Such trees can fall unexpectedly – for this reason, they can’t be cut at the base of the trunk. Professionals often have to cut the tree down in sections, starting with the tree crown.

Because of the work involved, and the complicated gear often needed, the professionals often charge a higher cost for trees with underlying problems. Below, we have broken down several underlying conditions that might increase the tree removal cost:

• Weak branches – If the branches on a tree are weakly attached to the trunk, they can fall unexpectedly when the tree is being removed. To avoid injury, tree pruning has to be carried out before bringing the tree down. This increases the removal cost.
• Cavities and decays – These indicate that the tree’s supporting structure is compromised. To keep the tree from falling over unexpectedly, stabilization mechanisms often have to be placed in place.
• Multiple trunks – A multiple trunk tree can be safe to remove if its trunks are attached correctly. However, if the trunks have a weak link between them, stabilization may be necessary.
• Leaning – Trees with a significant lean have to be handled with extreme care. Such trees pose the risk of falling and may need to be roped and held with powerful equipment to keep them from falling in the wrong direction.

Fallen Tree Removal

The removal of fallen trees is supposed to be easy – and for this reason, the procedure is generally affordable. Most homeowners in Kansas City will spend $75 to $150 on the removal of fallen trees.

When the fallen tree is lying across a sensitive structure, extreme care is needed to prevent further damages. This calls for more effort and heavier equipment – this can increase the removal cost.

5. Tree Diameter

The time needed to saw through a tree trunk is largely dependent on how big the trunk is. Therefore, a tree with a thicker trunk will cost more to remove compared to a tree featuring the same height but with a smaller trunk diameter.

6. Tree Location

Professionals who specialize in tree removal have a predefined service area for which they offer their service without charging a travel fee. If you live outside the service area, you may incur a travel fee.

Most tree removal professionals in Kansas City will charge a travel fee of $0.5 for every mile they travel. It is, however, not uncommon for some of the service providers to charge a flat rate of between $50 and $200, depending on the distance they have to cover.

7. Accessibility

If a tree is surrounded by important structures and/or utility lines, it will have a higher tree removal cost. A lot of work will have to be done to bring the tree down without harming the structures next to it – in some cases, the tree may need to be brought down foot by foot from the crown.

Trees standing on an open ground will have a much lower removal cost. This is because the only cutting needed will be around the tree’s trunk – no machinery will be needed for support since the tree can be allowed to fall freely.

Extra Tree Removal Costs

Quotations sent by tree removal professionals rarely cover all the costs involved in the tree removal. In most cases, they will only cover the cost of bringing the tree down. Some additional activities one may need to spend money on include:

Stump Removal

Stump removal is often not included in the quoted price. Once the tree removal professionals cut a tree at its base, they assume that they have finished their work. If, however, you need the stump to be removed too, you will incur a stump removal cost as indicated below:

• Per stump price – If you have numerous stumps in your yard, the first stump may incur $150. You may be charged $50 for each of the remaining stumps.
• Diameter cost – Kansas City residents spend $2 to $3 on each diameter inch. However, tree removal professionals will have a minimum cost of $100.
• Land clearing – If you intend to clear a large piece of land, you may pay on a per hour basis. Each hour may cost $150.

Log Removal Cost

To get rid of logs, you may be charged for the chipping and hurling. Chipping costs an average of $65 to $150. Hurling away, on the other hand, may add another $50.

Log Splitting

If you use firewood in your home, you can opt to split the logs obtained from tree removal yourself or you can pay the tree service providers to split them for you. The log splitting service will cost you $75.

Permits and Licenses

Before getting rid of a tree, Kansas City codes require property owners to have licenses and permits. The tree removal professionals can take care of getting the documents for you. You will, however, have to pay for them – the cost ranges from $60 to $150.

Clean-Up Costs

Tree removal can leave a lot of sawdust, leaves, and limbs all over your compound. However, at a fee, you can get the tree removal professionals to clean up after removing the tree.

Tree Transplanting Cost

Sometimes, you may have a healthy tree that you do not want to get rid of completely. Such a tree could be standing in the way of property development – for example, it could be keeping you from constructing your swimming pool or garage. Tree transplanting can help you relocate the tree to a new place.

Compared to tree removal, transplanting is a more complicated process that requires the professionals to dig carefully around the tree root structure, pull it out slowly, and then transport it to the new planting location. For this reason, transplanting cost is higher than tree removal cost, generally incurring an extra $125 to $500. For example, if the tree removal cost is $1,000, the transporting cost will be $1,125 to $1,500.