How to Estimate Tree Drop Cost

When a tree becomes ill with a disease or has reached the end of its lifespan, it can become a safety hazard to any nearby structures and other property, such as boats, campers or other recreational vehicles. The best way to prevent damage, before it happens, is to have a professional remove it. Estimating the cost will give you an educated idea of the price range you can expect to be quoted.

Tape measure

Instructions

- 1
  Look over your property and determine where your tree is situated in relation to structures, such as the house, detached garage or shed. Also, look to see if the tree you wish to remove is near utility lines.
- 2
  Stand away from the tree on a sunny day to cast a shadow. Place a tape measure at the tip of the shadow and measure from the tip to your feet. Then measure the distance of the tree's shadow from the tip to the tree's base.
- 3
  Multiply your height by the length of the tree's shadow then divide the product by the length of your shadow. For instance, if you are 6 feet tall, the tree's shadow is 70 feet in length and your shadow is 9 feet long, the formula would be 6 times 70 divided by 9 or 46.67 feet. Round to the nearest whole number or 47 feet.
- 4
  Use the tree's height to estimate the cost of dropping or felling it. Generally, dropping or felling is calculated by feet, multiplied by the dollar rate per foot, with the average being $14.50 per foot. Multiply the tree's height by the average per foot cost. As an example, if your tree is 50 feet high, the base cost would be $725.
- 5
  Add the extras, such as stump removal and haul away. The cost of stump grinding and removal ranges widely, from $150 to $300. Haul away of the dropped tree also ranges dramatically, from $200 to $350, making the total cost for a 50-foot tree removal range from $1,075 to $1,375.

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