How much does stump grinding cost in Wisconsin?
Published cost guides put stump grinding at about $100 to $400 for the first stump, or $2 to $6 per inch of stump diameter. Most single stumps land near $200 to $250. Searches for stump removal turn up the same spread. Diameter, wood hardness and how close a machine can get all change grinding time.
What does stump grinding cost per stump?
Guides that price by the stump land between $40 and $800 each. Fixr puts a stump up to 12 inches at $40 to $75, and a medium one at $75 to $150. HomeGuide puts an extra large stump at $300 to $800. The grinding is cheap on small stumps. The trip is what costs money.
| Stump diameter | Cost to grind | What the number assumes |
|---|---|---|
| Up to 12 inches | $30–$75 | Below most minimum charges on its own |
| 12 to 24 inches | $48–$150 | The common yard stump |
| 24 to 36 inches | $70–$220 | Old shade tree, slower going |
| Over 36 inches | $100–$800 | Wide hardwood, more depth, more root |
Those are grinding figures, not the invoice. HomeGuide footnotes a minimum service fee of $80 to $160, so on one small stump the minimum is the price.
Lawn Love sits tighter, at $120 to $210 for the first stump, and lists Madison at $123 to $219. Thumbtack sits at the other end, at $307 to $426. Hardwood adds $50 to $150 a stump on LawnStarter. Depth is worth asking about, since how we grind stumps below the soil line sets what you can do with the spot after.
Is stump grinding priced per inch or per stump?
Both are common, and a minimum charge sits under either one. Published per inch rates run $2 to $6. HomeGuide puts minimum service fees at $80 to $160, and four other guides put the minimum at $100. On a small stump, the minimum sets your price before the inch math matters.
Measure the way an operator does. HomeGuide says to measure the longest stump width at ground level, using the trunk base rather than the cut surface. A 20 inch stump at $4 an inch is $80, at or under every published minimum.
What do one, three and ten stumps cost?
Price per stump drops once the machine is already on the ground. Guides put each stump after the first at $30 to $75, against $100 to $400 for the first one. Angi publishes $100 to $150 for one stump and $180 to $250 for three. The table below runs that arithmetic out.
| Number of stumps | Published total | How it is built |
|---|---|---|
| 1 stump | $100–$400 | One trip, one setup, minimum charge applies |
| 3 stumps | $160–$550 | First stump, then two at $30–$75 |
| 10 stumps | $370–$1,075 | First stump, then nine at $30–$75 |
The step from one to three is small, and three to ten smaller still. Past ten you are usually looking at a cleared lot. A pass of mulching brush ahead of the grinder comes first, and the stumps get ground after. Our acre pricing on a clearing job covers acreage.
How long does grinding take and how deep does it go?
Most single stumps take under two hours. Fixr times a 20 inch stump at 15 minutes to 2 hours. HomeGuide puts the range at 15 minutes to 3 hours, depending on size, wood hardness and location. This Old House puts standard depth at 4 to 6 inches below ground level.
No published guide times a 24 or 30 inch stump on its own. HomeGuide puts a full grind out of stump and large roots at up to 18 inches deep. We grind 4 to 8 inches below the soil line, deeper when you ask.
Is it cheaper to grind a stump or dig it out?
Grinding is cheaper, and the guides agree on it. Fixr puts grinding at $150 to $300 and full removal at $200 to $700. LawnStarter puts removal at $175 to $516. Digging out the root ball needs heavier machines, and it leaves a crater that has to be filled.
Grinding chips the stump into mulch and stops below the soil line. Removal pulls the whole root ball out, and HomeGuide says that hole can run 12 feet wide or more. Full removal is rarely worth it in a yard, which is why stump grinding on southern Wisconsin lots is the job people ask for.
Is renting a stump grinder cheaper than hiring one?
Usually not, once you count the whole day. HomeAdvisor puts a stump grinder rental at $90 to $400 a day, $300 on average, and adds $50 to $60 for a trailer. It puts hiring the work out at $150 to $500. Those are the same money.
The machine is the bigger problem. HomeAdvisor says a rental likely will not do above 12 inches across, and that mini grinders suit stumps under 10 inches. LawnStarter puts do it yourself grinding at one to three days. Add the trailer, the fuel and a Saturday.
What is different about grinding stumps in Wisconsin?
Four things, and one of them is state law. Diggers Hotline wants at least three working days before anyone displaces soil. Oak wilt sets a window when oaks should not be wounded. Dead ash is everywhere in the south of the state. And the tree out by the street may belong to your city.
Wisconsin Statute 182.0175 defines excavation as anything that moves, removes or displaces earth, rock or other material in or on the ground. Depth does not matter. Diggers Hotline answers a stump grinding question in its own safety meeting FAQ: every excavator files their own locate request.
The Wisconsin DNR puts the greatest risk of oak wilt transmission in April through July, when the spore carrying beetles are out. The DNR says those beetles carry spores to fresh wounds or recently cut oak stumps. Oak wilt is widespread in southern Wisconsin.
UW Madison Extension reports emerald ash borer has killed more than 90 percent of the ash in the southern third of the state. The City of Waukesha alone had removed 3,000 street trees to it by the end of 2021.
Winter and the curb come last. Extension notes operators need frozen ground days to work low, wet ground without rutting it, and LawnStarter and Angi both put winter savings near 20 percent. Waukesha forestry says it handles all city trees in public rights of way. Check with your city before anyone touches a stump near the curb, and expect the same rules on a full land clearing job.
FAQ
How much should I pay for stump grinding? Published guides put one stump at $100 to $400, with most jobs near $200 to $250. Rates by the inch run $2 to $6 per inch of stump diameter, and a minimum charge of $80 to $160 sits under that. Each stump after the first drops to $30 to $75 on the same visit.
Is it cheaper to grind or remove a stump? Grinding is cheaper every time. Fixr puts grinding at $150 to $300 and full removal at $200 to $700. LawnStarter puts removal at $175 to $516. Removal pulls the root ball out with heavy equipment and leaves a hole to fill. Grinding chips the stump below the soil line and leaves mulch.
Will a tree grow back after the stump is ground? Sometimes. UW Madison Extension reports oaks, maples, black cherry, mulberry, honey locust and boxelder usually resprout from a cut stump, while conifers never do. HomeGuide says elms and willows sprout too, and clearing those takes complete root removal. Extension advises cutting at ground level to limit the energy left for sprouting.
How long does it take to grind a 24 inch stump? No published guide times a 24 inch stump on its own. Fixr times a 20 inch stump at 15 minutes to 2 hours. Angi puts a simple job near an hour and a dense or awkward one at two to three hours. A 30 inch hardwood sits at the slow end.
Can you grind a stump yourself? You can rent a machine, but the math rarely works. HomeAdvisor puts rental at $90 to $400 a day plus $50 to $60 for a trailer, against $150 to $500 to hire it out. It also says a rental will not handle a stump over 12 inches across. Call Diggers Hotline first either way.
Get a real number for your stumps
Published ranges get you close; a look at the real stump gets you a number. Book an on site look at your stumps and we price it free, price match included. We work across southern Wisconsin out of Whitewater, and the number is 262-249-6360.
