Pricing guide
What tree removal costs in El Dorado County
A standard tree removal here runs from about $500 for a small tree to $2,500 or more for a large one, with a big hazardous oak near a structure reaching $3,000 to $6,000 and emergency work carrying a premium on top. Tree removal is priced tree by tree, not by a flat rate, and this page explains what actually drives the number.
Why there is no flat price
Every tree is a different job, and a fair quote reflects that. A twenty-foot backyard tree you can drop in one piece into open lawn is quick and cheap. A sixty-foot pine that has to be climbed and lowered piece by piece over a roof, with every limb roped down so it does not hit the house, is a different day entirely. The tree, the target underneath it, and the way in all change the price, so anyone quoting a firm number sight unseen is guessing.
The honest way to read a quote is to understand the four things that move it: size, species, access, and hazard.
Typical ranges
Planning figures for El Dorado County, not quotes. Your tree needs to be seen to be priced.
| Job | Typical range | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Small tree (under 30 ft) | $300 to $900 | Backyard tree, open drop, easy access |
| Medium tree (30 to 60 ft) | $600 to $1,500 | Most residential removals land here |
| Large tree (over 60 ft) | $1,500 to $4,000+ | Tall pines and big conifers, climbed or reached with equipment |
| Large or hazardous oak | $3,000 to $6,000 | Dense, heavy wood, often over a structure |
| Pine (by size) | $475 to $1,500+ | Dead and brittle pines can cost more, not less, being dangerous to fell |
| Emergency / storm premium | 50 to 100% over standard | Commonly $1,500 to $5,000+ for a serious storm job |
| Stump grinding | Priced by diameter | Usually a separate line from the removal |
| Tree on a house / crane job | See below | No honest flat range. Depends on access, crane, and utility involvement |
| County oak permit (if required) | $25 to $500 | A county fee, not the contractor's charge |
Got a quote you want a second opinion on? Describe the tree on the phone.
The four things that move the price
Size
Height gets the attention, but the trunk diameter is what really drives the work. A tall skinny tree and a shorter tree with a three-foot trunk are not close. The thick one is dramatically heavier, slower to section, and harder to haul, so two trees of the same height can price very differently. That is why a good estimator looks at the trunk, not just up.
Species
Oak is dense and heavy, which makes a big oak one of the most expensive trees to remove, especially the live oaks and valley oaks common in the lower county. Pine is lighter but tall, and a dead pine is its own problem: brittle wood that can shatter mid-cut makes it more dangerous, not less, so it often costs more than a healthy tree the same size. The removal page covers how the crew reads a tree.
Access
What is under the tree and how the crew gets to it matter as much as the tree itself. Open ground where a tree can be dropped whole and a chipper can pull right up is cheap. A tree hemmed in by a house, a fence, a pool, and power lines, on a steep lot at the end of a long driveway, has to come down in small controlled pieces, and every one of those is time. This is why the same tree costs more in a tight El Dorado Hills backyard than on open acreage out toward Georgetown.
Hazard and equipment
A leaning trunk, a tree under tension, proximity to power lines, or a tree already on a structure all raise the job from routine to specialized, and often bring in a bucket truck or a crane. Crane work and utility coordination cost real money, which is why a tree on a house does not get a number on this page: it depends entirely on what it takes to get it off safely. See the emergency page.
Why emergencies cost more
Emergency and storm work carries a premium of roughly 50 to 100 percent over the same tree removed on a schedule, and it is worth understanding that this is not gouging. An emergency job happens now, often after hours, frequently in bad weather, and usually under difficult conditions: a tree under load, a structure in the way, or a road that has to be cleared before anyone else can get through. The crew is taking on more risk and more difficulty to solve a problem that cannot wait, and the price reflects the job, not the calendar.
The way to avoid the premium is the same as with most things: deal with the dead and hazard trees before they fail. A dead pine removed on a scheduled Tuesday is a fraction of what the same pine costs at midnight after it has come through your roof. The defensible space page covers getting ahead of it.
Cost questions
Can I get a price over the phone?
You can get a range, which is what this page is for. A firm number needs eyes on the tree, because the trunk size, what is underneath it, and the access decide the job, and none of that comes across in a description. Anyone who commits to a firm price without seeing it is padding to be safe or planning to revise it on arrival.
Is the stump included?
Usually not. Stump grinding is a separate line priced by the stump's diameter, though it is common to have it done at the same visit. Ask for it to be quoted up front so the finished yard is part of the number you agree to.
Does insurance cover a tree that hit my house?
Often, when a tree falls on a covered structure in a storm, homeowners insurance pays toward removal and repair, though coverage and limits vary and a tree that simply fell in the yard may not be covered. A dead tree you were warned about and left standing can be a different conversation. This is not insurance advice; your policy is the authority. Document the damage and call your carrier.
Do I need a permit, and does that cost extra?
El Dorado County regulates removal of native oaks, and a large one can require a permit and sometimes mitigation. The permit is a county fee, generally $25 to $500, separate from the removal. A genuine emergency hazard is handled differently than clearing a healthy tree. A local crew can tell you when a permit is likely to be needed.
Why is a dead pine sometimes more expensive than a live one?
Because dead wood is dangerous to work. A brittle dead pine can shatter or drop a limb unexpectedly mid-cut, so it often cannot be safely climbed and instead needs a bucket truck or crane, which costs more. Waiting does not help: it only gets more brittle. That is the argument for removing dead trees before they become an emergency.
Get connected with a licensed local tree service.