Fallen Tree Removal Cost — What You Will Pay in 2026

There are two kinds of people after a tree falls in the yard: the ones who call the insurance company first, and the ones who call the tree guy first. I have been the tree guy for both kinds since 1995. Here is what a fallen tree actually costs to remove in 2026.

A fallen tree in an open yard typically costs $150 to $800 to remove. A tree that landed on a house, fence, or shed runs $500 to $5,000+ depending on the damage and complexity. Emergency after-hours removal adds roughly 50 to 100 percent to the standard rate. Those are real ranges based on jobs we have done across Billerica, Chelmsford, and the rest of our 18-town service area.

The reason the range is so wide is that "a tree fell" covers everything from a 15-foot birch that tipped over in the backyard to a 70-foot oak sitting in your living room. The cost depends on three things: how big the tree is, where it landed, and whether you need us there at 2am or next Tuesday.

Cost by Situation

Tree fell in the open yard: $150 to $800

This is the straightforward one. The tree is on the ground, nothing critical is underneath it, and the main job is cutting it up and hauling it away. A small tree (under 30 feet) with good truck access is a half-day job. A large tree spread across the yard takes longer but the principle is the same: cut, section, chip or haul.

What you are paying for: crew time, equipment, and disposal. The tree is already down, so there is no rigging, no climbing, and no crane work. That keeps the cost at the lower end of the range.

Tree fell on a fence, shed, or carport: $500 to $2,000

The tree is resting on a structure, which means we have to carefully remove the weight without causing more damage. This is where the job gets technical. We cut the tree in sections, working from the outside in, supporting branches as we go so they do not drop onto the structure below. Sometimes we use a crane or a bucket truck to lift sections off cleanly.

The structure itself might be salvageable. A fence crushed by a mid-size maple might just need a few panels replaced. A shed with a tree through the roof is probably done. Either way, we get the tree off first so you can assess the damage.

Tree fell on a house: $1,000 to $5,000+

This is the expensive one, and the one where you do not want to cut corners on who you hire. A tree on a house means working at height, around power lines, over damaged roofing, and often in tight spaces. The crew needs to remove the tree without dropping branches through the ceiling or collapsing the section of roof that is still standing.

Cost drivers on house-impact jobs:

• Size of the tree. A 30-foot pine through the roof is a different job than a 60-foot oak across the entire house.
• Whether a crane is needed. If the tree is too large or too tangled to cut safely from the ground or the roof, a crane lifts sections off. Crane mobilization adds $500 to $1,500 to the job.
• Access. Tight lots in Lowell and Woburn where we cannot get a crane truck next to the house mean smaller equipment and more manual work. More time, more cost.
• Time of day. Emergency calls at 2am during a nor'easter cost more than a scheduled removal on a Tuesday morning. That is just how it works. We are pulling crew from sleep and running lights in the rain.

What Affects the Price More Than the Tree

Most homeowners think the tree's size is the main cost driver. It matters, but these three factors often matter more:

Where it landed

A 40-foot oak in an open field is a $400 job. The same oak through your roof is a $3,000 job. The tree did not change. The complexity did. Working around a damaged structure requires rigging, section-by-section removal, and a crew that knows how to manage weight transfer without making things worse.

Emergency vs. scheduled

If the tree is on your house at 2am, you need someone now. That is an emergency call, and it costs more. If the same tree fell in the yard and nothing is at risk, scheduling a regular removal saves you the emergency surcharge. I have talked customers out of emergency calls more than once. " tree is not going anywhere overnight, and you will save $300 if we come at 8am instead of 2am."

Debris hauling

Cutting up a fallen tree is one job. Hauling the wood, branches, and chips away is another. If you want the debris gone, that adds truck time and dump fees. If you are fine with us cutting it into firewood-length rounds and stacking it in the yard, the removal itself costs less. A McDumpsters roll-off is another option. A 15-yard dumpster holds a surprising amount of tree debris and costs $350 for a 7-day rental.

A Nor'easter Story

A few years back, a nor'easter came through Middlesex County and the phone started ringing at first light. One call was from a homeowner in Billerica. A white pine had come down across the front of the house. From the street it looked catastrophic. Branches through the gutters, the front porch sagging, the homeowner standing in the yard in his bathrobe looking like he had just watched his house get punched.

We got there, walked the damage, and found that the tree had done far less than it looked. The branches went through the gutters and some trim, but the roof structure was sound. The porch was sagging from the weight of one large limb, not from structural failure. We rigged the limb, lifted it off, and the porch sprung back. Total removal cost: around $1,800. The homeowner had been mentally writing a $5,000 cheque.

Nine out of ten storm-damaged trees in Middlesex County look worse than they are. The canopy snapped, the yard looks like a battlefield, and the trunk is sound. Pruning, not removal. That is the rule of thumb, and it has saved our customers a lot of money over the years.

When to Call Emergency vs. Schedule a Regular Removal

Not every fallen tree is an emergency. Here is how to tell the difference:

Call right away if:

• The tree is on your house, garage, or occupied structure.
• The tree is blocking an exit from your home.
• The tree is on or near a power line. Do not go near it. Call the utility company and then call us.
• The tree is on a public road or sidewalk.
• There is an active leak or structural damage where the tree hit.

Schedule a regular removal if:

• The tree fell in the yard and nothing is underneath it.
• The tree fell on a fence but there is no safety risk.
• The tree is leaning but has not fallen yet (call for an assessment, not an emergency).
• The tree fell in the woods or an unused part of the property.

The difference in cost is significant. Emergency calls run 1.5 to 2 times the standard rate because of after-hours crew, overtime, and the urgency of the situation. If the tree can wait until morning, let it wait. I have told this to customers at 11pm more than once. The tree is not going anywhere.

Does Insurance Cover Fallen Tree Removal?

In most cases, yes, if the tree fell because of a covered peril. Windstorms, lightning, heavy snow, and hail are standard covered perils on most homeowners policies. If the tree fell because it was dead and you never dealt with it, insurance may deny the claim on the grounds of neglect.

What to do:

1. Document everything before cleanup. Take photos and video of the tree, the damage, and the surroundings. Insurance adjusters want to see what happened before anything was moved.
2. Get a written estimate. We provide written estimates for insurance claims. Most adjusters want two or three quotes.
3. File the claim promptly. Most policies require notification within 24 to 72 hours of the incident.
4. Keep all receipts. Emergency tarping, temporary repairs, and removal costs are usually reimbursable.

A typical homeowners policy covers $500 to $1,000 for tree removal per incident, with some policies covering more. The damage to the structure itself is usually covered under the dwelling portion of the policy. Check your specific policy. The numbers vary.

One thing to know: if the tree fell from your neighbour's yard onto your house, your insurance covers it, not theirs. Your policy covers damage to your property regardless of where the tree came from. You can try to recover the cost from your neighbour's insurance if the tree was clearly dead or neglected, but that is a separate process.

What About the Stump?

The tree is gone but the stump is still there. Stump grinding is a separate service, $150 to $300 for most residential stumps. We grind it 6 to 12 inches below grade so you can plant grass or landscaping over the spot. If the tree fell and the root ball came up (common with shallow-rooted species like maples in our area), the root ball itself needs to be dealt with. Sometimes it can be pushed back in and covered, sometimes it needs to be excavated. That is a case-by-case call.

For a full breakdown on stump costs and process, see our stump grinding cost and process guide.

DIY Fallen Tree Removal: When It Works and When It Does Not

I will be straight with you: most homeowners should not remove a fallen tree themselves. Here is why:

It can work when:

• The tree is small (under 20 feet) and fully on the ground.
• Nothing is underneath it, no structures, no vehicles, no power lines.
• You have a chainsaw, you know how to use it safely, and you have personal protective equipment.
• The tree is not under tension (bent, compressed, or hung up on another tree).

It does not work when:

• The tree is on a structure. Removing the tree without further damaging the structure requires experience and technique.
• The tree is tangled in other trees. A tree hung up in another tree can fall unpredictably when you cut the wrong branch. This kills people every year.
• The tree is under tension. A trunk that is bent or compressed stores energy like a spring. Cutting it releases that energy violently and unpredictably.
• There are power lines anywhere near the tree. Do not go near it. Call the utility company.
• The tree is large enough that you cannot control where the sections fall.

A small birch in the backyard with a clear landing zone? Have at it. Anything else, call someone who does this every day. The money you save is not worth a trip to the emergency room or a branch through your neighbour's window.

How to Get an Accurate Estimate

The best way to get a real number is to show us the tree. A phone call gives us a ballpark. Tell us the approximate size, species if you know it, and where it landed, and we can give you a range. But for a firm price, we need to see the job. Access, ground conditions, and the actual scope of the damage matter.

We provide free on-site estimates across our 18-town service area. Call (978) 375-2272. If it is an emergency, say so. We prioritize trees on structures and safety hazards.

When Not to Call Us

Sometimes the right answer is "you do not need a tree service." If the tree that fell is small enough to cut up with a handsaw and you have the time, do it yourself. If the tree fell on town property or in the right-of-way, call the town highway department. That is their tree, not yours. If the tree fell in the woods and you do not care, leave it. Decomposing wood is good for the soil and the ecosystem.

We would rather save you the money than charge you for a job you do not need.

The Bottom Line

A fallen tree in the yard: $150 to $800. A tree on a structure: $500 to $5,000+. Emergency after-hours: add 50 to 100 percent. Insurance usually covers it if a storm caused the fall. Document everything, get a written estimate, and file the claim promptly.

If you are in our service area, Billerica, Chelmsford, Lowell, Tewksbury, Wilmington, Burlington, Bedford, Carlisle, Dracut, Westford, Andover, Woburn, or Lexington, call (978) 375-2272. We will come out, look at the tree, and tell you honestly what it will cost. No pressure, no surprises, and no pushing a $3,000 removal when the tree just needs to be cut up and stacked.