Stump Grinding Cost and Process: What to Expect

The tree is down, the yard is clean, and everything looks great except for that stump sticking up out of the ground. Now what? Stump grinding is the standard method for getting rid of it, and here is everything you need to know about the cost, the process, and what comes after.

I am Keith McDonald, and our crew at McDonald Tree Service grinds stumps across 13 towns in Middlesex County and the Merrimack Valley. We have done thousands of them since 1995. Here is the straight story.

Stump Grinding Cost: What You Will Pay in 2026

A typical residential stump costs $150 to $300 to grind. That covers most stumps up to about 24 inches in diameter on properties with reasonable equipment access.

Here is how cost breaks down by stump size:

• Small stumps (under 12 inches diameter): $150 to $200. These are quick jobs, usually 15 to 20 minutes of grinding time.
• Medium stumps (12 to 24 inches diameter): $200 to $300. The most common size we grind. Typically 20 to 40 minutes of grinding time.
• Large stumps (24 to 36 inches diameter): $300 to $450. These have substantial root flares and take 45 minutes to over an hour.
• Very large stumps (36+ inches diameter): $400 to $600+. Big old oaks and maples with massive root systems. Can take well over an hour.

Bundled pricing: If we are already on your property doing a tree removal, stump grinding on the same visit is typically 15 to 25 percent cheaper than scheduling it separately. We are already there with equipment and crew, so the added cost is primarily grinding time. Always ask about bundled pricing when you get your removal estimate.

Multiple stumps: We give volume pricing for 3 or more stumps. If you have a yard full of old stumps you have been tripping over for years, get them all done at once. The per-stump price drops by 10 to 20 percent on volume jobs.

Factors That Affect Stump Grinding Cost

Stump Diameter and Root Flare

Bigger stump equals more grinding time. A 12-inch pine stump might take 15 to 20 minutes. A 36-inch red oak stump with dense hardwood and a massive root flare spreading 3 to 4 feet beyond the trunk can take well over an hour. The diameter of the stump at ground level, including the root flare, is the primary cost driver.

Root System

Some species have surface roots that spread 10 to 15 feet from the trunk. Norway maples and silver maples are notorious for this in our area. If you want the visible surface roots ground out along with the stump, that adds time and cost. We typically grind the main stump and the root flare as standard. Surface root grinding beyond the flare is available on request.

Access

Our standard stump grinder is a self-propelled machine that fits through a 36-inch gate opening. If the stump is in an open front yard with driveway access, the job goes fast. If the stump is in a fenced backyard with a 30-inch gate, behind a shed, or at the bottom of a slope, we may need to use a smaller compact grinder, which works but takes more time. In towns like Lowell and Woburn with dense lots and tight backyards, we carry a compact grinder specifically for this kind of access challenge.

Wood Type

Hardwood stumps (oak, maple, hickory) take longer to grind than softwood stumps (pine, spruce, cedar). The carbide teeth on the grinding wheel cut through soft wood noticeably faster. A white pine stump in Tewksbury grinds out in roughly half the time of a red oak stump of the same diameter in Chelmsford.

The Stump Grinding Process: Step by Step

Here is exactly what happens when we show up to grind a stump:

Step 1: Site Preparation (10 to 15 Minutes)

We clear any rocks, debris, or landscaping material away from the stump. We check for buried utilities. Massachusetts law requires calling Dig Safe (811) before any excavation, and stump grinding qualifies. We handle this as part of our scheduling process. We also position the machine to contain wood chips and protect surrounding landscaping with tarps or barriers as needed.

Step 2: Grinding (15 to 60+ Minutes)

The stump grinder has a rotating cutting wheel with carbide-tipped teeth that spins at roughly 1,000 RPM. We lower the wheel onto the stump and sweep it back and forth, chipping away the wood a few inches at a time. We grind down to 6 to 12 inches below the surrounding grade level. For most landscaping purposes, 6 to 8 inches below grade is sufficient. If you are planning to plant a new tree in the same spot or pour a patio over the area, we go deeper, typically 12 to 18 inches.

Step 3: Root Flare Grinding

The root flare is the widened base of the trunk where the major roots begin. We grind this out along with the main stump. This is what creates a full, usable hole rather than just removing the visible stump above grade. The root flare on a large tree can extend 2 to 4 feet beyond the trunk diameter.

Step 4: Cleanup

Grinding produces a pile of wood chips and soil mixed together. The volume of chips is roughly 3 to 5 times the volume of the original stump because the wood gets shredded and expanded with air. A medium stump produces about 1 to 2 wheelbarrows of chips. A large stump can produce a substantial pile.

What Happens to the Wood Chips?

You have two options:

Option 1: We haul them away. We load the chips into our truck and take them off your property. Your yard is left with a clean hole that you can fill with topsoil.

Option 2: We fill the hole with the chips (most popular). We rake the chips back into the hole, mound them slightly above grade (they will settle by 20 to 30 percent over 3 to 6 months), and leave the excess in a pile for you to use. Wood chip mulch is excellent for garden beds, around shrubs, and along paths. A bag of mulch at the hardware store runs $4 to $6, so this is essentially free mulch.

Can You Plant Over a Ground Stump?

Yes, but with a few caveats that make the difference between success and frustration:

• Wait 6 to 12 months for the chips and remaining root fragments to begin decomposing. As the wood decays, the ground will settle. If you plant immediately, your new plantings will sink as the fill settles.
• Add topsoil. Once settled, you will likely need to add 4 to 6 inches of topsoil to bring the area level with the surrounding grade. Do not try to grow grass directly in wood chips. The decomposition process temporarily ties up nitrogen in the soil, which starves grass roots.
• Planting grass: Rake out the chips, add topsoil, and seed or sod. Grass will grow fine once you have a proper topsoil layer.
• Planting a new tree: You can plant a new tree near the same spot, but we recommend planting it at least 3 feet from the center of where the old stump was. The remaining root mass from the old tree will decompose over 5 to 10 years and can create air pockets that affect the new tree's root development if planted directly on top.
• Building a patio or structure: If you are pouring concrete or laying pavers, we need to grind deeper (12 to 18 inches below grade) and you need to remove all chips and backfill with compactable gravel or crushed stone. Let us know your plans and we will grind to the appropriate depth.

DIY Stump Grinding vs. Professional: The Real Comparison

You can rent a stump grinder from a home improvement store for about $200 to $400 per day. But here is the reality of that decision:

Rental machines are small and underpowered. A typical rental grinder has a 12- to 14-inch cutting wheel with limited horsepower. Our professional machine has a 24- to 30-inch wheel with significantly more cutting force. A stump that takes us 20 minutes can take 2 to 3 hours with a rental machine, assuming you can keep the teeth sharp. Hit a rock and you may need to replace teeth, which adds cost and downtime.

Stump grinders are genuinely dangerous. The cutting wheel throws wood chips and debris at high speed in all directions. Rocks hidden in the root zone become projectiles. The machine bucks and pulls when it hits dense wood or a root. Without experience operating the machine, you risk damage to the machine, your property, your fence, your underground irrigation, or yourself. Emergency rooms see stump grinder injuries every year.

The math does not work in your favor. A rental machine costs $200 to $400 for the day, plus your time (hauling the machine, figuring it out, doing the work, returning it), plus the risk of injury or property damage. We charge $150 to $300 and the job is done in 20 to 45 minutes by someone who does this every single day. Save the weekend for something you actually want to do.

Chemical stump removers are not worth it either. Products containing potassium nitrate are supposed to accelerate decay. In reality, they take 6 to 12 months to soften the stump, they do not remove it, and they leach chemicals into your soil. Not a real solution.

Get Your Stump Ground

McDonald Tree Service grinds stumps across all 13 of our service towns: Billerica, Chelmsford, Lowell, Tewksbury, Wilmington, Burlington, Bedford, Carlisle, Dracut, Westford, Andover, Woburn, and Lexington. We are based in Billerica and can usually schedule stump grinding within the week.

Call (978) 375-2272 for a free estimate. Tell us the stump diameter and location, and we can often give you a ballpark price over the phone. Or we will come out and look at it if there are access questions. Either way, no pressure and no surprises.