Tree Cutting Service — Cost and What to Look For in MA

A tree cutting service is what you call when that oak in the backyard has been giving you dirty looks every time the wind blows. (Trees are passive-aggressive like that.) The term covers everything from a single dead pine to a 70-foot oak leaning over the garage like it is thinking about it. I have been running a tree cutting service in Billerica since 1995, and here is what the job actually involves, what it costs, and how to tell the difference between a crew that knows what they are doing and one that is going to leave you with a mess and a story you tell at Thanksgiving.

A tree cutting service handles the full job: assessment, cutting, hauling, cleanup, and stump grinding. Not just a guy with a chainsaw and a pickup truck. Here is the complete guide to hiring one in Middlesex County.

What a Tree Cutting Service Actually Does

A tree cutting service does more than show up with a chainsaw. The job includes:

• Assessment. We look at the tree before we touch it. Species, condition, lean, proximity to structures, power lines, fences, and underground utilities. This takes 10 to 20 minutes and determines the entire approach.
• Planning the fall. Where is the tree going? In an open yard, we fell it whole. Near a house, we rig it in sections and lower each piece with ropes. Near power lines, we coordinate with the utility company.
• Cutting. The actual chainsaw work. Proper felling cuts, rigging, and sectional removal. This is the part people think of when they hear "tree cutting," but it is about 30 percent of the job.
• Limbing and bucking. Cutting the branches off the trunk and cutting the trunk into manageable lengths. If you want firewood, we buck it to stove length. If not, it goes on the truck.
• Chipping and hauling. Brush goes through the chipper. Chips go on the truck or into a pile if you want mulch. Trunk wood gets hauled. The yard gets cleaned.
• Stump grinding. Optional but recommended. The stump gets ground 6 to 12 inches below grade so you can plant grass or use the space. See our stump removal cost guide for pricing.

When someone quotes you for "tree cutting," make sure all of this is included. Some outfits quote the cutting only and add hauling, chipping, and cleanup as line items after the fact.

Tree Cutting Service Cost in Middlesex County

Here is what tree cutting costs in our service area, based on 30 years of real pricing:

Tree Size	Typical Cost	Time on Site
Small (under 30 ft)	$300 – $500	1–3 hours
Medium (30–60 ft)	$500 – $1,000	2–5 hours
Large (60–80 ft)	$1,000 – $3,000	Half day to full day
Very large or crane-required	$2,000 – $5,000+	Full day

These are flat prices. We quote before we start cutting. The number does not change. For a detailed breakdown of what drives cost, see our tree removal rates guide.

What moves the price

Tree height is the biggest factor. A 20-foot ornamental cherry in a Billerica front yard is a morning job. A 70-foot white pine behind a house in Carlisle with no truck access is a different conversation. Here is what affects the number:

• Height and spread. Taller trees mean more climbing, more rigging, more time.
• Access. Can we get a truck to the tree? A backyard in Lowell with a 30-inch gate means hand-carrying equipment. That takes longer.
• Proximity to structures. Branches over a roof, a fence, or a pool require careful rigging to drop limbs without damage. We use ropes, not gravity.
• Species. Oaks and maples are dense hardwood. Pines are tall but lighter. Each species has its own cutting characteristics and its own weight distribution.
• Condition. Dead trees are often more dangerous to cut than live ones. Brittle wood does not flex — it snaps. A dead pine in Tewksbury requires different rigging than a healthy oak of the same height.

How to Find a Good Tree Cutting Service

This is the part where I tell you what to look for, and also what to avoid.

What to look for

• Insurance. Ask for proof of general liability and workers compensation. If the crew does not have it, you are one bad cut away from a lawsuit landing on your homeowner's policy. This is not optional.
• The owner on the job. The best tree services are owner-operated. The person who quotes the work is the person doing the work. National chains send a salesperson who has never climbed a tree, then sub the actual cutting to whoever is cheapest that week.
• Written price before cutting starts. Not a verbal estimate. Not a "we will see when we get there." A written quote that does not change.
• Cleanup included. The job is not done when the tree is on the ground. It is done when the yard is clean, the chips are hauled (or piled where you want them), and the stump is ground.
• Local references. A crew that has been working in your town for years knows the tree species, the soil conditions, the town bylaws, and the utility company contacts. We have been in Billerica since 1995. That matters.

What to avoid

• Door-knockers after a storm. If someone rings your bell within 48 hours of a nor'easter offering a "discount" for tree cutting, they are not a local arborist. Local arborists are too busy to door-knock. The door-knocker is either uninsured, unlicensed, or both.
• "Starting at" pricing. If the quote says "starting at $500," the real number is going to be higher. We quote one flat price. No "starting at."
• No proof of insurance. Walk away. Immediately.
• Cash-only crews. A crew that only takes cash is a crew that is not paying taxes, probably not carrying insurance, and will not be around if something goes wrong.

When You Need a Tree Cutting Service (and When You Do Not)

Not every tree needs to come down. Here is how to think about it:

Call a tree cutting service when:

• The tree is dead or more than half the canopy is dead.
• The trunk is split, cracked, or has mushrooms growing at the base (root rot).
• The tree is leaning — especially if the lean is new or getting worse.
• Large limbs are hanging over your house, driveway, or power lines.
• The roots are damaging your foundation, driveway, or sewer line.
• You need the space for construction, landscaping, or a pool.

You probably do not need a tree cutting service when:

• The tree has a few dead branches but the canopy is mostly healthy. That is a pruning job, not a removal.
• The tree is dropping leaves or sap on your car. That is annoying, not dangerous.
• The tree is "too big." Big trees are not inherently dangerous. A healthy 80-foot oak is safer than a diseased 30-foot maple.
• A branch fell in a storm but the trunk and root system are sound. Nine out of ten storm-damaged trees in Middlesex County look worse than they are.

I have talked more customers out of tree removals than into them. If the tree just needs pruning, we prune it. If it is fine, I tell you it is fine. I would rather keep your tree and keep your trust than sell you a removal you do not need. (Michelle says this is bad for revenue. I say it is good for sleeping at night.)

DIY Tree Cutting: Why We Do Not Recommend It

I get this question a lot. "Can I cut down this small tree myself?" Small tree, open area, no structures nearby, no power lines, chainsaw experience — maybe. Here is why "maybe" is doing a lot of work in that sentence.

Tree cutting is one of the most dangerous things a homeowner can do with a weekend and a chainsaw. The tree does not always fall where you think it will. The top can barber-chair (split vertically and kick back — the arborist term for "surprise, the tree is coming at you now"). A hung-up limb can spring loose without warning. Chainsaw kickback happens in a fraction of a second. Falls from ladders while cutting branches are the number-one homeowner tree-work injury. We have a running joke on the crew: the two most dangerous words in the English language are "hold my."

We charge $300 to $500 for a small tree. The job is done in an hour or two, the yard is clean, and nobody went to the emergency room. The math is not complicated. As my daughter Marisa puts it: "Dad, you are literally selling people their Saturdays back." She is not wrong.

Massachusetts Permits and Regulations

Several of our 18 service towns require permits for tree removal. The rules vary:

• Street trees and public shade trees are under the tree warden's jurisdiction in every Massachusetts town. You cannot cut a tree on the town right-of-way without the tree warden's approval.
• Private property removals may require a permit depending on the town and the tree's diameter. Some towns like Lexington and Wellesley have detailed tree bylaws with per-inch mitigation fees.
• Trees near wetlands may need conservation commission approval under the Massachusetts Wetlands Protection Act. If your tree is within 100 feet of a wetland, check before you cut.
• Utility-line trees are handled by the utility company. If branches are within 10 feet of a power line, call Eversource first.

We handle the permit process as part of the job. Do not take a crew's word that "you do not need one" — verify with the town. (I have seen this go badly. A crew told a homeowner in Concord they did not need a permit for a heritage oak. The Conservation Commission disagreed. The fine was more than the tree removal would have cost.)

What Happens During a Professional Tree Cutting

Here is what to expect when you hire us:

1. We look at the tree first. We come out, walk the property, and talk through what needs to happen. We point out hazards, discuss the fall direction, and explain the approach. You tell us what you want. We tell you what the tree needs — which is sometimes less than what you asked for.
2. We quote a flat price. Based on the tree size, access, and scope. One number. Written down. It does not change after the saw starts.
3. We protect the property. Plywood over the lawn where we are working. Ropes to lower branches — we do not drop them. Tarps if we are near a garden or a pool.
4. We cut the tree. Felling cuts for open areas, sectional rigging for tight spaces. Every cut is planned. The tree goes where we put it.
5. We clean up. Brush goes in the chipper. Chips go on the truck or in a designated spot if you want them for mulch. Trunk wood gets hauled or bucked to firewood length. Sawdust gets raked. The yard should look better than when we arrived.

Straight Answers

How much does a tree cutting service cost? $300 to $3,000+ depending on tree size, access, and complexity. Crane work runs $2,000 to $5,000+. We quote one flat price.

What is the difference between tree cutting and tree removal? Tree cutting is the physical act. Tree removal is the full service including hauling and cleanup. Make sure your quote covers everything.

Do I need a permit? Depends on your town and the tree. We handle the paperwork.

Can I cut down a tree myself? Small trees in open areas, maybe. Anything near a house or power line, call a pro. The risk is not worth the savings.

Does insurance cover tree cutting? Routine maintenance: usually no. Storm damage to a covered structure: usually yes. We work with insurance adjusters regularly.

What happens to the wood? We haul it, or we buck it into firewood-length rounds if you want to keep it. Your call.

Do you remove the stump too? Yes, stump grinding is an add-on service. We can do it the same day as the cutting for a bundled price that beats a separate visit.

What towns do you serve? 18 towns across Middlesex County: Billerica, Chelmsford, Lowell, Tewksbury, Wilmington, Burlington, Bedford, Carlisle, Dracut, Westford, Andover, Woburn, Lexington, Concord, Lincoln, Winchester, Acton, and Waltham.

Call Us

McDonald Tree Service, Billerica, since 1995. Tree cutting, removal, pruning, stump grinding — across 18 Middlesex County towns. Licensed and insured. Owner on every job.

Call (978) 375-2272. I will come look at the tree, tell you what it needs, and quote you one flat price. If the tree does not need to come down, I will tell you that too. I would rather be honest than busy.