Stump Grinding Cost Guide

Transparent Pricing

Twin Cities stump grinding cost

Real ballpark numbers from real 2026 jobs. Your final quote is fixed off the photo — no on-site upcharges.

Stump size (diameter)	Typical price
Small (up to 12")	$250 minimum
Medium (12–24")	$275–$425
Large (24–36")	$425–$650
Extra-large (36"+)	Quote by photo
Chip haul-off	+ $75–$150
Backfill with black dirt	+ $75–$150
Additional stumps (same visit)	10–25% off each

Prices reflect typical 2026 Twin Cities metro jobs. Your final quote is fixed off the photo — no on-site upcharges.

What actually drives the price

Three things determine what you pay:

Diameter at ground level. The bigger the stump, the more material to grind. We price at roughly $4–$7 per inch, above the minimum.
Access. A stump 20 feet from where we can park is fast. A stump behind a locked gate, through a garden bed, with steps in the way — that adds setup time. We flag this in the quote if it applies.
Add-ons. Chip haul-off, backfill with black dirt, or grinding down to a garden-bed depth (18″+ instead of the standard 12″) each cost extra.

What the price includes

Utility locate call (811) — no charge, we handle it
Grinder + operator + travel from Eden Prairie
Grinding to 8–12″ below grade
Chip cleanup + light rake of the surrounding grass
Full liability + workers-comp insurance ($1M policy, COI available on request)

What competitors sometimes charge extra for

We include all of these in the quote — no add-ons:

Travel/fuel surcharge (nope, we work the whole metro at flat rate)
“Root flare” grinding (yes, we grind out visible surface roots within the work zone)
Second visit if we miscalculated (yes, we come back at no charge)

Ballpark for a typical Twin Cities front-yard maple: $300–$400 all in. A boulevard ash stump with haul-off: $375–$475. Text us a photo for the actual number.

How to save on stump grinding

Bundle stumps. Second stump at the same address is 10–15% off. Talk to your neighbor with the ash tree, split the drive-out.
Skip the haul-off. Wood chips make excellent mulch for garden beds — free landscaping material.
Time it with fence or sod install. Coordinate with your fence/landscape crew so we grind right before they start — saves you a return visit.
Winter jobs. Frozen ground grinds fast (no root spring-back). We run a small winter discount on jobs booked Dec–Feb.

Cost FAQ

Pricing questions we hear a lot

What's the average cost to grind a stump in the Twin Cities?

Most residential stumps run $275–$425. That covers the vast majority — 12" to 24" diameter maples, ash, and elms. Bigger stumps (24"+) go $425–$650. Anything under 12" hits our $250 minimum.

Why is there a minimum charge?

A grinder + operator + truck fuel + drive time + insurance costs roughly the same whether the stump is 8" or 18". Below $250 we lose money on the drive, so we bundle small stumps into batches — a $250 minimum lets us keep pricing honest.

Do you charge extra for hard wood species?

Not by species — we quote off diameter. But we'll note if a stump is particularly gnarly (silver maple, elm with fused roots) and price accordingly. The photo tells us most of what we need.

Is chip haul-off included?

No — chips left on site by default (they make excellent mulch). Haul-off adds $75–$150 depending on volume. Add another $75–$150 to top-dress with black dirt for a seed-ready surface.

Do you offer multi-stump discounts?

Yes. Second stump is 10–15% off, third is 20%, fourth+ is 25%. HOAs and rental properties routinely get 6–20 stumps done in a single visit at bulk pricing — call for a proposal.

Can I get a fixed price, or is it a range?

Fixed. Every photo quote we send is the exact number you pay. No 'we discovered roots' upcharge, no fuel surcharge. If we underestimated, that's on us.