Stump grinding is quoted on the diameter of the stump, how deep it needs to go, access for the machine and what's immediately around it. It's usually priced separately from the tree removal, because it needs different equipment and isn't always wanted.
We don't publish a fixed price list, because two trees that look similar from the pavement can be very different jobs once you factor in access, what's underneath and how the material has to come down. What we can do is explain exactly what moves the number, so you know what to look at before you ring round.
What drives the cost
- Diameter — measured across the cut face, not the trunk higher up.
- Depth required, which depends on what's going on top afterwards.
- Access. Grinders need to physically reach the stump; a narrow side gate can rule out the larger machines.
- What's around it — walls, fences, paths and borders all limit the approach.
- Root spread, where surface roots also need taking out.
- Whether the arisings stay, which is the cheapest option if you have a use for them.
- Stones and buried debris, which are hard on the teeth and slow the job.
How deep does it need to go?
| What's going there afterwards | Depth needed |
|---|---|
| Nothing in particular | Enough to get it below the surface |
| New lawn or turf | Deeper — grass needs soil, not chip |
| Planting a replacement tree | Deeper, and offset from the old position if possible |
| A patio or hard surface | Deeper; the base must be stable |
| Fence line through it | Enough to clear the post positions |
| Border or shrub planting | Moderate |
Grinding deeper takes longer and produces more material, which is why the question of what's going on top afterwards genuinely affects the quote.
What grinding leaves behind
Does the stump actually need removing?
Not always, and it's worth asking before spending. A stump at the back of a border that isn't in anyone's way can simply be left, and it will rot down over years.
- In the way of a lawn, patio, fence or shed? Grind it.
- A trip hazard on a route people walk? Grind it.
- Sending up suckers? Grinding is the reliable answer.
- Replanting close by? Grind it, and offset the new tree.
- Out of the way at the end of the garden? Leaving it is a legitimate choice.
- Somewhere you'd like habitat? A decaying stump is genuinely good for wildlife.
Do it in the same visit if you can
Where a tree is being removed anyway, including the grinding in the same job is cheaper than bringing the machine back later — the travel and set-up happen once. It also avoids the awkward middle stage where the tree is gone but the stump is still occupying the space you were trying to reclaim.
What to check before booking
- Where the machine can get in, and the narrowest point on that route.
- Whether there are services near the stump — drains, cables, water.
- How close walls, fences and paths are.
- What's going on the spot afterwards.
- Whether you want the chip left or taken away.
Got a stump in the way?
Tell us roughly how wide it is and how the machine would reach it, and we'll quote it.