Most residential tree removals around Chattanooga cost between $550 and $1,400. A small ornamental tree in an open front yard can come in under $500. A big oak leaning over a house on Signal Mountain that needs a crane can pass $3,800. Here’s what drives the number, so you can tell whether an estimate is fair.
These are typical local ranges, not quotes. Only a crew that has seen the tree can price it.
Typical prices by tree size
| Tree height | Typical range around Chattanooga | Common examples |
|---|---|---|
| Small, under 30 ft | $250 to $550 | Dogwood, redbud, crape myrtle, young Bradford pear |
| Medium, 30 to 60 ft | $550 to $1,250 | Maple, mature Bradford pear, Virginia pine |
| Large, 60 to 80 ft | $1,000 to $2,200 | White oak, red oak, sweetgum, hickory |
| Very large or crane job, 80 ft and up | $1,800 to $3,800 or more | Tulip poplar, big oaks over houses |
What pushes the price up
Slope and access. This is the big one around Chattanooga. A tree in a flat, open yard in East Brainerd that a bucket truck can reach is a quick job. The same tree on a steep lot on Lookout Mountain or Missionary Ridge, with no truck access, has to be climbed and lowered piece by piece, which can double the labor.
What’s underneath. A tree hanging over the roof, a pool, a fence or the neighbor’s garage has to come down in small, controlled sections. Open ground underneath means it can often be dropped in one piece.
Power lines. Trees near lines need extra care and sometimes coordination with EPB or your utility, which adds time.
Dead trees. Dead wood is brittle and unpredictable to climb. Dead ash trees, which are common since emerald ash borer reached Chattanooga, can be especially risky and often cost more.
Trunk size. A wide trunk means more wood to cut, move and haul.
A crane. When a big tree can’t be safely climbed or there’s no room to lower pieces, a crane lifts sections out over the house. Crane jobs often add $1,000 or more, but can still be the cheapest safe option.
Emergencies. After-hours and storm work usually runs 25 to 50 percent above normal pricing.
What’s usually included, and what isn’t
A standard removal price normally covers cutting the tree down, chipping the branches and cleaning up. Ask about these separately:
- Stump grinding. Usually extra, often $150 to $400 for the first stump. See stump grinding.
- Wood hauling. Some quotes leave the trunk rounds stacked in your yard. Hauling them away costs more.
- Permits. Rarely needed for a tree on your own lot in Chattanooga, but trees on the city right-of-way need a permit. See our permit guide.
Ways to keep the cost down
- Book in late fall or winter. Crews are often less busy outside spring storm season.
- Keep the wood. Letting the crew leave the rounds stacked can take money off.
- Do several trees at once. The crew and equipment are already there, so each extra tree costs less.
- Deal with a dying tree early. A tree that’s still partly alive is safer and cheaper to remove than one that’s been dead for three years.
- Get stump grinding done the same day. It’s cheaper than bringing the grinder back.
Will insurance pay for it?
If a tree falls and damages your house, garage or another covered structure, homeowners insurance often pays to remove it from the structure, minus your deductible. A healthy tree you simply want gone isn’t covered, and neither is a tree that falls in the yard without hitting anything. See does homeowners insurance cover tree removal in Tennessee.
How to compare estimates
Quotes for the same tree can vary a lot, and the cheapest isn’t always the best deal. Make sure each estimate is in writing and lists the same things: how the tree comes down, cleanup, wood hauling, stump grinding and insurance. Ask each crew how they plan to do the job. One that plans to rig sections off your roof is pricing a different job than one that plans to drop it in one piece.
For a quick ballpark, try the tree removal cost calculator. For a real number, ask for a free written estimate.
Need a tree crew around Chattanooga?
Call (423) 275-4820 or send a few details. We’ll match you with an independent local crew for a free written estimate, usually the same day.