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"How much to take down a big tree?" is usually the first question homeowners ask, and size really is the biggest single factor. But size isn't just height. Trunk diameter, the spread of the canopy, how heavy the wood is, and what's underneath all change how a crew has to take a tree apart — and that's what you're paying for. This guide pulls together the published national price ranges by size used across this site, explains how each dimension affects the work, and shows how to describe your tree so you get quotes you can actually compare.
These are national published ranges, not Sacramento-specific averages and not quotes. Sacramento-area labor often runs above national averages, so treat them as a starting point:
| Height | Angi | HomeGuide |
|---|---|---|
| Under 30 ft | $150–$450 | $200–$500 |
| 30–60 ft | $450–$1,200 | $500–$1,500 |
| 60–80 ft | $800–$1,500 | $850–$2,000 |
| Over 80 ft | $1,000–$2,000 | $1,200–$2,500+ |
Angi puts the national average around $750, with most homeowners paying $200–$2,000 and large or hazardous removals near power lines reaching $10,000 or more. HomeGuide lists an $850 national average, a typical range of $400–$1,200, and an overall range of $200–$3,000. Angi's state table lists California at roughly $650–$1,300, which is consistent with the higher-cost-area picture. For local context, see tree removal cost in Sacramento.
These labels are rough. Two 50-foot trees can be very different jobs depending on what's around them.
Angi lists trunk diameter alongside height and proximity to structures as the main price factors, and notes that trees get wider with age, making the trunk more difficult and slower to cut. HomeGuide says diameter at breast height (DBH) is a key measurement professionals use, and that trees with trunks over 24 inches in diameter cost significantly more to remove than smaller ones. A thicker trunk means heavier sections to lower, more wood to haul or chip, and usually a bigger stump to grind.
How to measure: wrap a tape around the trunk at 4.5 feet above the ground and divide the circumference by 3.14. A 75-inch circumference is about 24 inches in diameter; 100 inches is about 32 inches. For a multi-trunk tree, measure each stem and tell the bidder.
Diameter also decides whether you need a permit. In the City of Sacramento, any tree 32 inches or more in diameter on a single-family or duplex lot is a private protected tree (24 inches on undeveloped land or other property types), and native oaks, California sycamores, and California buckeyes are protected at 12 inches or more (City of Sacramento Urban Forestry – Tree Permits). Rancho Cordova protects any non-oak tree 24 inches or more on residential property. A permit adds a fee (Angi: around $60–$150) and sometimes an arborist report, which Angi says averages about $860. Check your area: City of Sacramento · unincorporated Sacramento County · Elk Grove · Roseville · Folsom · Citrus Heights · Rancho Cordova · West Sacramento · Davis. See also arborist reports for tree permits.
Height and diameter don't capture everything. A broad, spreading crown — common on mulberries, sycamores, and oaks — means more limbs to remove and more of them hanging over things that can't be damaged. Angi notes that branches and root systems in many species extend far in every direction, which can turn a removal into a multi-day project. HomeGuide adds that dense, heavy wood and extensive branch systems are part of why species like oak can cost more. When you describe your tree, include how far the canopy reaches and what's under it.
The same-size tree can be quoted very differently depending on these conditions, all drawn from the Angi and HomeGuide guides:
Bigger trees mean bigger stumps and more debris, so add-ons scale too. Angi lists stump removal at about $100–$150 for the first stump and around $50 for each additional stump, cleanup and haul-off at about $70, and chipping at about $95; HomeGuide puts stump removal at $100 to $500+ per stump depending on size and method. A large stump with big surface roots will land at the higher end. See stump grinding cost.
Other line items to watch for: crane service (Angi: roughly $250–$600 per day, and much more on especially difficult jobs), log splitting if you want firewood (HomeGuide: about $50–$100), and permit or arborist-report fees.
HomeGuide says companies can reduce per-tree costs by 10% to 25% when removing several trees in one visit, since the crew and equipment are already on site. If you have more than one tree you're thinking about, get them quoted together and itemized. And if size is the real problem — a tree that has simply gotten too big for its spot — ask whether pruning could solve it for less. HomeGuide puts tree trimming at about $400–$900 per tree. See tree removal vs. trimming and tree trimming cost.
Most bidders will want to see the tree in person, but sending the same information to each one up front makes quotes far easier to compare:
Then compare written quotes line by line. A much lower bid that leaves out haul-off or stump grinding isn't really cheaper.
Tree removal and most pruning of trees 15 feet or taller generally requires a CSLB license under Business and Professions Code § 7026.1 (C-49 Tree and Palm Contractor), and the bigger the tree, the more important it is that the crew carries liability and workers' compensation insurance. In spring and summer, ask the crew to check for active nests first (Fish and Game Code § 3503). See how to hire a tree service and how to prepare for removal day. Costs by area: Sacramento · Elk Grove · Roseville · Folsom · Citrus Heights · Rancho Cordova · Carmichael · West Sacramento · Davis · Natomas · Antelope · Fair Oaks.
National published ranges from Angi and HomeGuide run about $150–$500 for trees under 30 feet, $450–$1,500 for 30–60 feet, $800–$2,000 for 60–80 feet, and $1,000–$2,500 or more for trees over 80 feet. These are estimates, not quotes; Sacramento-area labor often runs above national averages, and access, hazards, and add-ons can move the price a lot.
Yes. Angi lists trunk diameter alongside height and proximity to structures as main price factors, and HomeGuide says trees with trunks over 24 inches in diameter cost significantly more to remove than smaller ones. Diameter also matters for permits: in the City of Sacramento, any tree 32 inches or more on a single-family or duplex lot is a private protected tree.
Measure around the trunk at 4.5 feet above the ground — the standard "diameter at breast height" — and divide the circumference by 3.14. A trunk that measures 100 inches around is about 32 inches in diameter. Give that number, an estimated height, and photos to each bidder.
Angi says a small tree usually takes a couple of hours, a mid-sized tree about four to eight hours, and larger trees can take one or two full working days, plus up to two hours for stump removal. Access, rigging, and cleanup can add time.
Often. HomeGuide says companies can reduce per-tree costs by 10% to 25% when removing several trees in one visit, because the crew and equipment are already on site. Ask for each tree to be itemized so you can compare bids.
We don't do tree work ourselves. Tell us about your tree and we'll connect you with independent local tree professionals so you can compare written quotes. Always verify the contractor's license and insurance at cslb.ca.gov.
Tree removal costs by area: Sacramento · Elk Grove · Roseville · Folsom · Citrus Heights · Rancho Cordova · Carmichael · West Sacramento · Davis · Natomas · Antelope · Fair Oaks
More guides: Stump grinding cost · Emergency/storm removal · Tree trimming cost · Palm tree removal · Tree permits · Tree fell on house: insurance · Neighbor & boundary trees · Oak tree removal · Dead/hazardous trees · Trees near power lines · Roots, sewers & foundations · Elk Grove permits · Roseville permits · Folsom permits · Citrus Heights permits · Rancho Cordova permits · Sacramento County permits · Davis permits · West Sacramento permits · Hiring a tree service · After a storm · Pine tree removal · When to trim · Defensible space · Landlords, tenants & HOAs · Trees & solar panels · Remove or trim? · Preparing for removal day · Eucalyptus removal · Crane removal cost · Tree removal in an HOA · Arborist reports for permits · Street trees: who's responsible · Sycamore removal · Sweetgum removal · Ash tree removal · Elm tree removal · Fruitless mulberry removal · Leaning trees · Removal cost by tree size