How the estimate is calculated
The estimator adds up typical 2026 Long Island price ranges for each item. The ranges come from 2026 price guides published by Nassau and Suffolk tree companies and cost sites, listed under Sources, and were last checked on November 7, 2026. They aren't our own quotes, and the result isn't a quote either. A crew has to see the tree, the access and what's underneath it. The ranges it uses:
- Trees: small $300–$800, medium $700–$2,000, large $1,500–$3,500+ each.
- Crane: adds $1,500–$3,500 for the job. "Not sure" shows the range with and without it.
- Stumps: $150–$500 for the first, then $30–$60 for each extra stump ground on the same visit.
- Hardwood stumps: +15–20% on stump grinding.
- Haul-away of grindings: $50–$150.
- Town permit: $25–$200 where one is required.
Multi-tree jobs often come in below the sum of single-tree prices, because the crew and equipment are already on site. Storm and after-hours work costs more: typically $500–$3,000 per tree. See emergency tree removal.
A worked example
Two medium maples in a Massapequa backyard, open access, both stumps ground on the same visit: 2 × ($700–$2,000) for the trees, plus $150–$500 for the first stump and $30–$60 for the second, comes to about $1,580–$4,560. If one of them hangs over the garage and needs a crane, add $1,500–$3,500.
The price tables behind it
| Job | Typical Long Island range | What drives it |
|---|---|---|
| Small tree (under 30 ft) | $300 – $800 | Ornamentals, young maples, cherry, arborvitae. Open access, simple drop. |
| Medium tree (30–60 ft) | $700 – $2,000 | Most backyard oaks, maples, and pines on Long Island lots. |
| Large tree (60 ft +) | $1,500 – $3,500+ | Mature North Shore oaks, tulip poplars, tall pitch and white pines. |
| Crane-assisted removal | Crane often adds $1,500 – $3,500 | Over a house, pool or wires, or with no drop zone. Crane jobs cost more overall, but can be faster and safer than climbing over a roof. |
| Storm / emergency removal | $500 – $3,000 per tree | After-hours premium is common. A crane, if needed, is extra. |
| Hourly crew rate (3-person crew) | $240 – $320 / hr | Used for cleanup, brush and odd jobs rather than full removals. |
| Job | Typical Long Island range | What drives it |
|---|---|---|
| Stump grinding, single stump | $150 – $500 | Most residential stumps. Price scales with diameter and access. |
| Per diameter inch | $2 – $6 / inch | Measured across the widest point at ground level. |
| Minimum / trip charge | $75 – $160 | Covers mobilizing the grinder, even for one small stump. |
| Each additional stump (same visit) | $30 – $60+ | Much cheaper once the machine is on site. |
| Hardwood premium (oak, maple, hickory) | +15 – 20% | Dense wood grinds slower. Large oak stumps often carry an extra $50–$100. |
| Haul away grindings | $50 – $150 | Many quotes leave the chips in the hole. Ask. |
| Full stump & root removal (extraction) | Typically 2–4× grinding | Excavator or root-pull work, backfill and grading. Needed for new trees, patios or footings in the same spot. |
| Job | Typical Long Island range | What drives it |
|---|---|---|
| Town tree permit | $25 – $200 | Depends on town, number of trees and property type. Some towns add replacement or payment-in-lieu fees ($150–$500). |
| Tree trimming / pruning | ~$150 – $1,800+ per tree | By tree size: about $80–$450 small, $150–$900 medium and $200–$1,800 large. Tight lots and roof clearance push it higher. |
What makes a real quote higher or lower
- Access. A backyard reached through a 3–4 ft gate means hand-carrying and a smaller grinder.
- Targets. A tree over a roof, pool or wires is taken down in small, roped pieces or by crane.
- Condition. Dead or storm-split trees are less predictable to climb and cut.
- Cleanup. Leaving logs cut to firewood length costs less than hauling everything away.
Before you hire, check the license and insurance: how to vet a tree service. And if you can wait, winter is usually cheaper.
Sources
- Competition Tree — Average Tree Removal Cost on Long Island (2026)
- HomeBlue — Tree Removal Cost in Nassau County (2026)
- Jones Plant Health Care — Stump Grinding Cost in Suffolk County (2026)
- Jones Plant Health Care — Storm Damage Tree Removal Cost (Suffolk)
- Long Island Best Tree Service — Tree Trimming Cost on Long Island (2026)
- Green Light Tree Services — Stump Grinding Cost Per Stump (Nassau, 2026)
