Tree Removal Costs

In Buffalo, people with small non-risky trees spend $200 on tree removal. Property owners planning to remove extremely large trees, however, can spend up to $2000.

Most properties in Buffalo have medium-sized trees on them. This generally places the tree removal cost between $400 and $1,200, with most people spending $750.

You should expect to pay between $8 and $15 per foot of tree height, with this range resulting from factors like the risks associated with the removal and the time needed to bring the tree down. In the following section, we will take a look at the main factors that affect tree removal cost.

Factors Affecting the Cost of Removing a Tree in Buffalo

1. Tree Size

Most property owners assume that the only size that matters when it comes to tree removal is the height. The tree diameter, however, also plays a key role – at its basic, tree removal involves cutting through the stem of a tree, and the bigger the diameter, the more time it will take.

Tree height, however, does play a bigger role in the tree removal cost. As the height of your tree increases, the area under risk during tree removal goes up – this means more clearance is needed for taller trees. If the clearance is not available, more work will be needed to bring the tree down without causing damage.

Bigger trees are generally heavier than small trees. This means that the equipment needed to handle the removal of a bigger tree has to be more powerful. All this increases the amount that property owners spend on the removal of bigger trees.

The prices outlined below should act as a guide when you are creating your tree removal budget:

Small Tree Removal Cost

Trees with a height of below 30 feet fit in this category. Small trees do not require a lot of work – professionals can finish the removal process in a few hours. The tree removal cost for small trees falls between $150 and $400.

Medium Tree Removal Cost

Trees in this category grow to heights of 30 to 60 feet. To get rid of these trees, you will need to prepare $450 to $750, depending on how complicated the removal process is.

Compared to small trees, medium-sized trees carry bigger diameters, with most of the trees having diameters of between 15 and 19 inches. While the trees may need more work than their small counterparts, their removal can be completed in a single day.

Large Tree Removal Cost

Trees that fit in the large category have a height of 60 to 100 feet. The stem diameter on these trees is generally bigger than 20 inches.

To complete large tree removal, professionals generally take a whole day. If the team is less experienced, or they have less capable tools, the removal may take several days. The more work needed generally raises the tree removal cost, putting it between $900 and $1,200.

Very Large Tree Removal Cost

When a tree hits 100 feet in height, it fits in the very large category. In Buffalo, trees in this category tend to have diameters of more than 24 inches and to bring them down, the tree removal professionals often need several days. The removal of a tree with a height of more than 100 feet costs $1,300 to $2,000.

2. Crane Assisted Removal

Trees in the large and very large categories tend to be too heavy to be handled using normal tree removal gear. If the trees are in a location where they may fall on utility lines or your buildings, the tree removal professionals have to come up with a way of controlling them – cranes can help in handling these trees.

Most tree removal professionals do not own cranes. If a crane is needed, you will have to rent it. In Buffalo, cranes are rented at prices of $200 to $600 per day, plus an extra $50 to $100 for the crane operator.

If you had been charged $2100 to get rid of a white pine without a crane, expect the cost to go up if you have to get a crane. In this project, let’s assume that you get the crane at $500 per day plus the $100 for the operator – this gives a total of $600 for the crane only. Now, the total tree removal cost will be $2100 + $600 = $2,700.

3. Tree Species

Different types of trees grow to various heights. Their diameters are also different, with their crowns presenting varying complications. This often affects the overall removal cost. Below, we have outlined the removal cost of some of the tree species that are common in Buffalo:

Conifer Tree Removal Cost

Even though conifers can grow quite tall, they are generally easier to remove, which means that they do not cost a fortune to get rid of. In Buffalo, property owners pay $800 to $1,100 to conduct the conifer tree removal. Depending on the tree service provider, however, this cost can include the cost of hurling the removed tree away and removing the tree stump.

Maple Tree Removal Cost

Maple trees can reach heights of 100+ feet. Because of the size and the work involved during removal, the tree’s removal can be expensive. In Buffalo, property owners spend $1,000 – $1,700 on the maple tree removal.

Eucalyptus Tree Removal Cost

While Eucalyptus trees are not very common in Buffalo, they are generally large compared to most tree species – this is in terms of height and the diameter. On the low end, the trees carry a removal cost of $1,200. However, Eucalyptus trees with a height of more than 100 feet and a huge trunk diameter can cost as much as $3000 to get rid of.

Oak Tree Removal Cost

If your oak tree has a height of about 60 feet, you should expect to spend $200 to $800 on its removal. However, if the tree has grown to about 100 feet, the tree removal cost may increase to between $800 and $1000.

Sycamore Tree Removal Cost

In Buffalo, sycamores have an average height of 30 – 60 feet. Removing a sycamore tree costs $600 to $900, depending on how complicated the process is and the tree’s exact height.

Pine Tree Removal Cost

Small pine trees are easy to remove. The entire process becomes complicated when the pine tree grows to over 80 feet. This puts the pine removal cost between $200 and $1500.

4. Tree Condition

Several conditions tend to increase or decrease the cost of removing a tree. These include:

Decays and Cavities

These indicate that a tree does not have a solid wood structure. They are a good sign that the tree’s structural stability is compromised and there is a possibility of the tree falling during removal. Stabilization mechanisms may be needed to avoid property damages.

Weak Branches

If the branches on your tree are posing the risk of falling during tree removal, they may need to be cut and brought down first. This should help avoid injuries and property damages.

Significant Leans

Slight leans are common and normal in Buffalo. However, when the lean increases significantly, this is an indicator your tree might fall.

Fallen Trees

Unlike the conditions mentioned above, fallen trees do not increase the tree removal cost – they generally bring it down. The work needed is generally minimal, which reduces the removal cost to $75 to $150. However, there is an exception – if the tree has fallen on utilities and finesse is needed to avoid further damage, you may need to pay a higher cost.

Dead Trees

Dead trees are much lighter and are, therefore, much easier to handle during removal. Depending on how hard the tree’s wood is, most property owners spend $75 to $400 on the removal.

5. Accessibility

Trees that are standing on open grounds, with nothing surrounding them, are much easier to remove. All that has to be done is cut through its base and then allow it to fall.

If a tree is surrounded by important utilities, however, work has to be done to bring the tree down without harming the surrounding features. For example, the tree may have to be brought down by cutting it foot by foot from the top. This will mean a higher tree removal cost.

6. Additional Costs

Several additional services can lead to a higher tree removal cost. These include:

Tree Chipping

This service helps get rid of tree removal waste. It generally costs $50 to $100.

Wood Splitting

This service is used by tree owners who would like to use the wood obtained as firewood. For wood splitting, you will need an average of $100.

Stump Removal

To get rid of tree stumps, you should expect to spend the amounts outlined below:

• Per hour cost – When being charged on a per-hour basis, you should expect to spend $150 on each hour.
• Per stump – The first stump is generally expensive, usually costing $150. The remaining stumps can cost $50 each.
• Per diameter-inch – Stump removal experts charge $2 to $3 per diameter inch. However, they do have a minimal cost of $100.