How Much Does Stump Grinding Cost?

Stump Grinding Cost: What the National Guides Say

These are national figures from 2026 cost guides, not our prices. Real prices vary by region, by company and by stump.

• Per stump: HomeGuide puts the first stump at $120 to $400, and Lawn Love at $120 to $210. HomeGuide says extra-large stumps can run $300 to $800.
• Per inch of diameter: $2 to $6 per inch (HomeGuide) or $2 to $5 (Lawn Love). At those rates, a 24-inch stump works out to roughly $50 to $150 before any minimum.
• Minimum charge: HomeGuide reports minimums of $80 to $160. Lawn Love says most companies charge at least $100, however small the stump.
• Each additional stump: $30 to $60 (HomeGuide) or $40 to $70 (Lawn Love). Extra stumps cost less because the setup is the same for one stump or five.
• By the hour: $100 to $200 (HomeGuide) or $125 to $200 (Lawn Love), mostly for many stumps on larger properties or very difficult jobs.

That is why small stumps often cost the minimum: a 12-inch stump comes to about $30 to $70 at per-inch rates. For a Southeast comparison, LawnStarter lists about $109 to $192 for one medium stump in cities such as Atlanta and Charleston.

What Drives the Price

• Diameter. The biggest factor. Companies measure the widest part of the stump at ground level, not just the cut on top.
• Hardwood or pine. Dense hardwoods like oak and maple take longer to grind than softwoods like pine. LawnStarter says a hardwood stump can add $50 to $150.
• Roots and depth. Big surface roots, or grinding deeper than standard, mean more time on the machine.
• Access. Stumps against a foundation, behind a narrow gate, on a slope or in rocky ground take longer.
• How many stumps. The first stump carries the setup cost. Each one after that costs less.
• Chip cleanup. Leaving the chips costs the least. HomeGuide and Lawn Love put hauling them off at about $2 to $4 per inch of diameter, and some companies build it into the price.
• Backfill and topsoil. Filling the hole and seeding may be extra. HomeGuide lists topsoil at $10 to $50 per yard.

Stump Grinding vs. Full Stump Removal

If you just want the stump gone so you can mow or plant, stump grinding does that. A grinder's spinning cutting wheel chews the stump into chips, and we typically take it 6 to 12 inches below grade. The deeper roots stay in the ground, and HomeGuide notes some can take years to die off.

Full removal digs out the stump and main roots with heavy equipment. HomeGuide says that can leave a hole up to 12 feet wide, and it lists a $150 to $350 minimum just to bring in a backhoe. LawnStarter puts full stump removal at about $175 to $516. Removal makes sense if you want a new tree in the exact spot or plan to build over it. For a lawn or garden bed, grinding is usually enough.

One catch: HomeGuide says some trees, such as elms and willows, can sprout from the roots left behind and may need full root removal to clear for good.

Is Stump Grinding Worth It?

For most yards, yes. HomeGuide says a stump left alone takes 3 to 10 years to rot completely. Until then, it is a tripping hazard and a mowing obstacle, and a rotting stump can draw pests and fungi. Lawn Love notes termites are one of them. Grinding gets the ground back in one visit.

A stump at the edge of the woods where nobody walks or mows can be left to rot, as long as it is not sprouting. In the lawn, near the house, or where you want to plant, grinding is usually the better call.

How Long Does Stump Grinding Take?

The grinding itself is usually quick. HomeGuide says one stump takes 15 minutes to 3 hours, depending on its size, how hard the wood is and where it sits. Large, old hardwoods take the longest.

Before any grinding, buried utility lines have to be marked. North Carolina law requires notice to 811 at least three full working days before digging, and the utilities mark their lines for free. Those marks cover public utility lines, not private ones, so point out sprinkler lines, invisible pet fences and yard lighting wires near the stump. If you are not sure who places the 811 request for your job, ask us when you book. Rules change, so check nc811.org for current requirements.

Renting a Stump Grinder vs. Hiring It Out

Renting can look cheaper on paper. HomeGuide lists grinder rental at $100 to $400 a day, and Lawn Love estimates $445 to $585 for a do-it-yourself job once the rental and supplies are added up. HomeGuide notes that for just a few stumps, renting often costs more than hiring a pro, and LawnStarter says a DIY grind can take 1 to 3 days.

Safety is the bigger issue. Toro's operator manual for one of its stump grinders warns that debris will fly in all directions and can injure your eyes and other exposed parts of the body. If you do rent one:

• Get the lines marked first. Call 811 at least three full working days ahead. The Toro manual says the same.
• Wear the gear. HomeGuide advises safety glasses, protective boots and full-length clothing.
• Keep people back. The Toro manual says to keep all bystanders at least 30 feet away.
• Leave the guards on. Toro says never to run the grinder without its shield and chip guard.
• Get a walkthrough. HomeGuide advises having the rental dealer explain how to operate the machine.

If you would rather hand it off, we grind stumps from trees someone else cut, too. We carry $1,000,000 in general liability insurance.

What to Do With the Chips

Grinding leaves a big pile of wood chips. You choose whether we leave them as mulch or haul them off. If you keep them:

• Spread them around trees and shrubs, not flower beds. Purdue Extension notes that fresh chips can be acidic and borrow nitrogen from the soil as they break down, which is hardest on shallow-rooted flowers.
• Do not bury them where you want grass. Mixing fresh chips into soil can lower its fertility for a while. For a lawn patch, rake out most of the chips, fill the hole with topsoil, let it settle, and seed it.
• Pile the extra to age. Purdue says fresh chips should ideally compost for a full year before going into planting beds.

The spot may settle as the buried wood breaks down, so keep a little topsoil on hand to top it off later.

Stump Grinding in Asheboro and Randolph County

We grind stumps in Asheboro and across Randolph County. Estimates are free, and you get the plan and the price in writing before we start. Call or text our main phone at (336) 523-8278 or our alternate phone at (336) 479-4339. A photo of the stump with a tape measure across it at ground level helps us understand the job.