Get Your Free Tree Estimate
Upload a photo on this page. You do not leave this guide.
Two crews look at the same 50-foot oak and come back with quotes that differ by more than the tree is worth. It is rarely one company overcharging. It is two different jobs: one is priced to fell and chip, the other to dismantle and lower. This page is the checklist for spotting which is which.
What should be the same in every quote
- The tree: species, height, trunk diameter.
- Access: gate width, surface, slope, distance from the tree to where a truck can stand.
- What is in the drop zone: house, fence, pool, service drop, septic, neighbour's roof.
- Permit status and any heritage or protected-tree review.
If two quotes disagree on those facts, they are not comparable yet. Fix the facts first — that is what the estimator's range is for: a shared starting point before anyone visits.
The line items that actually move the number
- Rigging plan. Felling into open ground is the cheapest safe method. Dismantling in sections over a roof costs multiples of that in labour. Ask which plan the quote is based on.
- Crane. A crane can be cheaper than rigging by hand on a tight lot, and it can add a machine and an operator to a job that did not need one. Either way it is a visible line, not a mystery.
- Disposal. Chips on site, chips hauled, logs left, logs hauled, firewood cut and stacked — four different prices. "Haul everything" is not a default.
- Stump. Grinding to grade, grinding deep, or full removal with backfill are three different jobs. Most quotes stop at the stump cut.
- Insurance and payroll. A crew with workers' compensation and liability cover carries costs a cash crew does not. That is a real price difference, and it is the one you want to pay for.
- Timing. Same-week and storm pricing is higher. Booking two weeks out is cheaper than an emergency.
| Height band | Texas range | A quote far under it is usually missing |
|---|---|---|
| Under 25 ft | $150–$450 | Stump, hauling |
| 25–50 ft | $450–$1,200 | Hauling, stump, cleanup |
| 50–75 ft | $1,200–$2,500 | Rigging plan, insurance, hauling |
| 75+ ft | $2,500–$5,000 | Crane time, permits, disposal |
How to compare two quotes in ten minutes
- Put both in writing with the same scope headings: removal method, disposal, stump, cleanup, permits, insurance.
- Strike anything one quote includes and the other does not, then re-price the difference instead of comparing totals.
- Ask each crew to state the rigging plan in one sentence. If they cannot, the price is not a plan.
- Ask for the certificate of insurance and check the dates.
- Ask what happens if the tree is hollow, or if a limb hits the fence. The answer tells you who is carrying the risk.
Red flags worth walking away from
- No written scope, or a price on a business card.
- Cash only, no receipt, no insurance certificate.
- "Today only" pressure after a storm, when you have not had time to compare.
- A price well below the local range with no explanation of what is excluded. In Texas the statewide band for a 50- to 75-foot removal is $1,200–$2,500; a quote far under it is usually missing hauling, stump or insurance.
- Anyone who offers to "take care of the permit" without naming the city department.
Use a range before you call
A range will not tell you which crew to hire. It tells you whether a quote is in the right neighbourhood, and it gives you a number to ask about. The method behind ArborHub's ranges — base table, city factor, what the estimate cannot see — is published at /methodology, and the raw table is at /data.
Frequently asked questions
Why are tree removal quotes so different in Texas?
Because they price different plans. Felling into open ground, dismantling over a roof, using a crane, hauling chips versus leaving them, and grinding the stump or not are separate decisions, and each moves the number. Two quotes only compare once the scope matches.
Should I take the lowest quote?
Only after checking three things: a written scope, a certificate of insurance, and a stated rigging plan. A quote far below the local range usually excludes hauling, stump work or insurance rather than being a better deal.
How much should a tree removal cost in Texas?
Statewide 2026 bands: $150–$450 under 25 feet, $450–$1,200 at 25 to 50 feet, $1,200–$2,500 at 50 to 75 feet, $2,500–$5,000 above 75 feet, before the city cost factor.
Do I need three quotes?
Two written quotes with the same scope is enough to find the outliers. Three helps when the tree is near a structure and the rigging plans differ, because that is where the real spread is.
Start with your own tree: upload a photo, or read the statewide cost guide.