There's no flat rate for tree removal — and any company that quotes one over the phone without seeing the tree is guessing. Price is driven mostly by size, species, and how hard the tree is to reach and drop safely. That said, here are the ranges we typically see for the Lake Murray area and the wider Midlands in 2026.
| Tree size | Typical example | Typical removal cost |
|---|---|---|
| Small (under 25 ft) | Bradford pear, small dogwood | $150 – $500 |
| Medium (25–50 ft) | Crepe myrtle cluster, young pine | $500 – $1,200 |
| Large (50–80 ft) | Mature loblolly pine, water oak | $1,200 – $2,500 |
| Very large / hazardous (80 ft+) | Big oak or pine over a house or lines | $2,500 – $5,000+ |
| Stump grinding (add-on) | Per stump, by diameter | $75 – $400 |
Ranges are general estimates for planning only. Your written quote may fall outside them — the point of a free on-site estimate is a firm number.
What actually moves the price
- Height and trunk diameter. A tree's size drives how long the job takes and how much material has to come down and be hauled off.
- Species. Tall Lake Murray pines are common and often straightforward; big spreading hardwoods like oaks weigh far more per foot and take longer.
- Proximity to your house, fence, or power lines. A tree in an open yard can be felled in one piece. One leaning over your roof has to be climbed and lowered piece by piece — that's skilled, slower, and costs more.
- Access for equipment. Lakefront and wooded lots sometimes can't fit a bucket truck or chipper close to the tree, which adds labor.
- Dead, diseased, or storm-damaged. Unstable trees are more dangerous to remove and are priced for that risk.
- Stump and debris. Stump grinding and full debris haul-off are usually add-ons — worth confirming they're in the quote.
Lake Murray—specific factors
Our area has its own quirks. The tall loblolly and longleaf pines around the lake are prone to snapping in storms, and lakefront lots often mean tight access and slopes. Trees weakened by a previous storm can also be under hidden tension, which makes removal trickier — and is exactly why a proper on-site look matters before anyone quotes a price.
How to get an honest number
The only accurate way to price a removal is on site. We come out, look at the tree, the access, and what's underneath it, and give you a firm written price with no obligation. If you're comparing quotes, make sure each one spells out whether stump grinding and cleanup are included — that's where surprise charges hide. See our tree removal service or stump grinding pages for details.