September 2026 pricing data
Maple removal cost by height
The jump between size brackets is steeper for maple than for most species, because the canopy spread grows faster than the trunk. A 30 ft ornamental maple is a small job. A 60 ft sugar maple is a full day of rigging.
| Height | Typical trunk | Cost range | National avg. | Crew time |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Under 25 ft ornamental | Under 10" | $300 – $700 | $480 | 1–3 hrs |
| 25 – 50 ft | 10–18" | $800 – $1,800 | $1,250 | 4–7 hrs |
| 50 – 80 ft | 18–28" | $1,400 – $3,000 | $2,100 | 1–2 days |
| 80 ft + | 28" + | $2,000 – $4,000 | $2,900 | 2 days + crane |
Source: Angi, HomeGuide, LawnLove. National averages current as of September 2026. Prices vary by region and site conditions.
Not all maples cost the same
Maple is a genus, not a species, and the difference between a Japanese maple and a silver maple is larger than the difference between most tree species entirely. Identify yours before you compare quotes.
| Variety | Difficulty | Cost range | What drives it |
|---|---|---|---|
| Silver maple | High | $1,200 – $4,000 | Brittle wood and weak limb attachments, and crews treat them as a hazard tree, with a $100–$300 premium |
| Sugar maple | High | $1,400 – $3,500 | Exceptionally dense hardwood, large mature size, high-value timber |
| Red maple | Medium – High | $900 – $2,600 | Fast growth, moderate density, upright form is easier to rig than silver |
| Norway maple | Medium | $700 – $2,000 | Dense rounded crown but more predictable structure than silver |
| Japanese maple | Low | $150 – $600 | Ornamental scale, often under 20 ft, frequently a hand-tool job |
Source: Angi, HomeGuide, LawnLove. National averages current as of September 2026 for a 40–60 ft tree unless noted.
One upside unique to maple. Sugar maple and black maple are genuine sawmill species. If the trunk is straight, clear and over 18 inches across, a local mill or a firewood buyer may pay you more than the haul-away fee for the log sections. Ask the arborist to leave the trunk in long sections rather than bucking it into rounds.
Why maple sits at the top
The canopy is the cost
Canopy wider than height
A mature maple’s spread often exceeds its height. Limb tips end up over roofs, fences and driveways, which removes the option of felling the tree whole. Everything comes down on ropes, in sections, the slowest way to remove a tree.
Rigging adds 30–50% laborDense hardwood
At roughly 44 lb/ft³, maple is close to oak and nearly double pine. Every limb is heavier than it looks, every rope load is larger, and the chipper processes less volume per hour. On equal diameter, maple costs 50–60% more than pine.
~1.8× pine by weightSilver maple hazard
Silver maples have weak branch unions and brittle wood, and they shed large limbs without warning, often in calm weather. Arborists price this as hazard work, adding $100–$300. It is also the most common reason a “routine” maple becomes an emergency removal.
+$100 – $300 hazard premiumCommon questions
Maple tree removal: frequently asked questions
- Maple tree removal costs $300–$4,000 for most residential trees, averaging around $1,900 for a 50–60 ft tree. Maple is one of the two most expensive common species, alongside oak. A small ornamental maple under 25 ft is a different job entirely and runs $300–$700.
- Two reasons: density and spread. Maple is a hardwood at roughly 44 lb per cubic foot, and it grows a wide, rounded canopy that reaches far past the trunk. That horizontal spread means limbs overhang roofs, fences and driveways, so the tree generally cannot be felled. It has to be climbed and rigged down in sections.
- A maple over 80 ft typically runs $2,000–$4,000. Silver maples are the worst case: they grow fast, hold weak wood, and shed large limbs unpredictably, so crews add a hazard premium. If the tree overhangs a structure, expect crane-assisted removal at $800–$2,000 in equipment on top of labor.
- Yes. Silver maples are notorious for brittle wood and weak branch attachments, and they drop limbs without warning. Arborists treat them as a hazard tree rather than a routine removal, which adds labor and often a premium of $100–$300. If a silver maple is anywhere near a structure, get it assessed before it becomes an emergency call.
- Maple is a hardwood, so expect the upper half of the $3–$5 per inch range, roughly 15–20% above a softwood stump of identical diameter. Maples also spread surface roots widely, and crews frequently hit buried irrigation, wiring or edging while grinding. Bundling the stump with removal avoids the $75–$150 second mobilization charge.
Related tree removal prices
Maple and oak are the two priciest common species. Check both before you assume a quote is high or low.
Get maple removal quotes from local arborists
Identify the variety first, since silver maple and Japanese maple quotes should not be in the same range. Then get three written estimates and compare the rigging plan, not just the number.
Request quotes