How much does stump removal cost in Louisiana?
Stump removal runs $200 to $700 per stump, according to Fixr. Its national average is about $380, for a 24 inch stump with part of its roots. Grinding a stump down costs less, at $150 to $300 per Fixr. LawnStarter prices stump work at $2 to $5 per inch of diameter.
Those are published national ranges, and the same things move the price around Acadiana. A real number for your stump needs an on-site look.
What does stump removal cost by size?
Size and method move the price most, according to Fixr. Fixr prices a 12 inch stump pulled out with its roots at $85 to $200. A 24 inch stump runs $200 to $700, and a 48 inch stump $540 to $800. Grinding costs less at every size on Fixr’s list.
| Stump size | Ground down, per Fixr | Pulled out with its roots, per Fixr |
|---|---|---|
| Small, about 12 inches across | $40 to $75 | $85 to $200 |
| Medium, about 24 inches across | $75 to $150 | $200 to $700 |
| Large, about 48 inches across | $150 to $250 | $540 to $800 |
| Per inch of diameter | $2 to $5 | Not listed |
LawnStarter puts stump work at $2 to $5 per diameter inch, the same as Fixr’s grinding rate. Its per stump figure is about $150 to $300. Fixr’s own example is an 18 inch stump ground down for $36 to $90. Measure across the widest points of the stump to get the inches.
Fixr’s table leaves out minimum charges. Fixr and LawnStarter both put a common minimum near $100. One small stump can cost more than the table shows. Fixr adds that the first stump usually pays full price and each extra one less.
Is it cheaper to grind or remove a stump?
Grinding is cheaper. Fixr puts stump grinding cost at $150 to $300 for an average stump, against $200 to $700 for removal. A grinder turns the stump into wood chips and leaves the roots in the ground. Removal pulls the stump and its root structure out.
How deep a grinder goes is a choice. Fixr says a stump can be ground as little as 1 inch below ground level. Larger stumps can go as deep as 12 inches. Fixr also notes that grinding may leave more of the root structure behind than digging does.
We dig stumps out. Stump removal around New Iberia starts with a mini excavator opening the dirt around the stump. The root ball comes up whole, roots and all. The hole gets backfilled, and we mound the fill a little because fresh fill settles.
What moves the price of stump removal around Acadiana?
Diameter and root spread move it most. After that come the wood, the ground, the access, the number of stumps and where the wood goes. Acadiana adds wet clay and a tree that keeps coming back. Each one changes how long the job takes.
Diameter and roots. Most pros price on the diameter, Fixr says. Roots are the hidden part. Fixr’s top price of $1,100 covers a big stump with roots running more than 15 feet.
The wood. Fixr lists oak and hickory among the trees that cost more to remove, because of dense wood and roots. Live oak falls on that list. LawnStarter adds that most pros charge the same rate per inch, whatever the tree.
Chinese tallow. LSU AgCenter calls Chinese tallow one of the worst invasive trees in Louisiana. It says mechanical removal and herbicide applications are considered ineffective for long-term control. Fixr notes that still-living roots can send up new growth, and grinding leaves those roots in place.
Wet clay and water. Acadiana sits on heavy clay with a high water table. Fixr says soil conditions can make removal more difficult and costly. A hole dug after a wet week can hold water, and soft ground slows the work.
Access. The machine has to reach the stump. Fixr lists access through fencing among the things that add cost. A back yard behind a narrow gate takes longer than an open lot.
How many stumps. The first stump pays full price, Fixr says. It puts each extra stump pulled out at $50 to $150. For grinding, Fixr lists about $80 to $150 for the first stump and $40 to $75 for each extra one.
The hole and the wood. A big stump leaves a big hole, and it can take extra dirt to fill. Hauling the stump off costs extra too. LawnStarter puts haul-off at $1.5 to $4 more per diameter inch, and Fixr puts disposal at $25 to $50.
The 811 notice. Louisiana law requires notice to Louisiana 811 before any excavation. It goes in at least 48 hours ahead and no more than 120 hours ahead. Weekends and holidays do not count.
What is the cheapest way to get rid of a stump?
Leaving the stump alone costs nothing, so that is the cheapest way. Among removal methods, LawnStarter calls chemical rotting the least expensive, with stump remover granules around $10. It is slow. LawnStarter says the trunk takes four to six weeks to soften, and thick stumps can shrug it off.
Fixr puts a chemical job done by a landscaper at $60 to $200. It says chemicals are not effective on deep-rooted trees. They also take much longer than a machine.
A grinder from a tool rental shop is the next step up. LawnStarter puts a day at $190 to $360, and Fixr at about $200 to $350. LawnStarter warns that it can be dangerous with no training.
Digging a small stump out by hand is the other way. LawnStarter puts the tools for it at around $433.
When does digging a stump out make sense?
Dig it out when something is going on that spot. Anything built on top, like a slab or a driveway, needs the roots gone first. Fixr says that with the stump and roots out, you can build a solid and durable foundation. Grinding leaves the roots under the new work.
That is where digging a stump out with an excavator is worth the extra cost over grinding. The root ball comes out and the hole gets filled. A pad or a driveway base on that spot is dirt work.
Planning a new tree? Fixr says not to plant in the old hole, and to plant at least five feet away. A tree that sprouts from its roots is the other reason to dig, since grinding leaves the roots behind. Even then, expect a few shoots from a Chinese tallow.
A lot full of stumps is a bigger job. That is land clearing, and the published ranges are in what land clearing costs per acre in Louisiana.
How do you get a real number for your stump?
A real number needs an on-site look. We check the diameter, the wood, the ground and the way in. We count the stumps and ask what the spot is for. Then the published ranges above turn into one price for your job.
Estimates are free and done on site, across New Iberia and the rest of Acadiana. Call (337) 201-0594 or ask for a free stump removal estimate.