How Much Does Stump Removal Cost in Alabama?
Most homeowners pay $195 to $609 for stump removal, according to Angi’s 2026 figures. Angi’s national average is $369, based on 16,293 verified projects. HomeGuide puts the average at $100 to $400, depending on size, diameter and removal method.
Those are market numbers from national cost guides, not our price list. The one Alabama city in LawnStarter’s table, Dothan, runs $136 to $270 per stump with labor and materials. What stump removal costs on your land comes down to the stumps and the ground under them.
How much does each stump removal method cost?
In the national guides, manual removal, where the stump is dug and pulled, costs the most, because the roots come out with it. Angi calls it the most expensive method and also the cleanest. Digging stumps out with a machine is priced per stump plus a minimum fee, and grinding leaves the roots in the ground.
| Method | What happens to the roots | Published market range |
|---|---|---|
| Dug out with a backhoe | Come out with the stump | $80 to $190 per stump, plus $150 to $350 minimum fees (HomeGuide) |
| Manual removal, dug and pulled | Come out with the stump | $200 to $700 (Angi); $190 to $630 (LawnStarter) |
| Stump grinding | Stay in the ground | $150 to $500 (Angi); $120 to $400 for the first stump, $30 to $60 for each additional one (HomeGuide) |
| Chemical rotting, done yourself | Stay in the ground | $15 to $60 for the stump killer alone (HomeGuide) |
| Burning, done yourself | Stay in the ground | $50 to $200 per stump (HomeGuide) |
The last two rows are the slow do-it-yourself routes. HomeGuide says chemical rotting or burning takes days to weeks, depending on size. A chemical treatment kills the stump in 4 to 6 weeks, and the wood takes months more to break down.
Should you pull a stump or grind it?
It depends on what that spot has to do next. Building, grading, fencing, a driveway or a mowed field all call for pulling, because the roots come out. HomeGuide notes that total tree root removal is mandatory before site construction begins.
Grinding is the market option other trades sell. Angi says stump grinding goes four to six inches below ground and leaves the roots intact. LawnStarter adds that a grinder leaves a pile of chips. In its guide, digging the stump out is the only method that gets rid of the roots.
Precision Excavation pulls stumps, root ball and all, and does not grind. We use a trackhoe, the North Alabama word for an excavator. It digs in beside the stump and breaks the side roots, then lifts the root ball out.
How do stump size and stump count change the price?
Size is the main cost factor, Angi says, and it is measured across the stump. Angi and LawnStarter both put stump removal at $2 to $5 per diameter inch. At that rate, Angi’s table puts a 24-inch stump at $48 to $120.
HomeGuide says to measure across the base, where the stump comes out of the ground. It prices grinding at $2 to $6 per inch, with minimum fees of $80 to $160.
Minimums count on a small job. Angi says most pros charge a $100 to $150 minimum for a single callout. With more stumps, that rate often drops to $40 to $75 per stump. For grinding, HomeGuide lists $30 to $60 for each stump after the first.
Big hardwood stumps cost more. HomeGuide puts grinding a huge stump at $300 to $800. Angi says dense hardwoods like oak and hickory take longer. Older, decaying stumps come out easier and faster than newer ones, Angi adds.
What do the roots and the leftover hole add?
HomeGuide says digging a stump out leaves a large hole, so backfilling with new dirt costs extra. It puts topsoil at $10 to $50 per yard for filling holes from large trees.
Roots that run past the stump can be their own charge. HomeGuide puts tree root removal at $150 to $300 on average. LawnStarter says pros charge $100 to $185 per hour to remove the root system.
Hauling the debris away is often extra too. Angi says cleanup and debris hauling adds $1 to $4 per diameter inch. When we pull a stump, the hole gets filled and the ground rough graded. If it needs more dirt, our dump trucks bring fill in.
What raises stump removal prices in North Alabama?
Start with rock. USDA soil records describe the Decatur series from a sample site in Limestone County. That soil formed from limestone, and any layer can hold chert fragments.
LawnStarter says removal can cost extra when a stump is anchored in rocky terrain. Rock can dull or damage the equipment. HomeGuide says stumps in rocky or clay soil take longer to remove.
Our trackhoes carry rippers for this ground. When a root ball comes up with rock in it, rock removal rides along with the stump work.
Access counts as well. Angi says steep hills and rugged terrain make it harder to get equipment to the site. Our lowboy trailer brings the trackhoe to the job, and the machine still needs room to reach each stump.
Does it matter if the land is already cleared?
It does. The per-stump prices above fit stumps on open ground, like a yard, an old pasture or a fence line. We pull stumps on ground that was cleared long ago as well.
When trees are still standing, the stumps come out as part of land clearing. Our guide to land clearing cost per acre in Alabama covers what that work costs.
If the trees come down first, the Alabama Cooperative Extension System has advice on how to cut them. Leave stumps 6 to 10 feet high for leverage if a dozer will push them out. Cut trees at ground level if a stump grinder is coming.
Where do pulled stumps go, and when do you need a burn permit?
Pulled stumps get hauled off, buried on site or burned. Our dump trucks can haul them away, or they can go in the ground in a spot you pick. Burning is the landowner’s business, not ours.
Alabama burn permits come from the Alabama Forestry Commission. A fire of a quarter acre or more needs one; under a quarter acre, no permit is needed. The permit is issued through the AFC dispatch center at (800) 392-5679.
Even with a permit, the burner stays responsible for any damage the fire or smoke causes. Some county and city laws also restrict outdoor burning, so check with your local government. Our guide to land clearing permits in Alabama goes further.
What has to happen before a stump comes out?
Pulling a stump means digging, so Alabama 811 comes first. Contact Alabama 811 two to ten full working days before digging starts. The service is free, and digging starts only after every utility has responded.
How do you get a real price for your stumps?
Every figure above comes from national cost guides, and none of it is our price list. A real number takes a look at the stumps and the ground around them. We are based in Trinity and work about 60 miles out across North Alabama. Call or text (256) 303-7210 for a free estimate on pulling your stumps.