How much does stump grinding cost?
Stump grinding usually costs $131 to $438 a job, about $272 on average (LawnStarter, October 2026). Many pros charge $2 to $5 per inch of stump width, with a minimum of $100 to $150 for one stump (HomeAdvisor, June 2026). Extra stumps on the same visit cost less, about $40 to $75 each.
Stump grinding prices by size
- Up to 10 in across$40–$75
- 10 to 30 in$75–$150
- Over 30 in$200–$417
- Priced by the hour$125–$200
From LawnStarter's stump grinding cost guide, updated October 5, 2026. The first stump runs about $123 there, each extra one $37 to $70.
Average prices in nearby cities
- New Braunfels$220
- San Marcos$260
- Boerne$260
- San Antonio$250
- Austin$238
LawnStarter city pages for New Braunfels, San Marcos, Boerne, San Antonio and Austin, October 2026.
Having a tree taken down too? Grinding its stump at the same time adds $158 to $450 to the removal (LawnStarter). Tree removal costs.
Which Hill Country stumps grow back
- Cedar (Ashe juniper): no. It "dies when the tree is cut," so its stump won't send up new shoots. Redberry juniper, in the western Hill Country, does resprout (Texas Parks and Wildlife).
- Bald cypress: it can. Sprouts can form from the cut trunk of trees as old as 60 years (Texas Parks and Wildlife).
- Oaks: a fresh oak stump is an open wound. The Texas A&M Forest Service says to paint fresh stumps right away, in any season, to keep oak wilt out (texasoakwilt.org).
Before the grinder shows up
- Have buried lines marked. KPUB's reminder: "Don't forget to call 8-1-1 before you dig!" (KPUB).
- Ask how deep they plan to grind. Much of the Hill Country sits on shallow, rocky soil (TPWD), so ask what happens if they hit rock.
- Ask whether the grindings and roots leave with them. County brush sites in Comal and Kendall counties don't take stumps or root balls.
- Get the price per stump in writing, including any minimum charge.
Questions people ask
What exactly is stump grinding?
A machine with a spinning cutting wheel chews the stump down into wood chips, below the level of the ground. The roots stay in the soil. Pulling the whole stump out with its roots is a different, bigger job.
How much is a stump grinding job?
About $272 on average, and $131 to $438 for most jobs (LawnStarter). In nearby cities the averages run from $220 in New Braunfels to $260 in San Marcos and Boerne.
How do you clean up wood chips after stump grinding?
Ask before the job whether the quote includes it. You can keep the chips as mulch, or pay to have them hauled: debris hauling runs $50 to $90 on a tree job (LawnStarter).
Will a tree grow back if you don't remove the stump?
It depends on the tree. A cut Ashe juniper won't, but bald cypress and redberry juniper can sprout again. See "Which Hill Country stumps grow back" above.