How Much Does Tree Removal Cost in Seattle? (2026 Price Guide)

“How much to take down this tree?” is the first question almost every homeowner asks — and the honest answer is it depends. But it depends on a handful of specific things, and once you understand them you can read a quote intelligently instead of just chasing the lowest number.

What drives the price

• Size & species. A 25-foot ornamental is a different job than an 90-foot Douglas fir. Height, trunk diameter, and wood density all matter.
• Access. Can a crane or bucket truck reach it, or does every limb have to be climbed, rigged, and lowered by hand over a roof? Backyard trees behind a fence cost more than a front-yard tree by the street.
• Targets & hazard. A tree in an open field can be felled in one drop. A tree leaning over your roof, a fence, and the neighbor’s power line has to come down in controlled sections. That’s slower and takes more skill.
• Cleanup & stump. Hauling every branch and log away — and grinding the stump — is real labor. Some quotes leave it in your yard; ours don’t.

Honest ballpark ranges (Seattle area)

Every property is different, so treat these as rough starting points, not a quote:

• Small tree (under ~30 ft): roughly $300–$700.
• Medium tree (~30–60 ft): roughly $700–$1,600.
• Large conifer (60 ft+): roughly $1,500–$3,500+.
• Complex / hazardous (over the house, near power lines, crane access): can run higher.
• Stump grinding: often $100–$400 depending on diameter, added if you want it.

Why the cheapest quote often costs the most

The lowest bid is frequently an uninsured crew with a rented saw and no workers’ comp. If a limb goes through your roof — or someone gets hurt in your yard — that becomes your liability and your insurance claim. Before you sign anything, confirm the company is licensed, insured, and bonded, and ask to see it. The few hundred dollars you “save” on an uninsured crew is nothing next to a dropped tree on the house.

Ways to keep the cost reasonable

• Bundle multiple trees into one visit — mobilization is a big part of the cost.
• Ask to keep the wood chips as free mulch, or the logs for firewood.
• Deal with hazard trees before a storm turns them into an emergency call.