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How Much Does Tree Removal Cost in Bellevue, WA? 2026 Prices for Firs, Cedars, and Big Leaf Maples

Tree removal cost in Bellevue, WA runs $600 to $2,500 for most trees and $3,000 to $8,000 for large firs and cedars. Prices by species, access, permits, and season.

How Much Does Tree Removal Cost in Bellevue, WA? 2026 Prices for Firs, Cedars, and Big Leaf Maples

Removing a tree in Bellevue, WA costs $600 to $2,500 for most jobs, and $3,000 to $8,000 or more for the large Douglas firs and western red cedars that define the city's older neighborhoods. Bellevue is one of the more expensive places in the state to take a tree down, and the reasons are specific to the city: big trees, tight lots, steep slopes in Somerset and Newport Hills, and a tree code that requires permits for many removals.

A 40 foot fir on a level lot in Crossroads with room to drop it runs $900 to $1,800. A 120 foot fir over a house in Bridle Trails that has to be rigged down in sections runs $4,000 to $8,000. Stump grinding adds $150 to $500, and hauling the wood adds more if you do not want it left in rounds.

Here is what drives the price, what the city requires, and how to get an accurate quote.

What Sets the Price in Bellevue

Height and trunk diameter are the starting point. Tree services price by the size of the tree and the difficulty of the removal, and Bellevue's mature conifers are among the largest residential trees in the country. A 150 foot Douglas fir with a 4 foot trunk is a full day for a crew of three with a crane or a climber and rigging.

Location on the lot is the second factor. A tree that can be felled in one piece into open space is cheap.

A tree surrounded by a house, a neighbor's fence, a deck, and power lines has to be climbed and lowered piece by piece, which triples the labor. Most Bellevue lots in Medina, Clyde Hill, and the older parts of West Bellevue fall into the second category.

Access matters. A tree in a backyard with no gate wide enough for equipment means everything is carried out by hand or lifted over the house with a crane. Crane time in the Bellevue area runs $250 to $500 per hour with a minimum, and a crane job typically adds $1,000 to $3,000.

Slopes add cost. Somerset, Newport Hills, Lakemont, and the hillsides above Lake Washington have trees on grades where crews cannot set up normally. Expect 20 to 40 percent more for steep-slope work.

Species Common to Bellevue

Douglas fir is the most common large tree in the city and the most common removal. Prices run $1,200 to $6,000 depending on size and position.

Western red cedar is similar in cost and often removed because of root conflicts with foundations and driveways. Western hemlock is usually cheaper because the wood is lighter.

Big leaf maples are the common large deciduous tree. They spread wide, drop heavy limbs, and often have multiple trunks, and removal runs $1,000 to $4,000.

Alders are cheap to remove at $400 to $1,200 because they are fast-growing and soft. Ornamental cherries, Japanese maples, and dogwoods run $300 to $900.

Stump Grinding and Wood Removal

Stump grinding runs $150 to $500 for most Bellevue trees, priced by diameter. Large fir stumps at 3 feet or more can run $500 to $800. Some tree services include grinding, most quote it separately.

Wood removal is a line item. Leaving the rounds on site is free. Hauling them costs $200 to $600 depending on volume.

Chipping the branches and leaving the chips is usually included. Some Bellevue homeowners keep the wood for firewood or sell it, which offsets the cost.

Power Lines and Puget Sound Energy

Trees growing into or near power lines add a step. Puget Sound Energy handles trimming and removal of trees that threaten its distribution lines at no cost to the homeowner, but the process can take weeks and PSE decides what gets cut. Trees near the service drop to your house are the homeowner's responsibility, and tree services will often ask PSE to drop the line temporarily before working, which adds scheduling time but not usually cost.

Bellevue's Tree Code and Permits

Bellevue regulates tree removal more tightly than most Eastside cities. On developed single-family lots, the city allows removal of a limited number of significant trees per year without a permit, and requires a Clearing and Grading permit or a tree removal permit beyond that. A significant tree is generally one 8 inches or more in diameter at breast height for most species, with different thresholds for some.

Trees in the city's environmentally sensitive area designations, which include steep slopes, wetlands, stream buffers, and landslide hazard areas, require a permit for any removal regardless of count. Large portions of Somerset, Newport Hills, Lakemont, and the ravines through Bridle Trails and Northeast Bellevue carry that designation. Removing a tree there without a permit can result in fines and required replanting.

Hazard trees, meaning trees that a certified arborist has documented as an imminent risk, can be removed with a simplified process. An arborist's hazard assessment runs $150 to $400 and is worth getting if the tree is leaning, cracked, or showing root failure.

Your tree service should know the code and should tell you whether a permit is needed. A company that says permits do not matter is one to avoid. Permit fees run $100 to $500 depending on the type.

Licensing and Insurance in Washington

Tree services in Washington must be registered as contractors with the Department of Labor and Industries. Registration requires a bond and liability insurance. Check the contractor registration on the L&I website, which shows whether it is active, whether the bond and insurance are current, and whether there are unresolved claims.

Ask for a certificate of liability insurance with at least $1 million in coverage, and ask specifically about workers compensation. Tree work is among the most dangerous trades, and an uninsured climber injured on your property can become your problem.

Certified arborists through the International Society of Arboriculture are common at the better Bellevue companies. Certification is not required to remove trees, but it indicates training in tree health and hazard assessment and is useful when a permit requires an arborist report.

Our tree service listings for Washington include registered contractors serving Bellevue, Redmond, Kirkland, Issaquah, and the rest of the Eastside.

Getting an Accurate Quote

Every quote should follow a site visit. Tree removal in Bellevue cannot be priced from a phone call or a photo because access, slope, and the drop zone determine the method. Three quotes from registered contractors is standard.

The quote should list the tree or trees, the method, whether a crane is included, stump grinding, wood and debris removal, cleanup, permit handling, and the total price. Ask whether the price includes protecting the lawn and landscaping and repairing any damage.

Price differences of 20 to 30 percent between companies are normal. Larger gaps usually mean one company is planning a crane and another is planning to climb, or one is including stump grinding and another is not.

Deposits should be small. Most Eastside tree services bill on completion or ask for 10 to 25 percent up front on large jobs.

Timing and Seasonal Pricing

Tree services on the Eastside are busiest from late fall through winter, when windstorms bring down limbs and trees and every company is on emergency calls. Prices are firmest then, and non-emergency work waits.

Late spring and summer are the best time to schedule planned removals. Crews have more availability, the ground is dry enough for equipment, and some companies discount 5 to 10 percent for flexible scheduling. Removing a tree before the November storms, rather than after it fails, is cheaper and avoids the emergency rate.

Emergency removal of a tree on a house or blocking a driveway runs 1.5 to 2 times the standard rate and often requires a crane on short notice.

For related costs on pruning, stump grinding, and storm cleanup on the Eastside, see our Washington home services blog.

Frequently Asked Questions

How much does it cost to remove a large fir tree in Bellevue?

A large Douglas fir of 100 feet or more over a house or near structures runs $4,000 to $8,000 including rigging or a crane. The same tree on an open lot with room to fell it runs $1,500 to $3,500.

Do I need a permit to remove a tree in Bellevue?

Often, yes. Bellevue allows limited removal of significant trees on developed lots without a permit but requires one beyond that and for any tree in a designated sensitive area such as a steep slope or stream buffer. Your tree service should confirm.

How much does stump grinding cost in Bellevue?

Stump grinding runs $150 to $500 for most trees and up to $800 for large fir stumps. It is usually quoted separately from removal.

Does homeowners insurance cover tree removal in Washington?

Insurance typically covers removal of a tree that has fallen on a covered structure, up to a limit, and does not cover removal of standing trees or trees that fall in the yard without hitting anything.

When is the cheapest time to remove a tree in Bellevue?

Late spring through summer, when crews are less busy and the ground is dry. Winter storm season is the most expensive and the hardest to schedule.