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Tree Removal Cost in Washington: Prices by Tree Size, Species, and Region

Tree removal in Washington costs $500 to $2,500 for most jobs and $3,000 to $8,000 for big firs and cedars. Prices by size, Seattle vs Spokane, permits, and hiring.

Tree Removal Cost in Washington: Prices by Tree Size, Species, and Region

Removing a tree in Washington costs $500 to $2,500 for most residential jobs, and the number climbs past $5,000 for the big Douglas firs and western red cedars that define the west side of the state. A 40-foot maple in a Spokane backyard runs $600 to $1,200. A 120-foot fir leaning toward a house in Issaquah runs $3,000 to $7,000 because it has to come down in sections by a climber or a crane.

Washington is an expensive state for tree work, and the reason is simple. The trees are enormous, the terrain is steep, and the Puget Sound region has some of the most protective tree ordinances in the country. This guide gives current prices by tree size and species, explains how costs differ between Seattle, Spokane, and everywhere in between, and covers the permits and rules that change what you can remove and what it costs.

Prices by Tree Height and Trunk Size

Tree services in Washington price by height, trunk diameter, and access, and the height bands are the quickest way to estimate. A small tree under 30 feet, such as a dogwood, fruit tree, or young maple, runs $250 to $700. A medium tree of 30 to 60 feet, such as a mature alder, birch, or ornamental cherry, runs $600 to $1,500.

Large trees of 60 to 100 feet are the common case in western Washington. A mature big-leaf maple, hemlock, or a mid-sized Douglas fir runs $1,500 to $3,500. Very large trees over 100 feet, which describes a lot of the firs and cedars in King, Snohomish, Pierce, and Kitsap counties, run $3,000 to $8,000.

Trunk diameter drives the price within each band because it changes how the wood comes down and how much there is to haul. A 36-inch diameter fir has several tons of wood in it, and every section has to be lowered by rope or lifted by crane.

Stump grinding is priced separately at $3 to $6 per inch of diameter, so a 30-inch stump runs $90 to $180. Hauling the wood away adds $100 to $500 depending on volume, and many homeowners keep the rounds for firewood to save that line.

What the Big Western Washington Trees Cost

Douglas fir removal is its own price category. A healthy 100 to 150-foot fir in a suburban yard in Bellevue, Kirkland, or Redmond runs $2,500 to $6,000 when a climber can work it down in pieces. If the tree is over a house, a deck, or power lines, a crane is needed, and crane removals run $4,000 to $10,000.

Western red cedars are similar in price and often harder because of their multiple tops and dense branching. Removing a mature cedar runs $2,000 to $6,000. Hemlocks and grand firs are a little cheaper per foot because the wood is lighter.

Big-leaf maples are the most common hardwood removal. They grow fast, spread wide, and rot at the base, and a mature one in Tacoma or Olympia runs $1,500 to $4,000 to remove. Cottonwoods along rivers in the Skagit and Snohomish valleys are cheap to cut but expensive to haul because of the volume.

Emergency removals after windstorms are priced at a premium. A fir that fell on a roof in Shoreline during a November storm can cost $3,000 to $8,000 to remove safely, and insurance usually covers the removal when the tree damaged a structure.

Eastern Washington and Spokane Pricing

Spokane, the Tri-Cities, Yakima, and Wenatchee are cheaper markets for tree removal, and the trees are smaller. Ponderosa pines, the dominant species around Spokane, run $800 to $2,500 to remove at typical heights of 60 to 90 feet. Their branches are sparse and the wood is manageable, so they come down faster than a Douglas fir.

Fruit trees in the Yakima and Wenatchee valleys are quick jobs at $200 to $600. Mature maples, elms, and cottonwoods in older Spokane neighborhoods like Browne's Addition and the South Hill run $700 to $2,000.

Labor rates are 15 to 25 percent lower east of the Cascades, and access is usually easier because lots are flatter and larger. Crane work is less common. A removal that costs $4,000 in Seattle often costs $2,500 in Spokane.

Fire risk drives some eastern Washington removals. Homeowners near Chelan, Leavenworth, and the Okanogan remove trees within 30 feet of the house to create defensible space, and some county programs and insurers share that cost.

Permits and Tree Ordinances

Seattle regulates tree removal closely. Trees over 24 inches in diameter, and many smaller trees of certain species, are protected, and removing one requires a permit and often an arborist's report showing the tree is hazardous, which runs $300 to $800. Removing a protected tree without a permit can bring fines that exceed the cost of the job many times over.

Bellevue, Kirkland, Redmond, Sammamish, Issaquah, and most King County cities have their own ordinances. Many limit how many trees can be removed per year without a permit and require replacement plantings, and Tacoma, Olympia, Bainbridge Island, and Bellingham have similar rules. Permit fees run $50 to $500, and the tree service usually handles the application.

Outside city limits, unincorporated King, Snohomish, and Pierce counties regulate removal on lots near streams, wetlands, and steep slopes under environmentally sensitive area rules. A tree on a slope above Puget Sound in Edmonds or a stream buffer in Woodinville may not be removable at all.

Eastern Washington cities are less restrictive. Spokane requires permits mainly for street trees and trees in the public right of way. Any tree near power lines anywhere in the state involves the utility, and Puget Sound Energy, Seattle City Light, and Avista each have procedures for line clearance.

What Makes a Washington Removal Cost More

Access is the biggest variable after size. Steep lots in West Seattle, Magnolia, and the Eastside hills mean rigging every piece and sometimes building a temporary platform. Backyard trees with no equipment access have to be carried out by hand, and that adds hours.

Proximity to structures and lines pushes jobs toward crane work. A crane day in the Seattle area runs $1,500 to $3,500 on top of the crew, and it is the safest way to remove a large tree over a house.

Tree condition matters. A dead or rotten tree cannot be climbed safely, and it has to come down by crane or bucket truck, which costs more than climbing a healthy tree of the same size. Root rot in Douglas firs is common in the Puget Sound region, and an arborist will often recommend removal before the tree fails.

Season affects price and availability. Summer is the busy season for planned removals, and tree services in the Seattle area book three to six weeks out, then winter storm cleanup fills the calendar again from November through February. Early spring and October are the easiest times to get a good crew at a fair price.

Choosing a Tree Service in Washington

Washington requires tree services to register as contractors with the Department of Labor and Industries, carry a bond, and hold liability insurance. Ask for the L&I registration number and look it up. Uninsured tree work is a real risk in a state where trees weigh tons and fall on houses.

Ask whether the company has an ISA Certified Arborist on staff. Certification matters most for permit work in Seattle and the Eastside cities, where an arborist's report is often the only path to removing a protected tree. It also matters for deciding whether a tree needs to come down at all.

Get three written quotes for any removal over $1,000, and make sure each one covers the same scope: removal, stump grinding, hauling, and cleanup. Quotes for the same 100-foot fir in Kirkland can vary by $2,000, and the lowest is not always the best crew. Comparing the tree services working in your part of Washington on registration, insurance, and arborist credentials is the first filter.

Watch for door-to-door crews after windstorms and for companies that will not put the price in writing. For more on yard and property maintenance in the state, including pruning schedules and hazard assessment, our other home services guides cover related topics.

Frequently Asked Questions

How much does it cost to remove a Douglas fir in Washington?

A mature 100 to 150-foot Douglas fir in a suburban yard runs $2,500 to $6,000 when a climber can take it down in sections. Trees over a house or near power lines need a crane and run $4,000 to $10,000.

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

Often, yes. Seattle protects trees over 24 inches in diameter and several smaller species, and removal requires a permit and usually an arborist's report showing the tree is hazardous. Fines for unpermitted removal are steep.

Is tree removal cheaper in Spokane than Seattle?

Yes, by roughly 25 to 40 percent for a comparable job. Labor rates are lower, lots are flatter, and ponderosa pines are easier to remove than Douglas firs of the same height.

Does homeowners insurance cover tree removal in Washington?

Insurance typically covers removal when a tree falls on a covered structure like the house, garage, or fence. It does not cover removing a standing tree, even a hazardous one, unless the policy has a specific endorsement.

How much does stump grinding cost in Washington?

Stump grinding runs $3 to $6 per inch of diameter, so a 24-inch stump costs $75 to $150 and a 40-inch fir stump costs $120 to $240. Most tree services offer it as an add-on to removal at a lower rate than a separate visit.