Stump Removal & Grinding in San Francisco

Most jobs price at $2–$5 per inch of stump diameter, with a typical job landing around $272 and a minimum charge near $100. Some operators bill hourly at $100–$150. A cluster of stumps in one visit is cheaper per stump than calling someone back out for one.

Standard is 4–6 inches below grade, which is plenty for lawn or beds. If you're planning to build, pave, or plant a new tree in the same spot, we go deeper to clear the root crown. Tell us the end use and we'll set the depth accordingly.

Grinding handles the stump and the major surface roots radiating from it. The deeper lateral roots are left to decompose naturally, which is fine for almost every use. Full root excavation is rarely necessary and much more expensive and disruptive.

By default we rake the wood chips back into the hole as mulch, which fills the void as it settles. If you'd rather have a clean, plantable surface we can haul the grindings off or supplement with topsoil — just let us know.

A single operator typically grinds 6–12 stumps a day, depending heavily on diameter, hardness, and access. Big hardwood stumps or tight, rocky spots take longer; a row of small stumps goes quickly.