How much does tree removal cost in Charleston, SC?
LawnStarter (Charleston page dated October 15, 2026) lists average tree removal prices of $375 for a small tree, $808 for a medium tree and $1,862 for a large tree. Nearby towns run close to that: across Charleston, Summerville, Mount Pleasant and North Charleston, the averages go from $315 (small tree, Mount Pleasant) to $2,166 (large tree, Mount Pleasant). These are average prices and rates, not quotes. The reliable number is a written quote after a crew sees the tree.
Tree removal averages by town
| Town | Small tree | Medium tree | Large tree | Stump grinding |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Charleston | $375 | $808 | $1,862 | $223 |
| Summerville | $392 | $744 | $1,805 | $268 |
| Mount Pleasant | $315 | $864 | $2,166 | $250 |
| North Charleston | $389 | $888 | $1,957 | $285 |
Charleston
Summerville
Mount Pleasant
North Charleston
Published averages are not quotes. Source: LawnStarter tree care pages for each town, read October 14 and 15, 2026; the figures are LawnStarter’s, not original research by this site. LawnStarter does not say how it defines small, medium and large (it gives no heights) or how many jobs sit behind each average, and prices change. Two similar trees can quote very differently, so let the crew measure and quote in writing.
Searching for tree removal cost near me? The four towns above are the Charleston-area averages we could source. For your own tree, request a free tree removal quote and compare it with these numbers.
How much does tree trimming cost?
Trimming is cheaper than removal at every size. The same LawnStarter pages list these averages (more by height and species in our tree trimming cost guide):
| Town | Small tree | Medium tree | Large tree |
|---|---|---|---|
| Charleston | $113 | $396 | $760 |
| Summerville | $120 | $380 | $880 |
| Mount Pleasant | $107 | $344 | $912 |
| North Charleston | $106 | $408 | $840 |
Details on timing, live oaks and branches near power lines are on our tree trimming page. Not sure a trim is enough? See trimming vs. removal. For live oak and palmetto care, see our tree care guide.
How do you estimate your tree removal cost?
No calculator can price a tree without seeing it, so start from the sourced averages and ask for a written estimate. The steps below add up LawnStarter’s averages and the town fees; the totals are our arithmetic, not a quote.
- Pick your town and tree size in the table above. Charleston, medium tree: $808.
- Add stump grinding if you want the stump gone. Charleston: $223.
- Add the permit fee, if your town charges one. A tree under 24 inches on a single-family lot in the City of Charleston needs no permit.
- Charleston, medium tree and stump: $808 + $223 = $1,031, before cleanup.
- Summerville, medium tree and stump: $744 + $268 + $10 permit = $1,022, before cleanup.
Then get the real number: a written estimate from a crew that has seen the tree.
How much does tree removal cost by height and tree type?
Height has the biggest effect on the price. LawnStarter puts the typical national range at $385 to $1,070 per tree, or $10 to $14 per foot (page updated October 5, 2026; source).
- 40-foot tree: about $400 to $560
- 50-foot tree: about $500 to $700
- 100-foot tree: about $1,000 to $1,400
Those totals are our arithmetic from LawnStarter’s per-foot range, not quotes. LawnStarter’s own extreme high is $1,935, so a very tall tree, a hazard tree or a tight yard can run above the per-foot math.
By tree type, LawnStarter lists average removal prices of $725 for a palm, $775 for an oak, $925 for a pine and $1,150 for a maple, based on typical mature height (source). These are national averages, not Charleston prices.
How much does fallen tree removal cost, and what extras add up?
A tree that is already down costs less to remove: LawnStarter puts fallen tree removal at $85 to $300, and says emergency removal costs much more than a standard job (source). For a tree on a house or blocking the driveway, see emergency tree removal.
- Hauling away debris: $50 to $90
- Chipping: $65 to $125
- Splitting the wood: $50 to $90
Ask whether cleanup is in the quote, because those lines can be separate. Stump grinding is another add-on: see the stump grinding cost guide.
What changes the price of tree removal?
Two trees of the same height can get very different quotes. These are the factors crews weigh:
- Height and trunk width. A taller, wider tree has more wood to lower in pieces.
- What is under and around it. A tree over the roof, a fence or a power line takes more rigging than one in an open yard.
- Access. A backyard behind a narrow gate is slower than a front yard the truck can reach.
- Condition. A dead or storm-damaged tree can be unstable, which changes how the crew works. For a tree that is already down, see emergency tree removal.
- What is included. Cleanup, haul-away and the stump are often quoted separately.
Does the town permit add to the cost?
Sometimes, and the fee is small next to the job. Where a permit applies, here is the fee on each town’s own page (read October 15, 2026):
| Town | Permit fee | Who applies |
|---|---|---|
| City of Charleston | No fee on the city page; no permit for trees under 24 in. on a single-family lot | Owner |
| Summerville | $10, non-refundable (Town page) | Owner, online |
| Mount Pleasant | $50, non-refundable (Town page) | Online, for residential trees of 16 in. or more |
| North Charleston | From $30 for a contract of $1,000 or less, then rises with the contract value (City page) | The contractor you hire |
Whether you need a permit at all depends on tree size and town. Our tree removal permit guide compares the rules for 14 jurisdictions side by side, with a link to each official source. Confirm that your address is inside the town limits first: a Charleston mailing address can sit in unincorporated county land.
What should a tree removal estimate or written quote list?
A price on the phone is a guess. A written quote after the crew has seen the tree should say:
- Which tree or trees, and what happens to the wood and the brush (hauled away, chipped, left).
- Whether the stump is ground or left. A stump grinding line is often separate; see the stump grinding cost guide.
- Who pulls the permit, if your town needs one, and who pays the fee.
- Proof of liability and workers’ compensation insurance. The permit guide explains what to ask for.
- The crew’s plan if the tree is near a power line. Do not trim near a line yourself.
Get at least two written quotes for a large or complicated tree and compare what each one includes, not just the total. Not sure who to call? Use our checklist for hiring a tree service. We connect you with independent, insured local pros (how it works); the quote is free and there is no obligation.
Is cheap tree removal worth it?
Only if the cheaper quote covers the same work. The lowest removal average in the four towns is $315 for a small tree in Mount Pleasant, so compare what each quote includes, not just the total.
- Cleanup and the stump. If one quote hauls the wood away or grinds the stump and another does not, they are not the same price.
- Insurance. Ask for current liability and workers’ compensation certificates; the permit guide explains why.
- The permit. Skipping a required permit can cost far more than the fee. See the permit guide.
What is the cheapest time of year to remove a tree in Charleston?
LawnStarter does not publish tree removal prices by month, so we cannot name a cheaper month. Its Charleston page charts demand for tree service by month, scaled so the busiest month is 100: October is 100 and September is 97, while December is the lowest at 53, then January at 64. LawnStarter does not say whether prices follow that curve.
After a storm, crews get booked fast. See emergency tree removal for what to do first, and our hurricane tree preparation checklist for what to do before the season.
How can you keep the cost of tree removal down?
- Ask first whether the tree needs to come out. A trim can be cheaper than removal, and a dead limb is not always a dead tree. See tree trimming and our trimming vs. removal guide.
- Bundle the work. Ask for removal and stump grinding in one quote.
- Clear access. Move cars, patio furniture and anything under the tree before the crew arrives.
- Do not skip the permit. Cutting a protected tree without one can cost far more than the fee (fines of up to $500 in several Charleston-area ordinances; see the permit guide).
- Do not hire on price alone. Ask every crew for current insurance certificates; the permit guide explains why it matters.
Where do these tree removal prices come from?
Prices are LawnStarter’s published averages for each town, read on the dates shown; the per-foot, species and extras figures are from LawnStarter’s national tree removal page, updated October 5, 2026. Permit fees come from each town’s own page, read October 15, 2026. We do not average sources together or add up our own estimates. Prices change, so check the date on each page.
- LawnStarter: Charleston (October 15, 2026), Summerville, Mount Pleasant and North Charleston (October 14, 2026)
- Summerville: Tree permit page
- Mount Pleasant: Town tree page
- North Charleston: Tree removal permit page
- City of Charleston: Tree removal page
Frequently asked questions
How much does it cost to cut down a tree in Charleston, SC?
LawnStarter lists Charleston averages of $375 for a small tree, $808 for a medium tree and $1,862 for a large tree (page dated October 15, 2026). The reliable number is a written quote after a crew sees the tree.
How much does it cost to cut down a tree in SC?
LawnStarter has no statewide figure on the pages we read. For four Charleston-area towns its removal averages run from $315 for a small tree to $2,166 for a large one, and the town you live in changes both the price and the permit.
How much does it cost to remove a 30-foot tree?
LawnStarter's national range is $10 to $14 per foot, which works out to about $300 to $420 for 30 feet (our arithmetic, not a quote). Charleston averages by size are $375, $808 and $1,862 for small, medium and large trees; ask the crew to price the specific tree in writing.
What is the cheapest time of year for tree removal?
LawnStarter does not publish prices by month. Its Charleston demand chart is lowest in December (53) and highest in October (100), but it does not say whether prices follow it. Ask crews which dates they have open.
Does the permit fee add to the cost of removing a tree?
In Summerville the fee is $10, in Mount Pleasant $50 and in North Charleston it starts at $30 and rises with the contract value. The City of Charleston page lists no fee, and a tree under 24 inches on a single-family lot needs no permit. Fees are small compared with the removal price.
Is stump grinding included in the price of tree removal?
Often not. Cleanup, haul-away and the stump are commonly quoted separately. LawnStarter lists stump grinding averages of $223 in Charleston, $268 in Summerville, $250 in Mount Pleasant and $285 in North Charleston. Ask the crew to list it in the written quote.
How much does tree removal cost near me?
In the Charleston area, LawnStarter averages run from $315 for a small tree to $2,166 for a large one, depending on the town. The number for your tree is a free written quote after a crew sees it.
How much does it cost to remove a 50-foot tree?
LawnStarter's national range is $10 to $14 per foot, which works out to about $500 to $700 for 50 feet (our arithmetic, not a quote). Access, condition and what is under the tree can push a quote above that.
Is there a tree removal cost calculator?
No calculator can price a tree without seeing it. Add the sourced average for your town and tree size, stump grinding and any permit fee, then ask for a written estimate. The steps are in the estimate section above.
What does a tree removal estimate include?
It should name the tree, say what happens to the wood and brush, say whether the stump is ground, and say who pulls the permit. Cleanup, haul-away and the stump are often quoted separately.
Is cheap tree removal worth it?
Only if the quote covers the same work. Compare cleanup, stump grinding, permit handling and proof of insurance, not just the total.