Stump grinding cost per inch: What to expect
By My Yard Editorial Team · 7/28/2026
The Quick Answer
Grinders charge $3–$6 per inch of stump diameter, with a $100–$150 minimum. A 30-inch stump lands around $120–$180; a yard full of them gets a volume discount.
The Witty Breakdown
Measure across the widest point at ground level, not the trunk at chest height. That's how they'll measure it too.
Grinding leaves a crater full of chips, not clean soil. Chips deplete nitrogen as they break down, so grass won't happily grow there for a while.
Step-by-Step Fix
- 1
Mark irrigation heads, invisible fence wire, and utilities before they arrive.
- 2
Ask for grinding 8–10 inches below grade if you'll replant.
- 3
Have the chips hauled or reuse them in beds — but not around new plantings.
- 4
Backfill the hole with topsoil, not the chip pile, then seed.
Pro-Tip / Do Not Do This
Do not grind within a few feet of a foundation or septic line without a utility mark-out. Grinders don't stop for pipes.
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