Tree Services
How Much Does Tree Removal Cost in Denver?
By the Stroikos Services team · July 9, 2026 · Serving the Denver South Metro area
If you’ve started calling around for tree removal quotes in the Denver area, you’ve probably noticed the numbers are all over the place. That’s not necessarily a red flag — tree removal pricing genuinely depends on the specific tree, the specific yard, and what’s underneath it. This guide walks through typical market ranges in the Denver South Metro area (Denver, Aurora, Littleton, Englewood, Centennial, Highlands Ranch, and nearby), what actually drives the price, and how to make sure the quote you accept is a safe one.
One note up front: the numbers below are typical market ranges for our area, not Stroikos’s prices. Every property is different, which is why every Stroikos quote is free and exact — no ranges, no surprises.
Typical tree removal costs in the Denver metro
As a rough market picture:
- Small trees (under ~25 ft) — think ornamental crabapples or young aspens — often run a few hundred dollars, commonly in the $300–$700 range.
- Medium trees (25–50 ft) — mature honeylocusts, ash, smaller maples — typically land somewhere around $700–$1,500.
- Large trees (50 ft and up) — big cottonwoods, silver maples, mature blue spruce — frequently run $1,500–$3,000.
- Very large or difficult removals — a huge cottonwood over a house, a dead tree tangled in power lines — can easily exceed $3,000, sometimes well beyond.
These are planning numbers, not promises. Two trees of identical height can differ in price by a factor of two based on everything below.
What actually drives the price
Size and height. Taller and thicker means more wood to cut, lower, and haul — and more time a climber or bucket truck spends working. Denver’s giant cottonwoods are the classic example of a tree that looks like “one tree” but prices like three.
Access. A tree in an open front yard where a crew can drop limbs freely is the cheap scenario. A backyard tree behind a fence, with no gate wide enough for equipment, changes everything: every piece gets carried out by hand or lifted over the house.
What’s underneath and around it. When a tree can simply be felled into open space, removal is fast. When it overhangs a roof, a fence, a neighbor’s garage, or utility lines, crews have to dismantle it piece by piece, lowering each section on ropes so nothing free-falls. That controlled rigging work is slower, requires experienced climbers, and is the single biggest reason “the same size tree” costs more at one house than another.
Condition of the tree. Dead, storm-cracked, and decayed trees are more dangerous, not less. Decay and cracks weaken the wood’s ability to hold the loads that removal work puts on it, so a compromised tree may not safely support a climber or rigging at all — which can mean a crane, a lift, or extra staging, all of which add cost.
Stump grinding. Most quotes are for the tree down to a low stump. Grinding the stump out is usually a separate line item — often $100–$400+ depending on diameter and access.
Debris hauling. Hauling and chipping everything away is standard in most full-service quotes, but confirm it. Some low bids leave the wood in your yard.
Emergency work. Storm damage, a tree on the house, after-hours calls — expect a meaningful premium over scheduled work.
Why quotes vary so much between companies
Beyond the tree itself, you’re also pricing the company: crew experience, equipment (bucket truck vs. climb-only vs. crane), insurance costs, licensing, and how busy they are that season. A company running proper liability and workers’ comp insurance has real overhead that a “guy with a chainsaw and a truck” doesn’t — and that difference shows up in the bid.
Why the cheapest bid can be the most expensive
Tree removal is consistently ranked among the most dangerous jobs in the country. If an uninsured worker is hurt on your property, or an uninsured crew drops a limb through your roof, you can end up personally exposed for the damages. Before hiring anyone, ask for proof of general liability insurance and workers’ compensation — and actually look at the certificate. A bid that’s dramatically below everyone else’s is usually missing insurance, hauling, cleanup, or all three.
Permits and licensing: check your city
In the City and County of Denver, tree work must be performed by a licensed tree contractor, and trees in the public right-of-way fall under the city forester’s office. The suburbs — Littleton, Englewood, Centennial, Aurora, Highlands Ranch and others — each handle licensing and street trees their own way. The safe move is simple: check your city’s rules, and ask any company you’re considering whether they’re licensed to work there. A legitimate local company will know the answer immediately.
When to call a professional
Some small ornamental trees in open yards are reasonable DIY projects. But call a professional any time the tree is taller than you can reach from the ground, is dead or visibly decayed, leans toward anything you care about, or is anywhere near power lines — that last one is non-negotiable. Pros plan the felling direction, set up marked drop zones, and use rigging to control every piece; that planning is exactly what you’re paying for.
If you’re in the Denver South Metro area, the fastest way to get past the ranges and to a real number is an on-site look. Request a free quote and we’ll give you an exact price for your tree — no obligation, no pressure.
Want to see actual numbers instead of ranges? We publish price tables by tree size and species, generated straight from the estimating model we use on real jobs.