The cost of tree removal in Houston is hard to guess from the curb. A 20 foot crape myrtle in an open front yard and an 80 foot water oak leaning over a back patio are both "one tree," yet the second can cost many times more. The figures below come from published cost guides. Use them to judge whether a quote is in a normal range, not as a price for your tree.
Tree Service Houston TX does not take down trees and does not set prices. It is a free phone line. When you call (346) 680-8916, an automated assistant takes a short description of the tree and puts you through to an independent, locally owned tree service company in the Houston area. That company looks at the tree and gives you its own price.
What the published cost guides report
Each guide gathers prices its own way, so the numbers do not match exactly. Two of them publish Houston figures. All were checked on October 6, 2026.
| Source | Area | Average or typical | Range |
|---|---|---|---|
| Angi | Houston | About $800 | $197 to $1,972 |
| LawnStarter | Houston | $347 small, $808 medium, $1,919 large | By tree size |
| HomeAdvisor | National | $750 | $200 to $2,000 |
| HomeGuide | National | $400 to $1,200 | About $200 to $3,000 |
| Forbes Home | National | $1,200 | $400 to over $2,000 |
Real quotes vary with the tree, the yard and the company, and some Houston jobs fall well outside these ranges in either direction. The line does not see your tree, so it cannot tell you which end of a range you are likely to land on.
Cost by tree height
Height is the first thing most guides price by, because a taller tree takes more cuts, more rigging and more time to bring down and clean up. Angi's Houston page breaks it down this way:
| Tree height | Angi Houston range |
|---|---|
| Up to 30 feet | $150 to $450 |
| 30 to 60 feet | $450 to $1,200 |
| 60 to 80 feet | $800 to $1,500 |
| Over 80 feet | $1,000 to $2,000 |
HomeGuide prices it another way, at roughly $5 to $25 per foot of height. Neither method covers a tree that is leaning on the house or tangled in lines, which is where prices climb fastest.
What raises or lowers a Houston quote
Pushes the price up
- Targets underneath: a roof, pool, fence or garage means the tree comes down in small pieces lowered on ropes.
- Power lines: a tree near lines takes more planning and care, and the utility may need to be involved first, which adds time and cost.
- A crane: about $500 extra for trees over 80 feet in Angi's Houston figures, and $250 to $600 per day in HomeAdvisor's and Forbes Home's.
- Emergency timing: HomeGuide says rushed removals booked for the same or next day often cost 2 to 3 times the standard rate.
- Decay: a hollow trunk can rule out climbing and call for a lift or crane.
Keeps it down
- Open ground: a tree with room to fall can sometimes be felled in one piece.
- Easy access: a truck and chipper that can reach the tree from the street or driveway.
- Less cleanup: keeping the logs or wood chips yourself.
- Grouping jobs: several trees or a trim and a removal done in one visit, if the company prices it that way.
- Calm weather: planning a removal before hurricane season rather than after a storm.
The extras that may or may not be in the price
These are the lines that make two quotes for the same tree look so different. Angi's Houston figures:
- About $70To haul the tree away, when hauling is not included.
- About $95Average to chip the brush.
- About $70To split the wood into firewood lengths.
- About $381Average stump removal, with grinding about $150 to $495.
Permits can add time and money too. For a tree on city property or a setback, the City of Houston says permit fees vary with the tree's size and location, and the permit must be posted 20 days before the work. Ask who files it and whether it is in the quote.
What Texas homeowners insurance may cover
Insurance usually comes into the picture only after a tree falls. The Texas Department of Insurance says many homeowners policies provide some coverage to remove trees or limbs that fell because of storm damage and damaged your house or blocked your driveway. Trees and limbs that fall in your yard without hitting anything usually are not covered.
If a neighbor's tree falls on your house, TDI says the neighbor's policy probably will not pay unless the neighbor was at fault, because the neighbor is not responsible for acts of nature, and you can file under your own policy. Taking down a dead or leaning tree before it falls is normally the owner's cost. Photograph any damage, keep receipts, and call your agent before you assume anything is covered.
How to compare tree removal quotes
A low number is only a good deal if it covers the same work. Before you choose, put each quote side by side and check:
- The methodFelled, sectioned by rope, bucket truck or crane, and why that method suits your tree.
- The cleanupWhether brush is chipped, logs are hauled, and the yard is raked when the job is done.
- The stumpLeft at ground level, ground below grade, or not touched at all.
- Permits and linesWho handles any city permit and any contact with CenterPoint.
- Payment termsWhen payment is due. Be cautious of anyone who wants the full amount before the work starts.
- Proof of insuranceA certificate of insurance sent by the company's agent, plus proof of workers' compensation coverage.
Check the company yourself. Texas has no state license for tree trimming or tree removal, so a business card proves very little. Ask the company for a certificate of general liability insurance sent by its insurance agent, proof of workers' compensation coverage, and the ISA certification number of its arborist. A company that sprays or injects trees for hire needs a pesticide license from the Texas Department of Agriculture or its Structural Pest Control Service. You can confirm a certification with the ISA's credential lookup (opens in a new tab).
Want an actual price instead of a range? Call and describe the tree. The company you are put through to looks at it and quotes its own price before any work starts.
How the free line fits in
How this line works: Tree Service Houston TX is a free phone line, not a tree service company. It does not trim, remove, quote or schedule tree work and holds no license or arborist certification. Calls are transferred to independent, locally owned tree service companies in the Houston area. Those companies may pay Tree Service Houston TX a referral fee. You never pay the line. How it works.