Stump Removal Cost in Marietta: Grinding Prices for 2026

The tree is gone, and now there is a stump sitting in the lawn that the mower has to steer around. The good news is that stump removal cost is one of the more predictable numbers in tree work. It is mostly a function of how wide the stump is, how many you have, and how easy it is to get a grinder next to them. The less good news is that the first quote you get may not include the part you actually care about, which is what the spot looks like when the crew drives away.

This guide covers what grinding a stump typically costs around Marietta and north metro Atlanta in 2026, what pushes a price up or down, and when full stump removal (digging the whole thing out) is worth paying for instead.

What drives stump removal cost

Most tree services price stump grinding off the diameter of the stump, measured across the widest part at ground level, including the flare of the roots. Some quote per inch, some quote per stump, and many have a minimum charge just for bringing the machine out. Those are the three numbers to ask about. After that, these are the things that move the total:

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• Diameter and root flare. A 14-inch pine stump and a 40-inch water oak stump are not in the same league. Big oaks and tulip poplars flare out wide at the base, and every inch of that flare is wood the grinder has to chew through.
• Species and age. Dense hardwoods grind slower than pine. An old stump that has started to rot can go faster, although a fresh pine stump full of resin can gum up teeth.
• Access. A walk-behind grinder can fit through most 36-inch backyard gates. A larger tow-behind unit is faster on big stumps but needs a clear path. Steep slopes, retaining walls, and tight fenced yards all add time.
• What is near the stump. Stumps next to a foundation, a fence post, a driveway edge, or buried lines have to be ground more carefully. Irrigation lines and invisible pet fences are the usual casualties, so point them out before the work starts.
• Depth and cleanup. Standard grinding goes several inches below grade. Going deeper, chasing surface roots across the lawn, or hauling the grindings away and bringing in topsoil is extra.

Our red clay plays a part too. Dense, rocky Piedmont clay packed around a root flare is harder on grinder teeth than sandy soil, and a crew may charge a little more for stumps where they expect to hit rock.

Typical stump grinding prices in the Marietta area

HomeAdvisor's stump removal cost guide (updated June 19, 2026) gives these national figures. They are not a Marietta quote: local tree services set their own rates, and the real number is the one they put in writing after seeing the stump.

Size is the biggest single factor. HomeAdvisor's by-the-inch figures for each size are below. They come before the $100 to $150 minimum call-out charge, so on a small stump the minimum is often the whole bill:

Multiple stumps change the math. The setup cost is the same whether the grinder does one stump or six, so the second and third stumps on the same visit usually cost noticeably less each. If you have stumps scattered around the yard from past removals, doing them all at once is the easiest way to lower the per-stump price. The stump grinding service page explains what the work itself involves.

Stump grinding vs. full stump removal

These two terms get used interchangeably, and they are not the same job. Grinding shreds the stump and the top of the root system into chips, leaving the deeper roots to rot in place over the years. Full stump removal means excavating the stump and its main root ball out of the ground, usually with a machine, and filling the hole.

For a lawn, a garden bed, or a spot you just want flat again, grinding is almost always the right call and the cheaper one. Full removal makes sense when something is going to be built on that spot, such as a patio, an addition, a driveway, or a pool, because a slab or footing over decaying roots can settle later. It is also sometimes the choice when a stump is jammed against a foundation or walk where a grinder cannot work.

Excavation costs vary more than grinding does. A small stump can come out for a few hundred dollars, while a big hardwood stump with a wide root plate can run well over a thousand once you add machine time, hauling, and fill dirt. If you are planning construction, tell every company you call so their quotes cover the same scope.

What a stump grinding quote should spell out

Two quotes with the same price can leave your yard in very different shape. Before you agree to anything, make sure you know:

• How deep the stump will be ground below the surface, and whether surface roots running out across the lawn are included.
• What happens to the grindings. Leaving them in the hole is standard and cheapest. Hauling them off and bringing in topsoil costs more.
• Whether the quote is per stump, per inch, or a single price for everything on the list.
• Who calls 811 to have utility lines marked, and whether the company will check for irrigation and pet-fence wires first.
• Proof of liability insurance. A grinder throws chips and rocks hard, and a cracked window or a dinged car is a real possibility near a house.

One more practical note: a ground-out stump leaves a mound of chips and soil that settles over a few weeks. If you plan to sod or seed, expect to rake it out, top it with soil, and let it settle before planting.

Pine stumps, storm stumps, and why timing matters

Around Cobb County, a lot of stumps are loblolly pines. A freshly cut green pine stump gives off resin that attracts black turpentine beetles, and the Georgia Forestry Commission lists stump grinding as the preferred step when green pines are cut and other pines remain in the yard. If a pine came down and you still have healthy pines nearby, getting that stump ground sooner rather than later is a reasonable move.

Storm damage is the other common source. When a tree comes down in a summer thunderstorm or during one of our occasional ice storms, the priority is getting it off the house or the driveway, and the stump is often left for later. If that is where you are right now, start with emergency storm cleanup for the tree itself and treat the stump as a second, scheduled job. Uprooted trees also leave a torn-up root plate rather than a neat stump, which is usually cut flush and ground, or pushed back into the hole and backfilled, depending on its size.

Can you rent a grinder and do it yourself?

Rental stores in the metro do rent walk-behind stump grinders, and for one or two small stumps on open ground, some homeowners handle it themselves. It is worth being honest about what that involves. The machines are heavy to load and unload, the cutting wheel is dangerous, and the rental rate plus a truck and trailer can land close to what a tree service would charge for a small job.

Big stumps, stumps close to the house, and anything on a slope are a different story. That is work for a company with the right machine and insurance. And if the tree is still standing, remember that most removal quotes list the stump as a separate line. The tree removal cost guide covers how that fits into the full price.

Stump removal cost FAQ