Real 2026 price ranges for San Antonio, Austin and the Hill Country — what a typical stump costs, what pushes the price up, and how to avoid paying the minimum three times.
Most homeowners in Central Texas pay somewhere between $150 and $350 to grind a typical stump, with small stumps closer to $100 and very large ones running $500 to $700 or more. Nearly every company has a minimum service charge of roughly $100 to $150, which covers getting the grinder to your property.
The good news: once the machine is there, each additional stump is cheap. That's why the single best way to save money is to get every stump on the property quoted at once instead of one at a time.
| Item | Typical Central Texas price |
|---|---|
| Small stump (up to ~12" across) | $100 – $150 |
| Medium stump (12" – 24") | $150 – $275 |
| Large stump (36" and up) | $425 – $700+ |
| Typical single stump, Austin area | $150 – $350 |
| Per inch of diameter | about $2 – $5 per inch |
| Minimum service charge | about $100 – $150 |
| Each additional stump, same visit | about $40 – $75 |
| Surface-root grinding add-on | about $50 – $150 |
| Haul away the grindings | about $40 – $100 |
| Full stump removal (dig out the root ball) | roughly 2 – 5× the cost of grinding |
Ranges are published Central Texas contractor prices (Austin, Kyle, San Antonio) and national cost data, checked October 2026. Diameter is measured across the cut at ground level.
Price tracks the width of the stump — and wide surface roots spreading 3–4 feet out add grinding time.
Live oak heartwood grinds far slower than cedar elm or hackberry, so a live oak stump costs more than a same-size softer tree.
Much of the Hill Country sits on shallow limestone. Rock around the roots slows the grinder and wears the teeth, which shows up in the price.
Narrow gates, fences, and slopes can force a smaller machine and more time. Mention access when you ask for a quote.
Standard grinding goes roughly 4–8 inches below grade. Planning to plant, pour concrete, or build there? Ask for 12–18 inches, which costs more.
The minimum covers the trip; every extra stump after that is a fraction of the first. Batch them.
Some companies backfill and haul the chips as part of the price; others bill it separately. Ask what's included.
Grinding chews the stump and main surface roots into chips below the soil line. It's faster, cheaper, and right for most yards — you can lay sod or plant nearby afterward.
Full removal digs out the entire root ball. It typically costs two to five times as much and leaves a hole to fill, so it's usually only worth it when a foundation, pool, or driveway is going exactly where the stump was.
Measure each stump across the top at ground level, note the tree type if you know it (live oak, cedar, mesquite, hackberry), count how many there are, and mention gate width and slope. Photos with something for scale make a phone or text quote far more accurate.
Ask whether the price includes surface roots, backfill, and hauling the chips, and how deep they'll grind. Those four items explain most of the gap between a cheap quote and a fair one.
Most single stumps run about $150 to $350 in Central Texas, with small ones closer to $100 and large live oak stumps $500 or more. Expect a minimum charge of around $100 to $150.
Yes. After the first stump covers the minimum, additional stumps on the same visit typically run about $40 to $75 each.
Live oak generally won't resprout after grinding. Some species, like cedar elm, hackberry, and chinaberry, can send up sprouts that need to be cut back.
Standard grinding goes roughly 4 to 8 inches below grade. If you plan to plant a new tree or pour concrete over the spot, ask for 12 to 18 inches.
Grinding produces several times the stump's volume in chips. Most people use them to backfill the hole or as mulch; hauling them away is usually an add-on of about $40 to $100.
Grind it unless something will be built directly on that spot. Full removal costs roughly two to five times more and leaves a hole to fill.
Prices are published ranges from the sources below, checked October 2026. Every property is different — get an on-site quote before you budget.
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