Guide
Stump grinding vs. stump removal: which do you need?
Illustrative photo.
For lawns, sod, garden beds, pavers and patios, stump grinding is all you need: it's faster, far cheaper (from $200 in Bountiful) and leaves the yard almost untouched. Pay for full stump removal only when something structural has to go exactly where the root ball sits, like a footing or foundation.
"Stump removal" and "stump grinding" get used as if they mean the same thing, but they're two different jobs with very different price tags. Knowing which one your project actually needs can save you hundreds of dollars and a torn-up yard.
What stump grinding does
A stump grinder is a machine with a heavy steel wheel lined with carbide teeth. The operator sweeps the spinning wheel back and forth across the stump, chewing the wood into chips a little at a time until the stump and its root flare are gone below the soil line.
At Bountiful Stump Grinding our standard job takes the stump about 6–8 inches below grade, which is plenty for topsoil and sod. If you want to replant a tree in the same spot, we can go 10–12 or 12–18 inches deep.
The deep roots stay in the ground. Without the trunk and leaves feeding them, they slowly rot away over the next several years. On most properties that's exactly what you want, because pulling them out would mean digging up everything around them.
What full stump removal involves
Full removal means digging out the stump and its root ball, usually with an excavator or a backhoe, sometimes with a lot of shovel work around utilities. The crew cuts through the main roots, rocks the stump loose and lifts it out. What's left is a large hole that has to be backfilled with soil and compacted.
It removes more of the wood, but it comes with heavy equipment on the lawn, tracks across the grass and a much bigger mess around sprinkler lines, fences and walkways.
Side by side
| Comparison | Stump grinding | Full removal |
|---|---|---|
| Typical cost in Bountiful | $200 minimum; $7.50 per inch above 26" | $200–$1,000+, plus fill dirt |
| Yard damage | A small, chip-filled hole | Large hole, equipment tracks |
| Equipment access | Fits through a typical side gate | Needs room for an excavator |
| Deep roots | Left to rot naturally | Mostly removed |
| Best for | Lawn, sod, beds, pavers, patios | Foundations or footings in the exact spot |
When grinding is the right call
- You want grass back. Grind, rake out most of the chips, add topsoil and lay sod or seed.
- You're putting in a garden bed or pavers. Grinding below grade gives you a flat, stable base to build on.
- The stump is near a fence, sidewalk or house. A grinder can work right up to the edge without undermining concrete or posts.
- Sprinkler or secondary-water lines run nearby. Grinding disturbs far less soil than digging, so there's less risk to pipes.
- You have several stumps. Grinding a whole row in one visit gets 5–20% off our standard rate.
When full removal is worth it
- A foundation, footing or addition will sit directly on top of the old root ball.
- An inspector or engineer on a building project requires the organic material to be removed.
- The stump sits where a new utility trench has to run straight through.
Even then, many builders grind first and then excavate the softened area, which can be faster than digging out a whole intact stump.
What about replanting a tree in the same spot?
You don't need full removal to replant. Ask for a deep grind (12–18 inches, +$100), pull out the chips and replace them with good soil. Better still, plant the new tree a few feet to one side of the old stump, where the soil hasn't been taken over by old roots.
How much does stump grinding cost?
We charge $7.50 per inch of diameter with a $200 minimum per job, so any single stump up to 26 inches across is $200, a 36-inch stump is $270, and a 48-inch stump is $360. Leaving the chips is free, and there's no travel fee anywhere within 20 miles of Bountiful. The full table, including add-ons, is on our stump grinding cost guide.
Not sure which one you need?
Text a photo of the stump to 801-903-2895 and tell us what's going in the spot. We'll tell you honestly whether grinding will do the job, and what it costs.