Top 5 Tree Stump Removal Services in Los Angeles for 2026
Stumps are more than an eyesore. They attract termites and carpenter ants, sprout suckers, and trip up mowers and kids. If you are searching for a tree stump removal service in Los Angeles, you also face a practical problem: prices and quality vary a lot, and a bad hire can leave you with a half-ground stump and a pile of wood chips.
This list gives you five Los Angeles providers worth calling, with notes on what each does well, what customers say, and what to ask when you request a quote. Most jobs run roughly $100 to $400 per stump , depending on diameter, root spread, and access. Always ask whether cleanup and chip haul-away are included, because that line item is where bids differ most.
A quick note on where we are coming from. ArboBella Tree Service is a certified arborist company serving North Port, Port Charlotte, and Venice, Florida, so we are not a Los Angeles option. We do grind stumps every week, and we know what separates a clean job from a sloppy one. Below, you will find the five picks, then a short checklist for comparing bids before you commit.
1. Gabriel Tree Services
Gabriel Tree Services is our first pick for homeowners who want one crew for the whole job. We have not worked with them, so treat what follows as what to expect and what to confirm on your first call.
Services and stump removal approach
A company that handles trimming, removal, and stump work lets you book the tree takedown and the stump grind in one visit . That saves a second trip fee. The standard method is stump grinding . The grinder cuts the stump 6 to 12 inches below grade, and the crew backfills the hole with chips or soil. Ask whether they also grind surface roots, since those cause lawn bumps and regrowth.
Service area and availability
Gabriel Tree Services works the Los Angeles area. Because the county is so spread out, ask which neighborhoods sit on their regular routes and whether they add a travel fee outside them. Also mention your gate width . Many walk-behind grinders fit through a 36-inch gate, but a tight backyard may need a smaller machine and more time.
Credentials and experience
California requires a contractor license for tree work of $500 or more, and tree service falls under the D-49 classification. Look up any company on the Contractors State License Board website before you sign. Ask Gabriel for these four items:
- Their active license number and D-49 classification
- A current certificate of liability insurance
- Proof of workers' compensation coverage
- Two or three recent local references for stump jobs
An unlicensed or uninsured stump crew puts the repair bill for your sprinklers, pipes, and fence on you.
Pricing and quote process
Get a written, per-stump quote after the company has seen the site, or at least photos with a tape measure beside the stump. Stump size drives the price, as in these rough Los Angeles market ranges. They are not Gabriel's quotes.
| Stump diameter | Typical range |
|---|---|
| Under 12 inches | $100 to $150 |
| 12 to 24 inches | $150 to $300 |
| Over 24 inches | $300 to $400+ |
Confirm that cleanup and chip haul-away are in the price, and ask about a discount if you have several stumps.
2. Inexpensive Tree Services
Inexpensive Tree Services is the pick if price is your first filter . We have not worked with them either, so confirm each point on the call.
Services and stump removal approach
Expect stump grinding as the core service, since it costs far less than excavating a stump. A low bid is fine if the scope is clear . Pin down three things:
- Grind depth, ideally 6 inches or more
- Whether surface roots are included
- Who removes the chips
Service area and availability
Check that they cover your ZIP code before you ask for a price. Budget shops fill their calendars quickly, so ask for a firm arrival window and a confirmation call the day before.
Stumps are rarely urgent, which gives you leverage. Flexible dates can sometimes lower the bid, so ask about off-peak scheduling .
Credentials and experience
Cheap is not worth it without paperwork. Verify the CSLB license and current liability insurance before any work starts.
The lowest bid is only a bargain if the crew is licensed, insured, and finishes the job.
Read recent reviews for the words cleanup, on time, and damage. Patterns across several reviews tell you more than one star rating, and a crew that grinds stumps weekly will usually work faster and cleaner.
Pricing and quote process
Request an itemized, per-stump price in writing . Compare it with the $100 to $400 range from the intro. A bid far below $100 per stump deserves questions.
Watch the add-ons. Travel fees, extra roots, and haul-away charges can erase the savings, so compare totals, not hourly rates .
3. Special Tree Service
Special Tree Service fits you if you want a full-service tree company instead of a stump-only operator. We have not worked with them, so use this as a checklist for your first call.
Services and stump removal approach
Expect stump grinding as the main method, backed by trimming and full tree removal. Ask how they handle stumps near a foundation, irrigation line, or sewer pipe. A smaller grinder or hand-digging costs more but protects what is underground.
Also confirm that someone calls 811 for utility marking before the grinder starts. In Southern California, that request goes through DigAlert.
Service area and availability
Special Tree Service works in the Los Angeles area, but a Valley job and a Westside job can sit an hour apart. Confirm that your city is on their regular routes before you book.
Then ask for a date range , not just "we'll fit you in." If they are already removing the tree, ask whether the stump grind can happen the same day.
Credentials and experience
Start with the CSLB license lookup and a current insurance certificate. Then ask whether an ISA Certified Arborist is on staff. That matters when you are unsure whether a tree needs to come out at all.
A license number takes two minutes to verify and can save you thousands in repairs.
Pricing and quote process
Budget for the same $100 to $400 per stump range from the intro, with big or root-heavy stumps at the top. Ask for the quote in writing, with cleanup and chip haul-away listed as separate lines.
If you also need a tree taken down, ask for a bundled price . Companies that do both jobs in one visit often charge less than two separate bookings.
4. Arbor Tree Care
Arbor Tree Care suits you if tree health matters as much as the stump . We have not worked with them, so treat this as a call script, not a verdict.
Services and stump removal approach
Expect stump grinding from a company with an arborist mindset. If the tree died from disease, ask whether the roots could infect nearby trees . Then confirm the grind depth and what fills the hole, chips or clean topsoil.
Service area and availability
Confirm your city is on their regular Los Angeles routes before you book. Ask whether the stump grind can ride along with a pruning or removal visit, since combined visits are easier to schedule and often cheaper.
Credentials and experience
Start with an active CSLB license and proof of insurance. Then ask whether an ISA Certified Arborist is on staff, and get the certification number so you can check it. Useful questions for the call:
- How many stumps do you grind in a typical month?
- Do you flag sprinkler lines and utilities first?
- Can you send photos of recent stump jobs?
A credential only counts once you have verified it.
Pricing and quote process
Budget for the same $100 to $400 per stump range from the intro. Request a written quote that lists grinding, root work, cleanup, and haul-away as separate lines. That makes it easy to compare against the other four bids.
5. Thumbtack stump grinding pros
Thumbtack works differently from the other four picks. It is a marketplace, not one company, so you post your job once and compare bids from local stump grinding pros. We have not used it for stump work, so vet every pro yourself.
Services and stump removal approach
Most pros on the platform offer stump grinding , and some also handle full tree removal and cleanup. Better details bring better bids , so include these in your request:
- Stump diameter and number of stumps
- Photos with a tape measure beside each stump
- Gate width and sprinkler locations
Service area and availability
Enter your ZIP code and the platform shows pros who serve it. Replies often arrive within hours, so you can compare several bids in a day . Ask each pro for a firm date , because availability varies a lot from one pro to the next.
Credentials and experience
Quality swings most here. A profile badge is not a license, so check each pro's CSLB license and liability insurance on your own. Read reviews that mention stumps specifically, not just general tree work.
A marketplace helps you find pros, but only you can confirm they are licensed and insured.
Pricing and quote process
Quotes arrive in the app, and most should land inside the $100 to $400 per stump range from the intro. Line up three bids and confirm that cleanup and haul-away are included in each. A bid that skips them is rarely the cheapest once you add them back.
Choosing the right stump removal pro
Any of these five can be a good fit, and the checks are the same for each. Verify the CSLB license and insurance , then get a written per-stump quote that lists cleanup and haul-away. A reliable tree stump removal service will answer those questions without hesitation.
Three bids and a few photos with a tape measure beside the stump will tell you more than any ranking. Compare totals, not hourly rates , and pick the pro who is clear about scope , not just lowest on price.
If your stump is in Southwest Florida instead of Los Angeles, we can help. ArboBella Tree Service grinds stumps in North Port, Port Charlotte, and Venice, and an ISA Certified Arborist leads every evaluation. Request a stump grinding quote from ArboBella Tree Service and we will tell you exactly what your stump needs .