Every figure below is an observed range from national cost guides, most of them updated between January 2025 and July 2026, along with Angi's separate figures for Illinois and the Chicago area. None of them is a quote. They are here so a Palatine owner can read a crew's written price with some context. Tree removal cost, like trimming, is set by the tree rather than by area: height, trunk diameter, what the tree hangs over, whether a crane or bucket can reach it, and how much wood leaves the property all move the number.
| Service | Typical Palatine Range |
|---|---|
| Tree removal, small tree under 30 ft | $150 - $500 |
| Tree removal, medium tree 30 to 60 ft | $450 - $1,500 |
| Tree removal, large tree 60 to 80 ft | $800 - $2,000 |
| Crane-assisted removal | $1,500 - $2,500 |
| Trimming a tree up to 30 ft | $250 - $700 |
| Trimming a 30 to 60 ft shade tree | $600 - $1,200 |
| Stump grinding, one stump | $120 - $400 (about $2 - $6 per inch) |
| Cabling a weak fork | $200 - $400 per tree |
| Arborist inspection or consultation | $75 - $250 |
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What Changes the Price?
Height and reach come first. HomeGuide's removal ranges rise from $200 - $500 under 30 feet to $1,200 - $2,500 or more past 80 feet, and Fixr prices crane-assisted removals at $1,500 - $2,500. A backyard tree behind a fence, with no room for a truck, has to be climbed and lowered in pieces, which takes longer than felling one into open lawn.
Species and condition show up in the guides. HomeGuide lists ash removals at $650 - $2,000, maple at $600 - $1,200 and oak at $300 - $2,500. Oak work between mid-April and mid-October adds steps, since the Morton Arboretum asks for sterilized tools between cuts and a nontoxic wound dressing if an oak must be cut in that window.
Wires and permits add time and sometimes cost. A tree near ComEd lines may need the utility first, because only line-clearance qualified workers may come within 10 feet of energized conductors. Angi puts permit fees at $60 - $150 where a town charges them, and Inverness requires the village administrator's written approval before a protected private tree is removed.
Cleanup scope is the quiet swing factor. HomeGuide prices wood chipping and log splitting at $50 - $100 each, Angi lists debris cleanup at $70 - $95, and the stump is almost always its own line. Burning is not allowed in Cook County, so every branch is chipped or hauled, and the quote should say which.
A useful written quote names the tree and its trunk size, the method (felled, sectioned or crane), who files the JULIE request and calls ComEd if needed, what happens to logs, chips and the stump, how the lawn is protected, and whether the parkway and street are cleaned. With those answers on paper, two quotes can be set against these ranges in a few minutes.
National guides and the Chicago-area figure
Angi's July 2026 update puts the national average for professional removal at $750, with most jobs between $200 and $2,000 or more, and gives figures closer to home: an Illinois average of $535 to $730 and a Chicago range of $600 to $1,050. HomeGuide's February 2026 page reports $400 to $1,200 on average and a national average of $850, and Fixr's January 2025 figures run $400 to $1,100.
Around Palatine the bigger swing is the tree itself. A silver maple that has grown to 50 or 60 feet over a garage, a backyard of soft clay that cannot take a loaded truck in April, or a limb resting near a ComEd service drop can each push a job toward the top of these ranges. A small ornamental in an open front yard sits near the bottom. Tree trimming cost follows the same logic, scaled down.
Storm work and what insurance pays
Emergency work costs more because it happens quickly, often in rain or darkness, around wood that is bent and loaded. HomeGuide puts emergency service at two to three times the standard rate, Fixr quotes $450 to $5,000 for emergency removals, and Angi lists emergency jobs at up to $5,000.
The Insurance Information Institute says a standard homeowners policy covers damage when wind, lightning or hail brings a tree down on the house or another covered structure, such as a detached garage, and generally pays to remove that tree up to about $500 to $1,000, depending on the insurer. When the tree hits nothing the policy covers, there is generally no coverage for removal, and poor maintenance is not covered at all. Photographs taken before cleanup help any claim.
Treatments, feeding and written reports
Keeping a tree can cost less than removing it. HomeGuide prices a tree injection, one of the professional options for emerald ash borer protection, at $75 to $250 per tree or $10 to $15 per inch of trunk diameter, and HomeAdvisor lists injections at $50 to $200. Deep root fertilization runs $60 to $200 per tree in HomeGuide's figures and $100 to $350 in HomeAdvisor's.
Advice has its own price. HomeGuide lists a consultation or risk assessment at $100 to $250 and a written arborist report at $150 to $450 for one tree, or $300 to $700 for several. HomeAdvisor notes that some arborists inspect for free while others charge $75 to $150, with formal reports up to $700. Cabling runs $200 to $350 on average in HomeGuide's figures and $200 to $400 in HomeAdvisor's.
Grinding a stump: hired or rented
HomeGuide's stump figures run $120 to $400 for one stump and $300 to $800 for an extra-large one, or $2 to $6 per inch of diameter with minimum charges of $80 to $160. More stumps on the same visit add $30 to $60 each, and hauling the grindings adds $2 to $4 per inch where it is not included. Angi lists the first stump as a $100 to $150 add-on to a removal.
Renting looks cheaper. HomeGuide lists walk-behind grinders at $100 to $275 a day and self-propelled units at $175 to $400, and a national home-center chain at $85 to $160 a day. The rental price leaves out the trailer, the JULIE request, the hours of grinding and the chips, so a fair comparison adds those before choosing. The stump grinding page covers what a rental machine can reach.
Tree Service Pricing Questions
What is the cost to remove a tree in the Chicago suburbs compared with national figures?
Angi's national average for a professional removal is $750, while its Chicago range is $600 to $1,050 and its Illinois average $535 to $730. HomeGuide's national average is $850. An ordinary tree around Palatine therefore prices near or a little above the national middle, but size, access and what sits under the tree decide the actual number far more than the region does.
How much does tree trimming cost for a mature oak or maple?
HomeGuide lists oak trimming at $450 to $1,500 and maple at $400 to $1,000, with trees over 60 feet at $1,000 to $2,500 or more. Minimum job fees of $100 to $300 apply to small jobs, and debris removal can add $75 to $250 if it is not included. Oak pruning belongs between early November and very early April, so winter scheduling is part of the price conversation.
What does stump removal cost when the roots come out as well?
Grinding takes the stump a few inches below grade and leaves the roots to rot, for $120 to $400 on a typical stump in HomeGuide's figures. Removing roots is priced separately, at $75 to $150 an hour, and full extraction with an excavator leaves a large hole to fill. Deeper grinding, up to 18 inches, is a middle path when a new tree or a patio is planned for the spot.
Is a crane worth paying for on a tight Palatine lot?
Sometimes. Fixr prices crane-assisted removals at $1,500 to $2,500, and Angi lists crane service at about $250 to $600 a day. A crane lifts sections over the house instead of lowering them by rope, which can cut hours from a job where a large tree leans over a roof. It needs a street or driveway that can hold its outriggers, and soft spring clay can rule that out.
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