Stump grinding
Also called: stump removal, grinding a stump
Using a machine with a spinning carbide wheel to chew a tree stump into chips, typically 6–12 inches below ground level. It's the usual way to get rid of a stump after tree removal, and it's almost always priced separately.
A stump grinder is a wheeled or tracked machine with a toothed wheel that rotates at high speed and is swept back and forth across the stump, reducing it to mulch. The roots below are left to rot. The alternative — stump removal proper — means digging or pulling out the entire root ball, which is far more work and disturbs a much larger area; it’s only necessary if you’re building or paving on the spot.
Pros charge $2–$6 per inch of diameter at the soil line with an $80–$160 minimum — about $150 for a 12-inch stump and $240 for a 24-inch one, with each additional stump on the same visit $30–$60. Rental grinders run $90 for a mini half-day to $300 for a tracked machine and are slow: a 24-inch stump is 2–4 hours for a first-timer against 20 minutes for a pro, which is why the cost comparison says hire for one stump and rent for several.
Tree removal quotes rarely include the stump. Ask — grinding on removal day is the cheapest way to get it done.