Stump grinding prices

[chipperscompany]

I know there has been several topics about what someone charges for stump grinding. But i couldn't find, how do some people measure the cost when they charge $2.00 for inch? Is it by the height X the longest width from the top of the stump? Thanks for any responses.

 

[custom8726]

Best to look at them in person so you can make ajustments to your estimate for the terrain, Access, ETC... For example we have two stump grinders a smaller self propelled and a large 70hp duetze diesel tow behind. Obviously if we can get our big machine to the stump we can grind it in a third of the time so inturn we can pass the savings onto our customer. Time is money!!!

 

[chipperscompany]

Best to look at them in person so you can make ajustments to your estimate for the terrain, Access, ETC... For example we have two stump grinders a smaller self propelled and a large 70hp duetze diesel tow behind. Obviously if we can get our big machine to the stump we can grind it in a third of the time so inturn we can pass the savings onto our customer. Time is money!!!

But wouldn't you agree on giving an estimate for a stump grinding service would be more efficient and time saving? I wouldn't be wasting time on giving an estimate at the location without knowing if im getting the job.

 

[Gunsmoke]

A few guys go w/ $2 dollars across the cut around here, that's too low in most cases. I look @ the job and add in the factors of size, surface roots, depth of grind (full or 8" for grass planting) removal of chips, do you have to get into a gate ( removal of dual wheels). Add up how much time all this takes and then you must know your hourly rate that you need to make to stay in biz. This takes awhile to figure out but I have found that it is the best way. I'm sure I'll get the tar& feather response from some but it works for me. I run a Carlton w/ the 60hp diesel w/ the Sandvik cutting wheel so I can get into the 36" gates but can grind large stumps pretty quick!

 

[Gunsmoke]

I just got a job over the phone tonight 12" pine. I didn't see it but I'll be hopin' that I bid it right over the phone! On some you will win but some you will lose by not seeing them. I drove 19 mile sat. to see a job that was 7 shrubs w/ 2 small stumps right next to the house. I gave my bid and the lady says " you are double what the other guy gave me!" This jacka_ _ has been low ballin like crazy. He must not have seen that the beds were full of rocks (bye bye teeth) stump of tree was over top of down spout, etc. I was going to go lower over the phone but thank GOD I went and looked at it!

 

[STLfirewood]

One of my good friends here in St. Louis grinds stumos for a living. Here are his prices.

$60 min.
$3 an inch furthest point across the stump.
$125 an hour.

If you want the chips hauled off the price at least doubles maybe more depending on stup location.

Those are the basic rates I'm sure there are other factors that make them go up.

He stays very busy. A lot of tree companys use him. There are not many stump guys that carry work comp. He does so they use him.

Scott

 

[arbor pro]

I always give 'estimates' over the phone unless the job sounds really big - say several hundred dollars or more - then I'll look at in person. For a single smaller stump, it's not worth my time to run across town just to bid a $60 job. I tell the customer how to measure it and give them my 'estimate' based off of their measurements. If they tell me to do the job, it is with the understanding that the final bill will be based off of my measurements.

This method has always worked for me and weeds out the folks who are just shopping around for the lowest price which I usually am not.

I can usually get a pretty good feel for which machine to take depending on the site description they give me. Also, I always inform them that runner (surface) roots are extra if not included in their measurements of the stump.

For cleanup, I take the grinding price x 50-100% depending on access and the same for dirt fill.

 

[MARCELL8733]

Price Per Day

I HAVE A 4 MAN CREW 1 CLIMBER & 3 GROUND MEN, WITH CHIPPER TRUCK,CHIPPER & 1 WOOD TRUCK,NO CRANE OR BUCKET TRUCK.HOW MUCH WOULD YOU CHARGE YOUR CLIENT PER DAY RATES.:monkey:

 

[capetrees]

$40/hr per man,
$120 min chipper
$120 hr for chipper there after1 day would come to 8 hrs x $160 = $1280 no chipping

$1280 - $40 (1 man hour)= $1240
$1240 + $120 min(for chipper + 1 man)=$1360 w/1 hr chipping

$1360 + $120/hr thereafter for more chipping

 

[BC WetCoast]

I HAVE A 4 MAN CREW 1 CLIMBER & 3 GROUND MEN, WITH CHIPPER TRUCK,CHIPPER & 1 WOOD TRUCK,NO CRANE OR BUCKET TRUCK.HOW MUCH WOULD YOU CHARGE YOUR CLIENT PER DAY RATES.:monkey:

You should know what you need on an hourly basis to break even and to make a profit. Multiply it by 8.

If you don't know that number, then I would suggest you are just trolling.

 

[BC WetCoast]

A few guys go w/ $2 dollars across the cut around here, that's too low in most cases. I look @ the job and add in the factors of size, surface roots, depth of grind (full or 8" for grass planting) removal of chips, do you have to get into a gate ( removal of dual wheels). Add up how much time all this takes and then you must know your hourly rate that you need to make to stay in biz. This takes awhile to figure out but I have found that it is the best way. I'm sure I'll get the tar& feather response from some but it works for me. I run a Carlton w/ the 60hp diesel w/ the Sandvik cutting wheel so I can get into the 36" gates but can grind large stumps pretty quick!

I agree with you that this is the right way to bid. It's too easy to lose money without the proper information.

 

[ropensaddle]

Well too many factors come to play my minimum starts at 125.00
formerly 100 fuel is high man! From there it depends on where they are at how big etc. I am currently grinding at 10.00 per stump for several golf courses but I ground 127 in one day and 43 in three hours this mourning! I have several more courses to finish but no way will I grind for that price unless they have 100 or more stumps and fairly easy to get to! I will probably have those contracts for years now, they had a stump no one could get to in their truck and the dodge did not even spin a tire I had a lady call why I was grinding this mourning with 12 clear across town 25 miles one way told her 200.00 to 250.00 she said she would get more estimates! They don't seem to understand teeth are 350.00 per set on my 602 and the 60hp cat likes diesel but gets it done! I have another course to do Thursday if weather permits probably another 120 stumps:monkey:

 

[bigearl]

estimate by the square inch

this is not mine got from another member (randyg)
I started this year and it works awesome
as far as cleanup how long going to take you to do it 1 hr @ $50/hr and double it. Now if I could take my own advice

A 20 inch stump has 4 times more surface area (square inches) than a 10 inch stump.
A 40 inch stump has 4 times more surface area than a 20 inch.
An 80 inch stump 4 times the area of a 40.
:monkey:
Since you are grinding the ENTIRE surface of the stump, and NOT JUST ONE PASS across the widest part, why not measure the "area" and multiply that "area" by your $ figure?

HOW??? Thought you'd never ask. Pi = 3.1416 You'll have to trust me on that. You measure the distance across the stump as usual, and that is the "diameter". Divide the "diameter" in half, to get the "radius". {We're almost there} Now multiply the radius times the radius, and then multiply that answer times Pi and you have found the area. That can be expressed in "square inches" or "square centimeters" if you wish.
OK We have a stump 20 inches across. One half of that is 10. 10 times 10 equals 100. 100 times 3.1416 equals 314.16 right? Drop the (.16) and you have a surface area of 314 sq.in. (square inches)
How about a 30 inch stump? One half of 30 is 15. 15 times 15 equals 225. 225 times 3.1416 equals 706.86. Round up to 707 square inches.
Now if you use a figure like say, 15 cents per sq.in. that 20 inch stump comes out to just under 50 bucks, and the 30 incher is just over a hundred.
Never again will you be able to say "not sure why, but is seems that the bigger the stump, the more money I loose".

If you have rotten center, you can subtract that rotten area from total area easy enough right? OK Just 2 more things.

1. When grinding stumps, "the deader the better".
2. "People who understand MATH don't buy lottery tickets".

 

[gr8scott72]

this is not mine got from another member (randyg)
I started this year and it works awesome
as far as cleanup how long going to take you to do it 1 hr @ $50/hr and double it. Now if I could take my own advice

A 20 inch stump has 4 times more surface area (square inches) than a 10 inch stump.
A 40 inch stump has 4 times more surface area than a 20 inch.
An 80 inch stump 4 times the area of a 40.
:monkey:
Since you are grinding the ENTIRE surface of the stump, and NOT JUST ONE PASS across the widest part, why not measure the "area" and multiply that "area" by your $ figure?

HOW??? Thought you'd never ask. Pi = 3.1416 You'll have to trust me on that. You measure the distance across the stump as usual, and that is the "diameter". Divide the "diameter" in half, to get the "radius". {We're almost there} Now multiply the radius times the radius, and then multiply that answer times Pi and you have found the area. That can be expressed in "square inches" or "square centimeters" if you wish.
OK We have a stump 20 inches across. One half of that is 10. 10 times 10 equals 100. 100 times 3.1416 equals 314.16 right? Drop the (.16) and you have a surface area of 314 sq.in. (square inches)
How about a 30 inch stump? One half of 30 is 15. 15 times 15 equals 225. 225 times 3.1416 equals 706.86. Round up to 707 square inches.
Now if you use a figure like say, 15 cents per sq.in. that 20 inch stump comes out to just under 50 bucks, and the 30 incher is just over a hundred.
Never again will you be able to say "not sure why, but is seems that the bigger the stump, the more money I loose".

If you have rotten center, you can subtract that rotten area from total area easy enough right? OK Just 2 more things.

1. When grinding stumps, "the deader the better".
2. "People who understand MATH don't buy lottery tickets".

You can still use a "per-inch" charge. You just need to adjust it for larger size stumps.

Here's what I tell people:

$85 min
$1 an inch up to about 25" diameter

Above that I want to see them in person because they are ALWAYS bigger than described.

Extra charge if its a blow-over, have to chase roots, limited access, etc.

If it's VERY limited access, I can use my Alpine grinder but it doesn't come off the truck unless it's making me at least $300 per hour because there is no one else around here that can grind that kind of stump.

 

[juststumps]

i do $100 per hour... always look first....i pretty much know how long it's going to take after seeing the job...to easy to get beat over the phone.... jmho

 

[gr8scott72]

i do $100 per hour... always look first....i pretty much know how long it's going to take after seeing the job...to easy to get beat over the phone.... jmho

$100 per hour with what kind of machine?

IMO, if it's a small self-propelled, that's a good target but if it's a larger grinder, you should be getting more than that.

With my Rayco 1625 I averaged $81 per machine hour but with my Carlton 7015trx I'm at $161 per hour. (My target is $200)

And like I said, I'm shooting for about $300 per hour when I have to use the Alpine grinder.

 

[juststumps]

$100 per hour with what kind of machine?

IMO, if it's a small self-propelled, that's a good target but if it's a larger grinder, you should be getting more than that.

With my Rayco 1625 I averaged $81 per machine hour but with my Carlton 7015trx I'm at $161 per hour. (My target is $200)

And like I said, I'm shooting for about $300 per hour when I have to use the Alpine grinder.

i run a vemmeer 352,,, i can see charging more for a bigger machine,,,but you do it in half the time,, and it costs twice as much as my machine....

a $100 stump , is a $100 stump !!!! if i go for $100 per hr, and it takes me an hr, with a 20K machine... and it only takes you 30 minutes with a 40 K machine at $200 per hour,,, it's still a $100 stump...

most of my biz is "do it your self" folks.. i don't quote the price on the rate,,, price it on the stump,, and getting to it....ie going thru gates,, and clean up... if they want it.... what i figure my total time will be at $100 per hr...

 

[juststumps]

$100 per hour with what kind of machine?

IMO, if it's a small self-propelled, that's a good target but if it's a larger grinder, you should be getting more than that.

With my Rayco 1625 I averaged $81 per machine hour but with my Carlton 7015trx I'm at $161 per hour. (My target is $200)

And like I said, I'm shooting for about $300 per hour when I have to use the Alpine grinder.

i missed the part about "machine hours"... you charge by the hour meter ???? or is that the time the machine is on the job ?????

 

[a_lopa]

$100 a meter,And upwards depending on how raised and species.

 

[gr8scott72]

i missed the part about "machine hours"... you charge by the hour meter ???? or is that the time the machine is on the job ?????

I bid the individual job but I do it with the goal that the machine will be making at least $150 per hour and my target is $200 per machine hour.

Unless you are doing clean up, the machine hours is pretty close to how long you are actaully there.