A walk-behind stump grinder costs about $2,000 to $10,800 to buy, based on list prices across the models on our site, with compact 6 to 14 HP machines at the low end and 20 HP Honda-powered models at the top. If you only need one or two stumps gone, renting costs about $200 to $400 a day and hiring a professional averages a few hundred dollars per job, according to HomeAdvisor and Fixr. So how much does a stump grinder cost for you? It depends mostly on how many stumps you will grind over the life of the machine.
Below are purchase prices by engine size and type, rental and professional removal costs from established cost guides, and a simple way to decide whether to buy, rent or hire. You can compare every model in our stump grinders range.
This guide is written by the Danipress team. Danipress is an authorised dealer for the brands it sells; see our About Us page for more about the business.
How much does a stump grinder cost to buy?
If you are comparing stump grinders for sale, start with engine size. The ranges below are computed from the list prices of the stump grinders on our site. They are list prices and they change, so check each product page for the current figure.
| Tier | Models | Engine | List price range |
|---|---|---|---|
| Compact and entry | Dosko 6HP Mini (200-6HC), Brave 14 HP Kohler (BRSG105K) | 196cc Honda GX200; 14 HP Kohler Command PRO CH440 | About $2,000 to $3,000 |
| Mid-size 13 HP | Dosko 13HP Walk-Behind (337-13HC), Dosko Swivel 13 HP (337S-13HC) | 389cc Honda GX390 | About $5,570 to $6,000 |
| 20 HP | Dosko 20HP Walk-Behind (620-20HE), Dosko 20 HP Self-Propelled (691SP-20HE) | 688cc Honda GX630, electric start | About $7,650 to $10,800 |
Within each tier, the price gap comes from features rather than power. The swivel model costs more than the fixed-head 13 HP machine, and the self-propelled model costs more than the 20 HP walk-behind.
Shipping, returns and warranty terms apply to every model above. See our Shipping Policy, Return and Refund Policy and Warranty Policy pages for full details before you buy.
What drives the price of a stump grinder
Comparing the specifications of the six models we carry shows where the money goes. All figures are the manufacturers’.
| Model | Cutter wheel and teeth | Cutting capacity (above / below grade) | Drive | Dry weight |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dosko 6HP Mini | 9-5/8 in, 4 Greenteeth 500 Series | 10 in / 9 in | Centrifugal clutch | 134 lb |
| Brave 14 HP Kohler | 12 in head, 9 carbide cutters | 12 in / 9 in | Dual direct V-belt | 234 lb |
| Dosko 13HP Walk-Behind | 14 in, 8 Greenteeth 700 Series | 20 in / 16 in | Direct belt | 300 lb |
| Dosko Swivel 13 HP | 14 in, 8 Greenteeth 700 Series | 20 in / 16 in | Direct belt, swivel head | 300 lb |
| Dosko 20HP Walk-Behind | 14 in, 8 Greenteeth 700 Series | 20 in / 16 in | Direct belt | 400 lb |
| Dosko 20 HP Self-Propelled | 14 in, 8 Greenteeth 700 Series | 24 in / 18 in | Direct belt, hydrostatic self-propelled | 500 lb |
- Engine size. Displacement climbs from 196cc on the mini to 688cc on the 20 HP models. The GX630 models also add electric start, though the battery is not included.
- Cutter wheel and teeth. The 14-inch wheels on the larger Dosko machines carry eight teeth, against four on the mini’s 9-5/8-inch wheel. Greenteeth on the Dosko models rotate in three 120-degree increments, giving fresh cutting edges before replacement.
- Reach above and below grade. The mini cuts 9 inches below grade; the self-propelled model reaches 18 inches below and 24 inches above.
- Swivel head. The Dosko Swivel sweeps its cutter left and right while a single-lever wheel lock holds the machine in place, which reduces operator effort.
- Self-propelled drive. The hydrostatic drive on the Dosko 20 HP Self-Propelled moves its 500 lb weight to the stump and over uneven ground.
- Build. The larger Dosko machines use 1.375-inch bearings against 1-inch bearings on the mini, and they add five-position handlebars.
The purchase price is not the whole cost of owning. Budget for replacement teeth, fuel, engine oil and a way to move a machine that weighs 134 to 500 lb. We have not found a reliable published figure for these running costs, so check the operator’s manual for service intervals.
Stump grinder rental cost
Cost guides put stump grinder rental in these ranges:
| Rental period | HomeAdvisor | Fixr |
|---|---|---|
| Hourly | $60 to $90 | Not listed |
| Half day | $110 to $220 | $100 to $200 |
| Full day | $200 to $400 (about $300 average) | $200 to $350 |
| Week | $840 to $930 | $600 to $1,000 |
HomeAdvisor adds $50 to $60 for a trailer if the machine is too big for your vehicle. Fuel, your own time and cleanup come on top.
Professional stump grinding cost
Hiring a tree or stump service means no transport, no labor and no learning curve. Published figures:
- Average job: HomeAdvisor puts the average stump removal at $369, with most people paying $195 to $609. Fixr gives a national average of $200 for stump grinding, with a typical range of $150 to $300.
- Per inch of diameter: both guides cite $2 to $5 per inch.
- Minimums: HomeAdvisor lists a minimum call-out fee of $100 to $150, and Fixr a typical minimum of $100.
- Extra stumps: Fixr lists $40 to $75 for each additional stump.
- Extras: root removal or root grinding runs $100 to $200 per hour in both guides. Fixr lists cleanup at $2 to $3 per inch, and HomeAdvisor lists sawdust removal at $1 to $4 per inch.
Buy vs rent vs hire: how to decide
A quick way to compare is to divide the purchase price by a day’s rental. Using HomeAdvisor’s $300 average day rate, a compact grinder at $2,000 to $3,000 costs about the same as 7 to 10 rental days. A 13 HP model equals about 19 to 20 days, and a 20 HP model about 26 to 36 days. This simple arithmetic leaves out resale value, teeth, fuel and transport, so treat it as a starting point.
- Hire a pro if you have one or two stumps, very large stumps or no way to transport a heavy machine. Fixr lists $40 to $75 for each additional stump, so grouping several stumps into one visit lowers the cost per stump.
- Rent if you have a handful of stumps you can do in a day or a weekend, a vehicle that can tow or carry the machine, and time to do the work and cleanup yourself.
- Buy if you are a landscaper, tree service, property manager or rental business, or if you clear land regularly. Owning also lets you work on your own schedule.
Whichever route you choose, contact 811 a few business days before you dig. The national 811 service is free and arranges for buried utility lines to be marked, and every grinder in our range cuts at least 9 inches below grade.
For help matching a machine to your stumps, see our stump grinder buying guide, or browse by brand: Dosko and Brave.
Frequently asked questions
How much does it cost to rent a stump grinder?
About $200 to $400 for a full day, with HomeAdvisor citing a $300 average. Half-day rentals run about $100 to $220 across HomeAdvisor and Fixr.
How much do professionals charge to grind a stump?
Typically $2 to $5 per inch of diameter, with a minimum of about $100 to $150. HomeAdvisor’s average stump removal job is $369, and Fixr’s national average for grinding is $200.
Is it cheaper to buy or rent a stump grinder?
Renting is cheaper for a few stumps. At HomeAdvisor’s average day rate, the compact grinders on our site cost about as much as 7 to 10 rental days, so buying starts to make sense once you would rent more often than that.
What size stump grinder do I need?
Match the cutting capacity to your stumps. The compact models cut 9 inches below grade, the 13 HP and 20 HP walk-behind models 16 inches, and the self-propelled model 18 inches. Our buying guide covers engine size, swivel and self-propelled options.
Do I need to call 811 before grinding a stump?
Yes. 811 advises contacting it a few business days before any digging project, including planting trees and shrubs. Stump grinders cut below ground, where utility lines can run.