Honest ranges for the quad-cities area, the two local factors that swing every bid, and the grant that can knock $500 off the right project.
| Job | Typical range | What puts you at the high end |
|---|---|---|
| Small tree / scrub oak / juniper (under ~25 ft) | $300 – $800 | Tight access, fence lines, rocky ground |
| Mid-size pine or juniper (25–50 ft) | $700 – $1,800 | Over roofline, slope access, limited drop zone |
| Large ponderosa / hazard removal (50 ft+) | $1,500 – $4,500+ | Structures underneath, crane or technical rigging, dead/brittle wood |
| Defensible-space package (thinning, brush, ladder fuels) | Scoped per lot — commonly $1,000+ | Lot size, slope, haul-off vs chip-on-site — and grant-eligible (below) |
| Stump grinding (per stump, with a removal) | $100 – $400 | Stump diameter, rock, irrigation nearby |
Ranges reflect typical northern-Arizona market pricing; every tree is quoted individually, in writing, before work starts.
If your project is defensible-space shaped — thinning, brush clearing, ladder-fuel removal around the home, $1,000 or more of scope — the City of Prescott's matching grant has covered $500 of it for city residents, applied for before work begins, first-come first-served. The city also offers free curbside brush chipping. A quote that ignores these leaves your money on the table. The full grant guide.
Get scope in writing: removal, haul-off or chip, stump, cleanup — itemized. "We'll tidy everything up" is not a scope.
Ask the two insurance questions: "Do you carry liability insurance for tree work specifically?" and "Are your climbers covered by workers' comp?" Arizona doesn't license tree services through a state tree board — the certificate of insurance and local reputation are the credentials that matter, and a legitimate crew texts you the COI without flinching.
Beware the fire-season panic bid. Every big smoke column produces a wave of door-knock offers around the pines. The filter is the same as anywhere: insurance certificate on the spot, a local number that answers next week, written scope before work.
On thinning bids, ask what stays. Good defensible-space work leaves a healthy, open stand — if a bid reads like a clear-cut, get another opinion.
Call with photos ready — most quotes come back same day, grant-ready when the work qualifies.
Call (928) 910-8568