National cost guides put a typical stump grinding job at $120 to $400 on HomeGuide and $150 to $300 on Fixr, checked October 25, 2026. Neither range is a Clearwater price. A small stump can still trigger a minimum service charge, while a large root flare or tight gate may need a different machine or more time.
For a useful local price, show the provider the stump and explain what you want to do with that patch of yard. The Clearwater stump grinding page covers the service; the details below help you request comparable written scopes rather than compare two headline numbers.
National stump grinding prices
| Pricing method | Published national figure | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Typical first stump | $120 to $400 | HomeGuide |
| Typical grinding project | $150 to $300 | Fixr |
| Diameter pricing | $2 to $6 per inch | HomeGuide |
| Minimum service charge | $80 to $160 | HomeGuide |
| Each additional stump | $30 to $60 | HomeGuide |
| First stump, when priced as a multi-stump job | $80 to $150 | Fixr |
| Each additional stump, when priced as a multi-stump job | $40 to $75 | Fixr |
HomeGuide's stump grinding guide and Fixr's cost guide were checked October 25, 2026. These figures describe different pricing models, not a price list you can add together. Fixr also lists $2 to $5 per diameter inch and describes an approximately $100 minimum for a small job. The guides do not establish what a Clearwater provider will charge.
A per-inch calculation can fall below the service minimum. For example, Fixr's published $2 to $5 per-inch range yields $36 to $90 for an 18-inch stump before a minimum charge, cleanup, or unusual site conditions. That example comes from Fixr's per-inch discussion, checked October 25, 2026. It is not a quote for an 18-inch stump in Pinellas County.
How the provider measures the stump
Measure at the widest part near ground level, where roots may flare out from the trunk. HomeGuide tells readers to use the stump's longest width at ground level in its pricing guide, checked October 25, 2026. A trunk that looks narrow above the ground can have a wider base for the grinder to cut.
Take one photo from above with a tape measure across that widest span, plus a wider photo showing the approach. If the provider measures only the trunk, ask whether the root flare is included. Put the agreed measurement and the number of stumps in the quote. Do not assume a per-inch rate includes travel, surface roots, chip hauling, or backfill.
Why one stump costs more than another
Wood and condition. HomeGuide notes that old hardwood can take longer to grind than softer or decayed wood in its cost guide, checked October 25, 2026. Tell the provider if the stump came from a palm, but do not assume a special palm rate: the checked guides do not establish one. A provider can assess the particular stump, including any embedded dirt or decay.
Machine access. A stump beside a fence, pool enclosure, or raised bed may limit the machine that can reach it. Fixr identifies difficult terrain and access as labor factors in its cost guide, checked October 25, 2026. Measure gates, note steps or soft ground, and photograph nearby paving or irrigation. Ask whether the machine can reach the stump without removing a fence section.
Rocks and obstructions. Fixr recommends clearing rocks and loose debris around the work area before grinding in its preparation advice, checked October 25, 2026. Do not dig around the stump or disturb a marked utility to prepare it. Show the provider any visible stone, old hardware, or edging and ask what happens if buried obstructions stop the machine.
Depth and surface roots. HomeGuide says deeper grinding and large roots can add work in its cost guide, checked October 25, 2026. State whether you want grass, a planting bed, or space for a future project. Ask for the depth below surrounding grade and identify each surface root you want addressed. Grinding the stump does not mean grinding every root across the yard.
Chips and soil. A basic grind may leave a mound of wood mixed with soil. Fixr treats cleanup as a separate service in some projects, checked October 25, 2026. Ask for separate prices to leave, spread, or haul the chips. If you want a finished lawn, find out whether topsoil, grading, seed, or sod are included. Removing chips can change both the bill and the amount of soil needed.
Multiple stumps and minimum charges
A provider who brings equipment for one stump may be able to grind additional stumps on the same visit for less per stump. HomeGuide lists $30 to $60 per additional stump, while Fixr lists $40 to $75, in their HomeGuide and Fixr guides, checked October 25, 2026. Neither rate promises that a second stump with a wider flare or difficult access will fit the published range.
List every stump with a diameter and location. Ask for the total, the first-stump charge, each extra-stump charge, and any separate trip or minimum charge. If only one small stump needs work, the minimum may matter more than the diameter rate. If several stumps are spread behind gates or on different grades, ask whether the provider can reach all of them with the same equipment.
Utilities before grinding
Sunshine 811 specifically says to request a locate before pulling or grinding a stump, checked October 25, 2026. Its guidance calls for contacting 811 two full business days before digging. Plan that step before the work date and confirm the utility responses. A stump or its roots can hide a buried line.
The 811 request may not cover your own irrigation, landscape lighting, or other private lines. Sunshine 811 says member utilities mark the facilities they own and maintain, while a property owner or excavator must arrange private locating, checked October 25, 2026. Tell the provider where those systems run and agree on who will obtain any separate locate. A quote should not silently assume the work area is clear.
After the grinder leaves
Ask who removes the chips and levels the area. Iowa State University Extension recommends removing wood debris and sawdust, then preparing soil and grade before establishing grass, checked October 25, 2026. Wood and roots left underground can break down and leave a low spot. Keep the restoration work in the written scope if you need a lawn rather than a rough grind area.
If you plan another tree, tell the provider before choosing a depth. Iowa State Extension warns against planting directly in a decomposing stump, checked October 25, 2026. A different planting location or more root and wood removal may be needed. The grinding-versus-removal guide explains that choice without making the grinding quote stand in for a removal quote.
Checklist for a written stump grinding quote
- Diameter at the widest ground-level point, number of stumps, and any minimum or trip charge
- Grind depth below the surrounding grade and the surface roots included
- Access route, gate width, nearby paving, landscaping, and equipment limits
- Known rocks, buried lines, 811 responses, and responsibility for private locating
- Whether chips stay, get spread, or get hauled away
- Whether clean soil, grading, grass, or other yard restoration is included
- How the provider handles an obstruction or a change in scope
Use the Clearwater stump grinding service page to identify the job details before you compare quotes. If the stump follows a recent removal, read the tree removal cost guide so you can ask whether the earlier tree quote included any stump work.