tree-service

How Much Does Tree Removal Cost in Bloomington, MN? 2026 Prices by Size and Species

Tree removal in Bloomington, MN costs $450 to $2,400 for most trees in 2026, more for big oaks and dead ash. See prices by size, EAB, oak wilt, and city rules.

How Much Does Tree Removal Cost in Bloomington, MN? 2026 Prices by Size and Species

Tree removal in Bloomington, MN costs about $450 to $2,400 for most residential trees in 2026, with the price driven by height, trunk diameter, location on the lot, and how much of the tree has to be lowered piece by piece. A small ornamental under 30 feet runs $300 to $700.

A mature ash, maple, or oak in the 50 to 70 foot range costs $1,200 to $2,800. Large cottonwoods, silver maples, and oaks over 80 feet, which are common in the older neighborhoods near the Minnesota River bluffs, can reach $3,500 to $6,000.

Two things set Bloomington apart from a generic tree removal price. The first is emerald ash borer, which has killed or is killing most of the city's ash trees and created a steady stream of removals in every neighborhood.

The second is oak wilt, which restricts when oaks can be pruned or cut and pushes some of that work into winter. Both change the price and the timing.

This guide lays out what Bloomington homeowners pay by tree size and type, what adds to the bill, what the city requires, how the seasons affect pricing, and how to compare quotes from local tree services.

Prices by Tree Size

Small trees under 30 feet, including crabapples, serviceberries, and young maples, cost $300 to $700 to remove. These jobs take a two-person crew an hour or two, and the price mostly covers the trip, the cleanup, and the disposal.

Medium trees from 30 to 60 feet run $700 to $1,800. This range covers most of the mature maples, lindens, and ash trees planted in Bloomington's post-war subdivisions in the 1950s and 1960s, which are now 60 to 70 years old and at or past their useful life. A 45-foot ash in a front yard with clear access is typically $900 to $1,400.

Large trees over 60 feet cost $1,800 to $4,500. Bur oaks, red oaks, cottonwoods, and silver maples along the river bluffs, in the Bush Lake area, and in the older sections near Penn Avenue reach 80 to 100 feet with trunks over 30 inches across. Those removals require a bucket truck or a climber, rigging every limb down, and a full day for a crew of three or four.

What Adds to the Price

Access is the biggest variable. A tree in a backyard behind a fence with no room for a bucket truck has to be climbed and rigged, which adds 30% to 60% to the cost. Trees near power lines require coordination with Xcel Energy and sometimes a utility crew, and that can add days and hundreds of dollars.

Stump grinding is usually separate at $100 to $400 depending on the diameter. Hauling the wood costs $100 to $300 extra, and many Bloomington homeowners keep the logs for firewood to save that charge. Ash trees killed by emerald ash borer are brittle and dangerous to climb, which raises the price on large dead ash by 15% to 30% because the crew has to use a bucket or a crane.

Crane removals for very large or hazardous trees run $2,500 to $7,000. These are common for old cottonwoods leaning toward a house and for dead ash that cannot be safely climbed.

Emerald Ash Borer and What It Means for Costs

Emerald ash borer was confirmed in Hennepin County years ago, and Bloomington has been removing infested public ash trees on a rolling schedule since. On private property, the city does not require removal, but a dead ash near a house, a street, or a neighbor's property is a liability, and most homeowners take them down within a year or two of infestation.

Treatment is an option for healthy or lightly infested trees. Trunk injections of emamectin benzoate cost $150 to $400 per tree every two to three years and are effective if started before the canopy has thinned by more than a third. For a large, well-placed ash that shades the house, treatment is often cheaper over a decade than removal and replacement.

Dead ash removals are the most common tree job in Bloomington now, and prices have stayed stable because there is so much volume. A 50-foot dead ash with bucket access costs $1,000 to $1,800. The same tree in a fenced backyard runs $1,500 to $2,600.

Oak Wilt and the Seasonal Calendar

Oak wilt is present across the southern metro, and it spreads through root grafts and through beetles attracted to fresh wounds on oaks during the growing season. The high-risk period for pruning or cutting oaks runs from April through July, and tree services in Bloomington will decline oak work in those months or require immediate wound sealing.

The practical effect is that oak removals, especially of healthy or partially healthy trees, get scheduled for late fall and winter. Frozen ground also protects lawns from bucket truck damage and lets crews work in areas that are soft in spring. Winter removals often come with a 10% to 20% discount because demand is lower.

Storm damage cleanup is the summer counterpart. Bloomington sees severe thunderstorms and occasional straight-line wind events from June through August, and emergency removals of downed or hanging limbs run $500 to $2,500 with a premium for same-day response. Insurance usually covers removal of a tree that has fallen on a structure but not one that falls in the yard.

City Rules and Permits in Bloomington

Bloomington does not require a permit to remove a tree on private property in most cases. The exceptions are trees in shoreland or wetland buffer areas near Bush Lake, Normandale Lake, and the Minnesota River, where the city's environmental ordinances apply, and boulevard trees between the sidewalk and the street, which belong to the city and cannot be removed by the homeowner.

Boulevard trees are handled by the city's forestry division. If a boulevard ash is dead or hazardous, report it to the city rather than hiring a private removal. The city has been replacing boulevard ash with a mix of species to avoid another single-pest wipeout.

Tree services in Minnesota are not licensed at the state level for tree work, but the Minnesota Department of Agriculture licenses companies that apply pesticides, including emerald ash borer treatments. Ask for that license if treatment is part of the job. Certified arborists through the International Society of Arboriculture are a good sign of competence for pruning and hazard assessment.

Comparing Tree Service Quotes

Get three written quotes and make sure each one covers the same scope. The quote should list the tree, the removal method, whether the stump is ground, whether the wood and brush are hauled, the cleanup, the timeline, and the insurance. Tree work is dangerous, and a company without liability insurance and workers' compensation puts you on the hook if a worker is hurt or a limb hits the neighbor's roof.

Ask for a certificate of insurance and check the dates. Minnesota requires workers' compensation for businesses with employees, and general liability of at least $1 million is standard among established tree companies. A crew of two guys with a pickup and a chainsaw offering half the price is a real risk.

You can compare tree service companies serving Bloomington and the south metro on the Minnesota Businesses Near Me directory, and the site's yard and home service cost guides on the blog cover related work like stump grinding and landscaping.

Timing your request helps. Tree services in the metro are busiest from April through October, and a non-emergency removal booked for December through February often comes with a discount and a faster start.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the average cost to remove a tree in Bloomington, MN?

The average removal runs about $1,200 in 2026, with most jobs falling between $450 and $2,400. Large trees over 60 feet or trees requiring a crane push past $3,000. Stump grinding adds $100 to $400.

Do I need a permit to cut down a tree in Bloomington?

Not for most trees on private property. Trees in shoreland or wetland buffer zones and boulevard trees between the sidewalk and street are the exceptions. Check with the city if your lot borders Bush Lake, Normandale Lake, or the river.

How much does it cost to remove a dead ash tree in Bloomington?

A 40 to 60 foot dead ash costs $1,000 to $2,600 depending on access. Dead ash is brittle and often requires a bucket truck or crane, which adds to the cost compared with a live tree of the same size. Many companies offer a discount for removing multiple ash trees on one visit.

When is the best time to remove an oak tree in Minnesota?

Late fall through winter, when oak wilt cannot spread through fresh cuts and the ground is frozen. Tree services avoid cutting oaks from April through July. Winter removals often cost 10% to 20% less than summer work.

Does homeowners insurance cover tree removal in Minnesota?

Insurance covers removal when a tree falls on a covered structure like the house, garage, or fence, usually up to a limit of $500 to $1,000 per tree. A tree that falls in the yard without hitting anything is generally not covered. Removal of a standing dead tree is a maintenance cost, not a claim.