How much does it cost to remove a brush pile?
How much does it cost to remove a brush pile?
$150 – $200 cost per load
$50 – $80 cost per hour
$800 – $3,000 cost per acre
Brush pile removal cost
Brush pile removal costs $150 to $200 per pickup-truck load on average. Brush removal costs $800 to $3,000 per acre. Brush cleanup labor costs $50 to $80 per hour. Brush removal prices depend on the pile size, site conditions, accessibility, and local dump fees.
| Pile size (pickup-truck loads) | Average cost |
|---|---|
| 1 | $150 – $200 |
| 2 | $300 – $400 |
| 3 | $450 – $600 |
| 4 | $600 – $800 |
| 5 | $750 – $1,000 |
*One full-size truck load is 2 to 4 cubic yards of brush.
Brush removal costs per acre
Brush removal costs $800 to $3,000 per acre on average or up to $5,000 per acre for clearing trees and brush. This price range includes land clearing with tractors, bulldozers, excavators, or commercial-sized rotary cutters. Fees increase for hauling away large logs and stumps.
| Brush type | Average cost per acre |
|---|---|
| Light brush (land without trees or few young trees) | $800 – $1,800 |
| Heavy brush (land with half brush & half trees) | $1,600 – $3,000 |
| Wooded (wild forest of trees & brush) | $2,500 – $5,000 |
*Minimum fees are $250 to $600 per visit.
In comparison, land clearing costs $1,500 to $6,700 per acre and often includes leveling and grading in addition to brush and tree removal.
Brush removal costs by service
The following table shows brush removal costs for various hauling services:
| Services by waste type | Average cost |
|---|---|
| Yard waste / junk removal | $150 – $350 per load |
| Dirt pile removal | $140 – $230 per cubic yard |
| Tree branch removal | $75 – $250 minimum |
| Shrub & bush removal | $25 – $150 per bush |
| Tree removal | $300 – $2,000 per tree |
| Tree stump removal | $80 – $250 per stump |
| Tree stump grinding | $100 – $250 first stump grinding + $30 – $60 each additional stump |
*Cost data is from research and project costs reported by HomeGuide members.
Yard waste removal
Junk removal prices are $150 to $350 per average load with a disposal company. Prices include loading up and hauling away half a dump truck of waste, including standard hauling fees. Half a dump truck is 2.5 to 5.0 cubic yards.
Dirt pile removal
Dirt removal costs $140 to $230 per cubic yard, including dumping fees. Removing a truckload of dirt costs $1,400 to $2,300 on average. These prices include transportation fees within a standard service area.
Tree branches or shrub removal
Tree branch removal costs $75 to $250 for a small or medium branch. Removing a tree limb more than 10’ long costs $150 to $800 on average.
Shrub and bush removal costs $25 to $150 per bush up to 6’ tall, depending on the type, size, and location.
Tree or stump removal
Tree and brush removal costs include the following:
Tree removal costs $300 to $2,000 per tree, depending on the size and location.
Tree stump removal costs $80 to $250 per stump, depending on the method.
Tree stump grinding costs $100 to $250 per stump for the first stump and $30 to $60 per stump for each additional stump. Stump grinding is the most common removal method.
Fallen tree removal costs $100 to $600 per tree, including hauling and disposal.
Tree debris removal costs $75 to $250 per trip.
Brush cleanup cost factors
Cleanup and removal costs typically include brush hauling and disposal. Additional cost factors are:
Pile size – Removal costs rise with brush piles bigger than 4 cubic feet. Calling the sanitation department to schedule extra curbside collections has extra fees.
Site conditions – Brush in muddy or uneven terrain that machines can't safely access may require clearing and removing by hand.
Service frequency – Discounts apply for people with regular service contracts.
Labor – Hauling labor costs $50 to $80 per hour on average. Longer loading times increase labor fees when handling thorny or oversized brush waste.
Lawn cleanup – Yard cleanup costs $125 to $400 on average, depending on the yard size, time of the year, and services needed.
Site location – Contractors typically charge extra for hauling brush to dump sites requiring more than 1 hour of driving time.
Hauling equipment – Hiring a contractor with a larger vehicle reduces the number of trips they must make for large jobs.
Dumpster service – Dumpster rental prices are $280 to $500 per week on average as a DIY alternative.
Dump-site fees – Disposal costs $30 to $100 per ton, depending on the local landfill or recycling-center policies. Some contractors include this fee in the labor cost.
Wood chipping – On-site chipping costs $100 to $150 per hour to create garden mulch from some of the brush waste.
Machinery – Forestry mulching costs $125 to $300 per hour for clearing brush with tractors or bulldozers.
Brush pile removal FAQs
Who removes brush piles?
People who remove brush piles include:
City sanitation department
Junk removal services and debris-hauling companies
Excavation companies
Demolition and debris-removal businesses
What is the difference between brush and yard waste?
The city sanitation department determines the differences between brush and yard waste for curbside collection.
Brush piles contain logs, branches, and scrap wood from trees and bushes. Pieces must be less than 3” to 6” thick and shorter than 4’ to 8’ long for collection. Curbside brush stacks should be 4’ tall maximum.
Yard waste includes grass clippings, leaves, pine needles, weeds, flowers, and non-wooden garden waste. Don’t include sand, sod, dirt, gravel, pots, or fruit and vegetable waste in paper yard-waste bags.
Where can I take yard brush?
You can take yard brush to:
City recycling centers
Local landfills
Curbside pickup areas
County compost centers
Community brush piles or mulching centers
Call ahead to check restrictions on when to drop off brush waste and what type of brush they accept.
Getting quotes from brush removal services
Before hiring a brush removal service near you, be sure to:
Compare multiple estimates.
Ask if the local sanitation department offers additional curbside pickups.
Look for experienced companies with licenses, insurance, and surety bonds.
Read their reviews on HomeGuide and Google.
Ask for a written estimate and contract.
Beware of the cheapest quotes as they often signal low-quality service.
Don’t make a total payment up front.
Questions to ask
How long have you been removing brush piles in this area?
Which types of brush do you accept?
Where do you dump it?
Do you offer flat rates, or do you charge by the hour or load size?
Will any dump fees apply?
What’s the biggest amount of brush you haul away in one visit?
When will your crew come for collection, and should I be home then?
Which type of equipment do you use, and how much space will it need?
If I need land clearing as well, do you include brush removal in the bid?
Can you mulch the brush pile for my garden? Does that cost extra?
Which other landscaping services do you provide?