Palm tree removal costs $190 to $875 for most jobs. The range is wide because the species matters as much as the height — a 30-foot Queen palm and a 30-foot Canary Island date palm are completely different removal projects. Use the palm tree removal cost calculator below to get an estimate in under a minute.

How much does palm tree removal cost?

The national average for palm removal sits around $400 to $600 for a standard suburban palm in the 20 to 40-foot range. Shorter palms run cheaper. Taller ones — or dense, heavy species — push well past $1,000.

National average for palm removal

Palm height	Typical cost range
Under 20 ft	$150 – $350
20 – 40 ft	$350 – $650
40 – 60 ft	$600 – $900
Over 60 ft	$900 – $1,500+

Palm removal is generally cheaper than removing a hardwood tree of the same height. There’s no complex branching structure to manage, and the wood is lighter. A crew can often section a standard palm faster than a comparably sized oak or maple.

The exception is Canary Island date palms. They’re dense, extremely heavy, and lined with sharp spines that require thick protective gear and slow, careful work. Don’t use generic palm pricing for those.

Cost range by palm height

Height drives cost more than any other single variable. Taller palms need more time to section from the top down, more passes with the chipper, and sometimes bucket truck access. Once a palm exceeds 40 feet, the job complexity increases noticeably.

Palm tree removal cost calculator

Palm tree removal cost by height

Small palms (under 20 ft)

Small palms — young Washingtonias, smaller Sabal palms, dwarf varieties — run $150 to $350. A two-person crew can typically drop and clear one in an hour. These are the simplest palm removals: no bucket truck needed, manageable trunk weight, and straightforward disposal.

If the palm is in a tight spot (close to a fence or wall), add $50 to $100 for the extra care required.

Medium palms (20 to 40 ft)

This is the most common range for residential palms. Expect $350 to $650. The job usually takes two to three hours. Crews section the trunk from the top down, chip the fronds, and cut the trunk into manageable rounds for hauling.

Queen palms, most Washingtonias, and average Sabal palms fall in this category.

Large palms (40 to 60 ft)

At this height, the job gets longer and often requires more equipment. Budget $600 to $900. Some contractors bring a bucket truck for palms in this range; others use experienced climbers. Either way, the extra time and equipment drives the cost up.

Royal palms and mature date palms often land here.

Very tall palms (over 60 ft)

Over 60 feet, you’re in $900 to $1,500 territory. Mature Royal palms, tall Washingtonia robusta, and large Canary Island date palms can exceed these figures depending on access and site conditions.

At this height, a bucket truck is typically required. If the palm is near a structure, costs go higher — the crew has to work more slowly, with rigging, to control where sections fall.

Palm tree removal cost by species

Species matters more for palms than people expect. Here’s what to budget for the most common types.

Queen palm removal cost

Queen palms (Syagrus romanzoffiana) are one of the most affordable species to remove. Expect $190 to $500 depending on height. The trunks are relatively light, the fronds are manageable, and crews work through them efficiently. If you have several Queen palms to remove, bulk pricing becomes very accessible.

Washingtonia palm removal cost

Washingtonias — the classic fan palms you see lining streets in California and Arizona — run $200 to $600. One factor that adds cost: the dead frond skirt. Many Washingtonias accumulate years of dead fronds hanging below the crown. Removing those before taking the tree down adds time. Ask whether frond skirt removal is included in the quote.

Sabal palm removal cost

Sabal palms (cabbage palms, Florida’s state tree) typically cost $150 to $450. They’re common throughout the Southeast and are generally straightforward to remove. Root systems can be extensive, but since stump grinding is usually separate, that doesn’t affect the base removal price much.

Canary Island date palm removal cost

Budget $400 to $1,500 or more. Canary Island date palms (Phoenix canariensis) are in a different category from lighter species. The trunks are extremely dense and heavy. The fronds have sharp spines at the base that require protective gear and slow the work considerably. Larger specimens — say, a 30-foot Canary Island date palm with a thick trunk — can genuinely take a full day for a crew. Get a site quote for these; don’t rely on a phone estimate.

King palm and Royal palm removal cost

King palms (Archontophoenix) run $250 to $700. They’re taller and heavier than Queens but not as labor-intensive as Canary Island dates. Royal palms (Roystonea) are similar — $300 to $800, depending on height. Both are relatively clean removals compared to spiny species.

Key factors that affect palm removal cost

Height and trunk diameter

Height is the primary variable. Trunk diameter matters too, but palms don’t grow as wide as hardwoods relative to their height. A thick trunk means more wood to cut and haul, which adds time.

Number of palms (bulk discounts)

If you have three or more palms to remove, ask for package pricing. Most tree services will cut per-palm cost by 15% to 25% when they’re mobilized on the same property. The setup cost — showing up with a crew and a chipper — gets spread across more units.

This is one of the better ways to lower cost on palm removal. If a neighbor wants palms removed too, coordinating a joint booking can push the discount even further.

Location and access

A palm next to an open driveway with truck access costs less than one in a walled courtyard. When equipment can’t get close, crews hand-carry debris or use wheelbarrows, which slows everything down. Tight sites in urban areas — common in South Florida, Los Angeles, and Phoenix — routinely add $100 to $300 to the base estimate.

Frond removal: included or separate?

Some contractors quote the trunk removal separately from frond and debris disposal. Always ask: “What’s left on my property when you’re done?” If frond hauling isn’t included, it typically adds $50 to $150 to the job. Alternatively, you can compost or chip the fronds yourself if you have a way to handle the volume.

Additional palm removal costs

Stump grinding after palm removal

Palm stumps don’t sprout back the way hardwood stumps can, so grinding isn’t always urgent. But if you want a clean surface for replanting or paving, stump grinding costs $75 to $200 depending on trunk diameter. Book it at the same time as the removal for the best combined rate.

Frond and debris disposal

Palm fronds don’t chip as cleanly as hardwood branches. Many contractors include basic chipping in their quotes, but hauling the chips off-site may cost extra — typically $50 to $100. Some homeowners keep the chips as mulch for garden beds, which saves that cost entirely.

Multiple palm discounts

Worth repeating: if you have multiple palms, price them together. A job with five palms at $400 each booked separately might cost $1,500 to $1,800 as a package — meaningful savings for the same work.

DIY palm removal vs. hiring a pro

When DIY works for palms

Small palms under 15 feet with a clear fall zone are genuinely manageable for a homeowner with a chainsaw and some help. The trunk sections into clean rounds, and there’s no branching to deal with. Disposal is the main challenge — a 15-foot palm produces more material than most people expect.

Rent a chipper ($150 to $200 per day) and plan a full morning.

When to call a tree service

For anything over 20 feet, near a structure, near power lines, or of a heavy species like a Canary Island date palm — hire a licensed, insured tree service. The spines on date palms alone create serious injury risk. And a 40-foot trunk section coming down wrong can cause significant damage. The liability exposure from a DIY mistake far outweighs the cost of hiring a pro.

How to save money on palm tree removal

Getting quotes

Three quotes is the minimum. Palm removal pricing varies considerably between contractors. In markets like South Florida, Phoenix, and Southern California where palms are abundant, competition keeps prices reasonable — but you still see 30% to 40% variance between quotes for the same job.

Ask each contractor the same things: What’s included? Is debris hauling part of this? Is stump grinding separate?

Bundling multiple palms

Already covered, but worth emphasizing: if you have more than two palms to remove, always bundle them. This is the single most reliable way to reduce per-palm cost.

Seasonal timing

In Florida, Arizona, and California — the markets where most palm removal happens — late fall and winter are slower for tree services. December through February often sees 10% to 15% lower rates than the spring and summer peak. Avoid booking in the weeks after hurricane season activity in Florida, when demand spikes.

If you have a tree removal project that pairs with palm removal — say, clearing a yard for landscaping — our tree removal cost calculator has pricing for hardwood and softwood species alongside palms.

Frequently asked questions

How much does it cost to remove a palm tree?

Palm tree removal costs $190 to $875 on average. Small palms under 20 feet run $150 to $350. Standard suburban palms in the 20 to 40-foot range run $350 to $650. Very tall palms or heavy species like Canary Island date palms can reach $1,500 or more.

Why are Canary Island date palms so expensive to remove?

The trunks are extremely dense and heavy — far more so than a Queen or Washingtonia of the same height. The frond bases have sharp spines that require thick protective gear and slow the work considerably. A large specimen can genuinely take a crew a full day. Get a site visit and quote for any Canary Island date palm removal; phone estimates won’t be reliable.

Is stump removal included in palm tree removal cost?

No. Stump grinding is almost always a separate charge, typically $75 to $200 depending on trunk diameter. Palm stumps don’t regrow, so there’s less urgency than with hardwoods, but the fee still applies if you want the surface clear.

Do I need a permit to remove a palm tree?

It depends on your municipality. Florida, California, and Arizona all have city and county regulations that cover certain palms — especially large, mature, or heritage specimens. Permits typically run $60 to $150. Check with your local planning or public works department before booking removal. Fines for unpermitted removal of protected trees can be steep.

Can I remove a palm tree myself?

DIY is realistic for palms under 15 feet with a clear fall zone away from structures and power lines. For anything taller, close to a building, or of a heavy species like a Canary Island date palm, hire a licensed, insured tree service. The injury risk from heavy trunks and spiny fronds is real.

Prices reflect 2026 national averages. Regional variation is significant — South Florida, Los Angeles, and Phoenix markets have their own pricing norms. Always get multiple quotes from insured, licensed contractors.