Six inches below grade guaranteed. In practice, almost always a foot or more. We grind it down, the cleanup leaves with us, and the spot is ready to seed or replant.
Serving Lancaster, Dauphin, Lebanon, and York counties since 2019.
Photo quotes are free. Onsite visits take a $35 deposit ($50 beyond 25 mi), credited toward your job when you hire us.
6″
Guaranteed Below Grade
12″+
Typical Actual Depth
$150+
Most Jobs Start
0
Weekend Upcharge
Cleanup Always Included
The Pile Leaves With Us
Every StumpBusters quote includes hauling the grindings off-property.
It's not an upgrade or a line item. It's part of the job. The number we quote is the number you pay, and when we leave, the pile leaves with us.
The reason we can offer that without inflating every quote is how we grind.
The cutter wheel works the stump down through the root ball while the native soil from underneath rises up through the debris. By the time we remove the grindings, the hole is largely filled with the original subsoil the tree's roots were growing in. A few loose wood chips settle in at the top, which is fine. They're not enough to disturb seeding, they'll break down inside a single season, and the area is usually shallow enough to rake flat and walk away from.
Leaving grindings behind causes real problems: pest bridges, fungal vectors, dead grass. If you want the deep dive, we wrote the research-backed breakdown: 6 Reasons Stump Grindings Shouldn't Be Left Behind.
Mid-job · Lancaster County
The Process
What To Expect
Every job follows the same steps, whether it's one stump in the front yard or a dozen across a lot. Here's the flow:
Step 01
Free Quote
Call, text, or send a photo of the stump with rough diameter. For most jobs we can quote a firm number on the spot, no in-person visit needed unless access is unusual.
Step 02
Schedule
We file the required PA One Call (811) utility markout when you book. Utilities get three business days to mark lines, so that's the earliest any grind happens; most jobs land within the week. Weekends at no extra charge, with a one-hour arrival window.
Step 03
Grind
Equipment arrives, the stump comes down 6″ below grade minimum (typically a foot+), the cutter wheel works through the major root ball. Most jobs take at least an hour, and bigger stumps or multi-stump jobs run longer.
Step 04
Cleanup & Walk-Through
Grindings hauled off-property. Native soil that rose during grinding fills the hole. We walk the site with you before we leave to make sure it's right.
What's Included
Every Job
6″ Below Grade Guarantee
Six inches below ground level on every stump, every job. In practice we usually go 12″+ to chew through the major root ball. Part of our Zero-Risk Guarantee.
Full Debris Haul-Away
Grindings, chips, displaced soil: all hauled off-property and disposed of properly. No pile left behind.
Site Walk-Through
We walk the work with you before we leave. If something needs another pass, we make the pass. Backed by our Zero-Risk Guarantee.
Active Insurance Coverage
Workers compensation, commercial liability, and commercial auto active on every job site. Certificate of Insurance and signed guarantee available on request.
Fixed Quote, No Surprises
The number on your quote is the number on your invoice. No "forgot to mention" charges, no upsell at the truck.
Before / After · Typical Job
Pricing
Honest Numbers
Stump grinding pricing depends on a few real factors. Here's the range and what moves it.
Small stump, easy access
Standard residential stump under 12″ diameter, in an accessible yard with no obstacles.
$150–$200
Mid-size or moderate access
12–24″ diameter, or a small stump with tight access (gates, slopes, landscaping to navigate around).
$200–$400
Large stump or multiple stumps
24″+ diameter, mature trees, or two-to-five stumps on the same property.
$400–$700
Massive or complex jobs
6′ diameter+ stumps, dense root systems, or large-volume multi-stump removals on commercial or estate-scale lots.
$700–$800+
What moves the number
Stump diameter, accessibility (gates, slopes, retaining walls, landscaping in the way), root spread, soil conditions, and number of stumps are the main drivers. We can quote most residential jobs from a single photo plus a tape-measured diameter.
Neighbor discounts in Elizabethtown, Hershey, Middletown, Marietta, Columbia, and Mt Joy. Already in the area? Mention it when you call.
Before You Book
Six Questions We Hear Every Week
The questions people ask us most before they book, answered the same way we answer them on the phone.
"Is haul-away included, or extra?"
Included in every quote. The pile leaves with us, and it never appears as a line item or an add-on at the truck.
"What grind depth do you guarantee?"
Six inches below grade on every stump, backed by our Zero-Risk Guarantee, and we typically grind 12″ or more through the root ball. If a hidden obstruction stops us short, you hear about it before we leave.
"Is that a fixed price or an estimate?"
Fixed. The number on our quote is the number on the invoice, and it doesn't move after the work starts.
"Who handles cleanup and restoration, your crew or a referral?"
Cleanup is our crew, on every job. Topsoil and seed is an optional add-on, and we'll tell you straight if your spot doesn't need it.
"Can you send a Certificate of Insurance before the job?"
Yes, straight from our carrier: workers' comp, commercial liability, and commercial auto, plus a signed copy of our Zero-Risk Guarantee, yours on request when you book.
"What happens if something isn't right at the end?"
We walk the site with you before we leave. If it needs another pass, we make the pass, and the quote doesn't change.
Those are our answers, and they are the same on every job.
ElizabethtownHersheyMiddletownMariettaColumbiaMt Joy
Saturday or Sunday work? Same rate as weekday work. No weekend upcharge.
Stump Grinding FAQ
Common Questions
How much does stump grinding cost?
Most residential stumps run $150–$400 depending on diameter and access. Larger stumps or multi-stump jobs run $400–$800. Massive stumps over 6 feet across or estate-scale jobs can run higher. Every quote is fixed. What we quote is what you pay.
How deep do you grind?
Six inches below grade is the guarantee. In practice we almost always go 12 inches or more to chew through the major root ball. We promise what we can deliver on every job, and most homeowners get a deeper grind than they were quoted for. Depth is part of our Zero-Risk Guarantee.
How soon can you grind my stump?
Quotes usually come back within the hour, but Pennsylvania law requires a PA One Call (811) utility markout before any grinding. We file the ticket when you book, utilities get three business days to mark their lines, and then we dig. Most jobs land within the week, and the markout protects your gas, water, and cable lines.
Do you haul the grindings away?
Yes. Haul-away is part of every quote, never an extra charge. When we leave, the pile leaves with us. Read why leftover grindings are bad news if you want the research-backed reasoning.
How long does grinding take?
Most jobs take at least an hour, counting setup, grinding, and cleanup. Larger stumps or multi-stump jobs run longer. We give you a realistic time window when we book.
Will the stump grow back?
No. Grinding 6″ or more below grade kills the cambium layer, so the stump can't resprout. Whatever roots are left break down underground over the next several years.
Can you grind near fences, buildings, and landscaping?
Yes. Our equipment works in tight spaces and near structures, fences, walkways, and existing landscaping. Tighter access can affect pricing, so mention any obstacles when you ask for a quote.
Do I need to be home during the work?
No. As long as we have access to the stump and payment is arranged, you don't need to be home. Most customers prefer to do the walk-through with us, but it's not required.
Do you grind on weekends?
Yes. Saturday 8am–8pm, Sunday 8am–5pm. Same rate as weekday work, no weekend upcharge.
What if I want topsoil and seed in the spot?
Available as an add-on or standalone service. Most grinds don't actually need it, because the native soil rises up through the debris during grinding and largely fills the hole. We'll tell you straight whether yours does before we quote anything extra. More on Topsoil & Seed Restoration →
Can you haul off a chip pile from a stump that's already been ground?
