Stump grinding: smaller stumps
Stumps smaller than a car tire (under about 60 cm / 24 in across)
Grinding a stump down below ground level so you can replant, seed or pave over it.
What it is
A stump grinder chews the stump and top roots into wood chips, usually 15–30 cm (6–12 in) below the surface. The chips can be used as mulch, or removed and the hole filled with topsoil.
Grinding leaves the deeper roots in the ground to rot naturally. Before any grinding, the company should arrange a free utility locate through Ontario One Call.
Signs you might need it
- A stump is in the way of mowing, a new garden bed or a patio
- It's sprouting new shoots
- It's rotting and attracting insects or fungus
- You want to plant a new tree nearby
Good to know
Stump grinding is different from stump removal, which digs out the whole root ball and costs much more. For most yards, grinding is enough.
Typical cost in Ontario
Before HST. Many companies price by the stump's width, about $5–$10 per inch, with a minimum charge of $60–$150. Extra stumps in the same visit are often much cheaper.
What pushes the price up or down
- Width at ground level (the main factor)
- Access: gates narrower than the grinder, slopes or fences
- Hardwood stumps (oak, maple) grind more slowly
- Large surface roots spreading from the stump
- Removing the chips and backfilling with soil
Ways to spend less
- Have the stump ground in the same visit as the removal
- Group all your stumps (and your neighbours') into one visit to spread the minimum charge
- Keep the chips as mulch instead of paying to have them hauled away
Ontario company price pages with per-inch rates agree fairly well. Prices are typical ranges gathered from published Ontario price guides and company price pages in September 2026, before 13% HST. They’re a guide, not a quote: your price depends on your tree and your property. Get two or three written quotes, and check whether your city charges a permit fee.
Find a company for this work
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Related specializations
Sources for the prices on this page
- What Is the Best Price for Stump Removal in Ontario? - Chip It Guy (Halton/Guelph/Peel, ON)
- Stump Grinding - Stumps 'R' Us (St. Thomas, ON)
- Tree Service Cost in Ottawa - ArborXpert pricing page (Ottawa, ON)
- How Much Does Tree Removal Cost in Ontario? - Beesley Tree Care (Kitchener-Waterloo/Cambridge/Guelph, ON)
- The Estimate Cost of Stump Grinding - Spinblade (Ottawa, ON / Canada)