There are two ways to pay for stump grinding: rent a machine and do it yourself, or hire a service. Which is cheaper depends almost entirely on how many stumps you have.
Renting a machine
Walk-behind grinders typically rent for around $85–$160 per day, with lower half-day rates and discounts by the week at many dealers. Add delivery/pickup fees if you can't tow it yourself. For a single stump you can often finish in a couple of hours, so a half-day or one-day rental usually covers it.
Hiring a service
Pros usually price per stump or by the inch of stump diameter. A single average stump is often a modest flat fee; per-inch pricing rewards you on small stumps and adds up on big ones. Many services set a minimum trip charge, so grinding several stumps in one visit is far more cost-effective than one at a time.
What drives price up
- Large diameter and wide, above-ground root flares.
- Hard access — backyards, slopes, or gates too narrow for a big machine.
- Hardwood species and old, dense stumps.
- Hauling away the mulch versus leaving it on site.