Most Omaha homeowners get the same vague answer when they call around: "Well, it depends." That answer is technically correct, but it's not helpful. This is a real breakdown of what tree removal costs in our metro, in 2026, with the variables that actually drive the number.
The honest range
Across hundreds of removals we've quoted in the Omaha-Bellevue-Council Bluffs metro, the price band looks like this:
- Small trees (under 30 feet): $350-$650
- Mid-size trees (30-60 feet): $700-$1,400
- Large trees (60-80 feet): $1,400-$2,200
- Very large hardwoods (80+ feet): $2,000-$3,500+
- Crane-assisted removal: Add $800-$2,000 for the crane day
That's the starting point. Now here's what shifts it up or down.
What drives the price beyond size
Access
A 60-foot maple in the middle of an open backyard with a wide gate is a different job than a 60-foot maple wedged between two houses with a 36-inch gate. The second job requires hand-carrying every piece of brush 80 feet to the chipper. That's labor, and labor is the single biggest cost in tree work.
Proximity to structures
Drop-zone removals are cheap. Tight-quarters removals where every piece has to be rigged down because there's a roof, a fence, or a gas meter underneath — those are 1.5-2x the price of an open drop.
Power lines
Energized lines near the work zone mean we either coordinate with OPPD for a temporary disconnect, or we rig around them. Both cost time. Expect $200-$600 added.
Species and condition
A 50-foot dead ash with brittle wood is far more dangerous to climb than a 50-foot healthy oak. Climbers price the risk in. Dead, hollow, or diseased trees often quote 20-40% higher than the same-size healthy tree.
Hauling
Most quotes include haul-away. If a company quotes you cheaper and "leaves the wood on-site," budget another $200-$400 for a separate haul service.
What 'cheap' usually means
If you're getting a quote from a Craigslist guy for $200 on a 50-foot tree, here's what's probably true:
- He's not insured. If he gets hurt on your property, your homeowner's policy is the deep pocket.
- He's not licensed in Nebraska as a tree service.
- He's going to spike a living tree and damage it (or someone else's tree on the neighbor's side).
- He's not paying workers' comp on his ground crew.
We're not the cheapest in town. We're not trying to be. We're trying to be the company you'd actually want working over your roof. The math on a $200 "deal" goes very bad very fast if anything goes wrong.
When to expect emergency pricing
If you call us at 2am because a tree is on the house, expect a $250-$500 emergency dispatch fee on top of the removal price. That's not gouging — that's paying a crew to come in overnight. We tell you the number before we roll the truck so nobody is surprised when the invoice shows up.
Get a real quote
If you're trying to budget for a removal: call us, send a photo, and we'll give you a number over the phone within 10%. We come out for a free flat quote when you're ready to schedule. No upsells, no "well, once we got up there..." surprises.