How much should I quote for shrub removal and landscaping?
Pricing shrub removal and landscaping jobs requires balancing material, labor, and travel costs while accounting for specific project details like stump treatment, debris barriers, and square footage. Without a clear way to estimate these variables and time requirements, contractors risk undercharging or struggling to set a profitable rate.
What people tried
Every workaround mentioned in the threads below. We haven’t tested any of them — and nobody here is claiming they worked.
- 1Charging a flat rate per piece plus a debris haul-off fee
- 2Getting multiple quotes from local contractors or tree companies
- 3Doing the removal work independently as a DIY project
- 4Asking online forums for quote estimates and pricing advice
- 5Trying to convince clients to use alternative materials like mulch or ground cover
- 6Building retaining walls or using custom barriers to prevent material spillage
- 7referencing an hourly wage from an existing job
- 8asking a forum community for project pricing estimates
- 9Guessing pricing and absorbing financial losses
In their words
Unedited, most upvoted first, each linked to the thread it came from.
“I don't get these 'what would you quote' posts. Just figure out material and labor costs and tack on your profit. If you can't figure out how many hours it will take you to do it, then you shouldn't be running your own business.”source ↗
“It’s an hour away from my location this is a customers house they asked what the price would be if I kept the stump and covered it with top soil I told them 300 per bush”source ↗
“how to keep this stuff from spilling over he wants us to use this flower bed barrier and spray the river rocks what would you quote it at area is 1350 sqft and the mound is 5 ft from the bottom”source ↗
“Most folks just guess and eat the loss later.”source ↗
“How much would removing these cost there 5 of them”source ↗
Where this came up
People with this problem also raised
- 6Why is professional lawn care so expensive now?
- 4How to start planning a large sloped yard landscaping project
- 3How to fix up an overgrown, rocky rental yard on a budget
- 3How to landscape around outdoor HVAC units and electrical wiring
- 5How to landscape a small and busy front yard
- 3How to prep a garden bed after removing weeds and gravel