Few trees in an established Birmingham neighborhood can simply be dropped. Houses, fences, garages and overhead lines are usually within reach, so most removals are done in pieces: a climber or bucket operator works from the top down, tying off each section and lowering it to a ground crew. Where the tree is too unstable to climb or too far from any truck access, a crane lifts sections out over the house. The method chosen is the largest part of the price.

  • Sectional dismantling with ropes and rigging over structures
  • Crane-assisted removal where a tree cannot be safely climbed
  • Dead and storm-damaged trees assessed before anyone goes up
  • Brush chipped and wood hauled, or logs left where you want them
  • Stump grinding quoted with the removal or as a separate line

When removal is the right decision

A tree that is dead, more than about half dead, or structurally unsound next to a target — a house, a driveway, a play area — should come down. So should one whose roots are lifting a foundation or whose trunk shows advancing decay. A tree that is simply large, sheds leaves or blocks a view is a matter of preference, and it is worth asking whether pruning would solve the complaint for much less money.

If you are unsure, a certified arborist can tell you whether the tree is a real risk. That opinion costs far less than removing a sound seventy-year-old oak by mistake.

Reading a removal quote

A complete quote names the tree, the method, and what happens to everything afterward. Angi's national averages run from about $150 to $450 for trees under 30 feet up to $1,000 to $2,000 for trees over 80 feet, with an overall average near $750 — but a steep or enclosed Birmingham lot can put a job well above the figure for its height.

  • Is the price fixed, or an hourly estimate?
  • Is the stump included? If so, ground how deep?
  • Is all wood and brush hauled, or are logs left on site?
  • Who repairs lawn ruts, a cracked drive or a damaged fence?
  • Is proof of liability and workers' compensation insurance provided before the start date?

Dead trees get harder, not easier

It is tempting to leave a dead tree for another year. The wood dries and turns brittle, limbs begin to shed, and at some point the tree is no longer safe for a climber to tie into. A job that could have been climbed then needs a crane or a lift, and the price rises with it. Dead pines also draw bark beetles that can spread to healthy pines nearby.

Common tree removal situations in Birmingham

  • A large oak with decay at the base standing over the house
  • A dead pine that has lost its needles and is shedding bark
  • A tree leaning further each year toward a neighbor's property
  • Roots lifting a driveway, walkway or foundation wall
  • A tree in the footprint of an addition, a pool or a new drive

Keep in mind: Removing a tree yourself to save money is a poor trade for anything taller than a small ornamental or anywhere near a structure or wires. Most serious chainsaw injuries to homeowners happen during felling.

Tree Removal FAQs

How much does it cost to remove a tree in Alabama?

There is no reliable statewide price. Angi's national average is about $750, with most jobs between $200 and $2,000, and trees under 30 feet commonly $150 to $450. In Birmingham the slope of the lot, access for equipment and what the tree could fall on tend to move the price more than the region does.

Who is responsible for removing a dead tree?

The owner of the land the trunk stands on. If it is on your lot it is yours; if it is on a neighbor's lot, it is theirs even when it hangs over your yard. A tree on the public right-of-way is the city's. If a neighbor's dead tree worries you, put the concern in writing so there is a record that they were told.

This content is reviewed by the Birmingham AL Tree Service editorial team and informed by licensed-contractor sourcing, manufacturer documentation, and established industry standards for Tree Service. Read our editorial standards.