Arbor Image Tree Care, based in Oklahoma City, OK, serves the Oklahoma City metro with arborist-led tree health, preservation, pruning, removal, planting, and storm response.
Direct answer
How OKC tree removal pricing actually works
Tree removal is priced per tree, not per hour, and reputable companies build the number from the same set of variables: size, condition, access, what's under the tree, and what you want done with the wood and stump. We don't publish flat-rate price ranges because honest numbers require seeing the tree.
Cost factors
What changes the price
Height & trunk diameter
Taller trees and thicker trunks take more cuts, more rigging, and more cleanup. A 30-ft elm in an open yard is a different job from an 80-ft pin oak over a roofline.
Species & wood density
Hackberry and silver maple cut and chip fast. Live oak, bur oak, and Osage orange are dense, dull chains quickly, and weigh significantly more per cubic foot, which affects rigging size and crew time.
Tree condition
A standing-dead or hollow tree is harder, not easier. Climbers can't trust the wood, so we use longer reach equipment, heavier rigging, and slower lowers. Storm-damaged trees with hanging limbs add risk that gets priced in.
Access & drop zone
Open backyard with gate access is the cheap version. Tight side yards, fenced pools, raised beds, AC units, sheds, and overhead lines all force the crew to rig instead of drop, which is slower and uses more gear.
Proximity to structures & utilities
Anything within reach of the canopy, house, garage, fence, neighbor's roof, swing set, deck, primary power line, turns a felling job into a rigging job. We'll flag conductors and call OG&E if a line needs to be dropped first.
Emergency timing
After-hours, weekend, and active-storm response is priced for crew callout, traffic control, and the additional risk of working on partially failed trees. See our Emergency Tree Service page.
Equipment required
Bucket truck, crane assist, or all-climb impacts cost. We pick the cheapest method that's safe for your tree's geometry, not the most equipment we can bill for.
Stump grinding
Stumps are quoted separately by diameter at ground level. Surface roots, fence proximity, and grind depth (turf-ready vs replant-ready) all matter.
Wood, chips & haul-away
Leaving rounds stacked for firewood is cheaper than full haul-off. Chips can stay on-site as mulch at no charge in most cases.
Why quotes vary
Why two quotes for the same tree disagree
- Different crew sizes, a 2-person crew that takes a full day vs. a 4-person crew that finishes in three hours.
- Different equipment, climbing-only vs. crane-assist changes both speed and risk.
- Different insurance posture, uninsured operators quote lower because they're not paying for general liability + workers' comp.
- Different scope, some quotes exclude stump grinding, hauling, or cleanup; read the line items.
- Different risk tolerance, a quote that looks low may assume drops that aren't safe over your roof.
Cheapest quote is not the same as best price
Ask every bidder to show proof of general liability + workers' comp. An uninsured crew that damages your roof is a homeowner-insurance claim that your carrier may not cover.
Get a real number
Photo estimator + on-site visit
Send 3–4 photos, full canopy, base, and any damage, and we'll come look. Written quotes from Arbor Image break out removal, stump, haul-away, and any optional cleanup so you can compare apples to apples.
Send photos and get a quoteWhat to do next
- Take 3–4 photos of the tree, full canopy, base, and any damage.
- Note the city, neighborhood, and what you've already seen change.
- Request a free on-site assessment from an ISA-Certified Arborist.
- We'll send a written quote with preservation options before any saw runs.