Tree Removal cost in Evanston, IL

Evanston, IL · updated August 2026

$1,600

Typical local cost

$500 – $6,200

Typical range

per tree
$500 – $6,200

Installed, local pricing

Permit
It depends

$0 – $330 in fees

Typical timeline
Same day to 2 days

Same day to 2 days, 1-4 weeks if a permit is required

Evanston runs +13% against the U.S. average · data confidence Medium · modeled estimate, not a quote

The modeled midpoint for Evanston is $1,600. The local adjustment for this trade is x1.125 — driven mainly by Cook County labor rates and 20% exposure to local code requirements.

Cost by project size

Generated from the same unit pricing the calculator uses.

Estimated cost by project size
Project sizeEstimated range
Small tree (under 30 ft)$300$3,100
Medium tree (30–60 ft)$500$6,200
Large tree (60–80 ft)$800$9,900
Very large tree (80 ft+)$1,100$13,600

Based on Evanston pricing of $500–$6,200 per tree.

Where the money goes

Labor
$1,400
79% of median
Materials
$200
11% of median
Permit & fees
$165
9% of median

Evanston project costs+13% vs U.S. average

Based on Cook County labor rates, local material logistics and permit-fee posture for this trade.

What the project looks like start to finish

Typical sequence for this scope. Timing varies with contractor backlog and plan-review queues.

  1. 01

    Planning & quotes

    Scope, material choice, contractor selection

  2. 02

    Permit application

    Filed with City of Evanston building department

  3. 03

    Materials & staging

    Order lead time on non-stock materials

  4. 04

    Installation

    Same day to 2 days, 1-4 weeks if a permit is required

  5. 05

    Closeout

    Final sign-off, warranty and documentation

Evanston labor intelligence

What the trade charges here, and how much of your price it is.

Loaded hourly rate

$61–$79

Outdoor crews in Cook County · +12% vs U.S. ($62/hr)

Typical crew

2 × 1.5 days

On-site time for a typical tree removal job here.

Labor in the price

$1,400

85% of the median — the rest is material, disposal and permit.

Because labor is 85% of this job, Evanston wage levels move the price far more than material prices do. A quote well under this labor figure usually means a smaller crew, a longer schedule, or unlicensed help.

Basis: Hometriva labor model: national outdoor crew rates adjusted by the Cook County labor factor (x1.117). · BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, Hometriva methodology

Why Evanston differs from the national average

The local delta, broken into dollars by driver.

Trade labor rates$150
Dollars of the Evanston difference owned by each driver, versus the U.S. median for tree removal.
  • Trade labor rates+$150

    Cook County crews price 12% above the national average, and labor is 85% of this job.

Basis: Decomposition of the modeled Evanston median against the U.S. median for this scope. · City of Evanston building department, Hometriva methodology

Evanston vs Illinois vs the U.S.

Evanston$500$6,200Illinois average$500$6,200U.S. average$450$5,500
Modeled ranges for tree removal. The tick marks the median in each geography.

Change the inputs, see your number

The same local model, run against your job instead of the average one.

Simulated tree removal in Evanston

$1,765

Likely range $665$6,365

Simulated from the same local model as the numbers above — it changes the inputs, not the pricing method.

What makes the number move

  • Tree height, species and trunk diameter
  • Proximity to the house and power lines
  • Crane or bucket truck access
  • Stump grinding and debris haul-off
  • Emergency post-storm service

Who issues each permit

Tracked per discipline — the building permit issuer is not always the body that reviews electrical, plumbing, zoning or fire.

Permitting authority by discipline
DisciplineIssuing authority
buildingCity of Evanston building departmentModeled estimate
electricalCity of Evanston building departmentModeled estimate
mechanicalCity of Evanston building departmentModeled estimate
plumbingCity of Evanston building departmentModeled estimate
zoningCity of Evanston building departmentModeled estimate
fireCity of Evanston building departmentModeled estimate

Permit requirement in Evanston

It depends on scope. Like-for-like cosmetic work in Evanston is often exempt, but a permit is required as soon as you change structure, plumbing, electrical or the building envelope.

Permitting authority
City of Evanston building departmentModeled estimate
Permit fee
Estimated allowance $0$330Modeled from comparable fee schedules — not an official quoted fee.
Full Evanston permit guide for tree removal

Local conditions that change this job

Only the exposures that materially affect tree removal.

Design wind speed exposure

High70/100

Named-storm exposure

High70/100

Nearby market comparison

MarketLocal factorMedianPer tree
Evanston (this page)x1.125$1,600$500$6,200
Chicagox1.272$1,800$550$7,000
Elginx1.125$1,600$500$6,200
Hammondx0.907$1,300$400$5,000

What Evanston homeowners actually paid

Homeowner-reported invoices for this market. Nothing is published until enough reports clear review, so this section is often empty in newer markets — adding yours takes 20 seconds and no personal details.

No name, email or address is collected. Reports are reviewed before they count.

Quotes homeowners were given in Evanston

Quotes run ahead of final invoices. Reporting yours shows the local spread and where there is room to negotiate.

No name, email or address is collected.

How Hometriva estimates Evanston tree removal costs

Hometriva does not publish invented city prices. The Evanston estimate for tree removal is produced by this chain, and every input is stored separately:

  1. National baseline$1,400

    Typical U.S. cost for tree removal on a single-family home.

  2. Local labor factorx1.117

    Evanston-area trade labor rates, weighted at 85% of this job.

  3. Material factorx1.066

    Material and delivery pricing into Cook County, weighted at 15%.

  4. Regulatory factorx1.071

    Local code, product-approval and inspection load, applied at 20% for this project type.

  5. Applied multiplierx1.125

    Blended Evanston adjustment specific to tree removal.

  6. Permit component$0 – $330

    Budgeted separately from the contract price because it is paid to the jurisdiction.

Because labor, material and regulatory factors are weighted per project, tree removal in Evanston carries a different local adjustment than other trades in the same market.

Reviewed by

Hometriva Cost Data Desk

Maintains the unit-cost baselines, local adjustment factors and material pricing. Reviewed for tree removal pricing in Evanston, IL.

  • National unit-cost baselines against current trade pricing
  • Local labor and materials factors for the market
  • Material installed-cost ranges and service life

Last reviewed August 2026 · Editorial standards · Report an error

Frequently asked questions

How long does tree removal take?

Same day to 2 days, 1-4 weeks if a permit is required. Permit review and inspection scheduling are usually the largest source of variation.

What changes the price the most?

The largest cost drivers are tree height, species and trunk diameter; proximity to the house and power lines; crane or bucket truck access.

Sources

Sources & verification

Model vintage August 2026. The links above are the issuing agencies' own pages — we publish them so you can confirm the current rule yourself, not as evidence that each fact on this page was re-checked with them today. Cost figures are modeled estimates based on national baselines adjusted for local labor and material pricing, not quotes. Permit rules change; confirm with the building department before starting work.

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