Using the Right Excavator for Stump Removal 

The most challenging part of killing a tree is removing the tree stump. The tree stump is usually the remaining portion of the trunk connected to the roots that are still underground. 

You will need to call in the “big guns” to remove a tree stump – that is, an excavator. In this article, we’ll help you find the right size of excavator for that pesky stump!

What are the different types of excavators?

1. Small Excavator

These mini excavators can handle 1 to 20 tons of weight. You can use them for stump removals in your backyard. 

Other uses include work in tight spaces and small-scale landscaping.

2. Medium Excavator

Medium-sized excavators can handle 20 to 50 tons of weight. They are usually used for small demolition projects, tree stump removal, and digging a lake or a pond. 

This excavator can also be used for trenching, light construction projects, and handling raw materials. 

What size excavator is best for removing stumps?

It’s best to use a small excavator when removing stumps of small to medium-sized trees. In contrast, a medium-sized excavator is suggested for large trees. 

Here’s a comparison between the two excavator sizes for removing tree stumps:

	Small Excavator	Medium Excavator
Weight	1 to 20 tons	20 to 50 tons
Type of Tree	Small trees (less than 15 feet) Medium trees (15 to 40 feet)	Large trees (40 feet above)
Examples	AlmondCrabappleDwarf AlbertaEastern RedbudGoldenball LeadtreeHinoki CypressCrape MyrtleFlowering DogwoodPaper BirchJapanese MapleServiceberry	Coast RedwoodDouglas firGiant Mountain AshGiant sequoiaBhutan CypressSouthern Blue GumManna GumKlinki PineString barkRed CedarEucalyptus regnans

Factors to consider before using an excavator

There are two main factors to consider when choosing an excavator – the weight of the tree stump and root ball. 

Let’s find out how to calculate these and their estimates for popular tree species. 

Weight of the tree stump

The tree stump is the primary consideration for an excavator. 

To calculate the weight of a tree stump, we will use this formula:

Weight = Volume*Density

1. Begin with finding the volume of the tree stump by multiplying pi or 3.14 with ½ of the diameter and height (V = 3.14*½ r*height).
2. After getting the volume, you can multiply the answer by the density of the wood to get an estimated weight of the tree stump. (See the chart below)

Here is the list of the wood densities per cubic feet of the most common tree species to complete your variables for the weight formula:

Tree Species	Wood Density per Cubic Feet
Apple	55
White Ash	48
Basswood	42
Beech	54
Paper Birch	50
Yellow Birch	57
Butternut	46
Black Cherry	45
Chesnut	55
Cottonwood	49
American Elm	54
Black Gum	45
Red Gum	50
Hackberry	50
Hickory	64
Honey Locust	61
Evergreen Magnolia	59
Red Maple	50
Silver Maple	45
Sugar Maple	56
California Oak	66
Live Oak	76
Red Oak	63
White Oak	62
Pecan	61
Persimmon	63
Yellow Poplar	38
Sassafras	44
Sycamore	52
Black Walnut	58
White Pine	36
Red Spruce	34

If you do not want to manually calculate the weight of the tree stump, here is a table of the estimated weight of 1-foot-long tree stumps of popular trees per average diameter:

Species	10”	12”	14”	16”	18”	20”	22”	24”	26”	28”
Apple	30	43	59	77	97	120	145	173	203	235
White Ash	26	38	51	67	85	104	126	150	177	205
Basswood	23	33	45	59	74	92	111	132	155	180
Beech	29	42	58	75	95	118	142	169	199	231
Paper Birch	27	39	53	70	88	109	132	157	164	214
Yellow Birch	31	45	61	80	101	124	151	179	210	244
Butternut	25	36	49	64	81	100	121	144	170	197
Black Cherry	25	35	48	63	79	98	119	141	166	192
Chesnut	30	43	59	77	97	120	145	173	203	235
Cottonwood	27	38	52	68	86	107	129	154	180	209
American Elm	29	42	58	75	95	118	142	169	199	231
Black Gum	25	35	48	63	79	98	119	141	166	192
Red Gum	27	39	53	70	88	109	132	157	164	214
Hackberry	27	39	53	70	88	109	132	157	164	273
Hickory	35	50	68	89	113	140	169	201	236	261
Honey Locust	33	48	65	85	108	133	161	192	225	252
Evergreen Magnolia	32	46	63	82	104	129	156	185	217	214
Red Maple	27	39	53	70	88	109	132	157	164	192
Silver Maple	25	35	48	63	79	98	119	141	166	239
Sugar Maple	31	44	60	78	99	122	148	176	206	282
California Oak	36	51	70	92	116	144	174	207	243	324
Live Oak	41	60	81	106	134	166	200	238	280	269
Red Oak	34	49	67	88	111	137	166	198	232	265
White Oak	34	48	66	86	109	135	163	194	228	261
Pecan	33	48	65	85	108	133	161	192	224	269
Persimmon	34	49	67	88	111	137	166	198	232	162
Yellow Poplar	21	30	40	53	67	83	99	119	150	188
Sassafras	24	34	47	61	78	96	116	138	162	222
Sycamore	28	41	55	72	92	113	137	163	191	248
Black Walnut	32	45	62	81	102	126	153	182	213	250
White Pine	20	28	38	50	64	78	95	113	128	145
Red Spruce	19	27	36	47	60	74	90	106	125	154

Weight of the root ball

You also need to consider the weight of the root ball of a tree when removing the tree stump. 

Here is the weight of the root ball of a tree depending on its average diameter and rootball size. 

Weigh (lbs)	Size of Rootball	Average Diameter of Rootball
400	24-28	2-2.5
650	28-32	2.5-3
850	32-36	3-3.5
1200	36-40	3.5-4
1500	40-45	4-4.5
2500	50-55	4.5-5
3000	55-62	5-5.5
4000	62-66	5.5-6
5000 – 6000	66-72	6-7
6000	72-76	7-8
7000 – 8000	84-90	8-10

How to remove a tree stump with an excavator

Here is a step-by-step guide on how to remove a tree stump using an excavator. 

1. Dig a trench. 

Begin by digging a trench 3 feet wide and 8 feet deep around the tree stump.

You can also pull away the loose roots and find the weight of the root ball underneath to choose the correct excavator size.

2. Find the roots. 

Locate the thinnest roots and push the tree stump away from them.

You can now use the excavator to move the stump toward the roots and pull it from the ground. 

3. Scoop the stump away from the hole. 

Get the right angle to wedge the stump out of the hole and roll it several feet away. 

4. Fill the trench with organic materials.

Refill the hole with grounded stump bits, wood chips, and other organic matter. Finish off by toping the hole with compact soil and flattening the ground evenly. 

Other Frequently Asked Questions