Tree Removal
Dead, leaning or too-big trees brought down piece by piece and hauled away.
Crane-assisted removal
Crane Tree Removal in Decatur, IL
Decatur Elite Tree Service uses crane tree removal in Decatur, IL when a big tree hangs over the house, the pool or the garage and there's nowhere to lower the pieces. Each section rides over the roof on the crane line and lands in the street, where we cut it down to size and haul it.
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Why a Crane Is Sometimes the Safer Choice
Think of it like pulling a car engine with a hoist instead of a wrench. With ropes, every piece has to swing down past the roof. With a crane, the piece is held before the cut, then lifted straight up and away. Nothing drops, nothing swings into the house, and nobody has to climb rotten wood.
Decatur Elite Tree Service also provides crane assisted tree removal and large tree removal to Decatur and nearby Illinois towns, including Mount Zion, Forsyth and Clinton. A crane looks expensive by the hour, but in our experience it often finishes in one day what ropes would take three to do.
Contact UsWhen We Bring the Crane
We make the call on the walk-around. If rigging it down with ropes is safe and cheaper, you'll hear that from us.
Trees Over the House
Big maples and oaks reaching over two roofs, with no drop zone anywhere.
Dead or Hollow Trees
Wood too far gone to climb or tie off. The crane holds each piece before it's cut.
Back Yards Without Access
Fenced back yards, pools and patios with nowhere for wood to come down.
Storm-Damaged Trees
Split or tipped trees lying on a house, lifted off without breaking more.
Crane Tree Removal Costs
- Typical crane removal, one big tree: $2,500 to $4,500
- Very large or storm-damaged tree on a house: $4,000 to $6,500
- Two or more trees, same setup: less per tree
- Stump grinding added: from $125
- Street permit or lane closure, if needed: at cost
Your written price covers the crane, our crew and the cleanup.
What a Crane Job Includes
- A site visit to plan where the crane sits, the lines and street room
- Mats under every outrigger so the pavement stays whole
- Our climber up the tree rigging every lift
- Ameren brought in if lines are nearby
- Logs bucked up and hauled away from the street
- The yard, the drive and the street swept
How Much Does Crane Tree Removal Cost in Decatur?
Crane tree removal in Decatur usually costs $2,500 to $6,500 per tree in 2026. The crane runs by the hour with its operator, so the price depends on how big the tree is, how far the crane has to reach, and how many lifts it takes. Two trees on one setup cost a lot less per tree.
| Job | Lifts | Typical price |
|---|---|---|
| Silver maple behind the house, 60 ft | 8 to 12 | $2,500 to $3,500 |
| Pin oak over two roofs, 75 ft | 12 to 18 | $3,500 to $4,800 |
| Dead cottonwood, hollow trunk | 10 to 15 | $3,000 to $4,500 |
| Storm-split tree resting on the house | 6 to 15 | $4,000 to $6,500 |
How a Crane Removal Works
The crane parks in the street or on the drive and puts its outriggers down, each one sitting on a mat. Our climber goes up and slings the top section. The operator takes up the weight, the climber makes the cut, and the piece floats straight up and over the roof to the ground crew. Then the next one, top to bottom.
Most crane removals here finish in a single day, cleanup and all, and the house never feels a thing. We ran 26 crane days last year, and only 2 spilled into a second day. The crane sets trunk sections right onto the log loader or into the truck, so nobody drags wood across your grass.
What We Check Before Booking a Crane
- Where the crane parks, and how far the boom has to stretch
- Any wires running between the crane and the tree
- If a lane on the street has to be coned off for the day
- Soft spots, septic fields or sewer lines under the setup
- What each piece weighs, because green oak is way heavier than dried-out ash
Crane or Rigging?
Lots of big trees come down fine with a climber and ropes, and that's usually cheaper. We pick the crane when the wood's too punky to tie into, when there's no open ground to land pieces, or when roping it down would cost more in hours. That's about 1 in 4 of our big removals.
Storm Claim? We Document It
Photos before we cut, a written description of what fell and what it hit, and an itemized invoice your insurer can read.
Contact UsWinter Trimming List
Get on our December to February list. Dormant trees, frozen ground and 10% off trims over $400.
Contact UsQuestions we hear
Crane Tree Removal FAQs
Will the crane damage my lawn or driveway?
We set up in the street or on the driveway, and almost never on soft lawn. Every outrigger sits on a mat that spreads the load. A concrete drive in decent shape takes it fine. Before we choose the spot, we look for cracks, septic tanks and sewer lines underneath.
Do I need a permit for a crane in the street?
Sometimes. If the crane will block a lane on a busy street, the city may want a heads-up or a permit. Most quiet side streets in Decatur don't need one. When it's required, we make the call to the city ourselves and put the cost right on your written price.
How long does a crane tree removal take?
One day for most single trees, from rolling in to the last log leaving and the street swept. A really big tree, or two trees off one setup, can run into a second day. Wind matters too. The operator won't lift when gusts pick up.
Is crane removal more expensive?
By the hour, yes, the crane costs more. But the job finishes a lot sooner. For a huge or dead tree hanging over a house, crane removal often comes in close to the price of rigging it down by hand, with way less risk to your roof.
Our Other Tree Services
Tree Trimming
Deadwood out, limbs off the roof, crowns thinned for the next storm.
Stump Grinding
Stumps chewed out below the grass line, ready for seed.
Emergency Tree Service
Storm calls 24/7: trees lifted off roofs, cars and driveways.
Land Clearing
Brushy lots, fence lines and building sites cleared and hauled.
Commercial Tree Service
Trims, removals and storm work for businesses, HOAs and landlords.
Free walk-around
Got a Tree That's Bothering You?
Leave your name, number and a line about the tree. We call back to set up a walk-around, and the written price follows within 48 hours.
- Written price within 48 hours
- 24/7 storm and emergency calls
- Clean-up included in every price