Crane tree removal for the trees that can't be dropped
On a Midtown lot an 80-foot pine over the house has nowhere to fall. A crane lifts it out in sections, piece by piece, over the roof and onto the street, with nothing dropped and nothing roped through the azaleas.
A crane removal turns the hardest tree jobs in Mobile into the cleanest. Instead of a climber roping pieces down through the canopy, the crane's hook is set in the tree, the climber makes one cut, and the whole section, limbs and all, lifts away over the house and lands on the street where the ground crew cuts it up. It's how we handle big loblollies and water oaks on the close-set lots of Midtown, the Oakleigh Garden District and Old Dauphin Way, pines over the sprawling houses of Spring Hill, and storm-broken trees that are sitting on a roof with no safe way to cut them free from below.
Beetle-killed pines are a particular case. The U.S. Forest Service warns that pines killed by southern pine beetles develop structural defects and are likely to fall even while standing, and the wood turns brittle fast. A climber can't safely tie into a dead pine, and a bucket truck can't always reach. A crane doesn't care: the hook takes the load before the cut is made. The same logic applies to a hurricane-split water oak with a hanging crown, where cutting from below would bring the rest down on the cutter.
A crane needs a place to stand. Most residential jobs set up in the street or the driveway with outrigger pads, and we use ground-protection mats where it has to cross a lawn. Setting up in the City right-of-way is coordinated with the City, and overhead lines decide the plan: Alabama Power's rule keeps unqualified people 10 feet from energized lines, and a crane boom near a line is the utility's call. We plan every crane job the day before, with the operator, so the morning is spent lifting instead of talking.
What's included
One plan, the day before
Crane size, setup spot, lift path and the order of cuts worked out with the operator in advance.
Nothing dropped over the house
Each section lifts away under load before the cut is finished, over the roof and onto the street.
Dead and storm-broken trees
Brittle pines and split oaks handled from the hook, not from a rope in the tree.
Lawn and hardscape protected
Outrigger pads and ground mats; the azaleas survive.
Street setup coordinated
Right-of-way use arranged with the City when the crane sets up in the street.
Done in a day
Most crane removals, including chipping and haul-off, finish by mid-afternoon.
Crane tree removal cost in Mobile, AL
| Job | Typical price | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Crane and operator, half day | $900 – $1,800 | Setup, lifting, breakdown |
| Crane removal, large pine over house | $2,500 – $5,000 | Crane time plus crew |
| Crane removal, large water oak or pecan | $3,000 – $6,500 | More sections, more time |
| Storm-broken tree off a roof, with crane | $3,000 – $8,000 | Emergency rates apply at night |
| Second tree, same setup | $800 – $2,000 | Crane already on site |
| Stump grinding after | $200 – $600 | Below grade |
These are 2026 Mobile-area ranges to help you budget. Your written price is itemized (climb or bucket work, rigging, chipping and haul-off, stump grinding, crane time, the City permit when one applies) and good for 30 days.
Recent work
Questions we get about crane tree removal
When does a tree need a crane?
When it's too big, too dead or too close to the house to rope down safely, when there's no room to lower pieces, or when it's sitting on the roof. On tight lots in Midtown and Spring Hill, a crane is often faster and safer than a day of rigging.
Is a crane more expensive?
The crane costs more per hour, but on a big tree it shortens the job so much that the total often ends up close to a long rigging job, with far less risk to the house.
Will the crane damage my driveway or lawn?
Outrigger pads spread the load on a driveway. On lawns we lay ground-protection mats. We'll show you where the crane will sit before it arrives.
Can a crane reach a tree in the backyard?
Often, yes. A 40- or 60-ton crane set up in the street can reach well over the house. Deep lots and overhead lines are the limits, and we check both in the site visit.
Do you need a permit to put a crane in the street?
Setting up in the City right-of-way is coordinated with the City ahead of time. We arrange it as part of the job.
How long does a crane removal take?
Most are done in a day, including cleanup. A storm-broken tree on a roof is often a long morning.