How much does tree removal cost in 2026?
Per-tree rates by region, common job prices, what drives the cost, and how to write a tree-felling quote that wins.
The short answer
Tree felling services typically charge $80 to $180 per hour
$200 to $8,500+ per tree depending on size and access. Here is what tradies actually charge in 2026 and how the price gets built.
Tree felling specialists typically quote per tree rather than hourly. A small tree (under 8m) runs $200 to $650 removed. A medium tree (8-15m) runs $600 to $2,200. A large tree (15-25m) runs $2,000 to $5,500. Very large or hazardous trees with crane work run $5,500 to $8,500+. Stump grinding adds $80 to $350 per stump depending on diameter. Pricing depends on size, access, complexity (overhanging structures, power lines), waste disposal, and whether council permits are needed.
Hourly rates
Tree felling services hourly rates by region (2026)
Standard daytime rates across the major markets. Metro areas typically command a 20-30% premium. After-hours work is 1.5x to 2x.
United States
Notes
ISA Certified Arborists at the top
United Kingdom
Notes
ARB Approved Contractors at the higher end
Australia
Notes
AQF Level 3 climbers with crane at the top
South Africa
Notes
Insured tree fellers with rigging gear above this
Canada
Notes
ISA certified arborists at the top
New Zealand
Notes
Auckland and Wellington at the top
Ireland
Notes
Dublin commands a premium
India
Notes
Mumbai, Delhi, Bangalore at the top
Job pricing
Common tree felling specialist jobs and what they cost
Real-world price ranges for the jobs tradies quote every week. Includes labour, parts, and standard call-out.
Site assessment and quote
What's included
Most tree fellers quote free. Detailed arborist reports for council permits may be charged $250-650.
Small tree removal (under 8m, clear area)
What's included
Includes fell, cut up, dispose. 2-3 hour job for a 2-person team.
Medium tree removal (8-15m)
What's included
Includes climbing or section-felling, cut up, dispose. Half-day to full-day job.
Large tree removal (15-25m)
What's included
Includes specialist climbing, rigging, section-fell, dispose. Full-day job, often needing 3-4 person crew.
Very large or hazardous (over 25m or near structures)
What's included
May need crane hire ($1,500-3,500/day). Insurance and arborist certification at the top.
Stump grinding (per stump, under 600mm dia.)
What's included
Below ground. Larger stumps and root excavation cost more.
Crown reduction (per tree)
What's included
Skilled pruning to reduce canopy without killing tree. Climbing arborist work.
Hedge cutting (per linear m, 3m+ high)
What's included
Cherry-picker or scaffold work. Standard 1.5-2m hedges go to garden services.
Emergency storm-damage removal
What's included
Hazard trees blocking driveways, on houses, near power lines. After-hours premium.
What drives the price
Six things that change the price of a job
The same job can cost 2x more or less depending on these factors. Knowing them helps customers spot fair quotes and helps tradies justify their own.
Size and species
A 8m softwood is 2-3 hours. A 20m hardwood is a full day. Eucalyptus, oak, and conifers have different timber density and fall behavior. State species when known.
Access and clearance
Clear-area drops are fast. Trees near buildings, fences, or power lines need climbing and section-felling, 3-5x slower. Quote access on every line.
Crane or cherry-picker
Climbing arborists handle most jobs. Hazard trees over structures need crane lifts ($1,500-3,500/day) or boom lifts ($500-1,200/day).
Disposal and chipping
Chipping branches on-site adds $200-500. Hauling logs and chips to landfill or chipping plant is $150-450 per load. Quote disposal as its own line.
Stump treatment
Cut flush to ground is included. Grinding 200-400mm below ground (for re-planting or paving) is $80-350 per stump. Full root excavation is $300-1,200.
Permits
Protected trees, heritage sites, and trees over a certain trunk size often need council removal permits. Application fees $150-650 plus arborist report. Quote permits explicitly.
How to quote it
How tree felling services should price their work
Tips for tradies on writing quotes that win the job and protect the margin.
Quote per tree, not per hour
Customers comparing quotes prefer fixed-price per tree. State the size band and what's included (fell, cut up, dispose, stump-grind option).
Itemise stump grinding separately
Stump grinding is often a separate $80-350 line. Customers can choose to pay for it or grind themselves. Bundling hides the cost; separating makes pricing transparent.
State permit handling clearly
'Customer obtains permit' or 'we apply for permit on customer's behalf, fee passed through at cost'. Avoids confusion at booking time.
Show insurance certificate at quote
Tree work has the highest injury rate of any trade. Customers checking insurance pay 20-30% more than those who don't ask. Lead with cover, you justify the rate.
Quote 24-hour storm response separately
Customers in storm-prone areas pay $80-180 annual retainer for guaranteed 24-hour response. Recurring revenue you can plan around.
Send drone photos before and after
Customers paying $4,000 for a tree removal need to see the work documented. Drone or photo evidence on the invoice triples referrals.
Watch out for
Pricing red flags to watch for
The patterns that usually signal a problem on the quote, with what to do about each one.
No insurance certificate offered
What to do: Walk away. Tree felling has the highest injury rate of any trade. Uninsured operators damaging structures, vehicles, or causing personal injury on your property leaves you fully liable.
No arborist on site for large or risk trees
What to do: Trees near structures, power lines, or over 15m need an ISA-certified or AQF Level 3 arborist on site. Untrained operators rope-tugging large trees cause damage.
Cash-only with no invoice
What to do: Walk away. Without an invoice you have no warranty, no insurance claim path, and no proof of work for resale. Tree work is one of the highest-claim trades for insurance.
No permit check on potentially protected trees
What to do: If a tree is over 8m or in a heritage area, ask the feller to confirm permit status. Felling a protected tree without consent attracts fines of $5,000-50,000 to the owner.
Pressure to remove healthy trees
What to do: Reputable arborists recommend pruning, crown reduction, or root barrier before removal. A feller pushing immediate removal of a healthy tree is selling premium services, not solving your problem.
No site clean-up included
What to do: Insist on 'site clean to broom-clean standard' in the quote. A 'cheap' quote that leaves piles of branches and chips on your lawn is not actually cheap once you factor your time hauling them.
Sample quote
A real example: line-by-line
Medium tree removal, 14m eucalyptus near boundary fence
Climbing arborist + ground crew (full day, 3-person team)
Rigging gear hire (rope, blocks, lowering equipment)
Section-felling (controlled drops to avoid fence)
On-site chipping (branches and smaller limbs)
Log removal (3 trailer loads to landfill/chip yard)
Stump grinding (550mm diameter, 200mm below ground)
Site clean to broom-clean standard
Public liability insurance, $20M cover, certificate on file
FAQ
Tree felling services pricing questions, answered
Everything customers and tradies ask about tree felling specialist pricing.
Per-tree costs: small (under 8m) $200-650, medium (8-15m) $600-2,200, large (15-25m) $2,000-5,500, very large or hazardous (over 25m or near structures) $5,500-8,500+. Stump grinding adds $80-350. Access, species, and proximity to structures are the biggest cost drivers.
Often yes. Protected species, heritage areas, trees over a certain trunk diameter, and street-frontage trees usually need a permit. Fines for unauthorised removal run $5,000-50,000. The arborist should know your local rules and quote the permit application.
For tree work over $1,500, yes 2-3 quotes. Compare insurance cover, arborist certification, disposal scope, and stump treatment. The cheapest quote often skips chipping and disposal, leaving piles of debris you'd pay separately to remove.
Most healthy trees can be saved with crown reduction, deadwood removal, or root barriers for $400-1,500 (vs $2,000-5,000 for full removal). A certified arborist will recommend the cheaper option if the tree is healthy. Anyone pushing immediate removal without diagnosis is upselling.
Storm-damaged trees often pose immediate hazards (on houses, blocking driveways, near power lines). The 1.5-2.5x premium reflects out-of-hours mobilisation, hazard-rated rigging, and the risk of working with damaged unstable timber.
Standard inclusions: tree fell (or climb-and-section), cut-up into manageable pieces, branch chipping or removal, log haul-away, site clean to broom-clean standard. Exclusions usually: stump grinding (separate $80-350 line), heavy root excavation, fence/landscaping repairs from drops.
Reputable tree fellers carry $5-20M public liability covering damage to your property and theirs. Your home insurance may cover stationary damage. Always confirm the contractor has cover before work starts; uninsured contractors hitting your roof, fence, or pool means you pay.
For tree work under $2,000: pay on completion. For larger jobs over $2,000: 30% deposit on signing, balance on completion. Some contractors offer 5-10% retention held for 2-4 weeks until any settling or follow-up cleanup is complete.
Small tree (under 8m): 2-3 hours for a 2-person team. Medium tree (8-15m): half-day to full-day for 2-3 people. Large tree (15-25m): full day for a 3-4 person crew, often with rigging. Crane-required jobs: 1-2 days.
Get the tree species, height assumption, scope (fell, chip, haul, stump), insurance certificate, and any permit handling upfront in writing. Pay via banking app, never cash. Verbal quotes on tree work are how 'cheap' jobs become $5,000 bills.
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