Compare Tree Removal Quotes Now
Save Up To 43% - FREE SERVICE
Enter the location of your tree job
How it works
FEATURED AND TRUSTED BY:
Complete Tree Removal Cost Guide 2021
Updated: 2 January 2021
The cost of tree removal varies depending on several factors from tree height, the number of branches, trunk diameter, and location/ access to the tree.
The average cost of tree removal is $871. This is only an average incorporating small trees right up to 100 ft, monsters, so it really isn’t an accurate indicator.
The price ranges from $225 for smaller trees that are easy to access, right up to $4,500 for larger trees or trees with poor access.
Take a shortcut to get a great price for tree removal
- Scroll up and enter your Postcode
- Fill in the 2-minute form about your tree
- Three top voted tree services will quote your job
- You pick the best one (no obligation)
Average Cost of Tree Removal
As all trees are different and everyone’s property access varies, it’s hard to give an average cost for removing a tree.
The price range you can expect to pay for tree removal lies between $350 and $4500.
That’s a pretty big range!
The national average for tree removal so far this year is $871, but there are so many factors that make up the cost of tree removal it’s hard to just go off an average.
Below we break down the main factors that determine the cost of tree removal, so you are able to get a good idea of what your tree removal might cost.
Tree Removal Prices by Tree Size
Small Tree Removal Cost
Something like a Bottle Brush or a Lilly Pilly trees normally don’t grow any bigger than a single-story house or 5 – 6m high. These will cost you $250 – $950. Add another $100 if you want the stump removed.
Example of small trees:
- Bottle Brush
- Lilly pilly
- Jacaranda
Medium Tree Removal Cost
These would include Silky oak, Casuarina, Liquidambars, and trees of a similar maximum height of 6 – 9m. These are generally priced $650 – $1500. Again there are a few factors to consider, but as a rough guide, that’s what you would expect to spend.
Examples of medium trees:
- Casurina
- Liquidamber
- Silky Oak
- Eucalyptus nicholii
- Conifer
Large Tree Removal Cost
Let’s break it down by height and spread.
1 x Skinny gum tree, little foliage, and 3 stories high would cost about $1000. A more mature specimen of the same height, but a bigger trunk and spread would cost closer to $2500.
With larger tree lopping, it will all come down to the size spread, access, and complexity of removing it. See below for more information.
Examples of large trees:
- Bluegum
- Radiata pine
- Angophora
Extra Large Tree Removal Cost
If you are unlucky enough to be removing a very large tree, be prepared to pay a hefty price. The biggest tree I have removed was a 50m Eucalyptus tree that cost the owner $7000. It had a trunk diameter of 2 meters at chest height. These trees don’t come about often, but I would get as many quotes as you can from the best operators in town.
Examples of large trees:
- Eucalyptus/ Gum tree
- Norfolk Island Pine tree
Tree Removal Cost by City
Median Price country wide = $871
The city with the highest cost of tree removal in Sydney with the price being 9.06% higher than the countrywide average at $949.
The best price in the country for tree removal in Adelaide with a cost – 6.72% off the mean at $812.
Tree Removal Cost by Tree Type
Eucalyptus Tree Removal Cost
Eucalyptus trees re one of the more expensive trees to have removed. Not only do they grow super large, but they also have a very dense timber which weighs up to 1 ton per cubic meter. This makes for very slow and heavy work. Eucalyptus trees cost $1,200 to $7000 to remove. It will all depend on the size and location of the tree being removed.
Liquidamber Tree Removal Cost
Liquidambers are a medium-size tree and very easy to cut down and remove. The reason being they all grow exactly the same with a single trunk and very small branches coming off the trunk. The average cost to remove a Liquidamber tree is $1,450 not including the stump. Smaller trees can cost you less if they are in a front yard away from fences and power lines.
London Plane Tree Removal Cost
London plane trees can grow just as big as Gum trees so their price can grow just as high. Because they are prone to grow 3 or 4 main trunks, the London Plane tree can take a really long time to remove. The average cost to remove a London Plane tree is $3,450 with the range being between $2,100 and $7500.
Jacaranda Tree Removal Cost
These trees do not grow too large and a super easy to work with. They can get a bit messy to clean up but all in all, they are a fairly cheap tree to remove. Customers are paying between $1,310 and $2,400 to remove jacaranda trees in Australia.
Conifer Tree Removal Cost
Conifers vary greatly in size and have a fairly large family of trees. From thin pencil pines to whopping hedges conifer trees come in many shapes and sizes but for the most part, they are a single trunk of softwood with lots of little bush branches off the main trunk. The average cost of Conifer tree removal is $950, but you can pay as much as $2000 for really large trees in hard to get to locations.
FEATURED AND TRUSTED BY:
Cost calculator for tree lopping
Tree Removal Cost - Case Study
Customer Name: Kate Moussa
Location: Picnic Point, NSW
Job Description: Large-sized Eucalyptus tree in the front yard to be removed.
Cost: The tree was completely removed for $2,430 including the stump grinding. There was good access to the tree for heavy equipment.
Tree Lopping Cost
Side Note: Tree lopping is a very general term given to either removal or the pruning of a tree. In this guide, we will refer to either specifically removing the whole tree or the pruning of branches.
If you are here researching tree lopping cost, you can get all the information you on the removal or you can go to our tree pruning cost guide page to get price info on tree pruning.
Pine trees
There is a large variety of Pine trees in Australia, but the most common is the Radiata pine. They can grow quite large, but they are relatively easy to work with due to the timber being so soft and light. You can expect to pay anywhere from $750 – $3000 for the complete removal of a pine tree.
These pines are grown commercially for timber stock to build with. You will see them in rows and are quite tall with little foliage, but when grown naturally they have a large spread and lots of large branches.
Pencil Pines and Conifer Lopping Cost
Pencil pines are usually pretty cheap as they don’t grow too big and they normally line driveways so they are easy to access and fell. Between $100 – $150 each. The bulk number of trees can be less.
Conifers are normally a lone tree and are a lot bigger. As discussed above they will cost $950 on average to remove but are also cheaper in bulk.
Hedges are not something all tree services do as they are equipped for larger jobs. You are best getting a price for hedge trimming from a local garden maintenance guy.
Other than the size and positioning of the tree there are several factors that can add to the cost of tree removal.
Tree Height
| 3m | 5m | 7m | 9m | 12m | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 tree | $100 | $280 | $400 | $600 | $750 |
| 2 trees | $170 | $450 | $680 | $750 | $1250 |
| 3 trees | $250 | $650 | $790 | $1200 | $1600 |
| 4 trees | $340 | $850 | $1200 | $1650 | $2000 |
| 5 trees | $420 | $950 | $1400 | $2100 | $2400 |
| 6 trees | $500 | $1200 | $1750 | $2350 | $2800 |
Palm Tree Removal Cost
When weighing up palm removal prices, there are 2 things to take into consideration. One price to cut it down and another to haul it away.
Because of the cost of dumping green waste, you are best getting them to leave it on-site and you put it in your green bin or council clean up.
1 x palm removal 5m high = $250 (includes dumping). Add $170 for each additional tree.
1 x palm removal, 8m high = $350 (including dumping). Add $280 for each additional tree.
Palm pruning is normally $50 – 75 per tree
Note: we have put together a palm removal cost guide with removal prices of specific species of palms and their sizes.
Fallen Tree Removal Cost
These are by far the easiest jobs for an arborist. The hard part of tree removal is felling the tree. As it has already fallen on its own (and hopefully not cause too much damage), it won’t cost you nearly as much to get it cut up and taken away.
Fallen trees:
- The 10m tree will cost $600.
- 15 – 20m will be closer to $1000, but again you need to consider access.
If you ask them to cut and stack the logs for firewood it will be cheaper than hauling them away!.
Cost of Tree Felling
The act of felling a tree is to cut it from the base. If you are after tree felling prices, they may vary from the above tree removal and tree lopping prices. It will, of course, depend on whether you are looking to remove the tree after it has been felled, or if you plan to leave it where it lays.
The most labour intensive part of tree work is the removal of the tree. Please refer to the above prices if you wish to remove the tree after felling.
To get a price on felling a tree you will need to consult your local tree removal services as it will depend on a few factors.
- Room to work
- lean of tree
- whether the tree will need to be climbed or if the arborist can fell it from the base.
Dead Tree Removal Cost
There is always an extra cost involved when removing a dead tree as opposed to a live one. The reason being a dead tree is a lot more difficult to work with.
You need to work slower as it is brittle and can break more easily. You need to remove smaller pieces at a time to avoid breakages and damage. The clean-up takes longer. Each cut takes longer and is harder on the chainsaws.
As a general rule of thumb, you can add 20% to the tree removal price listed above.
Go to our page on dead tree removal cost for more information
Other Services
Stump Grinding Cost
Stump removal is the easiest of all services to prices. It all depends on the diameter, but there are categories. Hardwood stumps and softer palm stumps.
Palm stumps
Average size is about 30cm and will cost you about $75 per stump. This is on a sliding scale, the more you have the cheaper the bulk price will be.
Please refer to our stump removal cost guide for more info on prices.
Hardwood stumps
15 – 25cm = $60
25 – 40cm = $120
45 – 60cm = $200
65 – 80cm = $300
85 – 120cm = $450
Land Clearing Cost
Land clearing varies quite a bit depending on the number of trees, their size and spread and most importantly the block of lands gradient.
Obviously, a steep block is going to be a lot harder to work on than a flat block. It affects access for the machinery and time taken to complete the tasks.
As there are so many variables to list and price, you are best going to our land clearing page and comparing the price of 3 x local experts.
Tree Trimming/Pruning and Cutting Cost
The average cost of tree trimming is $435 which would include trimming 15% of the foliage of a medium-sized tree.
There are 4 main pruning techniques that are used to maintain trees. The reason for using one technique over another will depend on the tree species and the reason for pruning.
They are:
- Canopy/ Crown lift
- Pollarding
- Tree reduction
- Deadwood removal
Please refer to our tree pruning cost guide for more information on specific pruning costs or see below for summaries.
Canopy Elevation Cost
The cost of a canopy lift or elevation as always depends on the tree size and species. It will also depend on how man lower branches you are looking to remove. Budge between $200 for smaller trees up to $1200 for the very large ones.
Top-down pollard cuts
Pollarding would cost from $200 – $400, though this is not advisable for cutting trees with a single main trunk or leader such as the eucalyptus tree, but it is perfectly fine for smaller to medium size trees like Crepe myrtles and flowering plumbs.
Pollarding is basically cutting the tops off the tree to a reduced height. With normal pruning, you would cut back to a lower order branch or the trunk, but pollarding involves cutting a branch or trunk mid-way.
This is something you would do on a regular basis like every 12 months.
Cutting back cost
As a general rule of thumb, councils allow up to 10% cut back of trees foliage each year. This does vary so be sure to check with your local council.
Cutting back involves reducing the number of branches evenly around the tree. In most cases, whole branches are not removed, rather 2nd or 3rd order branches.
Though there is nor a huge volume being removed to climb to all extremities of the tree is time-consuming and does cost quite a bit. I would budget from $400 for smaller trees to $1000 for larger ones.
Dead-wooding cost
As a general rule of thumb, councils allow up to 10% reduction of foliage on protected species each year. This does vary so be sure to check with your local council.
Reductions involve removing branches evenly around the tree. In most cases, whole branches are not removed, rather 2nd or 3rd order branches.
Though there is nor a huge volume being removed to climb to all extremities of the tree is time-consuming and does cost quite a bit. I would budget from $400 for smaller trees to $1000 for larger ones.
Other factors that add to price
Front or backyard?
This is a big one. The closer the tree contractor can get his truck and equipment to the tree, the cheaper it will be. If they have to drag the tree piece by piece from the back to the front it will cost you more
Emergency tree removal
The biggest spike in calls for emergency tree removal comes after a storm has hit. Removal becomes a lot more expensive when dealing with emergency tree removal for a number of factors.
- Tree surgeons have to drop everything to comer and do your job.
- There is a TONNE of work on after a storm where every arborist within 50km is flat out, so it becomes a supply and demand thing.
- The danger factor comes into it. Normally when it’s an emergency the tree is on a house, a car, power lines etc. so it is outside the normal scope of an arborist work which is climbing an upright tree and taking it down.
All of this needs to be considered but as a general rule of thumb, you can expect to pay double for emergency tree removal.
Access to the tree
This ties into the first, but if you have rear access with a drive or your neighbour does and you can remove a panel of fencing, then this will reduce the cost.
Obstacles
The proximity of the tree to breakables will determine how long it takes to get the tree on the ground safely. To lower the tree branch by branch to avoid a service line or a shed takes time. Time is money.
A great way to reduce the cost of tree removal is to do your best to remove all breakables from around the tree to make the process quicker. Some things can’t be moved… like your house! but other things like outdoor furniture, plants in garden beds, pot plants can all be moved of covered to make the tree removalist’s job a little easier.
Tree species
Some trees are just harder to work on than others. A Liquid amber is very easy as the branches are normally small and with little spread. A tree of the same height can have a dense canopy and this adds to it.
The weight of the timber is also a factor. Gum trees are hard on the equipment and the workers. Expect to pay more.
Diameter of trunk
This is a pretty big factor and literally double the cost of removal when you double the size of the trunk. It adds to the overall scale of the job therefor ads to the price.
Please see below for cost estimates for tree removal based on trunk diameter.
Number of branches
As mentioned in the species above, the number of branches in a factor. A 3 story gum tree with a skinny trunk and little foliage will cost the same as a dense Lily Pilli tree.
Spread of branches
This is different from the number of branches. If a gum tree has super long branches stretching out over a house, those branches need to be climbed out on a technique referred to as “branch walking”.
This is a lot more time consuming and will add to the time it takes to remove a tree so it will add to the cost.
Duel leaders/ trunks
This is quite common, especially with gum trees. It is basically when you have a tree with two trunks instead of the usual one. This will add to price due to the increased amount of timber involved and removal time. It’s almost like removing two trees in the one location.
Arborist/ gardener
The prices given for a tree prune from a qualified arborist and the local garden maintenance man are night and day.
You will require an arborist for anything over a one-story house in height, but if you have a smaller tree then I suggest the local lawn and garden care business. It will save you money.
Dangerous Trees
A dangerous tree refers to any tree that is not structurally sound either by its own lack of structural integrity or other factors such as proximity to power lines.
A tree’s shape and structure can be compromised when years of neglect lead to rot, making part of or the whole tree a danger to persons or property. If the issue is isolated to branches, then this may not add too much to cost, but when it is the main trunk, special equipment such as a crane will need to be brought in to take it down in a safe manner.
Crane hire costs between $150 – $500 per hour.
Frequently Asked Questions
Emergency tree removal is normally more expensive as you are asking a company to drop what they are doing and come to your rescue. The best way to handle emergency tree removal is to get the SES in to make the tree safe (get it off power lines, your car, home or where ever it fell), this is free.
Then take your time getting a regular quote to get the tree removed.
Yes, tree services are always willing to give you an obligation-free tree removal quote. Just call them up and book in a day and time for them to view the job.
They will give you a quote and you can call them back any time to book the job in if you see fit. It is always a good idea to get 3 quotes before deciding on tree services.
Normally a fallen tree is cheaper to remove than a standing one. This is not to be confused with emergency tree removal.
If a tree has fallen in your backyard for example and is not in an awkward position like on your house or over a shed, then it will be cheaper than a standing tree.
This is because ½ of the job of tree removal is getting the tree on the ground safe. If it is already on the ground, it is much quicker to just cut it up and haul it away.
Insurance will cover the cost of a fallen tree but not a live healthy one. Generally, you have a better chance of getting an insurance company to come to the part of the tree has damaged something.
Note: If the tree was dead, they might not cover the cost of removal. All trees on your property are your responsibility to maintain. If the tree has died several years ago ad fallen due to negligence, they may not cover you.
Most tree services will not commit to a price over the phone. The reason is that all trees are different. They are hard to describe over the phone or with an image and give an accurate price on. Most local tree removal services will insist on coming out to view the job before committing to a price.
The is a common myth. Some customers believe that there is so much money in firewood that a company would be willing to remove the tree just to cashing on the firewood. It’s a bit like asking a demolition company to demolish a building because they can cash in on the copper cables and piping. It’s just not worth the company’s time.
Not really. As long as the tree service has access to your yard, they will be able to remove the tree without you there to oversee anything. Just as long as they can swing past and get paid, they will be happy.
In most cases, the answer is no. There are some palm trees that are highly desirable and landscaping companies will come and remove for free as they know they can sell it onto other customers, but for 99% of trees, you will need to pay for removal.
You will need to check the tree removal laws for your local council. If the tree is considered significant and is not exempt from the rules, you will need to apply for a permit first.
Normally dead or dangerous trees can be removed without a permit, but anything larger than 5m high will need approval first.
Author: Ben McInerney is a qualified arborist with over 15 years of industry experience. He uses his in-depth knowledge of the tree service industry to give readers to most accurate information on tree service costs and helps to educate about the benefits of using a certified arborist for tree trimming and removal work.
Compare Tree Removal Quotes Here
– Local Tree Services
– Fast Response
– Save up to 43%
– Obligation FREE service
FEATURED AND TRUSTED BY:
