There is no one-size-fits-all price for tree removal and related services. Every project is unique, and pricing can only be determined after an evaluation.
However, we understand that many people want to know how much it costs in general, so we have provided some example quotes for popular projects that we have encountered in our years of experience in the industry:
- A crown reduction to a medium-sized tree
- Removal of a medium-sized tree
- 3ft stump removal
The prices we have listed in this article are averages but, there are several factors which can affect how much you will pay. Different Tree Surgeons will quote differently, based on the factors below:
- The height of the tree
- The type of tree
- Where the tree is located
- Safety considerations ( Is the tree blocking a road? )
- Does the tree need to be felled or reduced?
- Does the waste need to be removed from site?
- Does the stump need removing or grinding?
- Is the business VAT registered?
The work involved in Tree Felling
Here is an interesting “first person” perspective of a tree being pulled down to give you a sense of how much labour is involved in the tree felling process.
Example Tree Surgeon Quotations
We have listed all the details of three typical projects that are undertaken by Tree Surgeons below along with rough prices to give you an insight into the costs involved in 2022.
Tree Removal Project Example
Project details – Completely fell a medium-sized multi-stem tree in the back garden of a property. Leave the stump just above ground level. Remove and dispose of all timber.
Rough Price: £905 + VAT
Tree Surgeon Project Example
Project details – Tree crown reduction to a medium-sized tree in a back garden. Removing all waste for the customer.
Rough Price: £750 + VAT
Stump Grinding Cost
The easiest approach to get rid of a stump is to grind it down to a particular depth, and most trees won’t grow back after that.
With stump grinding fees, pricing ranges from £125 to £250, depending on whether the garden is easily accessible and if the surgeons are already working on the house or whether this was a separate job.
Tree Surgeon Day Rates
Tree surgeons rarely quote on a “day rate” but we have a rough idea of how much they charge.
A team of two or three expert tree surgeons on site for one day, including waste disposal, will cost roughly £950 including VAT.
Smaller companies, such as those that only do simple jobs with one or two workers, would charge anything between £250 and £400 per day, depending on location.
Prices are Subjective
The costs shown above are based on our years of experience in the field.
The amount you pay will be determined not only by where you reside and the type of tree in question, but also by the size of the company you’re working with.
A larger company will have significantly higher overheads. Trucks alone can cost up to £20,000 and equipment can cost tens of thousands of pounds.
Smaller businesses will have lower overheads and may hire equipment as needed. As a result, going with a smaller business might save you money, at least for smaller works.
Even though they aren’t professionally qualified in this field, there are also lots of landscape gardeners who will agree to cut down smaller trees.
Furthermore, if the company operates below the VAT level, it will not charge VAT, so you may save a lot of money.
How Much does Waste Removal Cost?
The majority of the pricing we’ve looked into have included some sort of waste collection fee. Tree felling is unique in that most of the waste material has monetary value and may be sold.
The waste material may be divided into two categories:
The first is chippings, which are the remnants of all the wood after it has been processed by a chipping machine.
You’ve probably seen them before, tree surgeons sometimes tow them behind their trucks. Gardeners may utilise this sort of garbage as mulch.
Material that isn’t marketed as mulch is generally thrown in with the second category of garbage. That’s low-value waste like hedge clippings, and the resulting combination is sold to the biomass sector for use in power plants. Large logs are stored and frequently sold.
Your Tree Surgeon Quote Checklist
For larger and more risky operations, we recommend following this checklist to keep expenses low while still hiring a qualified tree surgeon:
- Make sure your chosen contractors are registered with Arboricultural Association.
- Get written quotes that include an assessment of the work to be carried out.
- Ask lots of questions. There are no silly questions so, a knowledgeable and experienced tree surgeon will be more than happy to answer any queries you have.
- Contact your local planning office. Your Tree Surgeon will know whether or not you need permission but, you can always double check yourself.
- Double check any insurance policies that your Tree Surgeon has.
When Should you Contact a Tree Surgeon
The condition of any trees on a homeowner’s property is their responsibility. Insurance companies may refuse to pay out if you fail to get particular trees examined on a regular basis, so read the fine print of any policies you have.
The following is a fairly generic list, but if you notice any of the following, it’s time to have your tree checked:
- Cavities or decaying wood on the trunk
- Mushrooms near the base
- Cracks or splits in the trunk
- Adjacent or nearby trees have already fallen over, are dying or dead
- Roots have broken off or are obviously diseased
- The tree has started leaning to one side