COST TO CUT DOWN A TREE

Written by Daniel Woodley. Fact Checked by Paul Farley. Published to Prices. Updated: 17th of January 2023.

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Based on our experience, tree felling and care work, such as pruning or trimming, are very difficult to price without first inspecting the tree and garden.

The proximity of any buildings, fence panels, public footpaths or roads etc, needs to be taken into consideration, and we know that some trees are more difficult and time-consuming to work on than others.

That said, we’ve published our tree work price guide below, with a few caveats, of course.

In this tree guide, we’ll look at:

• Cost to remove a 35ft multi-stem tree.
• Cost to remove a 100ft large tree.
• Pruning and care work prices.
• How to get a custom quote.

+ many more in our FAQs section

I’ve worked with dozens of arborists over the years and know first-hand that the cost will depend on:

• The tree’s height and reach.
• The width of the trunk.
• How many branches there are.
• How easy it is for the tree surgeon to access the garden.
• The type of tree.
• The proximity of the tree to public footpaths or roads.
• How much of the waste material can be disposed of on-site and how much needs to be disposed of off-site.
• Whether the customer wants the stump ground down and by how much.

The height of the tree – this is an important price factor because it will take more time to lower down the cut branches, there is also the risk that parts of the tree will have further to fall and are more likely to cause damage. In general, the higher the tree, the slower the project and the more it will cost.

The tree overhang – some trees overhang sheds, greenhouses, conservatories and fences etc, so the project takes longer.

Access – from experience I know that gaining access to a rear garden isn’t always easy. For example, terraced houses often have either no access or very narrow access to the rear garden. If you want the remains of the tree removed and you live in a home with poor access, I think you should shop around as based on my experience, some firms increase their prices significantly when quoting projects with poor access.

Type of tree – some trees are easier to work on than others.

Public road/footpath – if your tree is overhanging a public footpath or road then you will need to get permission to close off the public area. I’ve worked on projects where gaining permission is easy and quick but some councils are slow to issue permits and difficult to work with, especially if the path is in a busy area.

Waste disposal considerations – if you can dispose of the waste yourself, perhaps because you have a very large garden, then you’ll save a lot of money. waste disposal isn’t cheap and is usually charged by the ton. You might be surprised how much a tree weighs and how long it takes to cut it up and transport it away. I’ve worked with arborists who offered huge discounts for customers that allowed them to leave the waste on-site.

Stump grinding – this is an alternative to stump excavation and not only leaves a neat finish but also stops the roots from forming into a new tree. How far down the stump needs to be ground out will depend on the type of tree; every species is different and the costs vary.

Patio Project 1: Fell and Remove a 35ft Tree

For the first tree removal price, we assume the removal and disposal of a 35ft Beech tree (multi-stem) in a garden that has good access and is located near the road.

The stump is to be ground down to below ground level.

This isn’t a big project, but it will likely take a couple of men less than half a day to complete.

Project 2: A Larger Tree and More Complex Project

Our second example price is for a more difficult project; the felling and removal of a larger 100ft+ multi-stem tree.

The garden also has some access issues, and the waste needs to be taken away by the tree surgeon.

There will be several tonnes of waste material to be disposed of, and a project of this size won’t be completed in one day and will require several tree surgeons working together.

The updated prices we’ve displayed below include grinding the stump out.

Project 3: Cost to Prune an Oak Tree

For our third quote, we assume an oak tree needs trimming and pruning back.

The property in question has easy access to the rear garden and the tree surgeon will be removing all the waste material, nothing will be left on-site.

Notes:

The prices above do not include the cost of making good the ground under the tree, for example, extensive landscaping, laying patio slabs or re-seeding/turfing the lawn etc.

All of the figures include VAT if charged by the contractor and we last updated the price in 2023.

Get Your Custom Tree Felling Price

Price guides like ours can be helpful for general budgeting but they aren’t a substitute for a customised quote that’s based on the specifics of your project.

As tree work prices vary so much, we recommend getting several prices from local tree surgeons.

We can help you get started, just click the button below and one of the tree surgeons from our partners will supply you with a price.

• Quick turnaround time – get your custom price fast, often in less than 24 hours.
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