How much does tree removal cost?

The average cost of tree removal is $871 with the average range being from $225 to $3,900.

For a small tree under 15 ft. it will cost $250. For medium trees up to 25 ft. homeowners are spending $900. Large trees between 30 – 60 ft will cost $900 to $2500 and extra-large tree up to 100 ft. will cost $2,500 to $4,500

The price will depend on tree height, diameter and access for heavy equipment.

Working out the cost to remove a tree can be tricky as there are a lot of factors to take in, but understanding all the factors will be a huge advantage, as it will give you the upper hand on understanding where big savings can be made with your own tree removal job.

Shortcut: Why not getting 3 FREE estimates from local tree services. All have been voted best priced by previous users. It just takes 2 minutes to request 3 FREE quotes.

Cost to removal a Small tree

The cost to remove a small tree ranges from $200 – $500. I would classify a small tree being 5 – 15ft. in height and a trunk diameter no larger than 6 inches.

Examples of small trees include:

• Crepe Myrtle
• Flowering Dogwood
• Franklin Tree
• Lemon tree
• Magnolia
• Japanese Maple

Medium tree removal price

A medium tree will cost you between $500 and $900 for complete removal. Some factors such as location in your yard and access may vary price slightly. A medium tree can be defined as a tree 15 – 25ft. in height.

Examples of medium trees include:

• Cypress
• Liquidamber
• American Holly
• Date Palm

Large tree removal cost

Larger trees obviously cost more for removal due to the large amounts of foliage and timber that needs to be removed. You can expect to pay between $900 and $2500. A large tree is any tree that is 25 – 60 ft. in height.

Examples of small trees include:

• Eucalyptus sp.
• Radiata Pine
• Oak Trees
• Cottonwood
• Bald Cypress
• American elm

X-Large tree removal estimate

Extra-large trees are a little less common in suburbia and can be defined as any tree that is taller than 60ft. Some of them range right up to 120 ft. You can expect to pay $2500 – $4500 for complete including the stump.

Examples of small trees include:

• Giant Sequoia
• Mountain Ash
• Spruce
• Noble Fir tree
• Sugar gum
• White Pine

Other than the height of a tree and the location/ access, the tree type or species plays a major role. Each tree has it’s own characteristics which lend itself to price changes. Think of an Oak tree with huge long branches vs. a Palm tree which is essentially a trunk with a few leaves at the top.

Please see the table below for the average price of trees by type.

Sycamore tree removal cost

The average cost to remove a Sycamore tree is $1,800. This price is based around the average mature size of a Sycamore tree is 85 ft. tall with multiple trunks each 15” and weighing 4.2 tons in total. You can save money on sycamore tree removal by granting better access for tree services to the tree.

Eucalyptus tree removal cost

Based on the average Eucalyptus tree being 80 feet tall with a single leader trunk and multiple large branches, the average cost to cut it down is $2,050. Eucalyptus trees are some of the densest timber on the planet weighing up to 1 ton per cubic meter of timber.

Oak tree removal cost

The average cost to cut down an oak tree 60’ tall with a 30” trunk is $2,300. Oak trees are known for their long thick branches that can grow out over homes and power lines. Because of these Oak trees are particularly cumbersome to work with and do take time to remove. They also yield a large amount of timber and have an average weight in excess of 3 tons.

Pine tree removal cost

A Pine tree will cost you $1,600 on average to remove. There are many types of time tree, but on average they grow to 70 ft. tall with 20” single trunk and very small branches. They are quite easy to work on in confined spaces as their branches have a small spread.

Palm tree removal cost

Palm trees will grow to 70 ft. tall with single 12” trunk as seen with the iconic palms lining the streets in Beverly Hills. $720 is the average to remove a palm tree if there is good access for an Elevated work platform. The weight per tree can top 2 tons due to a large amount of water stored by palm trees in their trunk.

Date palm removal cost

Canary Island Date Palms cost $1,490 on average for remove which is on average double the price of a regular palm. The extra cost is due to the trunk being three times the diameter at 50 inches. These trees take more time and generally a crane is used to assist in their removal.

Maple tree removal cost

Maple trees cost on average $520 to remove. They are quite light timber and don’t grow all that tall topping out at 45 ft. With a single main leader trunk and very small light branches, these trees are a breeze to remove and the price of removal reflects that.

Spruce tree removal cost

Spruce grows to 65 ft. tall with a single 11” trunk with small branches. To cut a Spruce tree down customers are paying $950 on average. They are very similar to your average pine tree in that they are quite easy to deal with in confined spaces.

Conifer removal cost

Conifers are quite easy to remove and will cost $420 on average to do so. Growing to 45 ft. tall with a single 6 inches in diameter trunk and small bushy branches, conifers are a joy to work on. As conifers generally come in rows, the price per tree with be reduced when removing a bulk number of trees.

Cottonwood removal cost

The average 40 ft. tall Cottonwood tree will cost $1,150 to remove. Traditionally with a short base trunk 50 inches diameter, then several second-order trunks growing off that, these trees can be time-consuming to remove. If you can give the tree service good access to the tree for heavy machinery then you can save money.

Below I have taken photographs of different tree species of various sizes and discussed the price you could expect to pay to remove this type of tree. Hopefully, with an image of a tree that is similar to yours, you can get a rough idea of price.

The average tree removal cost is $871 so far in 2019. This is a handy fact, but really has no bearing on the cost of your tree.

Trees come in all shapes and sizes, so only by studying a bit more information below will you get a more accurate indication of exactly how much you can expect to pay to have your tree cut down.

There are a lot of variables to take into consideration when calculating the cost of tree removal. The way in arborist would normally calculate the cost of removing a tree is to come out for a site visit to visually see the tree, view the access to the tree and any obstacles around the tree. They can then determine how much time it will take to safely dismantle the tree and take everything away.

As tree services do not charge an hourly rate, but charge by the job, there is no magic formula they use for calculating the cost of tree removal.

Every local tree cutting service is different, so the use their own formula specific to their business.

All businesses have different overheads, staff members and a wide variety of equipment used to remove trees. All these cost factors specific to their individual business need to be taken into consideration when pricing your tree removal job, so they can guarantee their time is not wasted and they can make a profit.

Just like buying a used car or a house, tree service estimates can be negotiated to get a better deal. Before I go into a couple of good techniques, it is worth mentioning that quality and safety should also be at the top of your radar and not just the cheapest price you can get.

1. Bait and switch – After you have 3 or 4 estimates, why not ring around and get them bidding against each other. Normally there is always one you want, but they are too expensive, so ring them back up and let them know that you want to go with them, but you have a cheaper estimate from X tree service and see if they can match it.
2. Drop sale – A good way of getting a better price is reducing their workload. If you agree for them to leave the firewood (then you place a sign on the street “free firewood”) or even if you agree to remove a panel of fencing for better access and make the tree more accessible, tree services are always willing to negotiate for less work.
3. Keep the stump – Stump removal is always quite expensive. By keeping the stump and using it as a garden feature, or asking them to throw it in with the price and not charging separate is always a great haggling point.

There are many ways you can sweeten the deal for the tree service which will lead to a cheaper price. Either get creative or just play hard-ball.

The above cost calculator we have put together above does not take into account the separate cost of stump removal but includes the cost of stump removal in the estimate when removing a tree.

We have been working on a separate tool to calculate just the cost of stump removal or the cost of tree removal and stump separately, but we have found that to include tree and stump removal as a package seems to work best and is one of the more popular search terms by users.

Below we’re going to go in a little bit more detail discussing some more factors that will contribute to the cost of tree removal. Again in the calculator, we have left these particular variables out as selection criteria yet as an average they have been factored into the cost.

This is where a small bit of variance does come in which can either work in your favour or against you.

Here they are in no particular order:

Time of year

These factors are in no particular order but it did make sense to stick this one at the top. Time of year is a very important factor when it comes to the cost of tree removal.

Location on property

This is a really big factor and has been added as selection criteria in the tree removal cost calculator. Imagine you had two identical trees one of them was in your front yard which was easily assessable by heavy machinery and the other tree of the exact size and shape is in your backyard with very poor rear access.

The tree in the front yard will most likely cost you half the price of a tree in your backyard. The reason being there is a lot more manual labour involved in transporting the tree from the backyard to the front without the assistance of heavy machinery. This takes time and time is money.

Pro tip: You can negate this extra cost by granting the best access possible to the tree in your backyard. If you don’t have a driveway with good rear access, maybe your neighbour does? Putting them on your Christmas card list and asking them if they would mind you removing a section of fence so the tree services can access your backyard through their driveway will save you hundreds of dollars.

 

Obstacles

This is a very big factor depending on the obstacle the tree services face. If a tree is overhanging your house obviously the house cannot be moved to make the removal of the tree easier. The arborist will just have to work around it.

But other things like pot plants, fences and even power lines to your house can all be removed or repositioned to make the removal or pruning job a lot easier for the tree service company.

Pro tip: The easier it is for the arborist to remove your tree, the less money it is going to cost you. Remove any obstacles around the tree before the tree comes down. It is important that you do this or indicate your intention to do this during the quoting process. The tree service needs to know exactly what they are working with when pricing your job.

 

The company quoting your job

This factor is probably one of the biggest ones people don’t take into account. There are many types of tree companies of various sizes who approach their business model differently. If you get three quotes from the first companies that you find in an internet search, chances are you were going to be paying more for tree lopping.

It is not blind luck or coincidence that those companies were the first ones that you came across. These companies pay a lot of money to be in top positions.

Their large marketing budgets will net them a lot more leads and phone calls, but they will need to quote higher prices to recoup the large amounts of money they do spend on marketing. So don’t be afraid to check page 2 of Google results or Yelp.

Tree Removal Cost Factors by Importance

How to Save on Tree Removal

There are many things you can control in reducing the cost of removing a tree from your property.

In no particular order, they are listed below with an explanation.

 

Do the work in winter

This one we have touched on a little above. Because there is so little work and many companies trying to win the work, you will find in most cases they drop their prices 20 – 30% in the cooler months.

 

Grant better access to the tree

Giving the tree service better access is also a very big deal. If you are able to remove a section of fence to allow the tree service to enter via your neighbour’s yard, or maybe you back onto a Laneway or park, you will save them time and yourself a lot of money.

Remove obstacles

There are lots of obstacles that you might not even think of being a big deal but can add to the time taken to remove the tree which will inadvertently cost you more money.

Tree pruning and removal is pretty rough and tumble. If you have anything delicate near the tree being trimmed or removed such as pot plant, outdoor furniture, kids play equipment etc. this will have the tree service company dancing around it all trying not to damage anything. Even a nicely manicured lawn or a beautiful garden bed under the tree can seriously slow things up.

If you make it clear during the quoting process that you will remove everything out of the way before they start the job, you’ll find this simple trick can save you quite a bit of money.

Dispose of waste yourself

Depending on the size location, and type of tree being removed it is debatable whether this can save you money.

In the case of palm trees, on the other hand, disposing of the waste yourself is going to save you 30 – 50% off the price of removal.

Palm trees are not like regular trees, they are actually quite acidic and cannot be mulched and re-sold by the tree service companies as garden cover. The whole tree needs to be dumped at a waste disposal facility as general waste and not green waste. This is actually quite expensive with most places charging in the hundreds of dollars per tonne. Because palm trees are full of water and quite heavy, the costs add up quickly.

If you were to dispose of the green waste yourself either in your garbage bin over time, or if your local council has a clean-ups for free, you can place the palm logs on the sidewalk for free removal.

 

Fire sale on firewood

Why not sell your trees timber as firewood? This is only really worth it if you have a large tree, and doubly worth it if the tree is in your back yard and hard to get to. Rather than paying the tree service to remove the whole tree, just ask them to remove the branches. Also, ask the trunk to be cut into firewood size logs.

Not only will you save money for removal as the tree company will not have to spend time manually loading and removing all the timber, but you can have an auction on eBay for the firewood. People will pay you for the timber and come pick it up for free.

Tree Trimming and Cutting Cost

Tree trimming is calculated in a similar way to tree removal. All the above factors come into play when calculating pruning costs, but obviously, in general, the cost of tree trimming is a lot cheaper than full tree removal.

The average cost of trimming a tree is $438. The real range is between $120 and $1200.

Small trees less than 20 ft. high cost $250 to $525 when trimming up to 30% of the tree’s foliage.

Medium trees start at $390 and go right up to $720 depending on the tree species, number of branches and the obstacles around trees such as power lines.

Large trees will cost you anywhere from $500 to $1,200 to trim no more than 30% of the branches.

Different tree trimming techniques cost different amounts also. A crown lift is removing all bottom branches of the tree effectively lifting the canopy off the ground is the cheapest trim by far.

Other techniques such as canopy reduction will need the tree services to trim a little off each and every branch on the tree. They will also need to do the trimming on the ends of the branches which are the hardens to get to.

Palm Tree Removal Cost

The cost of palm tree removal does vary quite a bit from regular tree removal. In essence, they are two totally different jobs and a palm tree is really just one long trunk with a few leaves on top. They are going to be a lot easier for the tree service to work on, so the cost to calculate their removal is a bit different.

The average cost of palm tree removal is $429. At the low end, you might only pay $150, but at the high end of the spectrum you can pay up to $3000.

This is a topic we will have to cover in more detail and is beyond the scope of this article.

Tree Removal Cost by State

The cost of tree removal can vary from state to state due to a few factors.

Population density, supply and demand as well as the cost of living will all come into play.

In general, it would come down to the running costs of a tree business in your state or city. Obviously the cost to remove a tree in San Francisco would be more than in Fresno even though they are both in California.

The cost of housing, office space, insurance and the average wages for the area will affect the price of local services. The cost of tree removal is no different.

State	Tree removal cost	% difference
United States Avg.	$871
Alabama	$688	-21%
Alaska	$1,028	18%
Arizona	$819	-6%
Arkansas	$645	-26%
California	$1,036	19%
Colorado	$993	14%
Connecticut	$1,054	21%
Delaware	$897	3%
District of Columbia	$1,176	35%
Florida	$766	-12%
Georgia	$810	-7%
Hawaii	$1,106	27%
Idaho	$766	-12%
Illinois	$897	3%
Indiana	$766	-12%
Iowa	$827	-5%
Kansas	$801	-8%
Kentucky	$697	-20%
Louisiana	$662	-24%
Maine	$766	-12%
Maryland	$1,150	32%
Massachusetts	$1,097	26%
Michigan	$784	-10%
Minnesota	$967	11%
Mississippi	$618	-29%
Missouri	$749	-14%
Montana	$766	-12%
Nebraska	$819	-6%
Nevada	$810	-7%
New Hampshire	$1,036	19%
New Jersey	$1,124	29%
New Mexico	$653	-25%
New York	$1,481	70%
North Carolina	$740	-15%
North Dakota	$958	10%
Ohio	$775	-11%
Oklahoma	$714	-18%
Oregon	$871	0%
Pennsylvania	$836	-4%
Rhode Island	$888	2%
South Carolina	$723	-17%
South Dakota	$775	-11%
Tennessee	$723	-17%
Texas	$836	-4%
Utah	$984	13%
Vermont	$836	-4%
Virginia	$1,002	15%
Washington	$1,019	17%
West Virginia	$610	-30%
Wisconsin	$836	-4%
Wyoming	$845	-3%

Emergency Tree Removal Cost

As a general rule of thumb, you can expect to pay double for emergency tree removal. It will all depend on the circumstances though.

If it’s a Sunday afternoon and a tree on your property has fallen through a fence, power lines or even a house, then you will need someone to come out in a hurry to help remove the tree. But as you can imagine, getting a tree service after hours or on weekends is going to cost you more.

The same is true when a storm has swept through your town or city and knocked over hundreds of trees. Due to the high demand, tree removal is going to cost you a lot more than it would on a regular day.

Emergency tree removal costs $2,190 on average. Weekends are always more expensive also if the tree is still in a very dangerous position.

Emergency tree removal can only be carried out by trained professionals and is not to be attempted by the novice tree service. Special power-line training, as well as supervision by emergency services and paramedics, is required in emergency situations.

Home to save on emergency tree removal

Firstly, if the tree has come down or is dangerous, you should call emergency services first to render the tree safe. This is a free service and will not cost you a thing.

Once the tree is safe, you are best taking your time to get quotes and wait for the right price. If it is due to a storm, you might have to wait for a few weeks before getting a tree service out. Once all the emergency work has died down, they will begin quoting normal prices again.

Land Clearing Cost

Land clearing is a different service to just regular tree removal because it is priced by the acre and not per tree.

The average cost of tree removal per acre is $3,680. This includes a mix of different sized trees with average density. The price can vary from $950 right up to $6,700.

There are actually two different types of companies you can call for land clearing, a tree company or a demolition/ Building company. Tree services have the equipment to remove trees, but generally not the machinery to level and grade land.

In the case of levelling ground for building, you are best going with a construction company with heavy machinery. If you call a tree removal service, you will have to pay once for the trees to be removed and again for the grading to be done. Hiring one company for both tasks will save you time and surely a lot of money in the process.

Cheap tree removal services near me

Finding cheap local tree removal services is not as hard as you think. Follow these steps to 50% or greater savings:

1. Don’t go with the companies at the top of search results. They pay a lot to be there and will pass those costs onto you.

2. If you are not in a rush, hire in winter. By hiring in the off-season you will save 20-30% off regular prices. This is due to an over-supply of tree services and very little demand.

3. Get a gardener to do the job. Tree services generally charge twice as much as gardeners. This is only valid for trees 15ft (I story house height) or smaller. Anything larger will need to be done by a certified arborist.

4. Use GoTreeQuotes FREE services to request 3 quotes from local tree services. All recommended have been voted “best priced” by previous users. These are obligation-free quotes.

How Much to DIY Tree Removal?

Removing a tree yourself is only recommended if the tree is 15 feet in height or smaller. Trees that are larger than this will require the expertise of a certified arborist.

Trying to removing a tree whilst on a step ladder is extremely dangerous and is not recommended. If you can do the job while on the ground, then go for it. If not, please call a professional.

 

Cost of chainsaw hire

You will need to hire a chainsaw which normally costs about $60 for a half-day hire or $90 for a full day. You will need to brush up on your chainsaw safety skills first, but this is generally something they can run through with you at the hire shop.

 

Green waste dumping fees

Green waste can be expensive to dump, so if possible it is recommended that you dispose of it over time in your green waste bin, or wait for a city clean-up and place the waste material from your tree removal on the sidewalk.

Dumping at a local waste depot will cost $60 to $250 per ton for green waste depending on your city.

FAQ’s

What is the average cost of tree removal?

The average cost of tree removal is $890. Knowing this, however, does not bring you any closer to knowing the cost to remove YOUR tree. The reason is the above is an average price taken from all quotes given including trees from 15 ft. tall to over 80 ft. tall. To get a more accurate price on your tree removal job, please look at the cost by tree size here, or get 3 quotes from local tree services.

Is it cheaper to cut down trees in winter?

In general, it is cheaper to cut down trees in winter. The main reason is not that the tree has fewer leaves and it’s easier to work on, it’s because the economy of supply and demand is in your favour.

Tree services along with landscapers and lawn care companies are in low demand in winter. If you have the same supply of companies in winter, but half the work to go around, companies become more competitive on price as they try to win what little work there is. You will save an average of 25% if you hire in winter.

How much does it cost to cut down a 50 foot pine tree?

Pine trees come in different shapes and sizes. For the sake of this question, we are going to look at a 50 ft. spruce type pine. A 50-foot pine will cost you between $890 and $1,780 depending on the access to the tree and its location on your property. Trees that can be felled from the base are a lot cheaper than trees that need a climber or a cherry picker to remove.

How much does it cost to cut down a 100 ft. tree?

Trees that are 100 ft. or more in height will cost $2,400 on average to remove. There are 100’s of different species of trees and each will come with different price tags. Other factors that will add to the cost of removal is access to the tree and the tree service you hire to do it. Be sure to shop around to secure a good deal.

Can you sell a tree from your yard?

In most cases no. Tree services will come and cut down your tree for a fee, but the odds of you selling your tree are slim. If your tree is a desirable palm species such as a Date palm, you might be able to sell it to a local landscaping company who will then sell it on for a profit.

Other than palm trees, you would need to have a tree with very exotic timber for someone to offer you money to take it away.

Should I remove a tree close to my house?

This will depend on the type of tree and how close to your house it is. The roots of some trees can be quite invasive and begin to crack the foundations of your home if left grow. A good safe distance is 10 ft. or more from the outer edge of the trunk.

At this distance, the roots of a tree can still find their way into drains and under your home, but they are less likely to cause any real foundational damage. Anything closer than 10 ft. and you should consider removing it.

How much does it cost to cut down an Oak tree?

The cost to remove an Oak tree will depend on the size of the tree, the number of branches and how easy it is to access and remove. The average price for a medium-size Oak tree removal is $1,750, but the real range starts at $950 for smaller Oaks and goes right up to $4,300 for very large ones.

How do I know the best company to remove my tree?

There are a few things you need to look for when selecting a tree service to remove your tree. Firstly when doing an internet search you need to have a look at their reviews. If they have too many 1 and 2-star reviews, you need to keep looking.

Next, you need to do a background check on the company. Go to your state company registrar website and type in their company name or number. Have a look to see how long they have been in business and whether they have changed their trading name recently. When they are out quoting your job you need to ask for an arborist certificate and insurance details.

What’s a fair price for tree removal?

This will depend on the size of the tree being removed. The best way to gauge whether you are getting a good price is to get more than 1 quote. A good number of quotes is 3, but there is nothing wrong with getting 4 or 5 quotes for very large jobs.

Is tree removal covered by insurance?

Insurance companies will cover the cost of tree removal if the tree came down in a storm or any other act of nature. They will not cover the removal of a healthy just because you want to cut it down. They will also not cover the removal of a dead tree (died years ago) that finally fell after years of neglect.

Can I get my tree cut down for free?

In most cases no. If your tree came down in a storm, you may get your insurance company to foot the bill. If you are a tenant of a property you can ask your landlord if they would mind paying, but I’m sure it would depend on the circumstances.

There are programs available such as small government grants for pensioners who need to remove a tree but do not have the funds. You will need to speak to your local council or state government pension office about the details.

Can I get a price over the phone?

Trees are very difficult to price from a picture or a description over the phone. The reason is the difficulty and time take to remove a tree can only be assessed when taking into account the access to the property, obstacles around the tree and the shape and size of the tree itself. All of which is difficult to describe over the phone.

Tree services will need to book in a time to view the job to give you a firm quote.

Do I need a permit to remove my tree?

If your tree is protected due to its size will need to apply for a permit to remove the tree. To know whether your tree is protected, please refer to your local Tree Removal Ordinance for more information.

What happens if my permit application is rejected?

If the council feels you do not have sufficient grounds to remove the tree they may decide that it should stay. You can then get an arborist report from an independent arborist. If the arborist inspection finds the tree is dangerous, you can then resubmit your application for review. If the tree is protected and healthy, the likelihood of getting approval for removal is slim.

Can I ask the city to cut back my tree?

If the tree is question is on city property, they will come out and prune any branches that are encroaching on your property. If the tree is on your property however, you will need to foot the bill. All trees on your property are the responsibility of the owner to maintain.

Do I need to be home when the work is done?

Most of the time, you will only need to give the tree company access to your yard to do the job. You will not need to be present while the tree is being removed. Arrangements can be made for payment after you have returned home and inspected the finished job.

Does the price include stump removal?

Stump removal is normally priced separately. If you have a quote for a tree to be removed, make sure they have specified whether that price includes the removal of the stump. If it does not, they may try to get away with charging you an extra fee for removal. This is a dirty trick but can be easily avoided if you have it written on the quote exactly what is included in the price.

Author: Ben McInerney – Ben is a qualified arborist with 15 plus years of industry experience in Arboriculture. He ran a successful tree service before turning to writing and publishing. Ben is dedicating to providing users with the most accurate up to date information on everything trees.