Tree pruning is a specialized field that demands the expertise of a certified arborist. Indeed, anyone in the neighborhood with a chainsaw might be able to trim a tree that’s no taller than 15 feet, but for larger trees, you definitely need a professional.
Tree trimming is expensive because it is dangerous, specialized, and requires the skill of a qualified arborist and supporting equipment and crew to get the job done. The overhead of a tree trimming or removal company is $1,200 – $1,550 per day, so they need to make that amount just to break even.
There are a few specific factors that add to the cost of tree trimming that you can help mitigate and save money in the process. Scroll to the bottom to see these money-saving tips.
A reasonable price for tree trimming will depend on the size of the tree, the number of branches being trimmed, and the job’s difficulty.
A medium tree (20 – 30 ft. tall) trim will cost between $350 and $720 to remove 10 – 20% of the foliage.
You will need a quote for your specific job from a local arborist to get an accurate price. To be sure it’s a reasonable price, get three quotes from 3 different local services.
Average cost of tree trimming
Tree trimming will normally cost from $360 to $1,450. But again, it will depend on the tree and its branches. Trimming a large branch off an Oak tree will cost the same price as trimming a palm tree.
You will need to get an arborist service out to view the tree in question to give an accurate estimate.
Cost to trim a by size
Small tree (15 - 20ft.)
Removing 10 – 20% of the foliage on a small tree will cost $250 to $525. The price difference will depend on access to the tree and obstacles around the tree, which will add time and money.
Medium (20 - 30ft)
A medium-sized tree will cost between $390 and $720 to trim. Again this is for about 10 – 20% of the foliage. I would love to give a more exact price, but where you live, the state of the tree, and obstacles around the tree all play a part.
Large Tree (30 - 50ft.)
To get some branches trimmed from a large tree, you will pay $650 – $1,500. This would include 2 – 3 large branches or several smaller ones representing 10 – 15% of the tree foliage.
Xlarge Trees (50 - 100ft)
Extra large trees are more challenging to give an accurate price. I would say anywhere from $920 – $2,500. Removing several large branches from an oak tree will cost considerably more than trimming a palm tree, so it’s all about the tree and the amount of work that needs to be done.
| Height range | Price Range | |
|---|---|---|
| Small | 15 - 20 ft. | $250 - $525 |
| Medium | 20 - 30 ft. | $390 - $720 |
| Large | 30 - 40 ft. | $650 - $1,500 |
| Extra Large | 50 - 100 ft. | $920 - $2,500 |
Palm tree trimming average cost
The cost to trim a palm tree will depend on the height. Trimming a regular palm 15-20 ft high will cost $120.
If you have a large number of palm trees that need trimming, the average cost will come down per tree. If you have ten trees, it might cost closer to $820 to have them all trimmed.
Tree trimming cost per hour
Tree trimming is a job that is normally priced by the job and not by the hour. The reason for this is arborists work at a different pace with different supporting crew sizes.