Cost guide
How much does tree felling cost?
Height, access and what sits underneath set the felling price. Published UK averages cluster near £250 for a single small tree and £500 across all jobs, though working firms in the South East quote well above that. Waste removal adds £90 to £500 and is often the line customers forget to compare.
Typical prices
Ranges, not quotes. A quote depends on your garden.
| Work | Typical UK price |
|---|---|
| Small tree, under five metres | £150 to £350 |
| Medium tree, five to ten metres | £400 to £700 |
| Large tree, ten to twenty metres | £650 to £1,200 |
| Very large tree, over twenty metres | £1,200 to £4,800 |
| Sectional dismantle close to a building | £3,500 to £5,000 |
| Chipping and removing the wood and prunings | £90 to £500 |
Timeframes from published guides run half a day for a small tree, one day for a medium one and up to five days for the largest. Ask which days the crew blocks out, and check the time allowed matches the rigging the tree needs.
What moves the price
- Method. Sectional dismantling over a building costs two to four times a straight fell of the same stem.
- Species and density. Mature oak at £2,800 to £4,800 against conifer of similar height at £250 to £1,500.
- Plant hire. Crane support adds £500 to £1,500 once road closures and permits are counted.
- Timber disposal. Chipping and carting runs £150 to £300; a skip is £70 to £400 depending on size.
- Permissions. A preservation order application through the council adds £145 to £500 in fees and several weeks of waiting.
Worth knowing
There is no chainsaw licence in UK law. Instead, the law sets a duty to be competent, and the Health and Safety Executive expects a certificate of competence for work with a chainsaw on or in a tree.
HSE, tree work: training and certification
Who quotes for it
628 of the 4,012 gardeners listed on this site take on tree felling.
Where most of them are: Glasgow (18), Leeds (14), Edinburgh (14), Brighton and Hove (14), York (12).
Questions about tree felling
Why do felling quotes vary so much?
Quotes reflect drop zone, rigging, machinery and disposal rather than the tree alone. Published guides for a small fell range from £90 to £800, and the spread narrows once each contractor has walked the site.
Who is liable if a neighbour's tree falls?
Responsibility follows the tree owner, and liability usually turns on whether the defect was known or reasonably discoverable. A dated inspection report from a qualified arboriculturist is the usual evidence.