Cost guide
How much does tree surgery cost?
Tree surgery is quoted per job in almost every case. Day rates for a two or three person crew sit at £600 to £1,250 among working firms, while lead generation sites publish £400 to £700 for the same crew, so the gap between an online estimate and a site visit is wide. Minimum call-out charges run £110 to £180.
Typical prices
Ranges, not quotes. A quote depends on your room.
| Work | Typical UK price |
|---|---|
| Hourly rate, one certificated climber | £45 to £90 |
| Half day, small crew | £449 to £599 |
| Full day, two or three person crew | £600 to £1,250 |
| Light prune or deadwood, small tree | £200 to £415 |
| Deadwooding a large mature tree | £750 to £1,500 |
| Storm damage call-out | £250 to £2,500 |
Out of hours emergency work carries a premium of 25 to 50 per cent. Smaller firms trading under the £90,000 VAT threshold charge no VAT at all, so compare quotes on the total payable rather than the headline figure.
What moves the price
- Access. One 900mm side gate and forty metres of barrowing can double the crew hours against a tree standing beside a drive.
- Targets under the canopy. Conservatories, greenhouses, boundary walls and parked cars force sectional rigging instead of a straight fell.
- Machinery. Cherry picker hire adds £80 to £600 a day by reach, an operator £200 to £300, and crane support from £500.
- Arisings volume. Chipping and removing a mature conifer costs £150 to £300 more than leaving logs stacked for the householder.
- Region. London and the South East run 20 to 30 per cent above national averages on the same specification.
Worth knowing
Scotland makes tree preservation orders under its own 1997 Act and Northern Ireland under the Planning Act (Northern Ireland) 2011. Cite the right one; the English Act does not run there and the penalties differ.
Town and Country Planning (Scotland) Act 1997, section 172
Who quotes for it
2 of the 18 gardeners listed on this site take on tree surgery.
Most of them in one place: Shrewsbury (1), Telford (1).
Questions about tree surgery
How long does a tree surgery job take?
Half a day suits a light crown lift or a small fell with clear access. Two days is realistic for a mature tree taken down in sections over a garden, and five days for a very large specimen needing crane support.
Does tree work need council permission?
Permission is needed where a Tree Preservation Order applies, and six weeks' written notice is needed for a tree in a conservation area. Local planning authorities hold both records and will confirm an address on request.