How much does tree removal cost in Australia?
Price depends on the tree's height, access, proximity to buildings and power lines, and whether stump grinding and waste removal are included. Below are realistic 2026 ranges by tree height, by stump size, and for the extras that catch people out.
Tree removal cost by tree height
Height is the single biggest driver of price, because it decides how the tree has to come down. A tree that can be felled in one piece is a different job from one that has to be dismantled limb by limb over a roof.
| Tree height | Typical cost | What that job usually involves |
|---|---|---|
| Small tree, under 5m | $200 – $800 | Shrubs, small palms, low-risk jobs with clear access. |
| Medium tree, 5–10m | $800 – $2,500 | Standard backyard tree, room to drop limbs. |
| Large tree, 10–15m | $2,000 – $5,000 | Mature gum or similar. Careful rigging, more crew time. |
| Very large tree, 15–20m | $4,000 – $8,000 | Sectional dismantling, often an elevated work platform. |
| Over 20m, or difficult access | $7,000 – $15,000+ | Crane work, tight access, close to structures or power lines. |
Stump grinding cost by stump diameter
Stump grinding is usually quoted separately from the removal, and priced on the stump's diameter and how hard the timber is. Most arborists apply a minimum call-out fee, so a single small stump rarely costs less than that minimum. Grinding several stumps in one visit, or grinding at the same visit as the removal, brings the per-stump price down.
| Stump diameter | Typical cost | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Small stump, under 30cm | $100 – $200 | Often subject to a minimum call-out fee. |
| Medium stump, 30–60cm | $150 – $350 | Dense hardwood sits at the top of the range. |
| Large stump, 60–100cm | $250 – $500 | Deeper grind, more time on site. |
| Very large stump, over 100cm | $400 – $800 | Old gums, figs, multi-trunk stumps. |
Extras that change the total
These are the line items most likely to differ between two quotes for the same tree. Ask each arborist to price them explicitly rather than assuming they are included.
| Extra | Typical cost | What to ask |
|---|---|---|
| Council permit application | $50 – $350 | Varies widely by council. Some charge nothing, some charge per tree. |
| Arborist report | $350 – $1,200 | Often required for a permit or a dead or dangerous exemption. |
| Stump grinding | $100 – $800 | Usually quoted separately. Confirm whether it is included. |
| Green-waste removal | Often included | Ask if mulch or logs are left on site or taken away. |
| Crane or elevated work platform | Adds substantially | Priced per job. Common for large trees with no drop zone. |
| Traffic management | Adds substantially | Needed when work encroaches on a road or footpath. |
Indicative ranges only, compiled from published Australian price guides. These are not quotes and not a price we set. The only way to know your price is a free site assessment from a local arborist.
Per hour, per day, or a fixed price?
The tables above are job prices, which is how most removals are quoted. Plenty of tree work is still charged by time, though, and the two published Australian sources do not agree on which is more common. ServiceSeeking's 2026 figures report an average arborist rate of $182.29 per hour and an average day rate of $1,422.69, with 55 percent of quotes on its platform hourly, 29 percent daily and 10 percent a fixed total. GoTreeQuotes argues the opposite, that tree services generally price per job because crew size and equipment decide how long the work takes.
Both are right about different jobs. A single defined removal should come to you as a fixed price. Open-ended work, such as a morning of maintenance across several trees, is more often hourly. The trap is comparing the two: an hourly rate is not a price, and a cheaper rate with a slower crew costs more. Ask for the estimated hours alongside the rate, or ask for a fixed total. Ask too whether the rate is per person or per crew, and whether travel and tipping sit inside it.
Pruning is more likely than removal to be quoted hourly, because the scope is vaguer. Our tree pruning cost guide prices that work by the class of prune (crown lift, thinning, deadwooding, reduction), which is the axis that actually drives a pruning quote.
What makes one tree cost more than another
- Access. A tree a truck and chipper can park beside is far cheaper than one in a rear courtyard where every limb is carried out by hand.
- What is underneath. A clear drop zone means fast felling. A roof, pool, deck, shed or glasshouse under the canopy means slow, roped, sectional removal.
- Power lines. Work near lines can require an accredited crew or the network to de-energise or cover the line, which adds cost and lead time. See our guide to trees near powerlines.
- Species and timber density. Hardwoods such as eucalypts are heavier and slower to cut and chip than softer species of the same height.
- Tree condition. A dead, hollow or storm-damaged tree can be more expensive, not less, because it is unpredictable to climb and rig.
- Approvals. If the tree is protected, add the permit process and possibly an arborist report to both the cost and the timeline.
- Where you are. Metropolitan jobs generally price higher than regional ones, and remote jobs carry travel. Tip and green-waste fees also vary by area.
- Emergency versus scheduled. After-hours or same-day emergency work costs more than a job booked a fortnight out.
How to compare quotes properly
Get at least three written quotes and make sure each is pricing the same job. A quote that looks dramatically cheaper usually is not covering the same work.
- Confirm the arborist carries public liability insurance, and ask to see the certificate.
- Check whether the stump, the surface roots and the green waste are included or extra.
- Ask who is responsible for any council approval, and whether the fee is in the price.
- Get the quote in writing, itemised, with the scope of the work described.
- Treat “no permit needed, we can do it tomorrow” as a red flag if nobody has checked. The liability for removing a protected tree lands on the property owner, not the contractor. Our guide on whether your tree is protected explains how to check.
Who pays, and does insurance cover it?
Routine removal of a tree on your own land is generally your cost. It gets more complicated after a storm, when a tree falls from next door, or when the tree belongs to the council. Home insurance sometimes covers removing a fallen tree that has damaged an insured structure, but usually not removal of a healthy standing tree you simply want gone. Cover varies by policy, so check your PDS. Our guide to who pays for tree removal works through the common scenarios.
Get free quotes
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Check if you need a permit first
Removing a protected tree without approval can mean serious council fines, plus an order to replant. Check before you book.
Run the permit checker →Frequently asked questions
- How much does tree removal cost in Australia in 2026?
- Most Australian homeowners pay somewhere between roughly $800 and $3,500 to have a tree removed, but the full range runs from about $200 for a small tree with clear access to $15,000 or more for a very large tree needing a crane. Height is the biggest single driver, followed by access, proximity to buildings and power lines, and whether stump grinding and waste removal are included. These are indicative ranges only, not a quote.
- How is tree removal priced, per metre or per job?
- Almost always per job, not per metre. Arborists quote after assessing the tree because two 12-metre trees can differ by thousands of dollars depending on access, what sits underneath the canopy and how the tree has to come down. Published guides suggest larger trees work out to roughly $150 to $350 per metre of height as a rough sanity check, but treat that as a way to spot an outlier quote, not as a price.
- How much does it cost to remove a large gum tree?
- A mature eucalypt is usually in the large or very large band, so commonly $2,000 to $8,000, and higher if a crane is needed or the tree sits close to a house, fence or power line. Gums are heavy, tall and often have limbs that cannot simply be dropped, so they take longer and need more rigging than a similar-height softer species. Get several quotes: the spread on large gums is wide.
- Is stump grinding included in the tree removal price?
- Not usually. Stump grinding is normally quoted as a separate line, typically $100 to $800 depending on stump diameter and species, and many arborists apply a minimum call-out fee for stump-only jobs. It is almost always cheaper to have the stump ground at the same visit as the removal than to book it later. Ask each quote to state clearly whether the stump, the roots and the waste are included.
- Do I have to pay for a council permit as well?
- Sometimes. Many councils charge an application fee to remove a protected tree, commonly in the tens to low hundreds of dollars, and some charge nothing at all. Fees and requirements are set by each council, so check yours before you budget. If your tree is protected you may also need an arborist report to support the application, which is a separate cost. You can check whether approval is likely for your address with our permit checker.
- Do arborists charge by the hour or a fixed price for tree removal?
- Both are used, and which you get depends on the job. ServiceSeeking's 2026 data reports an average arborist rate of $182.29 per hour and an average day rate of $1,422.69, and that 55 percent of arborist quotes on its platform are hourly, 29 percent daily and 10 percent a fixed total. GoTreeQuotes takes the view that tree services generally charge per job, because crew size and equipment change how long the same work takes. In practice, a defined removal on one tree should be quoted as a fixed price, while open-ended maintenance work is more often hourly. An hourly rate on its own tells you nothing: a cheaper rate with a slower crew can cost more, so always ask for the estimated hours or a fixed total.
- Why do quotes for the same tree vary so much?
- Because arborists are pricing risk and time, not just the tree. A quote reflects crew size, how the tree must be dismantled, equipment (crane, chipper, elevated work platform), insurance, tip fees and travel. Big gaps between quotes usually mean the jobs being quoted are not the same, so compare what is actually included, and be wary of an unusually cheap quote that skips insurance, waste removal or the permit question.
Sources
Ranges cross-checked against published 2026 Australian tree-service price guides, including GoTreeQuotes, What's The Damage and Yellow Pages. Hourly and daily rate figures are from ServiceSeeking's 2026 arborist cost data. Permit fees and approval requirements are set by individual councils and should be confirmed with yours.