Tree Removal Cost
Last updated 31st March, 2025
Want to find out the cost of tree cutting?
In this tree removal price guide, we provide the average cost (which will be at least £150) of cutting down trees depending on size and type of tree as well as tree surgeon cost.
For more details on cutting trees down, read on below...
How Much to Cut a Tree Down?
The average cost to remove a tree can range in price massively depending upon numerous reasons including the height, diameter and type of tree, as well as its position in the garden.
What should be considered when felling a tree?
Naturally, the larger the tree the more expensive it will be to cut it down. Ease of access is important too as the more difficult it is to get to the tree the longer it will take and thus the cost will increase.
A tree surgeon will normally charge around £150 to £200 per day in labour and will usually work with a general labourer or two.
As such you should expect to pay around £350 per day in labour costs if there are three tradesmen.
Table of Contents
Tree Removal Prices
Below are some estimated costs of hiring a tree surgeon to fell a tree. These prices include cutting down the tree to its stump as well as removing any waste. If you want the stump removed as well expect to add another £100 to £500.
| Job Description | Avg. Cost | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Small Trees (less than 25 ft) | £150 - £350 | 3 - 4 hours |
| Medium-sized Trees (25 to 50 ft) | £200 - £750 | 1 day |
| Large Trees (50 to 75 ft) | £650 - £1,200 | 1 - 2 days |
| Extra Large Trees (over 75 ft) | £1,000 - £2,500 | 2 - 5 days |
Tree Removal Cost Breakdown Calculator
Individual costs for hiring a tree surgeon to fell a 25 ft tree, assuming it takes around half a day - Total Cost: £250
Materials
£25
Tradesmen
£200
Waste Removal
£25
What Does Tree Felling Entail?
This article about tree felling forms part of our series about average landscape gardening prices.
Tree work is one of the hardest jobs to price without visiting the property and making an assessment, not only is every tree different but every garden also has differing access requirements.
The price for felling a tree will ultimately depend on multiple factors including:
- Size of the tree.
- The overhang.
- Access.
- The type of tree.
- Proximity to public footpath or road.
- Disposal of the tree.
- If you want the stump grinding down or not.
The prices quoted will also vary depending on your location, with London and the Home Counties being considerably more expensive in terms of labour charges than elsewhere in the UK.
The height of the tree is obviously a major factor because higher trees will require more equipment and time, plus there is also the higher risk of more severe damage and/or injury due to the fact it is further to fall! Extra care is needed at height, which means it takes more time and manpower.
If the tree overhangs a building such as a shed or a greenhouse, then once again more care is required so the costlier the process.
Problems with access will increase the costs for obvious reasons as simply getting the people and equipment safely to the site will take more time. Some trees are easier to work with than others so this has some impact on price but is not normally a huge factor.
If the tree overhangs a public road or footpath, then permission is required to close off the area which is expensive and will impact the overall cost. Once a tree has been felled, you can dispose of the waste yourself perhaps adding it to the compost heap and/or using it as fuel for a wood-burning stove.
Moving a felled tree to the front of a property and loading it onto a vehicle takes time and costs money, especially as trees can weigh several tonnes.
The cost of removing garden waste can be anywhere between £140 and £450.
Felling a small tree with a diameter of 18″ or less can be done as a DIY project as long as there are no complications such as the tree is heavily leaning or overhanging a building or public path/road. There are no regulations in place to prevent amateurs from felling trees on their own property providing there is no Tree Preservation Order in place.
But even though it can be done DIY, it is not recommended that you do so, tree felling is a dangerous job best left to professionals, even the smaller trees.
When trees are felled their stumps should be removed to prevent suckering (a new tree plant growing out of the old stump). Although stumps are often large and heavy, they can sometimes be completely removed with the right equipment.
Tree stumps can be removed at any time, but paying tree surgeons to remove the stumps when they are felling the tree is the most convenient way as chemical stump killers need to be applied to the freshly cut wood immediately after felling.
Otherwise, the stump will need to be recut before the chemical stump killer is applied. Physical stump removal is the best solution if the stump can be removed entirely by pulling it out with a winch.
Failing that, grubbing out using a mechanical mini-excavator will remove the majority of the root system. Stump grinders can also mechanically grind out the main root plate into fine sawdust.
The typical tree stump removal cost is between £150 and £350, although this depends on the number of tree stumps you want to remove at once.
How Much Do Tree Surgeons Charge?
Removing trees is a highly skilled and dangerous job. It comes with costly equipment and high responsibility, so high insurance. As such, you can't expect tree surgeons to be cheap.
Most tree surgeons will charge around £250 per day but will often give a price based on the job itself, so a fixed fee to remove a tree for example.
Some gardeners may have the requisite skills to fell a tree, although many will suggest hiring a dedicated tree surgeon instead.
You may want to consider the cost of a gardener when keeping your trees maintained. Effective care early on can reduce the need to fell trees later and could reduce the overall tree trimming cost in the future.
Additional Costs of Tree Removal
There are several other jobs you might want to combine with felling a tree. These could even be necessary if access to the tree is limited, or you may just want to have all your garden work done at the same time.
Typically, garden maintenance costs between £25 and £30 per hour, but costs will rise if the work is more complex. So, it makes sense to keep on top of garden maintenance and think about the bigger picture.
Fence Installation Cost
Felling some trees may require fences to be moved, either temporarily or permanently. It may be a good opportunity to improve the overall security and aesthetic of your garden by installing a new fence.
In 2025, the average fence installation costs around £1,500.
Hedge Removal Cost
You may need to remove some hedges to gain access to your trees, or they may be in the way of effective waste removal.
Depending on the size of the hedge, you will be looking at an average hedge removal cost of between £100 and £400.
Keeping Safe When Tree Felling
Tree felling is a dangerous business with many risk factors including working at height and working with chainsaws. Tree felling operations must only be performed by people with suitable training and expertise. All felling operations must be carefully planned beforehand with a full risk assessment which details emergency contingencies.
Deaths from tree work in the UK still occur, with many professionals injured while carrying out their jobs.
If you do want to proceed without professional assistance, then do it safely by first clearing all obstacles from around the tree so that you can move easily. Then take away all the lower branches from the tree again for easier access. Plan an escape route not directly behind and if possible try to fell in the direction the tree is naturally leaning.
The first cut in the front of the tree controls the direction of the fall and should not be more than one-quarter of the diameter. Then the felling cut is started on the back of the tree ensuring that you are standing to the side when making this cut. When the tree starts to fall move quickly out of the way to your safe place.
It cannot be emphasised enough that tree felling is dangerous and should not be attempted without having the knowledge and experience of using chainsaws safely, and is used to wearing the correct personal protective equipment.
Tree Felling Near Power Lines
There are overhead power lines all over the UK though they often go unnoticed. These above-ground power cables are essential to provide electricity to cities, towns, villages and rural communities all over the UK. They can carry voltages from 230 volts up to 400,000 volts, but even low voltages can be fatal. Many people die every year due to accidental contact with power lines.
Before you start work on trees or tall hedges always stand well back and check for any overhead power lines. If you are felling trees within two tree heights of a power line you should contact your local electricity company for advice before starting work. You must give the electricity company and give at least two weeks' notice of any work.
The best way to stay safe is to stay well away from power lines and never fell or cut back any tree or vegetation that is touching or close to overhead power lines or the poles or towers that support them.
During work follow the advice given by the electricity company and avoid contact not just with power lines, but with the poles, towers and any wires which support the poles.
Damage to power lines is not only extremely dangerous but also extremely expensive, you could well find yourself receiving a large bill from the electricity company to repair any damage you have caused!
Tree Felling in Conservation Areas
Notification of proposed works to trees in conservation areas is required for trees that have a trunk diameter of more than 75mm when measured at 1.5m from ground level.
This notification has to be given six weeks prior to carrying out work on trees which are located in a conservation area to give the authority an opportunity to consider whether a preservation order should be made to protect the trees.
Tree Preservation Orders
A Tree Preservation Order is an order made by a local planning authority to protect specific trees or woodlands and prohibits the felling or lopping of trees without the local planning authority’s written consent.
Owners of protected trees must not carry out or permit the carrying out of any work without the written consent of the local authority.
It is extremely unlikely that permission will be given to cut down a tree with a preservation order unless it is dangerous, but in some cases, some work may be allowed as long as the tree is preserved, in these cases arboricultural advice from competent contractors and consultants should be sought to inform tree owners of their responsibilities and options.
Tree Felling with Wedges
Many trees lean a certain way but when felling it will be safer for them to fall in a different direction.
Overcoming the lean of a tree during felling is not easy and to change the direction of the falling tree to avoid other objects normally requires the use of wedges, though it can be done using guy ropes to keep the tree under control.
It is far from easy but experts are great at wedging the tree in any direction you desire. There are three main types of wedges in use which include felling, bucking, and splitting wedges.
Felling Wedges are placed in the back-cut to overcome the leaning of the tree, essentially as you cut you insert a wedge to gradually lift the tree on that side and change the direction of the lean while keeping much of the weight of the tree off of the chainsaw.
FAQs
For an 80-foot tree, you will pay around £1,000 to £1,500. The job is much more expensive as there are several extra tonnes of material to remove plus the height of the tree will require two tree surgeons and several labourers for a few days.
Bear in mind that the overall tree removal cost can be significantly affected by how straightforward access is and whether any permissions need to be obtained. Removal of tree waste can also increase costs.
However, prices will be affected by how much pruning the trees need, along with other factors including access to the tree, your location, and the time of year. In times of high demand such as spring and summer, the tree surgeon day rate may be higher.
If the tree is subject to a Tree Preservation Order, you will need written permission to undertake any pruning.
A Tree Preservation Order is an order made by councils in respect of trees to prohibit the unjustified pruning or felling of amenity trees without the council's consent. If you're unsure whether a tree is subject to an Order, it's always better to check.
Fines for breaching a Tree Preservation Order can be hefty, especially if you cut the tree down. Even pruning without permission can result in fines of up to £2,500. There may also be legal costs and a requirement to replace the tree.
If a tree is situated on the boundary between two properties, it is considered to be jointly owned. Permission must be given by the neighbour before the tree can be taken down. If removing the tree could damage their property, you also need to inform them.
You should consider letting them know about any work that involves heavy machinery or if the removal of the tree will make a difference to their property by, for example, letting more light into their home.
It can be an offence to fell trees during the bird nesting season, which occurs between March and August each year. Therefore, any tree cutting should take place outside of those months. Exceptions may be considered if a tree is dangerous, but this will be taken on a case-by-case basis and permission should be sought first.
