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Tree Removal Cost

By Kim

Last updated 12th May 2025 - Reading time: 18 mins

At a Glance

The average cost of removing a tree is around £700.
Tree felling will usually take between 1 and 2 days.

In this tree removal cost guide, you'll find out the following:

NEW! Check out our tree removal cost calculator, which will give you a quick, precise estimate of the cost of tree removal.
A complete breakdown of tree removal prices, including how much tree surgeons will likely charge for different types of trees.
How long it will take a tree surgeon to remove a tree, and factors that might make tree removal more costly, such as tree stump removal costs.
How to find and hire a qualified tree surgeon to remove a tree.

Looking to find out how much the average tree removal costs in the UK?

The cost of tree removal relies heavily on the size of the tree and can be anywhere between £200 and £2,800, with the average tree felling cost being £700.

Would you like to find out the cost of cutting down a tree, exactly?

Then look no further, as this complete guide will provide you with everything you need to know, such as how much tree surgeons charge in different areas of the UK, what impacts how long tree felling work takes, and more.

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So, why not take a look below for more information?

Tree Removal Cost Calculator

Average Cost of Tree Removal:

Depending on the complexity of the job, it usually takes: 1 - 2 days

£700

How Much to Cut a Tree Down?
- Tree Cutting Prices
Tree Felling Prices by Tree Type
Additional Costs of Tree Removal
Tree Surgeon Cost
Tree Removal Timescales
What Impacts Tree Removal Prices?
What's Involved in Felling a Tree?
Can I Fell a Tree Myself?
Building Regulations & Planning Permission for Tree Felling
Types of Trees
Hiring Contractors to Fell a Tree Checklist
FAQs
Sources

How Much to Cut a Tree Down?

Looking for information on the costs of felling and removing a tree?

This guide will go over everything you need to know about the cost of felling a tree, along with some information about the different types of trees.

Tree removal prices can vary significantly depending on the diameter, height and type of tree - as well as its position in the garden.

The ease of access to the garden tree also plays a big part in the job's overall cost. The more difficult it is to get to, the longer the job will take, which will increase the cost.

You can usually expect tree cutting services to charge around £180 to £250 per day in labour costs. This means the average tree surgeon hourly rate is between £25 to £35.

Tree surgeons will often work with one or two general labourers as some parts of the job can be difficult to tackle alone. With this in mind, you can expect to pay an average of around £350 to £500 per day for labour.

I have a tree in my front garden that needs removing. It overhangs a footpath, so do I need any permits or insurance before getting it removed?

"You will only need permission to remove a tree if it’s in a conservation area and has a TPO (tree preservation order)."

7 Hills Tree & Hedge Care

Tree Cutting Prices

As we've mentioned, tree felling prices can vary greatly depending mostly on the size of the tree and the ease of access to the tree.

The table below highlights the average tree removal cost you can expect to pay for different tree sizes:

Tree Removal Work	Average Cost
Small tree felling (less than 25ft)	£200 – £400
Medium tree felling (25 - 50ft)	£300 – £850
Large tree felling (50 - 75ft)	£800 – £1,400
Extra-large tree felling (over 75ft)	£1,300 – £2,800

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Tree Felling Prices by Tree Type

Let's take a closer look at some estimated tree removal costs based on the species of tree:

Tree Species	Average Cost of Removal
English Oak Tree	£2,800 - £4,800
Common Beech Tree	£3,400
Ash Tree	£2,300
Horse Chestnut Tree	£2,300
Sycamore Tree	£900 - £3,400

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Additional Costs of Tree Removal

You may need to think about several additional costs when it comes to tree removal:

Garden Waste Removal Cost

Many tree surgeon contractors will include garden waste removal costs in the total price of tree removal you're being charged.

However, this isn't always the case, so it's important to clarify this when getting a quote from a tree surgeon.

You can expect the cost of garden waste removal to be anywhere between £90 and £500. The price you'll need to budget will depend on how much waste you expect to generate.

Gardening Cost

When getting a tree in your garden removed, you may also be interested in getting some other gardening work done simultaneously. Gardening costs vary depending on the scope of the work you're getting done.

This could include lawn mowing, landscaping, hedge trimming, planting and more. The typical hourly rate for a professional gardener is between £18 and £30.

The actual cost you pay will depend on several factors - including the type of work being completed, the amount of work that needs to be done, the ease of access, and your location in the UK.

Those based in London can expect to pay around £5 to £12 more per hour for a gardener than those based in the north or other parts of the UK.

Tree Surgeon Cost

The amount you pay for tree felling will depend on a number of factors, including the type of tree, the difficulty of the job, the ease of access, and your location in the UK.

You can usually expect a qualified tree surgeon cost to be between £180 and £250 per day.

However, tree surgeons will often work with one or two general labourers, as some tree work can be difficult to tackle alone. With that in mind, you might pay a total of between £350 and £500 per day for labour.

Tree surgeon costs will likely be higher for those in London and other highly populated areas of the UK. You should expect tree surgeon quotes to be between £50 and £100 per day more in these areas.

We have a dying (decay in trunk) mature TPO oak approx. 7m from a conservatory on a raft foundation. We're on clay soil. Both an arborist and tree surgeon have advised to have the tree felled sooner rather than later. An application has been made to the LA. Given the tree is on clay, I understand removal could cause the clay to re-hydrate and cause heave on the conservatory foundations. Thoughts?

"It’s always best to follow the advice of the professionals, if the tree was to fail due to weak integral strength it would cause more damage than small ground movement. Generally, when the tree is felled and the stump is either ground or killed off the root system will no longer cause any issues or reach for moisture. Also, any moisture would dissipate into the mould of where the tree was, leaving the risk on the very low end of the scale. It’s highly unlikely to cause risk once removed."

Jw Tree Care

Tree Removal Timescales

If you're a homeowner looking to remove a single average-sized tree, then you should expect a tree removal job to take between 1 and 2 days.

But this can vary significantly depending on:

The type of tree
How large the tree is that you want to be removed
Whether stump removal, stump grinding, or root removal is required
If the work involves diseased or damaged trees
Ease of access to the tree that you want to cut down

The table below will give you a better idea of what to expect:

Tree Removal Work	Estimated Time
Removing a small tree (less than 25ft)	Half a day
Removing a medium tree (25 - 50ft)	1 day
Removing a large tree (50 - 75ft)	2 days
Removing an extra-large tree (over 75ft)	5 days

So, while it could take up to a week to remove a tree that's more than 75ft high (around 22m), it would be a lot quicker (and cheaper) if you're just looking for a tree surgeon to cut down a small tree that's 25ft high (around 8m).

After a tree surgery company is done felling a tree, should there be some sort of mess, or will it be totally clear?

"Depends what you have agreed with them, if they have agreed to take the waste away, normally they will have a chipper flatbed tipper, should be done professionally, if the agreement was just to fell the tree it’s down to the person to clear the mess."

PDE Tree Services

What Impacts Tree Removal Prices?

There are several factors that could affect the overall cost of removing a tree.

Below is a list of all the main cost factors that impact the quotes that you'll receive from tree surgeons:

Size of the Tree

The size of the tree can play a big part in the amount that you can expect to pay for tree felling.

Larger trees will take much longer to work on than smaller trees, so you can expect larger trees to cost more. The longer the job takes, the more you will have to pay for labour.

Tree Stump Removal Costs

Stump grinding is the most common method of tree stump removal.

This involves using a machine to grind the stump down as much as possible. However, this doesn't remove the tree roots - which are left to decay over time. The cost of tree stump grinding is between £60 and £400.

However, you might not need to remove the tree stump. Some homeowners opt to save on the additional costs this brings and keep them as garden features.

Ease of Access

The ease of access to the tree will also impact the price you're charged to have a tree removed.

If the tree is difficult to access, this may require extra work, and the job will likely take much longer to complete. With this in mind, trees that are more difficult to access will end up costing more overall to remove.

Difficulty of the Job

Every tree felling job is different, and some jobs are more difficult than others.

In some cases, you may also come across some obstacles - such as roots in difficult places or stubborn tree sections that are much harder to remove.

The more difficult the job is to complete, the longer it will take and, therefore, the more it will cost overall.

Location in the UK

Your property's location can often cause you to pay more or less for the cost of labour.

For instance, those based in London can expect to pay around £50 to £100 more per day for a tree surgeon's time than those located in other parts of the UK.

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What's Involved in Felling a Tree?

Felling a tree can be extremely dangerous if you don't put in the appropriate planning work. Planning is extremely important for this type of work as you could risk having the tree fall directly onto you.

Here's what your tree surgeon will consider before beginning the felling process:

Your tree surgeon will start by clearing the surrounding area so that they can easily run in any direction to avoid falling trees.
They will clear any potential obstacles lying around near the bottom of the tree.
The tree surgeon will then identify the best way for the tree to fall.
Once the direction has been planned, the surgeon will plan escape routes in case anything goes wrong during the process. They will have more than one option available if the tree doesn't fall in the direction they wanted it to.
Before the surgeon begins felling the tree, they'll thoroughly inspect it to ensure no loose branches will fall during the removal process.

How much should I expect to pay to have a 30 foot elder tree felled in my rear garden in the West Midlands?

"It all depends on the amount of brush coming off the tree, and the amount and thickness of the logs. Every tree is different, and so is every price."

Top Branch Tree Services

Can I Fell a Tree Myself?

We would always recommend hiring professionals to complete tree removal work on your behalf.

You should only ever attempt to remove a tree yourself (as a DIY project) when you feel confident enough to do so - with the correct equipment and adequate safety gear.

If you are at all in doubt about your ability to do it safely, then it's best to leave it to the professional tree surgeon.

A professional tree surgeon will have all the tools, materials and skills needed to get rid of a tree quickly and safely. They'll also have the experience to know the kind of things that can go wrong - like branches falling off or the tree falling in the wrong way.

Building Regulations & Planning Permission for Tree Felling

Many trees are protected by Tree Preservation Orders (TPOs).

This means that you will need to get approval from your local council before making any alterations to the tree, such as pruning or felling.

If you are unsure whether a TPO protects the tree you're looking to remove or if you're in a conservation area, you should check with your local council (or other resources) for advice on tree-felling laws.

When getting quotes from tree surgeons, they will also be able to provide you with more information about whether a particular tree is protected.

Types of Trees

Many different types of trees are commonly found in UK gardens. Below is a list of the most common trees found in gardens in the UK with some information on how to identify them:

English Oak Tree Removal Cost

Oak trees are very common and can grow in various soil conditions, but they tend to prefer well-drained soils in sunny locations. These trees tend to grow up to around 40m.

Their leaves are large and lobed with smooth edges, and the leaves will fall during the wintertime. Oak trees feature acorns that can be easily identified.

The average cost of felling an English oak tree is between £2,800 and £4,800.

Common Beech Tree Removal Cost

Beech trees can live up to 300 years and are most common in England's southern and central parts.

These trees prefer dry, chalky soils for optimum growth. Similar to an oak tree, common beech trees tend to grow up to around 40m.

The leaves on this tree are oval in shape with wavy edges. This type of tree produces beech seeds encased within green, prickly cases, and the bark of this tree is thin and grey.

The average cost to remove a beech tree is around £3,400.

Ash Tree Removal Cost

Ash trees are a very common type of tree in the UK. These are usually found in very deep, well-drained soils located in sunny areas.

They usually grow up to around 35m and feature leaves that are made up of 3 to 6 pairs of serrated little leaves with one leaf at the end.

Ash trees lose their leaves during winter but can be identified in these months by their large, black buds.

The average price to remove an ash tree is around £2,300.

Horse Chestnut Tree Removal Cost

Horse chestnut trees can tolerate a huge range of soils but prefer rich, moist soils in sunny areas.

They grow to around 40m and feature large, palmate leaves with 5 to 7 serrated leaflets.

During the warmer months, horse chestnut trees feature clusters of white flowers, which later become conkers encased in green, spiky cases.

The average removal cost for horse chestnut tree is around £2,300.

Sycamore Tree Removal Cost

Sycamore trees are fast-spreading trees that can grow in most soil types and areas. These trees grow to around 35m, and feature palmate leaves on red stalks with five-toothed lobes.

The seeds on these trees can easily be identified as they are winged seeds, often known as 'helicopter' seeds. The bark on sycamore trees tends to be scaly in appearance.

Trees in gardens can cause a range of problems, especially large trees. They can prevent sunlight from entering the garden, which can prevent your other garden plants from growing adequately.

Trees can also become a problem when the roots get too large. Large roots can sometimes affect your home's foundations, which can end up being very dangerous.

The average cost to remove a sycamore tree is between £900 and £3,400.

Hiring Contractors to Fell a Tree Checklist

You will need to consider a few things before hiring someone to fell a tree for you. Below is a list of some of the main things that you should consider when looking for the right contractor for the job:

What type of tree-felling services does the contractor offer?
How many years of experience does the contractor have in tree removal?
Is the contractor experienced in the type of tree removal work you require?
Will the contractor take care of any relevant waste removal?
How much is the work to complete? Get a breakdown of tree removal costs to ensure you pay a good price for each element of the job.
Does the tree surgeon offer any guarantees with their work?
How many contractors will carry out the job?
Will the contractor fix any issues that may arise?
Does the contractor provide any insurance if any parts of the job go wrong?

FAQs

What is tree felling?

Tree felling is the safe removal of a tree by cutting it at a certain angle and making it fall a particular way.

Do you need a tree felling licence to cut down a tree?

For most simple tree felling jobs on residential property, you won't need a tree felling licence. However, if you are located in a conservation area or looking to cut down (or even just trimming or topping) a tree subject to TPO, then you must make a 'work to trees' application.

Do I need to conduct an arboricultural survey? (i.e. tree survey)

If you have trees that are too close to your house (or another structure), then a tree survey - carried out by an arborist - can identify whether a tree's roots are impacting the structural integrity of anything nearby.

Tree surveys might be something that you're suggested to carry out by a surveyor when buying a new property, but it might also be something suggested by a tree surgeon before they carry out work. The average cost of a tree survey to assess the risk of trees to nearby buildings is between £300 and £600.

How much does it cost to prune a tree?

Tree trimming costs will depend on the size of the tree and how much pruning is required. On average, you can expect the cost to prune a tree to be between £400 and £500.

Can a neighbour cut my tree without asking?

If a tree overhangs onto your neighbour's property in the UK, then they are within their rights to cut anything that crosses the property boundary between you. However, they will also have to ask permission to cut a tree if it's in a conservation area or subject to a TPO.

Do I need to replace my tree if it is protected?

If it is specified within the conditions of the council's consent when you apply for the work, you will need to replace the tree once it's been cut down. The council will usually specify the type of tree that needs to be planted, along with its size and location.