TL;DR — Tree Surgeon Cost At A Glance
- A tree surgeon's day rate is £250 – £460 across most of the UK, rising to £600 – £900 in London for a team of three.
- Priced by the job, removing a small tree costs £250 – £550, a medium tree £550 – £1,200, and a large tree £1,200 – £3,500+.
- Stump grinding adds £50 – £300 per stump, depending on size and root spread.
- The main cost drivers are tree size and species, access, proximity to buildings or power lines, and green-waste disposal.
- Quotes usually include felling, chipping small brash and clearing up, but exclude stump removal and hauling away large logs unless stated.
- Never use an uninsured operator with a chainsaw — and always check for a TPO or conservation area before any work starts.
Get a fixed price for tree surgery from qualified, insured arborists — check prices and book online or arrange a site visit for larger jobs.
Add to Preferred Sources How Much Does A Tree Surgeon Cost In 2026?
Hiring a tree surgeon in the UK costs a day rate of £250 – £460 outside London, or £600 – £900 in London for a team of three. Most homeowners, though, are quoted per job rather than per day — a single tree removal is priced on how big and awkward it is, not on the clock. As a rough national benchmark, budget around £375 a day for a small crew and standard kit.
Tree work is skilled, dangerous and equipment-heavy, which is why it costs more than general gardening. A qualified arborist climbing with a chainsaw, or working from a platform near a house, is carrying serious insurance and years of training — and that's reflected in the price. The good news is that most jobs are quoted up front for a fixed sum once someone has seen the tree.
Here's what you can expect to pay for common tree-surgery work across the UK:
| Pricing basis | Rest of UK | London & South East |
|---|---|---|
| Team day rate | £250 – £460 | £600 – £900 (team of 3) |
| Per climber, per hour | £40 – £80 | £60 – £100 |
| Crown reduction / thinning (per tree) | £150 – £450 | £250 – £600 |
| Stump grinding (per stump) | £50 – £250 | £80 – £300 |
| Emergency / storm call-out | £250 – £1,200+ | £300 – £1,500+ |
Figures include VAT where applicable and reflect 2026 market rates. Your exact price depends on the tree and your postcode — get a fixed quote here.
Tree Surgery Cost By Tree Size
Because the biggest single factor is the size of the tree, most quotes track closely to these bands. Height is a useful shorthand, but crown spread, trunk diameter and how close the tree is to buildings all move the figure within each range.
| Tree size (guide) | Removal / felling (rest of UK) | Removal / felling (London) |
|---|---|---|
| Small (up to ~5m — e.g. small ornamental, young fruit tree) | £250 – £550 | £350 – £750 |
| Medium (~5–12m — e.g. established silver birch, rowan) | £550 – £1,200 | £750 – £1,650 |
| Large (12m+ — e.g. mature oak, ash, conifer) | £1,200 – £3,500+ | £1,600 – £4,500+ |
| Stump grinding (add-on) | £50 – £250 | £80 – £300 |
Large-tree removal is essentially all labour, equipment and disposal. There are no "materials" as such — you're paying for climbing time, a chainsaw team, often a chipper or a mobile elevated work platform (MEWP/cherry picker), and the cost of taking the waste away. On the biggest jobs, disposal and access equipment alone can account for a third of the bill, which is why a 15-metre oak overhanging a conservatory costs so much more than a same-height tree in an open field.
What Affects The Cost Of Tree Surgery?
Several factors decide where a job lands within the ranges above.
1. Tree Size, Species And Condition
Height, canopy spread and trunk diameter drive the workload. Dense hardwoods like oak take longer to cut and process than softwoods. A dead, diseased or storm-damaged tree can be more dangerous — and therefore slower and dearer — because it can't be climbed safely and may need to be dismantled from a platform.
2. Access And Location
An open front garden a chipper can reach is cheap to clear. A back garden with no side access — where every log and branch is carried through the house or craned over the roof — is not. Trees near buildings, fences, greenhouses or overhead power lines need careful, sectional dismantling (roping each limb down) rather than a straight fell, which adds hours.
3. The Type Of Work
Not every job is a removal. Crown reduction, thinning, pollarding and deadwooding cost less than a full fell and are often the sensible choice for a healthy tree. Pruning a small tree can be part of a routine garden visit; taking down a mature specimen is a specialist project.
4. Stump Removal
Felling leaves a stump. Grinding it out costs £50 – £300 depending on diameter and root spread, and it's usually quoted separately. Leaving the stump is cheaper but can regrow, attract honey fungus or get in the way of future landscaping.
5. Waste Disposal
Chipping brash on site is efficient, while removing the trunk, large logs and root material costs more. Some crews leave logged timber for you to use as firewood (a saving), while full haul-away and tipping fees push the price up.
6. Emergency And Out-Of-Hours Work
A tree down across a drive after a storm, or a split limb threatening a roof, is priced as emergency work (£250 – £1,200+) because it's unplanned, urgent and often hazardous. Where possible, booking planned work in advance is far cheaper.
What's Included — And What's Not
Typically included in a tree-surgery quote:
- Site assessment and a safe method of work
- Felling, dismantling or crown work as agreed
- Chipping of small branches and brash
- Raking over and clearing the immediate work area
- Public liability insurance cover for the operation
Usually charged separately:
- Stump grinding or removal
- Hauling away large logs and trunk sections
- A mobile platform or crane where climbing isn't possible
- Traffic management or a road-closure permit for street-side trees
- Replanting or garden clearance beyond the tree itself
Always get the scope in writing — especially who takes the stump and the logs — so the final bill matches the quote.
Can I Do It Myself?
Cutting back light growth you can reach safely from the ground — a few low branches with loppers or a pruning saw — is reasonable DIY. Anything beyond that is genuinely dangerous. Chainsaw injuries and falls from height are among the most serious accidents in gardening, and working near power lines can be fatal.
Felling even a modest tree involves judging where it will fall, controlling it with ropes, and processing heavy timber — skills tree surgeons train years for. There's also the legal side: cutting a protected tree without consent is a criminal offence (see below). For anything taller than you can safely reach with both feet on the ground, hire a qualified, insured professional. It's one of the clearest "call a pro" jobs in the garden.
How To Save Money On Tree Surgery
- Ask for reduction rather than removal — keeping a healthy tree and reducing its crown is usually cheaper than felling and replacing it.
- Keep the logs — tell the surgeon you'll use the timber for firewood to cut disposal costs.
- Book off-peak — autumn and winter are quieter (and better for many species) than the spring rush.
- Combine trees — having several trees done in one visit spreads the call-out and access costs.
- Sort access — clear the route, move cars and unlock gates so paid time goes on the tree, not on setup.
- Get 2–3 quotes and compare what's included — particularly stump grinding and log removal, where quotes vary most.
How To Hire A Good Tree Surgeon
Tree surgery is unregulated in the sense that anyone can buy a chainsaw — so vetting matters more here than almost anywhere in the garden. Before you book, check that your tree surgeon:
- Holds relevant NPTC / City & Guilds chainsaw and aerial-rescue certificates (the standard competency qualifications for arborists).
- Carries public liability insurance of at least £5 million, and ask to see the certificate.
- Can show recent reviews or references and, ideally, membership of a body such as the Arboricultural Association.
- Provides a written quote and method statement that spells out the work, the waste and the stump.
- Has checked for a Tree Preservation Order (TPO) or conservation-area status before quoting.
With Fantastic Services, you get qualified, insured tree surgeons, transparent pricing and a proper site assessment for larger jobs — describe your tree to arrange a quote.
Frequently Asked Questions
What Is A Tree Surgeon?
A tree surgeon (or arborist) is a trained specialist in the care, pruning and safe removal of trees. They handle everything from crown reductions and deadwooding to full fells, working at height with chainsaws and ropes or from a platform, and they understand tree biology, safety and the law around protected trees.
How Much Does A Tree Surgeon Cost Per Day?
In 2026, a tree surgeon's day rate is around £250 – £460 outside London and £600 – £900 in London for a team of three. Most jobs, though, are quoted per tree rather than by the day, based on size, access and disposal.
How Much Does It Cost To Remove A Tree?
Removing a small tree costs £250 – £550, a medium tree £550 – £1,200, and a large tree £1,200 – £3,500+ outside London, with London prices around 30–40% higher. Stump grinding adds £50 – £300 if you want the stump gone too.
Can I Do Tree Surgery Myself?
Only light, ground-level pruning you can reach safely. Felling, climbing or any chainsaw work at height is highly dangerous and should be left to qualified, insured professionals — and removing a protected tree without permission is a criminal offence.
Do I Need Permission To Remove A Tree?
Possibly. If the tree has a Tree Preservation Order (TPO) or stands in a conservation area, you must get written consent from your local council before any work — even pruning. Removing or damaging a protected tree can lead to a substantial fine. A good tree surgeon will check the tree's status before quoting; if in doubt, ask your council's tree officer.
How Much Does Stump Grinding Cost?
Stump grinding typically costs £50 – £300 per stump, depending on diameter, root spread and access. It's usually quoted separately from felling, so confirm whether your removal price includes the stump.
Are Tree Surgeons More Expensive In London?
Yes. Expect London and the South East to run considerably higher — a team day rate of £600 – £900 versus £250 – £460 elsewhere — reflecting higher labour, disposal and access costs, plus tighter, more built-up sites.
