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How an arborist or tree removalist works out the price
A tree removalist usually quotes a fixed price for the job, set by the height and spread of the tree, how hard it is to reach and what is around it. Trees near buildings, fences or power lines often have to come down in sections, which takes longer than felling a tree whole. Stump grinding, pruning and an arborist report are usually quoted as separate items. The compiled guides put an arborist's hourly rate at $70 to $205.
- Inspect the tree, the access and anything it could fall on
- Check whether council permission is needed before work starts
- Price the removal, set by height, spread and how the tree must come down
- Add stump grinding if you want the stump taken out
- Add clean-up, such as chipping, mulching or hauling away the timber
- GST on the total, if the quote does not already include it
Worked example: Medium tree removed with the stump ground out, and an arborist report for council (illustrative, not a quote)
- Medium tree removal, 5 to 10 m
- $1,500
- Stump grinding, medium stump (30 to 60 cm)
- $350
- Arborist report
- $450
- Total
- $2,300 total (illustrative)
What it costs, by scenario
Low, typical and high prices. Built on 19 October 2026 from two Airtasker pages (marketplace) and two compiled city guides for Sydney and Brisbane (labelled as such), with permit rules taken from council and ACT Government pages. Tree-size ranges stay inside what the Sydney and Brisbane guides share. Airtasker's own size bands differ, as noted. The compiled guides state GST is included and the Airtasker pages do not, so we leave the GST basis unconfirmed.
Small tree removal, under 5 m (per tree)
Inside the range the Sydney ($290 to $920) and Brisbane ($250 to $800) guides share. Airtasker puts a small tree under 25 feet at $200 to $350, which is lower, so treat the bottom of the range as a best case.
- Low
- $290
- Typical
- $500
- High
- $800
Medium tree removal, 5 to 10 m (per tree)
The Sydney guide gives $920 to $2,875 and the Brisbane guide $800 to $2,500. Airtasker's 25 to 50 foot band is much wider, at $500 to $4,000.
- Low
- $920
- Typical
- $1,500
- High
- $2,500
Large tree removal, 10 to 20 m (per tree)
Inside the Sydney ($2,300 to $5,750) and Brisbane ($2,000 to $5,000) guides. Airtasker's 50 to 75 foot band runs from $1,200 to $20,000, so a difficult tree can sit well outside this.
- Low
- $2,300
- Typical
- $3,500
- High
- $5,000
Stump grinding, small stump under 30 cm (per stump)
Inside the Sydney ($170 to $345) and Brisbane ($150 to $300) guides. Airtasker's older stump page lists softwood grinding at $75 to $140.
- Low
- $170
- Typical
- $200
- High
- $300
Stump grinding, medium stump 30 to 60 cm (per stump)
Inside the Sydney ($290 to $575) and Brisbane ($250 to $500) guides.
- Low
- $290
- Typical
- $350
- High
- $500
Pruning or trimming one tree (per tree)
Inside the Sydney ($230 to $1,375) and Brisbane ($200 to $1,200) guides. Airtasker lists tree trimming at $423 to $1,200.
- Low
- $230
- Typical
- $450
- High
- $1,200
Arborist report (per report)
The range all three sources share: Sydney $345 to $805, Brisbane $300 to $700 and Airtasker $300 to $500. A report is often needed for a council permit application.
- Low
- $345
- Typical
- $450
- High
- $500
Emergency or storm damage job (per job)
Inside the Sydney ($575 to $5,750) and Brisbane ($500 to $5,000) guides. A crane-assisted job on a tree that has fallen on a building costs thousands more.
- Low
- $575
- Typical
- $1,500
- High
- $5,000
| Scenario | Low | Typical | High |
|---|---|---|---|
| Small tree removal, under 5 m (per tree)Inside the range the Sydney ($290 to $920) and Brisbane ($250 to $800) guides share. Airtasker puts a small tree under 25 feet at $200 to $350, which is lower, so treat the bottom of the range as a best case. | $290 | $500 | $800 |
| Medium tree removal, 5 to 10 m (per tree)The Sydney guide gives $920 to $2,875 and the Brisbane guide $800 to $2,500. Airtasker's 25 to 50 foot band is much wider, at $500 to $4,000. | $920 | $1,500 | $2,500 |
| Large tree removal, 10 to 20 m (per tree)Inside the Sydney ($2,300 to $5,750) and Brisbane ($2,000 to $5,000) guides. Airtasker's 50 to 75 foot band runs from $1,200 to $20,000, so a difficult tree can sit well outside this. | $2,300 | $3,500 | $5,000 |
| Stump grinding, small stump under 30 cm (per stump)Inside the Sydney ($170 to $345) and Brisbane ($150 to $300) guides. Airtasker's older stump page lists softwood grinding at $75 to $140. | $170 | $200 | $300 |
| Stump grinding, medium stump 30 to 60 cm (per stump)Inside the Sydney ($290 to $575) and Brisbane ($250 to $500) guides. | $290 | $350 | $500 |
| Pruning or trimming one tree (per tree)Inside the Sydney ($230 to $1,375) and Brisbane ($200 to $1,200) guides. Airtasker lists tree trimming at $423 to $1,200. | $230 | $450 | $1,200 |
| Arborist report (per report)The range all three sources share: Sydney $345 to $805, Brisbane $300 to $700 and Airtasker $300 to $500. A report is often needed for a council permit application. | $345 | $450 | $500 |
| Emergency or storm damage job (per job)Inside the Sydney ($575 to $5,750) and Brisbane ($500 to $5,000) guides. A crane-assisted job on a tree that has fallen on a building costs thousands more. | $575 | $1,500 | $5,000 |
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Find a providerWhat changes the price
- Height and spread. Taller and wider trees take longer, need more crew and equipment, and produce more timber to clear.
- Access. Our sources say that when a truck cannot get close, crews have to carry gear in and timber out, which adds hours of labour.
- What is underneath and around. A tree over a house, a fence or power lines usually has to come down in sections, which costs more than felling it whole.
- Tree condition and species. Dead, diseased or hard-to-cut trees can be riskier and slower to work on.
- Permits and reports. Council permission, and sometimes an arborist report, can add fees and time before work starts.
- Clean-up. Chipping, mulching, hauling away timber and grinding the stump are often quoted as extras.
What's usually included, and what isn't
Usually included
- Cutting down or dismantling the tree
- Cutting the timber into lengths or into a chipper, as quoted
- A tidy-up of the work area
- The crew's insurance, which you should ask to see
Often extra
- Stump grinding, unless it is on the quote
- Council permit fees and any arborist report
- Removal of the timber or mulch, if it is not quoted
- Repairs to fences, paving or gardens damaged by the work
- Crane or elevated platform hire, unless quoted
- GST, if the quote does not say it is included
Metro and regional differences
Metro: In Sydney and Brisbane, the compiled guides show similar ranges, with Sydney a little higher. Tight lots, narrow streets and parking restrictions in cities can slow a crew and add to labour time.
Regional: We found no separate regional figures. Airtasker's regional pages show wide variation, such as a stump removal median of $225 nationally against a Canberra figure of $165 on the same page. A longer drive adds travel time, and fewer providers in smaller towns means fewer quotes to compare.
Licensing and compliance
We did not confirm a state licence for tree removal on the pages we read, so ask any provider for evidence of insurance and relevant qualifications.
What we did confirm is that council or government approval is often needed before a tree on your own property is cut down, and the rules differ by council.
New South Wales: in the City of Sydney, pruning or removing a tree protected under the Sydney Development Control Plan 2012 needs a permit with a $98 application fee, with 28 days allowed for assessment, and doing the work without a permit or consent is an offence with maximum penalties of $500,000 for an individual and $2 million for a company.
Other NSW councils set their own rules, so check yours.
Queensland: Brisbane City Council requires a permit under the Natural Assets Local Law 2003 to work on protected vegetation unless an exemption applies, and permit applications are free.
Victoria: since 15 September 2025, Clause 52.37 of every planning scheme can require a permit to remove a canopy tree over 5 m in a residential zone, as set out in Knox City Council's October 2025 handout, and overlays such as the Vegetation Protection Overlay can also apply.
Dead trees and weeds are exempt from the new rule.
Western Australia: rules are local, and the Town of Bassendean, for example, treats trees over 8 m tall, with a canopy wider than 6 m, or a trunk circumference of 1.5 m or more, as regulated trees that need approval.
Australian Capital Territory: under the Urban Forest Act 2023, trees 8 m or taller, with a canopy 8 m or wider, or a trunk circumference of 1 m or more at 1.4 m are protected, and removing or major pruning one needs approval through a tree activity application.
We could not open an official page for South Australia, Tasmania or the Northern Territory, so check with your council.
Whatever your state, ask the removalist to confirm in writing whether approval is needed and who applies.
Before you accept a quote, check
- Does the quote include stump grinding, and to what depth?
- Is council approval needed, and who applies for it?
- Is timber removal and mulching included, or left on site?
- Does the quote name the tree and the work, so you can compare like with like?
- Can they show current insurance for the crew and the work?
- Does the quote say whether GST is included?
Frequently asked questions
How much does it cost to remove a tree?
The Sydney and Brisbane guides share about $290 to $800 for a small tree, $920 to $2,500 for a medium tree and $2,300 to $5,000 for a large one. Access and what the tree overhangs can move the price a lot.
How much does stump grinding cost?
For a stump under 30 cm the compiled guides share about $170 to $300, and for 30 to 60 cm about $290 to $500. Many providers quote it separately from removal.
Do I need council approval to remove a tree on my property?
Often, but it depends on your council and the tree. We confirmed permit rules for the City of Sydney, Brisbane City Council, Victoria's new canopy tree rule, Bassendean in WA and the ACT. Check with your council before work starts.
What does it cost to prune a tree?
About $230 to $1,200 a tree in the ranges the compiled guides share, with Airtasker listing $423 to $1,200. Pruning a tree that is protected can also need approval.
Is the arborist report included in the price?
Not usually. A report is a separate item, about $345 to $500 in the range our sources share, and councils often ask for one with a permit application.
Why do quotes for the same tree differ so much?
Providers may assume different methods, clean-up and stump work. Ask each one to price the same scope, then compare.
Sources and method
Built on 19 October 2026 from two Airtasker pages (marketplace) and two compiled city guides for Sydney and Brisbane (labelled as such), with permit rules taken from council and ACT Government pages. Tree-size ranges stay inside what the Sydney and Brisbane guides share. Airtasker's own size bands differ, as noted. The compiled guides state GST is included and the Airtasker pages do not, so we leave the GST basis unconfirmed. How we calculate our guides.
- Airtasker: how much does tree removal cost? (marketplace, 17 March 2025)
- Airtasker: stump grinding and removal cost (marketplace, 6 November 2023)
- What's The Damage: tree removal cost in Sydney (compiled guide, not a primary source) (survey, 19 October 2026)
- What's The Damage: tree removal cost in Brisbane (compiled guide, not a primary source) (survey, 19 October 2026)
- City of Sydney: apply to prune or remove a tree (regulator, 13 May 2026)
- Brisbane City Council: protected vegetation permits (regulator, 19 October 2026)
- Knox City Council: tree removal and pruning planning handout (Victoria) (regulator, 8 October 2025)
- Town of Bassendean: trees on private property (WA) (regulator, 19 October 2026)
- ACT Government: trees on private land (regulator, 19 October 2026)
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