Tree pruning cost Sydney. Real prices from our own quotes.
Tree Pruning Cost Sydney — what pruning really costs, from our own jobs
Most pruning we quote lands between $800 and $4,000 ex GST. Here is what moves the price, what council allows without an application, and how to get a fixed price from a few photos.
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What tree pruning costs in Sydney, straight from our quotes.
Most pruning jobs we quote in Sydney land between $800 and $4,000 ex GST. Where your job sits in that range comes down to how big the tree is, how much comes off, what is underneath it and whether council has a say. These are the numbers we actually work to.
Standard pruning job
$800–$4,000 ex GST. Crown reduction, deadwooding, clearance off a roof or fence, or a crown thin, done to AS 4373. Powerline clearance and pool-fence compliance trims usually sit at the low end.
A full day for a two-person crew
$4,000 ex GST. Two arborists with a climber, chipper and machinery for the day.
Big trees or several trees
$5,500–$9,000 ex GST a day. A full crew with loader, chipper and tip trucks, for large canopies, several trees on one site, or strata and commercial grounds.
Every pruning quote is built from crew days.
We do not price pruning by the metre or by guesswork. We work out how long the job will take a crew to do properly and safely, then quote it as a fixed price. The quote says how many days it is built on, so you can see exactly where the number came from.
A recent example from the North Shore: a 10% crown thin on a large tree, plus cutting back a neighbour’s overhang above a swimming pool, in Wahroonga. It took a two-person crew one full day and was quoted at $4,000 ex GST. The pruning was kept inside what Ku-ring-gai Council allows without consent, so there was no application to wait for.
Why two pruning jobs on similar trees can cost very different amounts.
How much comes off
Lifting a canopy off a roof is quicker than a full crown reduction. Taking out deadwood through a big gum means climbing the whole tree, even if the pile on the ground is small.
What is underneath
Pools, glass roofs, solar panels, fences and garden beds mean branches are lowered on ropes instead of dropped. Rigging is slower, and that is where most of the difference comes from.
Access for the crew
Can the chipper get close, or does every branch get carried through a side gate or down steps? Rear-yard jobs with no machine access take longer.
Size and species
A 25 m blue gum or blackbutt takes far longer to climb and work than a small ornamental. Hardwood is heavy to rig and slow to chip.
Green waste
Chipping and removal is included in our quotes. A big canopy can mean several loads, and that is built into the days.
Council
If the pruning needs consent, add the application fee and a few weeks of waiting. Often a smaller, exempt prune does the job without an application. We tell you which before we quote.
When pruning needs council approval, and what it costs.
Every Sydney council sets its own limits. These are the ones we deal with most. Check the guide for your area, or ask us and we will check your address.
- Sutherland Shire: minor pruning of up to 10% of the canopy in any 12 months is allowed without an application. More than that needs a permit.
- Inner West: you can prune branches under 100 mm across, up to 10% of the canopy a year, lift the canopy to 2.5 m and remove deadwood without consent.
- City of Sydney: you need approval before pruning a protected tree beyond the small exempt limits. The application fee is $98.
- Bayside: trees over 3 m tall or with a trunk over 300 mm at 1.4 m need a permit before pruning, unless they are fruit trees or on the exempt list. The fee is $125.50 for one to three trees.
- Ku-ring-gai: the pruning application fee is $44. Small exempt pruning, like the Wahroonga job above, needs no application.
- Georges River: see our guide for the current rules, or send us your address.
Pruning a protected tree beyond the limits without approval can mean a fine, so if you are unsure, ask first. It costs nothing to check.
Why the cheapest quote often costs more over five years.
Lopping, also called topping, cuts branches back to stubs wherever it is convenient. It is quick, so it quotes cheap. The tree answers with a mass of fast, weakly attached shoots from each stub, and the cut ends often start to decay. Within a couple of years the canopy is back, heavier and less stable, and it needs doing again.
Pruning to AS 4373 cuts back to a branch collar or a suitable side branch, so the tree seals the wound and keeps its natural shape. It lasts longer between visits, keeps the tree safer, and it is what councils expect. Lopping a protected tree without consent can also breach council rules. More on the difference in our tree pruning Sydney service page.
What pruning work looks like on site.
Three things that get you a fixed pruning price faster.
Send photos from the ground
One of the whole tree, one of what is underneath it, and one of the access from the street. That is usually enough to price it.
Say what you want to achieve
Clear of the roof by a metre, more light on the lawn, off the neighbour’s pool. The goal decides how much comes off, and the price.
Tell us your suburb
So we can check your council’s pruning limits before we quote, and tell you if an application is needed.
What people ask before they book pruning.
How much does tree pruning cost in Sydney?
Most pruning jobs we quote are between $800 and $4,000 ex GST. A full day for a two-person crew with machinery is $4,000, and bigger jobs with a full crew run $5,500 to $9,000 a day. We give a fixed price before any work starts.
Is pruning cheaper than removing the tree?
Usually, yes, and it often avoids a council application. A removal of a medium tree with the stump ground is typically $1,500 to $4,000 ex GST, and large trees cost much more. If the tree is healthy and the problem is clearance or light, pruning is normally the cheaper fix. See the tree removal cost guide to compare.
Do I need council approval to prune a tree?
It depends on your council and how much comes off. Sutherland Shire allows up to 10% of the canopy in 12 months without an application, and Inner West allows small branches and deadwood. Larger pruning of protected trees needs approval. We check before we quote.
Does the price include taking the branches away?
Yes. Chipping, loading and removing the green waste, and blowing down paths and lawns, is included in every pruning quote.
How often does a tree need pruning?
For most garden trees, every two to three years keeps them healthy and clear of the house. Fast growers near roofs, gutters or powerlines may need it every year. Lopped trees need it far more often, which is one reason lopping costs more in the long run.
Can you prune my neighbour’s branches that hang over my yard?
In NSW you can generally cut overhanging branches back to your boundary line, as long as the work does not need council approval and does not harm the tree. Our guide to overhanging trees and neighbour rights explains the rules.
Tree pruning across Sydney.
Qualified, insured and accountable
- AQF Level 5 arboristDiploma of Arboriculture (TAFE NSW). Reports accepted by Sydney councils.
- ISO 9001 certifiedQuality management system, audited. SWMS and risk assessments with every quote.
- $20M public liabilityPlus icare workers compensation. Certificates of currency sent on request.
- Australian StandardsPruning to AS 4373, tree protection on building sites to AS 4970.
- Indigenous-ownedTender-ready for councils, strata and builders: certificates of currency and site documentation supplied with every quote.
- 5.0 on Google66 reviews, every one from a real job. Read them.
Want a fixed price for your pruning?
Send us a few photos and your suburb. An AQF Level 5 arborist will look at it and we call you back the same day.
Get a free quote
Tell us what you need done and we will call you back to arrange a look. Every job is assessed individually - no two trees are the same.
Urgent or unsafe tree? Call 0422 023 242 - we answer 24 hours.