Real 2026 prices from our own jobs. No guesswork.
Tree Removal Cost Sydney — real 2026 prices from our own jobs
Small trees from $300, medium trees with the stump ground $1,500–$4,000, large or hazardous trees $5,000–$25,000+ ex GST. Here is what moves the price, and how to get a fixed quote instead of a guess.
★ 5.0 from 66 Google reviewsAQF Level 5 arboristsISO 9001 certified$20M public liability
What tree removal actually costs in Sydney, from our own invoices.
Most price guides online are guesses. These figures are what True Roots has charged on real jobs across the St George area, the Sutherland Shire, the North Shore and the Hills in 2026, ex GST. They are ranges because the same tree costs a different amount over a lawn than over a roof; the exact number comes after an AQF Level 5 arborist has looked at the tree, and it is then fixed.
Small tree or palm (under 5 m)
$300–$900 ex GST. Front-yard access with the chipper at the kerb is the cheap end; a stump to grind or rear-yard access through a side passage adds to it.
Medium tree (5–10 m) with the stump ground
$1,500–$4,000 ex GST. Sectional dismantle beside a driveway, boundary fence or pool, timber chipped, waste removed and the stump ground below ground level.
Large or hazardous tree (10 m+)
$5,000–$25,000+ ex GST. Rigged down in pieces or craned out over the house. A mature Blackbutt craned out over a home in Lugarno was $20,000.
The day rates behind every quote
A two-person crew with machinery is $4,000 a day; a full crew with loader, chipper and tip trucks is $5,500–$9,000 a day. We state the number of days on the quote so you can see how the price was built.
Stump grinding
Usually priced as its own line because it is a separate machine and visit. Ask for it on the same quote if you plan to turf, pave or replant where the tree stood. See stump grinding.
Council permits and arborist reports
Georges River protects trees from 3 m, Sutherland Shire from a 100 mm trunk, Ku-ring-gai from 5 m. Where a permit or an AQF Level 5 report is needed, it is quoted as its own line, never hidden in the removal price. See arborist reports.
Why two trees the same height can cost very different amounts.
Size and species
Height, spread and trunk diameter set the hours. Hardwoods like Blackbutt, Ironbark and Turpentine weigh more, rig slower and cost more to remove than a Cocos palm or a Jacaranda of the same height.
What is underneath it
A tree over open lawn is felled or dropped in sections. A tree over a roof, pool, glasshouse, powerline or the neighbour’s fence is rigged piece by piece, which is two to three times the crew time.
Access for machinery
A crane in the street can turn a three-day dismantle into one day. A 900 mm side path means every log is carried by hand, so rear-yard removals cost more than front-yard ones on the same tree.
Waste and timber
Chipping on site is the cheap option and the mulch is yours at no charge. Carting logs away, or leaving firewood cut to length, changes the price. Tell us what you want left.
Risk and condition
Dead, storm-damaged or termite-affected trees cannot be climbed normally, so they need a crane, an elevated work platform or extra rigging and exclusion zones. Safer takes longer.
Urgency
Emergency call-outs for a tree on a roof or across a driveway run 24/7 and are priced for the crew and equipment we send that night. See emergency tree removal.
Why the lowest quote is often the most expensive one.
Sydney tree removal quotes that come in well under the ranges above usually leave something out: no insurance, no council check, no waste removal, no stump, or a lopper cutting from a ladder instead of an arborist rigging from the tree. The price goes up on the day, or the cost lands later as a damaged roof, a council fine for an unpermitted removal, or a tree that has to be done twice. True Roots quotes the whole job in writing, carries $20M public liability, and the number we give is the number you pay unless you change the scope.
Quotes given sight-unseen over the phone are usually wrong in both directions. Send photos and we will tell you roughly where the job sits; the fixed price comes once an arborist has stood under the tree.
What the price ranges above look like on site.
Three things that make your quote faster and sharper.
Send clear photos
The whole tree, the base of the trunk, what it is hanging over, and the path from the street to the tree.
Say what you want left
Full removal or pruning, mulch left or carted, logs cut for firewood, stump ground or left, and how clean the site needs to be.
Flag council or urgency
Storm damage, a dangerous lean, a council letter or a protected species changes the method and the paperwork, so tell us up front.
Homeowners, strata committees and builders.
Homeowners
Know what details to send so the quote is fast and accurate, and what a fair price looks like before you compare three quotes.
Strata managers
Understand the cost drivers before presenting a removal quote to a committee, with an AQF Level 5 report to back the decision.
Builders
Plan tree removal, site clearing, waste and crane access before the program starts, with tree protection zones costed in.
What people ask before they book.
Can you quote from photos?
Often, yes. Clear photos of the whole tree, the base, and what it hangs over let us give a practical range and decide whether a site visit is needed. The fixed price is confirmed on site.
Why is dangerous tree removal more expensive?
Dead, split or leaning trees cannot be climbed normally. They need a crane or elevated platform, extra rigging, exclusion zones and more planning, which protects your property and the crew.
Does stump grinding cost extra?
Usually yes. Grinding is a separate machine and visit, so it is a separate line, but we include it in the same quote whenever you ask.
Do I pay for the council permit?
The council fee and, where needed, the AQF Level 5 arborist report are quoted as their own lines. We prepare and lodge the application for you.
Is the quote fixed?
Yes. Once an arborist has seen the tree the price is fixed in writing, and it only changes if you change the scope on the day.
Is there a call-out fee for a quote?
No. Quotes are free and there is no obligation. Send a photo and your suburb and we call back the same day.
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 real price for your tree?
Send photos and your suburb. An AQF Level 5 arborist tells you where the job sits in the ranges above, checks the council rules and gives you one fixed price in writing.
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.