Even though “How much does an arborist cost?” is the most frequently asked question for tree care companies, it’s one that doesn’t have a single, easy answer.
While companies do have prices listed by the hour, the most accurate way to determine the costs of your particular tree work is to get a written quote. This is because the approach, time and equipment needed will vary from company to company, job to job, and even tree to tree due to the unique circumstances contained.
What an arborist does
Arborists cover a wide range of tree care services that each require their own equipment and approach. This also means they come with different costs, depending on the tree and where it is located.
- Provide reports to submit to local council
- Carry out safety checks
- Stump removal
- Tree pruning
- Tree lopping
- Tree removal
- Hedge trimming
- Wood chipping/mulching
- Waste removal
- Clean up
The cost of hiring an arborist
The best way to get an accurate idea of the cost of a professional arborist is to compare written quotes for your exact job. This way you can be sure that everything your particular property and job requires is taken into account and you won’t get any costly surprises at the end.
Some big extra cost factors include:
- A larger tree
- Difficult access
- Close proximity to a building or main road
- Stump removal
- Permit fees
An easy job like pruning is typically cheaper than a complete tree removal because it takes less time and requires less equipment and manpower.
Average cost per service
Pruning
Costs for pruning are usually low because work is not risky and not a lot of equipment is required. In most cases, prices will depend on how high an arborist needs to go to reach the canopy. Prices should include insurance and clean up.
These are the average cost per tree size:
- 1 – 10 metres = $200 to $500
- 10 – 20 metres = $300 to $800
- 20 metres + = $500 to $3,000
Council Permission
In order to make sure a tree removal is safe and necessary your local council will ask for a professional and very detailed Arborist Report to understand the circumstances of your tree removal request. This report can be expensive, the average cost being $450. You will need to pay for this even if permission is not granted, so talking to an arborist about the possible outcomes first can save a lot of money.
Arborist Report – $450
Council permission fee – $50 – $150
Tree Removal
Just like people, trees can get sick. When infected with diseases it can compromise a tree’s strength and structural integrity and lead to decaying branches and sadly, death. It’s important to get trees treated as quickly as possible. In some cases though it is safer for a professional arborist to remove a dead or dying tree.
Have a tree health assessment carried out, which might be free of charge or cost $30 to $150. This fee might be discarded if you take up the work quoted.
The size of your tree as well as how badly decayed it is will be a factor.
As an average cost guide:
- Narrow-trunk, eight tall metres or less: $150 to $500
- Wide trunk, up to 23 metres tall: $200 to $1,000
- Large trees 23 metres and up: $1,500 +
Stump Removal
An ugly stump in your yard makes mowing difficult, presents a tripping hazard and can lead to pests invading other trees or your home. It’s well worth getting rid of a stump and having a professional fill in the hole. Arborist costs here are relatively low, with average prices around $250. The majority of the cost involved is the stump grinding machine, as work is usually over and done in under two hours.It’s not just the arborist costs you need to take into account, there are also council permissions. These can be expensive so check with your local council about the requirements for tree branch removal, tree removal and cutting back, or talk to your local arborist as they will know the current governing rules and advise you on where you currently stand on approvals and costs.
