How much to charge for tree trimming
Updated 26 September 2026
Most tree services quote each tree on its height, how easy it is to reach and whether the debris goes with them. Stump grinding is normally a separate price per stump, and big jobs are often priced as a day rate for the crew.
Example tree trimming prices
| Job | US | UK | Australia | Canada |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Two small trees under 15 ft, debris taken away | $340 – $500 | £270 – £400 | A$520 – A$760 | CA$470 – CA$690 |
| One tree 30 to 60 ft tall, debris taken away | $470 – $690 | £370 – £550 | A$710 – A$1,040 | CA$640 – CA$940 |
| Three trees 15 to 30 ft, two old stumps ground, debris taken away | $980 – $1,440 | £780 – £1,150 | A$1,490 – A$2,190 | CA$1,330 – CA$1,950 |
Priced with the starting rates in our tree trimming template, in each country's currency. They're a starting point, not a survey of local rates, so set your own from what your jobs take and what others charge near you.
How tree services and arborists set their prices
Per tree
A price for each tree, scaled by its height and the work involved. Customers can follow it, and it suits trimming at homes where you can count the trees from the street.
Day or half-day rate
A price for the crew and gear for a set time. It suits land clearing and properties with lots of trees, where grading every tree isn't worth the effort.
Per stump
A set price per stump, often by its width at ground level, with a minimum for bringing the grinder out. Offer it next to removals so customers see the whole job up front.
Sample tree trimming price list
The prices in our template, as a list you can adapt. Percentages change the price of the job; fixed-price extras are added on top.
| Item | US | UK | Australia | Canada |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Trees, per tree | $250 | £200 | A$380 | CA$340 |
| Typical tree height: Under 15 ft | Save 40% | Save 40% | Save 40% | Save 40% |
| Typical tree height: 30–60 ft | +80% | +80% | +80% | +80% |
| Typical tree height: Over 60 ft | ×2.8 | ×2.8 | ×2.8 | ×2.8 |
| Stumps to grind, per stump | $150 | £120 | A$230 | CA$200 |
| Haul away debris | +$100 | +£80 | +A$150 | +CA$140 |
| Minimum job price | $200 | £160 | A$300 | CA$270 |
Put this price list on your website
Customers answer a few questions about the job, see the price and send you their details. This is our tree trimming quote form with the prices above. Try it as a customer would, then start from these prices and change any of them.
Canopy Tree Care
Tree trimming estimate
Pricing mistakes to avoid
- Pricing every tree the same. A tall gum or oak hanging over a roof needs climbing and rigging, while a small tree in open ground can be cut from the ground. Grade trees by height and by what's underneath them.
- Throwing in the clean-up. Chipping and hauling branches can be half the job. Our template adds $100 in the US to take the debris away, and customers who want the wood or mulch can leave it off.
- Forgetting access. A backyard tree with no way in for the chipper means carrying every branch through the side gate. Ask about access, and charge more when your gear can't get close.
- Quoting work near power lines or buildings like any other job. It takes more planning and more gear, and may need permission or a specialist first. Check your local rules and price the extra time in.
- Not saying whether the stump is included. Customers often assume a removal takes the stump too. Spell it out and price grinding separately; our template lists it at $150 a stump in the US.
Not sure what your time is worth? Work out your hourly rate with the pricing calculator, then check your job prices cover it.
Questions
- Should I charge per tree or by the hour?
- Customers find a per-tree price easier to agree to on small jobs. For big jobs with many trees, a day rate for the crew is simpler and covers you if the work runs long.
- What should I add for tall trees?
- Enough to pay for climbing or a lift, rigging and slower cutting. Our template charges 80% more for trees 30 to 60 ft and 2.8 times the price for trees over 60 ft.
- How do I quote a tree job from photos?
- Ask for one photo with the house or a person in it, so you can judge the height, and one of the way in. Our tree template quotes a range, from 15% under the estimate to 25% over, and you confirm on site.
- Should storm and emergency work cost more?
- Yes. Short-notice work pulls your crew off booked jobs, and storm-damaged trees are harder and riskier to cut. Set your emergency rate before the next storm, not during it.
- How do I put tree service prices on my website?
- A quote form works if you keep the questions short: how many trees, roughly how tall and any stumps. Customers see a range and send their address, and you settle the final price when you see the trees.