Updated November 2026 US, UK, Canada and Australia Free calculator
Tree trimming pays more per job than almost any other yard work, and there is a reason for that. It is the most dangerous work in the garden, and the price reflects risk, skill and insurance as much as hours. This guide covers the part a solo operator can do safely: small trees, worked from the ground or a short ladder with pole tools.
A light prune on one small tree, 15 to 25 ft tall, goes for $170–$350 in the US, £160–£310 in the UK, C$190–C$420 in Canada and A$220–A$460 in Australia. Large trees, climbing, and anything near power lines belong to licensed, insured arborists with a crew, and their prices are much higher.
Set the job details to get a price to quote, then check what that price leaves you per hour once driving, supplies and tax are counted.
trees
Trees of similar size on the same visit. Price very different trees separately and add them up.Trees of similar size on the same visit. Price very different trees separately and add them up.Trees of similar size on the same visit. Price very different trees separately and add them up.Trees of similar size on the same visit. Price very different trees separately and add them up.
We only publish going rates for the US, UK, Canada and Australia. Enter the price you plan to charge and the calculator shows what it pays you per hour, and the lowest price you should accept.
Charge about
$240
per job, for 1 tree
Budget$170Typical$240Premium$350
$
per job, in your own currency
What you really keep
$78an hour in your pocket at the typical price
Adjust the numbers above to match your job.
The price is built as a base fee plus a rate for the size of the job, then adjusted for the options you pick. Time is an estimate for one person working alone; change it if you know your own pace.
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Price list
Tree Trimming prices by job size
Job
United States (USD)
United Kingdom (GBP)
Canada (CAD)
Australia (AUD)
One tree
$170–$35015 to 25 ft, light prune
£160–£3104.5 to 7.5 m, light prune
$190–$42015 to 25 ft, light prune
$220–$4604.5 to 7.5 m, light prune
Two trees
$290–$650same visit
£270–£570same visit
$320–$780same visit
$380–$860same visit
Three trees
$410–$950same visit
£380–£830same visit
$450–$1,140same visit
$540–$1,260same visit
Five trees
$650–$1,550a full day
£600–£1,350a full day or more
$710–$1,860a full day
$860–$2,050a full day
Hourly rate
$55–$90what working pros bill
£30–£55what working pros bill
$65–$140what working pros bill
$80–$120what working pros bill
Minimum charge
$100smallest job worth the trip
£90smallest job worth the trip
$120smallest job worth the trip
$130smallest job worth the trip
Prices are per job in local currency, from a fair budget price to an established operator in a higher-cost area.
United States: Many states and cities require a licence for tree work above a certain size or value, and ordinary landscaping insurance often excludes it. Check both before you advertise.
United Kingdom: Check for a Tree Preservation Order or conservation area before cutting anything. Working on a protected tree without council consent can bring a heavy fine for you and the owner.
Canada: Cities such as Toronto and Vancouver protect trees above a set trunk size, and pruning them can need a permit. Certified arborists bill well above the general rates shown here.
Australia: Many councils require consent for significant pruning of protected trees, and work near powerlines is restricted to authorised crews. Tree lopping is also a notifiable high-risk trade for insurance.
Method
Ways to price tree trimming
01Per tree
The standard. You look at each tree, judge the height, the spread and how much needs to come off, and give a price per tree. Several trees on one visit share the travel and setup, so the price per tree comes down.
02Flat price for the job
One total for everything agreed on the walk-round, written down branch by branch if needed. This protects you from the customer who adds 'and that one too' halfway through the day.
03Hourly or half-day rate
Useful for tidy-up work across a whole garden, where you prune whatever needs it for a set time. Quote a minimum of two hours, and make clear whether removing the branches is included.
Price factors
What changes the price
01Height
Height sets the tools, the time and the danger. Under 15 ft you can reach most cuts with loppers and a pole saw. At 25 to 30 ft you are at the limit of pole tools from the ground, every cut is slower, and falling branches hit harder. Above that, do not quote: refer it on.
02How much wood comes off
Removing dead twigs and a few crossing branches is a light prune. Thinning the crown, lifting it clear of a path or reducing the size is several times the cutting and several times the waste.
03What is underneath
A tree in open lawn lets branches drop freely. One over a greenhouse, fence, shed or the neighbour's car means lowering pieces by hand or rope, which is slow. Look at the drop zone before the tree.
04Branch removal
A single small tree can fill a pickup or trailer with branches. Hauling and tipping them costs you time and fees, and without a chipper it takes several loads. Price removal as a separate line every time.
05Access
Dragging branches 60 ft through a narrow side gate to the street doubles the cleanup time. Back gardens with no vehicle access should always cost more than a tree by the driveway.
06Insurance and permits
Proper cover for tree work costs far more than cover for mowing, and protected trees can need a permit before any cut. Both are costs you carry on every job, and your price has to pay for them.
Worked examples
Real quotes, step by step
United States
Two ornamental trees, branches hauled away
Two crabapple trees about 18 ft tall in a front yard. Light pruning to remove dead wood and crossing branches, with everything taken away.
The second tree adds far less than the first because you are already set up. Encourage customers to do every tree in one visit.
Base price, 2 trees
$430
Take the branches away
+ $75
Quote, rounded
$510
Going range
$370–$730
Time, with 15 min driving
4.5 hours
Supplies and fuel
− $11
Set aside 25% for tax and overheads
− $125
You keep
$83 an hour
United Kingdom
Apple tree, hard winter prune
One old apple tree about 5 m tall, not pruned for years. The owner wants it reduced and opened up, and the branches removed.
A neglected fruit tree is slow, careful work and makes a surprising amount of waste. Price it as a heavy prune even though the tree is small.
Base price, 1 tree
£220
Heavy prune or raising the crown
× 1.4
Take the branches away
+ £50
Quote, rounded
£360
Going range
£270–£480
Time, with 15 min driving
5 hours
Supplies and fuel
− £9
Set aside 25% for tax and overheads
− £88
You keep
£53 an hour
Australia
Three small trees along a fence
Three bottlebrush trees under 4 m, overhanging a driveway. Light trim to clear the cars, owner keeps the green waste.
Small trees with no disposal are the safest, quickest tree work there is. This is the kind of job to build a solo business on.
Base price, 3 trees
$840
Under 15 ft (4.5 m)
× 0.6
Quote, rounded
$500
Going range
$320–$760
Time, with 15 min driving
3.5 hours
Supplies and fuel
− $11
Set aside 25% for tax and overheads
− $122
You keep
$105 an hour
Your costs
What it costs you to do the work
These are the costs for ground-based work on small trees. Climbing gear, chippers and rigging are a different level of investment and training.
Item
USA (USD)
UK (GBP)
Canada (CAD)
Australia (AUD)
Pole saw or pole prunerManual or powered. Reaches 12 to 16 ft (4 to 5 m) from the ground.
$80–$500
£60–£450
$100–$650
$120–$700
Pruning saw, loppers and secateurs
$80–$220
£60–£180
$100–$280
$110–$300
Small chainsaw and protective gearHelmet, visor, gloves, chainsaw trousers and boots are not optional.
$450–$1,000
£400–£900
$600–$1,300
$650–$1,400
Tripod orchard ladder
$200–$500
£150–£400
$260–$650
$280–$700
Green waste disposal, per load
$25–$80
£20–£70
$30–$90
$30–$100
Liability insurance covering tree work, per yearOften a separate, dearer policy. Confirm the height limit it covers.
$1,200–$3,500
£300–£1,200
$1,500–$4,000
$1,200–$3,500
Avoid these
Pricing mistakes that cost beginners money
Taking on trees that are too big
The money is tempting and the risk is real. Falls, falling branches and chainsaw injuries are common in this trade. If a job needs climbing, a chainsaw above shoulder height, or any cut near a power line, pass it to a qualified arborist.
Assuming your insurance covers it
Many gardening and landscaping policies exclude tree work or cap the height. One branch through a conservatory roof without cover can end the business. Read the policy before the first job.
Forgetting the waste
New operators price the cutting and then spend the afternoon driving loads to the tip for free. Estimate the pile before you quote, and charge for every load.
Not checking whether the tree is protected
Protected trees can need written permission before pruning. A quick check with the local council costs nothing. Skipping it can cost thousands.
Questions
Common questions about tree trimming prices
How much should I charge to trim a tree?
For a light prune on one small tree, 15 to 25 ft tall, charge $170–$350 in the US, £160–£310 in the UK, C$190–C$420 in Canada and A$220–A$460 in Australia. Charge about 40 percent less for trees under 15 ft and about half as much again at 25 to 30 ft.
How much should I charge per hour for tree trimming?
General tree trimmers bill about $55–$90 an hour in the US, £30–£55 in the UK, C$65–C$140 in Canada and A$80–A$120 in Australia. Certified arborists and crews with a chipper charge considerably more.
How tall a tree can I trim without being an arborist?
As a working rule, stay with trees you can prune from the ground or a short tripod ladder using pole tools, which means up to about 25 to 30 ft. Licensing rules differ by state, province and council, so check what applies where you work.
Should I charge extra to remove the branches?
Yes. Branch removal is often a third of the total job. Charge a set fee per load that covers tip fees, fuel and loading time, and offer a lower price if the customer keeps the waste.
How do I price several trees on one property?
Price each tree on its own size and the work needed, add them together, then take a little off for the shared travel and setup. The calculator on this page does this by using one base fee for the visit.
What jobs should I turn down?
Anything near power lines, anything that needs climbing or a chainsaw used from a ladder, storm-damaged trees under tension, and large dead trees. These injure experienced professionals, and no price makes them safe for a solo beginner.
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Where these numbers come from
The rates on this page were set in November 2026 from the published price guides below, then checked so that the calculator, the price list and the examples all agree. How we work out prices.