"How much is this going to cost?" is usually the second thing people ask us, right after "can you get this thing out of my yard." Tree removal pricing swings more than most home services because you're not quoting a flat callout, you're quoting a specific tree — its size, where it is, and what's around it.

Here's roughly what that looks like in practice:

• Small tree, under 5m: $300 – $600
• Medium tree, 5m–10m: $600 – $1,500
• Large tree, 10m–20m — a mature gum is the usual example: $1,500 – $4,000
• Big or awkward removal — close to powerlines, tight access, split trunk: $4,000 – $8,000+
• Stump grinding, if you want it done separately: $150 – $500 depending on the diameter

These assume the truck can get reasonably close to the tree. A narrow side gate, a steep block, or a tree hanging over the roof pushes things toward the top of the range, sometimes past it.

Height and trunk diameter set the baseline — a bigger tree means more time sectioning it down and more green waste to haul away. But species matters almost as much: a palm comes down differently to a eucalypt and is usually priced on its own, not against the size chart above.

If a crane truck or chipper can park right next to the tree, the job moves fast. If it's in a back corner behind a side gate, everything has to be carried out by hand piece by piece, and that labour time is where a lot of quotes end up higher than the customer expected.

A tree standing on its own in an open backyard is a straightforward felling job. The same tree leaning over a roof, a shared fence, or a powerline has to come down in controlled sections instead, which takes longer and needs a more experienced crew — that's reflected in the price.

Taking the tree down and grinding out the stump are typically quoted separately. If you want the stump gone in the same visit so you can turf or replant straight away, say so upfront rather than after the tree's already on the ground.

Nature strip trees and anything covered by a significant tree overlay usually need council sign-off first. It doesn't necessarily change the price, but it changes the timeline — worth reading our guide to tree removal permits in Melbourne's northern suburbs if you're not sure whether yours needs one.

A tree already down across a fence or driveway isn't quoted against the size chart above — it's about clearing a hazard safely and quickly, so the price reflects urgency and complexity more than trunk diameter.

We don't quote over the phone, and it's not just a policy line — a photo doesn't show the lean of a tree, how sound the trunk actually is underneath, or whether a truck can get down your driveway. We assess it in person so the number we give you is the number you pay.

For an accurate quote, get in touch with our tree removal team, and we'll take a proper look before giving you a final price.