What a tree surgeon costs depends on the size of the tree, the type of work, how easy it is to reach, what is underneath it and what happens to the waste. There is no fixed price list for tree work, so the only figure you can rely on is a written quote from someone who has seen the tree.
That can feel unhelpful when you just want a number. This guide explains what tree surgeons look at when they price a job, so you can compare quotes properly.
National price guides
Published UK cost guides give a rough idea of what people pay. These are national averages from third-party websites, not New Leaf Arb's prices, and real quotes vary with the job:
- Tree removal (Housekeep cost guide, October 2026, including VAT, outside London): roughly £200 to £500 for a small tree, £400 to £800 for a medium tree and £700 to £1,500 or more for a large tree.
- Stump grinding (Housekeep, outside London): roughly £80 to £250.
- Team day rate (Housekeep): roughly £300 to £700 per day, depending on team size, complexity and equipment.
- Crown reduction (MyJobQuote cost guide, updated September 2026): roughly £250 to £400 for a small tree up to 7m, £400 to £640 for a medium tree of 7 to 15m, £640 to £960 for a large tree of 15 to 18m, and £960 to £1,150 for a very large tree over 18m.
Treat these as a starting point. The same "medium tree" can be a quick job in an open paddock or a full day's sectional dismantle over a conservatory. The factors below explain why.
What affects the price of tree work
These are the main things that change the cost:
- Size and type of work. A light crown thin is a very different job from taking a large tree down in sections. The number of trees matters too.
- Condition of the tree. Dead, decayed or storm-damaged trees can be less predictable to climb and cut, so they take more care.
- Access. Can the kit get to the tree? A back garden with no side gate means every branch has to be carried out by hand, which takes longer.
- What is underneath. Houses, conservatories, greenhouses, sheds, fences and borders all need protecting. Lowering branches on ropes is slower than letting them drop.
- Power lines and cables. Trees near overhead power lines need arborists trained in utility work, and sometimes coordination with the network operator.
- Waste. Chipping and taking away the brash, removing the timber or leaving it as logs all change the time and disposal cost.
- The stump. Ask what happens to it. Some quotes leave it at ground level, and stump removal is often a separate job.
- Permissions. If the tree has a Tree Preservation Order or is in a conservation area, consent or notice from East Lindsey District Council may be needed first, which can affect timing.
Climbing or a MEWP?
A tree can be worked on by climbing it with ropes and a harness, or from a MEWP, a mobile elevating work platform. Neither is always cheaper. A platform can make a big job much quicker, especially on tall or isolated trees with nothing safe to rig from. Climbing suits trees a machine cannot reach.
New Leaf Arb has both options. A 23m tracked spider MEWP fits through a standard gateway and works on soft ground, and a 13m 4x4 MEWP handles fields and rough access. The right choice is whichever is safest and quickest for your tree, and a good quote will tell you which is being used.
What a fair written quote should include
A proper quote makes it easy to compare like with like. It should cover:
- Which tree or trees, described clearly enough that there is no confusion on the day.
- Exactly what work will be done, for example how much a crown will be reduced, not just "trim tree".
- How the tree will be reached, and how your house, fences and garden will be protected.
- What happens to the brash, timber and stump.
- Whether any permission is needed, and who will apply for it.
- Whether VAT is included.
- Proof of insurance, or an offer to show it.
If two quotes look far apart, check them line by line. The cheaper one often leaves something out, such as taking the waste away.
Why the cheapest quote can be a risk
Tree work goes wrong in expensive ways. A low price can hide problems you only find out about later:
- No insurance. If a branch comes through a roof or a fence, an uninsured contractor may not be able to pay. You could end up claiming on your own home insurance.
- No waste carrier registration. Anyone taking waste away as part of their business must be registered as a waste carrier with the Environment Agency. You can check the public register on GOV.UK. If your waste is fly-tipped and traced back to you, you can be fined.
- Poor pruning. Topping or hacking a tree back can cause weak regrowth and decay. Putting that right later often costs more than doing it properly first time.
- Untrained chainsaw use. Cutting at height without the right training puts the worker and your property at risk.
Before you agree to anything, ask to see insurance, waste carrier registration and chainsaw qualifications. A good firm will not mind.
Getting a quote from New Leaf Arb
Will and John are both NPTC qualified and New Leaf Arb carries £10 million public liability insurance. Brash is chipped on site and removed in the tipper trucks, and timber is taken away or left as logs if you would like them. See domestic tree surgery, tree felling and removal and MEWP access work, or tree work in Horncastle and Coningsby. New to tree work? Read what a tree surgeon does, or compare felling and sectional dismantling. Site visits are free and quotes are no obligation, so ring Will on 07506 185049 to arrange one.
Published 11 October 2026 by Will, New Leaf Arb Tree Surgeons, Horncastle. Updated 19 October 2026 with national price guides.