Tree removal across Australia. Flat quotes, no surprise stump fee.
Most quotes for tree removal exclude something. The stump. The debris. The cherry-picker. The permit. Ours don't. The quote we email you after the site visit is the number on the invoice.
What a tree removal actually costs in 2026
The price depends on three things: tree height, species, and how easily we can get a truck and a chipper to the base. Council permits add $200–$500 if the tree's protected. Stump grinding adds $80–$750 if you want it gone.
| Tree size | Typical cost (AUD) | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Small (under 5m) | $350 – $900 | Half-day. Backyard species. |
| Medium (5–10m) | $800 – $1,800 | Most suburban removals. |
| Large (10–15m) | $1,500 – $3,500 | Often needs an EWP / cherry-picker. |
| Very large (15–20m) | $2,800 – $6,000 | Two-person crew minimum. |
| Major (over 20m) | $5,000 – $12,000 | Crane usually required. |
For a quick estimate by your specific tree, use the cost calculator. It accounts for species, access, stump y/n. The full cost guide breaks down what each line item actually pays for.
What's included in the quoted price
- Free pre-job site visit and risk assessment (AQF qualified arborist, not a salesperson)
- Two-person ground crew, certified rigging, traffic control if near a road
- Whole-tree felling or sectional dismantling depending on access
- All debris chipped on-site and removed (or left as mulch on request)
- Photos of the cleared site emailed with the invoice
- Public liability and workers compensation cover for everyone on the property
What isn't included unless you ask: stump grinding (separate line item, $80–$750), council permit liaison ($200–$500 if needed), and protected-tree appeals if council refuses (rare, usually quoted separately).
Five steps from call to cleared site
You call or send a message
0402 522 434 or contact@loraxtreeremoval.com.au. Address, rough description, photo if you can. Takes a minute.
Free site visit, usually within 48 hours
We turn up, look at the tree (and what's around it), check council protection status, photograph access. No pressure, no quote-on-the-spot rush.
Written quote in your inbox
Flat all-in number. Stump optional. Permit flagged if needed. Valid for 30 days.
Job day
Same arborist who quoted, same crew, same number. Site protected with drop sheets where needed. Most jobs done in a day.
Photos and invoice
Before-and-after photos, invoice with payment options. Card or transfer.
When tree removal is the wrong call
Half the trees we quote for don't actually need to come out. Some honest things to think about first:
- If the tree's healthy and just dropping leaves, that's what trees do. Pruning won't change it. Removing it costs $1,500+ and you lose 20 years of canopy. Live with the leaves.
- If the tree's got a 10° lean it's always had, that's its growth pattern, not a sign it's about to fall. Lean changes are the warning sign — not a static lean.
- If there's a fungal bracket at the base, get an arborist report before you remove. Some fungi are cosmetic; some indicate structural rot. Different conclusions, different actions. The tree health guide walks through the symptom map.
- If the tree's on the council's significant tree register, removal almost always gets refused. Check first — every council has a free online lookup.
- If a crown reduction would solve the problem, that's typically half the price of removal and keeps the tree alive. Storm-overhang risks, view-blocking, gutter fill — all usually solvable with lopping or pruning.
The cousin-with-a-chainsaw problem
Most second-quote calls we get start with "my cousin offered to do it for $300". Sometimes the cousin does the job and the homeowner saves $400. Sometimes the cousin clips the neighbour's wall on the way down because he cut the wrong-side notch, and there's no public liability behind his name.
One job last year — a 14m gum, dropped wrong, took out the corner of a bedroom on the neighbour's side. Repair bill: $47,000. The cousin had no insurance. Homeowner's insurance refused because the tree didn't fall from their property. Six months of legal arguments and a hit to the friendship.
The maths only ever runs one way. AQF Level 3 minimum. comprehensive public liability insurance minimum. Written method statement on every job over 8m. Not negotiable.
Where we work
We cover all six Tier 1 metros across Australia, with crews in each:
Frequently asked
How much does tree removal cost?
Small trees under 5m run $350–$900. Medium 5–10m run $800–$1,800. Large 10–15m run $1,500–$3,500. Very large 15–20m run $2,800–$6,000. Major trees over 20m run $5,000–$12,000. Get a 30-second estimate by your specific tree.
Do you handle the council permit?
Yes — permit liaison runs $200–$500 and includes the site assessment, application paperwork, and follow-up. We don't start work until the permit's in hand if one's required. Check whether your tree needs one first.
Is the stump included?
No — stumps are quoted separately because some homeowners want to keep them as a feature, mulch them in place, or leave them to rot down. If you want it ground out, add $80–$750 depending on size. More on stump grinding.
Will you remove the debris?
Yes. We chip on-site and either leave the mulch for your garden or take it to a green-waste facility. Either way, the price is the same.
How long does tree removal take?
Small trees take 2–4 hours including cleanup. Medium trees take half a day. Large hardwoods take a full day. Crane jobs are usually a single day with extra crew on site.
What if the tree's leaning toward the house?
Sectional dismantling — we climb up, cut from the top down in sections, lower each piece on rope. Slower than felling, but it's how trees come out of tight spaces without hitting anything. Quoted accordingly.
Can you remove a tree on my neighbour's land?
Not without their written permission. If branches overhang the boundary you can prune them back at your own cost; we'll do that work but the neighbour still needs to know.