Removing a small tree up to 5 metres in Sydney typically costs $300 to $800. These are Absolute’s typical prices, including GST, confirmed in October 2026; larger trees and stump grinding are listed separately below.
Tree removal costs
| Work | Typical price |
|---|---|
| Small tree (up to 5 m) | $300 to $800 |
| Medium tree (5 to 10 m) | $800 to $2,500 |
| Large tree (10 to 20 m) | $2,500 to $5,000 |
| Very large tree (over 20 m) | From $5,000 |
| Stump grinding | $100 to $500 a stump |
Height is a starting point. A tree over a roof, fence or confined yard can need more controlled work than a similar tree in an open space. Our tree removal service includes a free on-site quote after looking at the tree and its surroundings.
Tell David your suburb and the work you have in mind. Photos are optional.
What is included, and what is separate?
The quote covers the agreed removal work. Wood and green waste from that work are taken away unless you ask to keep the mulch. Confirm the clean-up and access arrangements before work starts.
Stump grinding is optional and quoted separately. A tree cut down to a stump is a different result from a stump ground below the surface. Council application fees and any formal arborist report are separate considerations; a free tree-work quote is not a written consulting report or permission to remove a protected tree.
What changes the price?
- Size and structure: height, trunk size, canopy spread and the amount of wood affect the work.
- What is below: roofs, fences, gardens and nearby buildings affect how sections can be lowered.
- Access: room for equipment, the route to the tree and waste handling all matter.
- Condition: damaged or unstable trees may need a different method from healthy trees.
- Equipment: where specialist access or lifting equipment is needed, it affects the quote.
- Scope: taking down one tree, grinding its stump and restoring the space are separate tasks to agree.
Storm-damaged and fallen trees are quoted after assessment. Their condition and what they have hit can change the work substantially; a general size-based range is not a reliable quote for them.
A removal in Lane Cove
Our Lane Cove project in August 2020 involved taking a tree down in sections. The photographs show the progression from work in the canopy to the remaining stump and cut timber.
See the Lane Cove tree-removal project. Its actual price is not published; the photos illustrate the work rather than a quoted price band.
Tree pruning costs
Pruning retains the tree and removes selected growth. A small tree up to 5 metres typically costs $200 to $500, including GST. The amount and position of the work matter as well as height.
Our separate tree pruning cost guide covers the price bands, access and pruning scope. If you are unsure which work is appropriate, read when a tree may need removing before deciding on price alone.
Reports and council approval
Check the current rules for your property before booking work on a protected tree. Our tree-removal page links the councils we work across. Any required approval must be in place before removal starts.
Formal reports are referred to Aymon at Sydney Arborist Solutions, a separate business. Its report fee is separate from Absolute’s work. See indicative arborist-report costs.
Comparing quotes and booking a visit
Check that each quote covers the same tree, clean-up, stump treatment and access arrangements. Discuss keeping mulch or combining suitable work into one visit, rather than assuming those choices will reduce the price.
Tell David your suburb, the tree’s approximate height, what is nearby and any approval you already have. Optional photos can help. We have worked in Sydney gardens and trees since 1994 and will give you a free quote after looking on site.
Tell David your suburb and the work you have in mind. Photos are optional.
