Prices and Quotes for Tree Removal

Factors that influence the price

Budget examples

• Chainsaw felling: the work consists of felling the tree at its base by making transverse cuts and then pushing it until it falls to the ground. This is called controlled felling and is carried out especially when there are no elements around the tree that could be damaged by the fall and there are no obstacles for it. It is also used when trees are in poor condition.
• Tree felling by sections: in this case what is done is to cut the tree little by little from the crown. This is done when controlled felling cannot be done because there is some kind of obstacle, such as houses, electrical lines, street furniture, etc. It is more labor-intensive, equipment is needed to work at height and is therefore slower.
• Labor: tree trimmer rates move around 18 €-20 €/hour. However, this can be somewhat higher when working conditions are especially complicated.
• Access to the area: it influences two different aspects. On one hand, because in areas of difficult access it may not be possible to bring certain types of machinery and the work will have to be done with fewer resources. On the other hand, because in places with buildings near the trees to be felled, it will be necessary to take special precautions to prevent damage caused by the felling. All of this will increase the budget.

One of the aspects you should know before felling trees is that, in general, you cannot fell a tree without the corresponding authorization or license. And this applies in all cases, even on private properties.

Regulations vary in autonomous communities and even municipalities, but in general tree felling is not usually permitted without justified cause: that it is sick, that it is causing or there is risk of human or material damage, carrying out works, etc. And you will always have to submit a felling request that must be reviewed by a municipal technician or environmental official to verify that the information provided is correct.

Since procedures can be different, it is advisable to inform yourself beforehand at the town hall or the corresponding environmental department. In some cases, for example, to permit felling you are required to take compensatory measures, such as the obligation to plant a specific number of specimens elsewhere for each one that has been felled.

• Tree dimensions and condition: the dimensions of the specimen (height, trunk and foliage) can increase the cost of the service exponentially, since work on large trees requires the use of more resources and stricter safety measures. Regarding the condition of the tree, felling a sick or dead specimen is more complex because having less stability increases the risk of accidental fall. In any case, the budget can double.
• Risk to neighboring buildings: when that risk is on the surface (e.g. branch fall), the work is less, since it is enough to fell the tree, leaving the stump. But when the risk is represented by roots that affect structural elements or underground installations, these will need to be removed. Taking into account that these roots can reach a certain depth, their removal can cause the budget to skyrocket.
• Felling method: it can be carried out using mechanical means (chainsaws) from the ground in the case of small trees or with cranes if they are of great height. However, when it comes to very leafy specimens, climbing can be used to clear the crown before proceeding to section-by-section cutting. This latter system can increase the budget by over 100 €.
• Other work: if it is necessary to perimeter the area for safety reasons or the service includes the removal of plant waste and its transport to a recycling plant, the budget will also increase by a variable amount, but it will not be less than 20 € per specimen.