The numbers that are actually published
These figures come from public sources and from this business's own published information, not from a guess at your particular tree.
| Item | Published cost | Where it comes from |
|---|---|---|
| Tree removal in NSW, all sizes | $300 – $20,000 | The range this business publishes for NSW work, driven mostly by size and access |
| Arborist report, Sydney | $450 – $600 | Typical Sydney fee for a standard consulting report |
| Randwick City Council application | $76 for a single tree | Randwick's published tree application fee |
| Waverley Council application | $77 single tree, $31 each additional | Waverley's published tree application fee |
| Penalty for unauthorised cutting, NSW | $2,000 – $1.1 million | NSW penalties, scaling with severity and whether the tree was protected |
Anything more specific than that depends on your site. What follows is how a quote gets built.
What moves the price, in order of impact
| Factor | Why it matters |
|---|---|
| Access | Driveway, side gate, rear lane or nothing. Carrying material by hand can double a job. |
| What the tree sits over | Open lawn is cheap. Roofs, pools, glass, retaining walls and neighbours mean rigging every piece. |
| Crane or elevated work platform | The biggest single line item, plus a council road occupancy licence and lead time. |
| Species and wood density | Figs are wet and heavy, palms do not chip, angophora limbs are awkward to rig. |
| Debris volume and truck parking | On Bondi and Paddington streets the truck is often a block away. |
| Council consent | Application fee, plus an arborist report where the tree is significant. |
| Stump | Grinding on the same visit is cheaper than a separate mobilisation. |
Why the Eastern Suburbs sits high in the range
Three reasons, and none of them are about the crew.
First, access. A large share of properties here have no vehicle route to the back garden at all. Second, what the tree stands over: pools, glass, sandstone terracing and a neighbouring house within a few metres on both sides, all of which means nothing gets dropped and everything gets lowered. Third, the approval layer — three strict council tree preservation orders, plus heritage conservation controls across Paddington and much of Woollahra.
That third one is a time cost as much as a money cost. See the permit guide for how long each step takes.
Where money is genuinely saved
- Book the removal and the stump grinding together — one mobilisation, not two.
- Put every tree on one council application rather than lodging separately.
- Do pruning and deadwooding in winter, before the storm season creates a queue and before a limb failure turns it into an emergency callout at emergency rates.
- Be honest about access when you ring. A crew that arrives expecting a gate and finds a hallway will requote on the spot.
What a quote should include
A written scope of exactly which trees and which limbs, whether debris removal and stump work are in or out, whether council consent is the owner's responsibility or ours, insurance details, and the price. If any of those are missing, ask. More questions are answered on the FAQ page, and the tree removal page explains the method behind the price.
Call (02) 9538 7842 for an inspection, or describe the job here.
Frequently asked questions
Why will nobody quote a tree over the phone?
Because access sets the price more than the tree does, and access cannot be assessed from a description. The same ten-metre gum might be a half-day job with a driveway beside it or a two-day hand dismantle behind a terrace. A phone conversation can get you a range; only an inspection gets you a number worth accepting.
Is the cheapest quote usually a problem?
Not always, but check three things before accepting one: public liability cover and a certificate of currency, whether debris removal is included or extra, and whether council consent has been factored in. A quote that ignores the permit on a protected tree is not cheaper, it just moves the risk and the cost onto you.
Do I pay for the quote?
No, inspections and quotes are free. What is not free is an arborist report, because that is a separate professional document with a consultant's name on it. If you only need a price, ask for a quote. If the council needs convincing, you need the report as well.
Does removing several trees at once save money?
Usually, yes. The fixed costs — travel, setting up, traffic management, getting a machine to site — are spread across the job instead of repeated. Councils also let you lodge multiple trees on one application, and Waverley's additional-tree fee of $31 is far cheaper than a second application.