Tree Removal Cost Northern Beaches: 2026 Price Guide

The Short Answer

Tree removal on the Northern Beaches ranges from the $500–$900 band for a small tree with easy access to the $5,000–$12,000+ band for a very large or difficult tree that may need a crane. Where your tree lands in the guide prices above depends on its size and condition, how the crew can reach it, what sits underneath it, and what you want done with the timber and stump. A free on-site assessment and written quote turns the guide into an actual figure for your property.

How to Read the Guide Prices

The four bands describe the work involved, not just the height of the tree. A tall tree in an open backyard can cost less than a shorter one hanging over a roof, a pool and a neighbour's fence.

The first band suits a smaller tree with room to work, where branches can be cut and handled without complex rigging. A typical backyard tree that needs a climber and some controlled lowering usually sits in the medium band. Mature trees that have to come down in sections, with branches and trunk pieces lowered on ropes rather than dropped, move into the large band. The top band covers tall, heavy or hard-to-reach trees that may need a crane or other specialist equipment, and the "+" matters there: the most complex jobs are priced on inspection.

Use the bands to set a rough budget, then let the inspection confirm the method. If you have several trees, multi-tree discounts are available, so ask for them on one quote rather than pricing each tree separately.

What Changes the Price

Size, weight and condition

Height, trunk diameter and canopy spread decide how much timber has to come down and how it can be handled. Condition matters as much as size. A dead, split or storm-damaged tree can be less predictable to climb and rig, so the crew may need a slower, more controlled approach than a healthy tree of the same size.

Access to the tree

Access is one of the biggest price drivers on the Northern Beaches. Steep blocks, sandstone steps, narrow side paths, battle-axe driveways and waterfront properties with limited street access all affect what equipment can reach the tree and how far timber has to be carried. Our Bilgola Plateau tree removal is a good example of a job shaped by a steep site.

What the tree could hit

Roofs, gutters, pools, fences, gardens, driveways, neighbouring property and power lines all limit where branches can fall. The more there is to protect, the more of the tree has to be lowered piece by piece. Our team members are authorised for work near live electrical infrastructure, but wires close to the canopy still add planning and time.

Method and equipment

Some trees can be removed by a climber with ropes and rigging. Others need an elevated work platform, a crane, a wood chipper or a stump grinder. A crane costs more to bring in, but on some sites it is the safest and quickest way to lift heavy sections clear of a house. See our Cromer crane-assisted removal for how that works on a compact residential block.

Timber, branches and the stump

What happens to the branches, timber and stump, and how much cleanup is included, all depend on the written quote, so none of it should be assumed. If you want the stump ground, say so at the start: bundled stump-grinding discounts are available when it is done with the removal. Our stump grinding cost guide covers that part of the job.

Urgency

Planned removals are priced on the work. Emergency work, such as a tree that has fallen or is about to, may carry a 30 to 50 per cent premium because of the timing, the crew call-out and the unstable conditions. If a tree is showing warning signs but is not yet an emergency, booking it early is usually cheaper than waiting for a storm.

Location

There is no travel surcharge anywhere in the 47 Northern Beaches suburbs we cover, from Manly to Palm Beach.

Costs That Sit Outside the Tree Work

Before you budget, check whether the tree needs Council approval. Under Northern Beaches Council's current private-land tree rules, some trees can be removed without a permit, for example a tree under 5 metres tall, a species on Council's exempt list, a dead tree not needed as habitat, or a tree within two metres of an existing approved building (measured from the building to the base of the trunk, and not counting decks, pergolas or sheds). Other controls can still apply, including heritage listings, development consent conditions and threatened species protections, so check the rules for your property. Our Northern Beaches tree permit guide explains the checks.

If a permit is needed, Council's 2026–27 fees and charges list:

• $201 for a tree removal or pruning application, which includes assessment of the first tree
• $58.50 for each additional tree
• $116 if you request an on-site meeting with a Council officer

Council also states that a qualified arborist report must accompany applications to remove significant trees. Our arborist report cost guide covers what a basic report costs. A permit expires 12 months after it is issued and may include replanting conditions, so allow for a replacement tree if one is required.

It also helps to know what Council says it will not approve, such as removing healthy, stable trees, or removing trees for views, solar access, or leaf, fruit or sap drop. Council also warns that the Land and Environment Court can impose fines of up to $1.1 million for illegally damaging or removing trees, so an unapproved removal is never the cheap option.

We explain the Council requirements as part of the assessment, but the property owner makes any application. We do not submit applications or deal with Council on your behalf.

What Your Written Quote Should Say

A clear quote lets you see exactly what you are paying for. Look for:

• Which tree or trees are included, described clearly enough that there is no confusion on the day
• The removal method and any major equipment, such as a crane or elevated work platform
• What happens to the branches, trunk sections and woodchip
• Whether the stump is ground, and if so to what depth, and what happens to the grindings
• The agreed cleanup
• Any traffic management, if the street or footpath is affected
• Anything excluded, and anything that could change the price, such as hidden damage inside the trunk
• The total price

A clear price only means something when it is tied to a written scope. If a detail matters to you, make sure it is written down.

How to Get an Accurate Quote

Good photographs help us plan the site visit and prepare an accurate written quote. Send:

1. The whole tree, taken from far enough back to show the top and the house or fence beside it
2. The base of the trunk, including any cracks, cavities, fungi or lifted soil
3. Anything the tree overhangs: roofs, pools, sheds, fences, power lines
4. The access route from the street to the tree, including the narrowest gate or path and any steps
5. Where a truck could park, and whether the street is steep or narrow

Add a short note about what you want: complete removal, stump ground or left, timber removed or kept. Use our contact form or call us.

How to Compare Quotes Fairly

Prices for the same tree can differ widely, usually because the quotes describe different jobs. To compare them fairly:

• Match the scope. Check that each quote covers the same tree, the same stump work and the same cleanup.
• Check the method. A quote that relies on felling a tree that clearly has to be lowered in sections may be unrealistic.
• Ask about insurance and qualifications. We are insured, with public liability and workers compensation held, and our team members include AQF Level 3 and AQF Level 5 qualified arborists. Ask every business the same questions.
• Check who handles approvals. The owner is responsible for any Council permit. Be wary of anyone who says approval does not matter.
• Compare GST treatment. Check whether each quote shows GST the same way before comparing totals.
• Get it in writing. A verbal price or a cash-only offer leaves you with nothing to rely on if there is a dispute.

A low total is not a saving if the stump, the timber or the cleanup has been left out. Our guide to choosing a tree service covers the wider checks.

How We Can Help

We provide free on-site assessments and written quotes across the Northern Beaches, with no travel surcharge in the 47 suburbs we cover. Our tree removal service page explains how we plan each job, and our project pages show real removals in local streets.

If a tree has fallen or looks like it is about to, call us on 0425 350 004 at any time. Our emergency tree service runs 24/7 and we aim to respond within two hours.