Do you charge for a quote?

No. Quotes are free and there is no obligation.

Is the stump included in a tree removal price?

Usually not. Stump grinding is normally quoted as a separate item so you can decide.

Do you take the waste away?

Yes, unless you would like the logs or chip left for you. Just ask when we quote.

Is it cheaper at certain times of year?

[CONFIRM: do we vary pricing or availability seasonally?]

Do you need to see the tree before quoting?

In almost every case, yes. Photos help, but access and surroundings are best judged in person.

Yes. We carry 10 million pounds public liability cover and every operative is qualified.

[CONFIRM: accepted payment methods and whether a deposit is required]

Tree surgeon carrying out careful crown reduction work on a mature tree in Surrey

Tree Surgery Cost: What Really Shapes the Price of the Job

Tree surgery cost varies job by job, and no honest tree surgeon can price a tree without seeing it. This guide sets out the things that push a quote up or down, so you know what you are paying for across Surrey and South West London.

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The short answer

Cost depends mainly on the size and species of the tree
How easy it is to reach the tree and get waste off site
What happens to the chip, logs and brash
Whether permissions or paperwork are needed before work can start

Every quote we give is free, itemised and no-obligation.

[CONFIRM: are we willing to publish indicative price ranges, and if so what?]

What affects the cost of tree surgery?

A tree surgery cost is built from the job in front of us. These are the six things that move a quote most.

Size and height of the tree

A small garden tree and a mature oak are different jobs, in time, kit and crew.

Access to the site

Whether we can get machinery to the tree, or whether everything comes out by hand through the house or a side gate.

What is around the tree

Sheds, greenhouses, fences, cables, roofs and neighbouring gardens mean sectional dismantling and rigging rather than a straight fell.

Condition of the tree

Dead, diseased or storm-damaged trees are less predictable and need more care.

Waste and what happens to it

Chipping on site, taking arisings away, or leaving logs stacked for you all change the price.

Permissions and paperwork

Tree Preservation Orders and conservation areas mean council applications and notice periods before work can start.

How much does it cost to remove a tree?

Removal is usually the biggest job, because the whole tree has to come down safely and be cleared from site. A tree in an open field is straightforward, while the same tree beside a conservatory is a careful, piece-by-piece dismantle.

The stump is normally priced separately, so you can decide whether to have it ground out or left. See our tree removal page for what a full removal involves.

Whole tree taken down and cleared
Sectional dismantling where access is tight
Stump normally quoted as a separate item

Is pruning or reduction cheaper than removal?

A crown reduction, thin or deadwood removal is often the smaller job and can solve the problem without losing the tree. We will say so if that is the better option for you and the tree.

Regular reductions cost less over time than leaving a tree until it becomes a problem. See our tree reductions and pruning service for the full scope.

What does stump grinding cost on top?

Stump grinding is usually quoted separately and is driven by stump diameter, root spread, access for the grinder, and how deep you need it ground. We grind stumps below ground level so you can turf or replant.

See our stump grinding page for what is involved.

How is hedge trimming priced?

Hedges are usually priced by length, height and how far they need reducing. A heavy reduction on an overgrown conifer hedge is a bigger job than a routine trim, and green waste volume matters here too.

See our hedge trimming and pruning service for more.

Does a Tree Preservation Order change the price?

A TPO or a conservation area means an application to the council and a waiting period before work can begin, and the work itself may be restricted to what is approved. We can advise on what is likely to be permitted and help with the process.

[CONFIRM: do we submit TPO and conservation area applications on the customer's behalf, and is there a charge for this?]

Why do tree surgery quotes vary so much?

What a proper quote includes

Qualified NPTC City & Guilds trained operatives
Full public liability cover of 10 million pounds
Correct climbing, rigging and cutting equipment
Protection for lawns, borders, fences and paving
All arisings cleared and the site left tidy
A clear written quote before anything starts

What a cheap price can leave out

No proof of insurance
Waste left for you to deal with
Damage to lawns and beds
No plan for permissions
Unclear pricing that changes on the day

The cheapest price is rarely the cheapest outcome if something goes wrong in your garden.

How do you get an accurate tree surgery quote?

1
Tell us what you need
A call, a message or a couple of photos of the tree gets us started.
2
We come and look
We visit, assess the tree and the access, and check for anything that needs council consent.
3
You get a written quote
Free, no-obligation and itemised, so you can see what each part of the work costs.
4
We do the work and clear up
A qualified, insured crew, specialist equipment and a thorough clean-up before we leave.

[CONFIRM: typical turnaround time from enquiry to site visit]

Qualified, insured and local

JBF Tree Surgery is based in Woking and works across Surrey and South West London for homeowners, commercial property management and local councils. We are tree surgeons in Surrey and South West London you can rely on. Led by Jucinei Luiz, NPTC City & Guilds qualified with over 10 years' experience in arboricultural work, every job is carried out by a qualified, fully insured team.

Find out About JBF Tree Surgery and read our reviews.