Tree trimming cost by pruning type
Pre-filled with a realistic job. Change any input and the figure updates as you type — nothing is sent anywhere, and Print gives you a clean sheet without the buttons.
- Loaded labour, 3-person crew$125 / hr
- Truck, chipper and access kit$55 / hr
- Direct cost before overhead$977
- Overhead and margin multiplier1.6× – 2.1×
The four pruning types, and their multipliers
| Type | What is cut | Factor |
|---|---|---|
| Crown cleaning | Dead, dying, diseased, crossing | 1.0× |
| Crown raising | Lower limbs for clearance | 1.1× |
| Crown thinning | Selective live branches throughout | 1.6× |
| Crown reduction | Leaders shortened to suitable laterals | 2.2× |
These are the ANSI A300 names. A crew that quotes in them is quoting to a specification; a quote that says "trim tree" is quoting to whatever they feel like on the day.
Access changes the machine as well as the hours
A pole saw from the ground is cheap and reaches almost nothing. A lift is fast where it can park and expensive to bring. A climber reaches everything and takes the longest. The calculator carries a different equipment rate for each because the equipment is genuinely different — a lift on site is a materially larger hourly cost than a chip truck.
Watch
Book it in the right month
The same job in late dormancy is cheaper and better for the tree than the same job in September, and for oaks and elms the wrong month is not a preference but a disease risk. Check the pruning calendar before you accept a date, and read when to prune for the reasoning.
If the tree's problem is a weak union rather than its size, pruning is the wrong purchase — see cabling and bracing.
Sources
- BLS OEWS May 2025 · 37-3013 · hourly mean $26.91, annual mean $55,970retrieved 2026-09-04