How much does tree removal cost in Canberra?
In Canberra a tree's size decides two things: what the arborist charges and whether the ACT Government has a say. Small trees come down for $275–$880, medium ones for $880–$2,750 and large ones for $2,200–$5,500, while the tallest reach $4,950–$16,500. Once a tree on your block is tall, wide or thick enough to be protected under the Urban Forest Act, removing it needs a tree activity application, and approval brings a replanting obligation. Build the approval time into your plans before you book a crew. All prices include GST.
Comparing cities, or after the Australia-wide picture? See the national guide: Tree removal cost in Australia.
Detailed Pricing — Tree Removal Cost in Canberra 2026
| Service | Low | Typical | High |
|---|---|---|---|
| Small tree removal (under 5 m) | $275per tree | $550 | $880 |
| Medium tree removal (5–10 m) | $880per tree | $1,650 | $2,750 |
| Large tree removal (10–20 m) | $2,200per tree | $3,850 | $5,500 |
| Extra-large tree (20 m+) | $4,950per tree | $7,150 | $16,500 |
| Palm tree removal | $275per tree | $440 | $1,325 |
| Stump grinding (small <30 cm) | $165per stump | $220 | $330 |
| Stump grinding (medium 30–60 cm) | $275per stump | $385 | $550 |
| Stump grinding (large 60 cm+) | $440per stump | $660 | $990 |
| Tree pruning / trimming | $220per tree | $495 | $1,325 |
| Hedge trimming, maintained hedge up to 2.5 m (per m) | $6/m | $13 | $28 |
| Arborist report | $330per report | $495 | $770 |
| Emergency / storm damage | $550per job | $1,650 | $5,500 |
| Arborist hourly rate | $77/hr | $130 | $200 |
| Large palm (10 m+) or Canary Island date palm removal | $1,325per tree | $1,975 | $3,300 |
| Tree on house / structure, crane-assisted emergency removal | $3,300per job | $7,700 | $13,200 |
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Get Canberra quotes →Prices include GST. Based on Canberra metro area, October 2026. Outer suburbs may vary.
What to Know About Tree Removal Work and Cost in Canberra
Canberra Airport averages −0.1°C overnight in July, the coldest winters of the 15 cities we price.
Where a report is needed, an arborist report is $330–$770 in the Canberra table; a large tree of 10–20 m costs $2,200–$5,500 to remove.
In Canberra a tree on private land is protected if it is 8 metres or taller, has a canopy 8 metres or wider, or has a trunk circumference of 1 metre or more at 1.4 metres above the ground, and removing a protected tree needs ACT Government approval through a tree activity application. A reputable arborist quotes you knowing this, and either sorts the permit themselves or refuses to remove until you have one. If a quote seems suspiciously cheap, ask explicitly whether the permit is included.
What Affects Tree Removal Costs in Canberra
Is the tree protected?
A tree on private land in the ACT is protected if it is 8 metres or taller, has a canopy 8 metres or wider, or has a trunk circumference of 1 metre or more at 1.4 metres above natural ground level. Size makes no difference for a dead tree that is not a native species, or for a declared pest plant. Anything in our large band, at 10 to 20 m, is already past the height test.
Applying to remove it
Removal, major pruning, lopping or groundwork inside the tree protection zone of a protected tree all need ACT Government approval through a tree activity application, and assessment can take up to 35 working days. If your case rests on the tree being unhealthy or unsafe, an arborist report ($330–$770 in our table) sets it out in writing. Going ahead without approval risks penalties of up to $80,000 for an individual.
Replanting or paying instead
An approved removal comes with a canopy contribution agreement. Owner-occupiers must plant 2 new trees on the block for every protected tree removed, or pay $600 for each tree not replanted, and exemptions can be granted for financial or social hardship. That contribution sits outside the arborist's quote, so count it in the budget alongside the removal itself.
Price by height
Removal is quoted by height band: $275–$880 for a small tree, $880–$2,750 in the 5–10 m band, and $2,200–$5,500 between 10 and 20 m. The extra-large band, $4,950–$16,500, covers trees over 20 m, where lifting gear or extra climbers are often needed. Cutting a tree back instead of removing it runs $220–$1,325.
Townhouses and shared walls
More than a third of ACT homes are semi-detached (17.2%) or flats (19.4%), well above the national 12.6% and 14.2% (ABS 2021 Census). In a townhouse courtyard there is seldom room to drop a tree whole, so it is cut down in sections and every piece is carried out by hand or through a side gate, which adds time at $77–$200.
Stumps and the root zone
Grinding is priced by width: $275–$550 up to 60 cm across and $440–$990 past that, the bigger stump typically dearer. If a protected tree stands nearby, check whether the grinding falls inside its tree protection zone, because groundwork there needs approval too.
Dangerous trees and storms
If a protected tree on your block has become dangerous, call Access Canberra and ask for urgent circumstances authorisation for tree removal rather than waiting on a standard application. Storm clean-up is $550–$5,500 in our table. All trees on public land are protected, so report a failing street tree on the verge to Access Canberra instead of paying your own arborist to touch it.
How to Save Money on Tree Removal Cost in Canberra
- Lodge the tree activity application early and allow up to 35 working days for the assessment before you lock in a removal date.
- Decide early whether you will plant the two replacement trees or pay the $600 per tree, and choose species that cope with frost, since July nights average -0.1 °C (BOM averages).
- Ask the crew to cut the trunk into firewood lengths and stack it; with July days averaging just 11.4 °C (BOM averages), the wood will not go to waste.
- Prune deciduous trees in the cold months, when bare branches show exactly what needs to come off, and confirm first that major pruning of a protected tree has approval.
- Once approval is in hand, give every arborist the same details: tree height, canopy spread, what sits under it and how close the truck can park.
- Rain peaks in November, at 64.4 mm on average at the airport (BOM averages), so check the forecast before a stump grinder crosses a soft lawn.
Frequently Asked Questions — Tree Removal Cost in Canberra
Our Methodology
These are independent estimates from public cost guides, marketplaces and industry rate data, and no tradesperson can influence them, so always get a few quotes. Last reviewed October 2026. Read our full methodology →