Tree Removal Cost: A UK and North London Price Guide

Removing a medium-sized tree of 25 to 50ft costs £400 to £700 on average in the UK in 2026, according to MyJobQuote’s tree felling price guide. Small trees cost less, and a mature oak can run into thousands.

As fully insured North London tree surgeons, we see quotes vary widely from one garden to the next. Height, access, waste and disposal all move the price. In North London, parking, tight terraced gardens and higher tipping costs move it further.

Below, we set out what tree removal costs in North London, the UK prices by size and species behind it, what pushes a quote up, and how to check a quote is fair before you book.

How much does tree removal cost in the UK?

Having a tree taken down in the UK costs between £150 and £4,800 or more in 2026, based on MyJobQuote’s October 2026 figures, and the tree’s height does most of the work on price. A very large tree in a tight spot sits at the top of that range, and the stump and waste often cost extra.

Here’s how tree removal costs compare across national price guides, as of October 2026:

Removal, stump and waste figures come from MyJobQuote (updated 6 October 2026). The survey figure comes from Checkatrade (June 2026), and the emergency figure from MyBuilder’s tree surgeon cost guide (June 2026).

Tree removal cost by size and height

Tree height is the biggest single driver of removal cost, because a taller tree takes longer to climb, cut and lower safely, and leaves more timber to clear. MyJobQuote’s October 2026 guide puts a small tree under 25ft at £150 to £350, rising to £1,200 to £4,800 or more for a tree over 75ft.

Price guides vary. Checkatrade’s June 2026 guide is higher, putting a tree of up to 50ft at £1,190 to £1,720, which shows how much access and local rates can move a quote.

What real jobs have cost (as of 2026)

Checkatrade’s June 2026 guide gives these example tree removal costs for single trees:

• A mature silver birch or apple tree of about 25ft: £280
• A small conifer or eucalyptus up to 30ft: £490
• A Scots pine of up to around 40ft: £800
• A mature oak up to 50ft: £1,430

Tree removal cost by species

Species changes what you pay to have a tree felled, because some trees are denser, heavier or more awkward to take down than others. A mature English oak is one of the most expensive trees to remove, at £2,800 to £4,800 on MyJobQuote’s October 2026 species prices, while holly and smaller conifers start at around £250.

Here’s the tree removal cost for common UK species, as of October 2026:

• Conifer, including leylandii: £250 to £1,500
• Holly: £250 to £650
• Pine: £400 to £1,500
• Ash: £600 to £1,500
• Horse chestnut: £800 to £2,000
• Sycamore: £900 to £3,400
• Common beech: £1,200 to £2,500
• English oak: £2,800 to £4,800

What affects tree removal cost?

Four things set what you’ll pay to have a tree taken down:

• How easily we can reach the tree
• How it has to come down
• How big and healthy it is
• What happens to the timber and waste afterwards

In North London, access and method usually drive the price, because back gardens are often reached through a side passage or the house itself.

Access and how the tree comes down

A straight fell is the quickest and cheapest way to remove a tree: we cut it at the base and drop it in one piece. It needs enough clear ground for the whole tree to land safely, so it suits large, open plots.

Sectional dismantling is how most North London trees come down. A climber takes the tree down piece by piece from the top, lowering each section on ropes to keep roofs, fences and greenhouses safe. It takes longer and needs a bigger team, so it costs more.

Access then adds time on top. If every branch and log has to be carried through a hallway, the job takes longer than one with a clear side gate.

Size, height and condition

Height sets the baseline, and trunk width and canopy spread add to it, because they decide how much timber comes down. A dead or diseased tree can cost more than a healthy one of the same size. Brittle wood is less predictable to climb and lower, so the team may need to work more slowly or use different kit.

Waste, disposal and tipping

Waste removal costs £90 to £500 when it’s charged separately, according to MyJobQuote, depending on how much timber and brash the job creates. In Greater London, licensed tipping costs more than in most of the country, and that feeds into every quote. Keeping the logs for firewood can lower the bill.

Tree removal cost in London and North London

Taking a tree down in London usually costs more than the national averages, because labour, parking and disposal all cost more here. MyJobQuote puts London tree surgeon rates at £50 to £100 a day above the rest of the UK, and at Forbes Tree Care, our tree removal and felling work starts from £300.

North London tree removal quotes also carry these local costs:

• Parking suspensions: When the van and chipper need a space outside, the council suspends a parking bay. Haringey charges £80 per space per day plus a £280 administration fee, and Camden charges £79.63 per space per day plus £66.66.
• More suspension fees: Islington charges businesses £320 for the first day, and Enfield adds a £145 administration fee. At Barnett, parking suspensions cost £69.63 per bay per day, and there is also a non-refundable administration fee of £171.39 per successful application.
• Suspension notice: Councils need between 10 working days’ (Enfield) and 17 days’ (Camden) notice, which can set your start date.
• Clean air charges: A van below ULEZ emissions standards pays TfL’s daily charge anywhere in Greater London, and jobs inside central London’s Congestion Charge zone pay that charge too.
• Tipping: Licensed tipping in Greater London costs more than in most of the country.
• Terraced access: On many terraced streets, the only route to the garden is through the house, so every log and branch goes that way.

Extra tree removal costs: Stump removal and waste

The felling price often covers the tree down to a stump, so check what’s included before you compare quotes. These are the main add-ons to a tree removal cost.

• Stump grinding: £60 to £400 nationally, on MyJobQuote’s October 2026 figures, depending on the stump’s width. Our stump grinding starts from £100, with surface roots factored in where relevant.
• Root removal: Priced on site, because it depends on the root system and how close the roots are to walls, drains and paths.
• Waste removal: £90 to £500 when charged separately, on MyJobQuote’s figures. Ask whether your quote includes taking away the logs, branches and chippings.
• Parking suspension: Charged by your council when it suspends a bay for the van and chipper, and usually passed on at cost.

How Tree Preservation Orders and Conservation Areas affect tree removal

A Tree Preservation Order (TPO) makes it a criminal offence to cut down or damage a protected tree without your council’s consent. Trees in a conservation area are protected too, so you must give the council six weeks’ written notice before felling one. Unauthorised felling can cost far more than the job itself.

GOV.UK’s guidance on Tree Preservation Orders sets the fine at up to £20,000 in a magistrates’ court, and an unlimited fine in the Crown Court for serious cases.

Some North London areas add another layer. In Hampstead Garden Suburb, tree work needs written consent from the Hampstead Garden Suburb Trust, which charges £75 to apply to remove a tree, as well as approval from Barnet Council.

Before you book a tree removal, work through this checklist:

• Ask your council’s planning team whether the tree has a TPO or sits in a conservation area.
• Allow six weeks’ notice in a conservation area. Trees with a trunk of 75mm or less across, measured 1.5m above the ground, are exempt.
• For a dead protected tree, give the council five working days’ written notice.
• For a tree that’s an immediate danger, tell the council as soon as practicable after the work.

For the full picture, read our guide on whether you can legally cut down trees in your garden.

Emergency, storm and fallen-tree removal costs

Clearing a fallen or storm-damaged tree costs more than planned work because it happens at short notice, often out of hours and in unsafe conditions. MyBuilder’s June 2026 guide puts emergency tree work at £400 to £1,500, with call-out fees typically starting at £400 and higher rates for nights and weekends.

We run a 24-hour emergency tree removal service across North London for fallen trees, storm damage and trees that threaten a home or road.

If a fallen tree has damaged your property, call your buildings insurer early and ask whether your policy covers removal. If the tree is protected, urgent work can go ahead, but the council must be told as soon as practicable afterwards.

How to get an accurate tree removal quote and pay a fair price

The most reliable price for taking a tree down comes from a site visit, because access, the tree’s condition and what’s around it need checking in person. The fairest way to compare prices is to get two or three written quotes that list the same things, so you can see exactly what each one covers.

Before you book, check each tree removal quote against this list:

• It’s in writing and itemised: Felling, stump, waste, parking and VAT shown separately.
• Waste and the stump are covered: Both are included or clearly priced as extras.
• The company is insured: Ask to see public liability cover before work starts.
• The team is qualified: Look for City & Guilds or NPTC tree surgery qualifications and work to the BS3998 tree work standard.
• The waste carrier is registered: Any business that transports waste must register as a waste carrier with the Environment Agency, and you can check a firm on the public register.
• Someone checks for protection: A good tree surgeon checks for a TPO or conservation area before quoting.
• Removal is the right answer: Sometimes tree cutting and pruning solves the problem for less.

Be wary of anyone who knocks on the door offering a cheap same-day job, asks for cash only, or keeps the price verbal.

Frequently asked questions about tree removal cost

What is the cheapest time of year for tree removal?

Tree removal is usually cheapest from November to February, when demand for tree work is lowest, according to MyJobQuote. Winter is also clear of the main nesting season: the RSPB puts it at March to September, and damaging an active nest is an offence under the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981.

Can I legally chop down a tree?

Felling a tree in your own garden is usually legal, and the Forestry Commission’s felling licence service confirms garden trees are exempt from felling licences. A Tree Preservation Order or conservation area changes that, so check with your council first. You’re also responsible if the tree damages a neighbour’s property as it comes down.

How much is a tree surgeon for a day?

A tree surgeon’s day rate depends on the size of the team and where you live. Checkatrade’s June 2026 guide puts a tree surgeon’s labour at £240 to £400 a day nationally, but London teams charge more, and most removals are priced as a fixed job. Our guide to tree surgeon costs covers London day and hourly rates.

Get a quote for tree removal in North London

Forbes Tree Care removes trees across North London, from Crouch End, where we’re based, out to Barnet and Enfield. We’ve been doing it since 2010, our arborists are City & Guilds qualified and fully insured, and every quote is free. Tell us about your tree and we’ll come back to you within 24 hours.

Every removal starts with a site visit, so the price you see is the price for your tree, your garden and your street. Find out more about our tree removal and felling service, then scroll down to get a free quote.