If you’ve got a towering gum, pine, or palm dominating your backyard and you’re starting to wonder whether it’s time for it to go, the first question on your mind is probably the same one everyone asks us: “What’s this going to cost?”
It’s a fair question, and unfortunately, there’s no single number we can throw at you. Large tree removal in Perth is one of those jobs where the price genuinely depends on what you’re working with. A 12-metre gum tucked into an open backyard with easy driveway access is a very different job to a 20-metre Norfolk Island pine leaning over a tiled roof in a tight inner-city block.
At AB Trees, we’ve spent the last 10 years quoting and removing trees of every shape, size, and headache level across Perth, so let’s walk you through what actually drives the price.
The Short Answer: What Perth Homeowners Typically Pay
As a rough guide, large tree removal in Perth (trees over roughly 10 metres) generally falls somewhere between $2,000 and $6,000 for a standard job with reasonable access. Extra-large trees over 15 to 20 metres, particularly mature gums, Moreton Bay figs, or Norfolk Island pines, can push past $10,000 once you factor in crane hire, traffic management, or multi-day crews.
That’s a wide range, and it’s meant to be. Think of any online price guide as a starting point for your budgeting conversation, not a fixed quote. The only way to get an accurate number for your specific tree is to have a qualified arborist assess it in person, which is exactly why we offer free, no-obligation quotes.
What Actually Drives the Cost of Large Tree Removal
1. Height and Trunk Diameter
This is the obvious one. A taller tree with a thicker trunk takes longer to dismantle safely, requires more cuts, and produces significantly more timber and green waste to haul away. Height also determines whether our crew can work from the ground, needs an elevated work platform, or requires a crane.
2. Access to the Tree
We get asked this less often than we should be, but access is one of the biggest swing factors in a quote. A tree with a clear run from the street, wide gates, and no overhead obstructions is straightforward. A tree wedged behind a side gate, surrounded by paving, or only reachable by walking gear through a narrow side passage takes longer and needs more manual handling, which adds to labour time.
3. Proximity to Structures, Powerlines, and Pools
If your large tree is leaning over the house, growing through powerlines, or hanging above a pool, we can’t simply fell it in one piece. Instead, our crew has to dismantle it section by section, lowering limbs with ropes and rigging to avoid any damage. This sectional approach is slower and more technical, and it’s reflected in the price. Trees near Western Power lines also need to be handled in line with clearance requirements, which sometimes means coordinating timing or technique with the network operator.
4. Species and Condition
Some species are simply denser, heavier, or more brittle than others, which changes how a crew approaches the job. A dead or storm-damaged tree can also be riskier to remove than a healthy one, since branches may be unstable or prone to unexpected failure mid-job. Safety always comes first, and a higher-risk tree may need additional rigging or a more cautious approach.
5. Crane or EWP Requirements
For genuinely large or awkwardly positioned trees, a crane service or an elevated work platform (EWP) like a cherry picker may be the only safe way to bring the tree down without risking your roof, fence, or neighbour’s property. This equipment isn’t cheap to hire and operate, so it does increase the overall quote, but it’s often the difference between a clean, controlled removal and a very expensive insurance claim.
6. Stump Grinding and Clean-Up
Most removal quotes cover felling, dismantling, and clearing the bulk of the debris, but stump grinding is usually priced separately. If you want the stump ground out flush with the lawn rather than left as a trip hazard, mention this when you’re getting your quote so it’s all accounted for upfront. The same goes for green waste removal: ask whether your quote includes full site clean-up or just the felling itself.
7. Council Approval and Arborist Reports
Depending on which Perth council area you’re in, your large tree may be classed as a “regulated” or “significant” tree, which can mean you need development approval before it comes down. Some councils also require an arborist’s report to support the application, particularly if the tree is healthy and the removal is being justified on safety grounds.
This adds time (and sometimes a modest cost) to the process, but it’s not something you want to skip. We talk more about this in our companion article on whether you can cut down trees on your WA property, but the short version is: always check with your local council before you book the chainsaw.
Why Quotes Vary So Much Between Companies
If you’ve ever called around for a few quotes and got wildly different numbers, you’re not imagining it. Some of that variation comes down to genuine differences in equipment, insurance, and crew experience. But some of it comes down to corner-cutting. A cheap quote from an unlicensed operator with no insurance might look appealing until something goes wrong, your fence gets crushed, your retic gets torn up, or someone gets hurt, and there’s no comeback for you as the homeowner.
At AB Trees, every member of our crew is either a qualified arborist or working towards their qualification under close supervision, and even our ground staff and truck drivers hold proper chainsaw and chipper operation tickets. We’re fully insured, and every quote comes with our No Mess and No Damage guarantee, so you know exactly what you’re getting before any chainsaw starts.
How to Get a Fair Price on Your Large Tree Removal
A few practical tips if you’re shopping around:
- Get more than one quote. Three is a sensible number. It gives you a feel for the market rate for your specific tree and access situation.
- Ask what’s included. Does the quote cover stump grinding? Full green waste removal? Or just getting the tree on the ground?
- Check insurance and qualifications. Ask directly whether the company is insured and whether the crew holds relevant arborist or chainsaw operation tickets.
- Keep the timber if it suits you. Some companies will adjust their price if you’re happy to keep the wood for firewood rather than having it hauled away.
- Don’t skip the council check. An unauthorised removal can cost you far more in fines than you’d ever save on the job itself.
- Be wary of the lowest bid. If one quote is dramatically lower than the others, it’s worth asking why before you book it in.
Get a Free, No-Obligation Quote from AB Trees
Every large tree is a little different, and the only way to get a number you can actually rely on is to have one of our experienced team members come out and take a look. We’ve been removing large, awkward, and genuinely intimidating trees across Perth, north and south of the river, for over 10 years, and we’ll always give you honest advice, even if that advice is that your tree doesn’t need to come down at all.
Get in touch with Ben on 0424 150 899 or Andrew on 0411 051 272, or request your free quote, and we’ll let you know exactly what your large tree removal will involve and what it will cost, with no mess and no damage to your property, guaranteed.
