This page covers what tree felling actually costs in Durham and County Durham. Every tree is different, so treat these as working ranges, not quotes. The only way to get a real price is a site visit, which is why we quote after looking at the tree.
Typical tree felling costs in Durham
| Job | Typical range | What it covers |
|---|---|---|
| Small tree up to 5m (e.g. a self-sown sycamore or small birch) | £150 - £400 | Straight fell, cut up, waste taken away |
| Medium tree 5-10m (e.g. a mature garden apple or leylandii) | £400 - £900 | Fell or dismantle, remove all waste |
| Large tree 10m+ (e.g. a mature sycamore, ash or beech) | £900 - £2,500 | Sectional dismantling, rigging, waste removal |
| Extra large or difficult trees (tight access, near buildings) | £2,500+ | Often a full day or more with specialist rigging |
| Stump grinding afterwards | £50 - £250 | Ground below surface level |
What moves the price
- Access. Can we get to the tree with a vehicle, or is everything carried by hand through the garden? Tight rear gardens add labour.
- Height and diameter. Bigger trees take longer and need more equipment, sometimes a chipper, sometimes rigging and ropes.
- What is nearby. A tree in an open lawn is cheaper than the same tree six feet from a conservatory or over a power line. Close targets mean sectional dismantling: the tree is climbed and lowered in pieces instead of felled.
- Waste removal. Taking timber, branches and green waste off site is included in our quotes. Keeping the logs for firewood does not reduce the price much, because the removal is usually not the main cost.
- Permission. In Durham city and many villages, trees are protected by Tree Preservation Orders or sit in Conservation Areas. If paperwork is needed we handle it, but it can add time. See our guide on Tree Preservation Orders.
Why sectional dismantling costs more
Where a tree cannot be felled in one go, the climber works from the top down, cutting sections that are lowered on ropes to avoid buildings, fences and gardens. It is slower than a straight fell and needs more equipment and more people, which is why a “tree close to the house” job costs more than an open-site fell.
What a quote should include
- Inspection of the tree and the site
- The work method (fell, dismantle, rigging, chipper)
- Removal of timber and green waste
- Stump grinding if you want it
- Clearance of the site afterwards
We give fixed written quotes after a free inspection, with no call-out charge and no obligation. Send us the details and we will come and look.
Does the height really change the price?
Yes, but not the way most people expect. A 12m sycamore on an open lawn is not double the price of a 6m tree on the same lawn. The jump happens when a tree becomes too big to fell straight, needs climbing and rigging, or when the waste cannot be chipped where it falls. That threshold is usually around 8-10m, or whenever the tree is close to a target.