If you have a tree that needs to come down, the honest answer is that removal in Derby typically costs anywhere from around £150 for a small garden tree to £2,500 or more for a large mature one. The wide range exists because every job is different, so this guide breaks down what actually drives the price and how to budget sensibly.
As a rough guide, a small tree up to about 5 metres, such as a young rowan or an overgrown apple tree, usually costs between £150 and £400 to remove. A medium tree of 5 to 12 metres, like a mature birch or cherry, tends to fall between £400 and £900. Large trees over 12 metres, such as established oaks, sycamores or poplars, commonly run from £900 to £2,500, and complex jobs on very large or awkward trees can exceed that.
These figures normally include felling or dismantling the tree, chipping the branches and removing the waste. Stump grinding is usually quoted separately, typically £80 to £250 depending on the stump's diameter and access for the grinder. Always check exactly what a quote includes before comparing prices.
Size matters, but access and surroundings often matter more. A tall tree in an open back garden with side access can be felled in sections quickly, while the same tree squeezed between a conservatory, a neighbour's fence and overhead lines has to be dismantled piece by piece and lowered on ropes. That extra time and rigging is where costs climb.
Condition also plays a part. Dead, decayed or storm damaged trees can be unsafe to climb, which may mean using a mobile elevated work platform, and hire of one adds to the bill. Many terraced streets around areas like Normanton, Chaddesden and Allestree have limited rear access, so everything must be carried through the house or over walls, which slows the job down.
Before anything is cut, check whether the tree is protected by a Tree Preservation Order or sits within a conservation area. Derby has several conservation areas, including parts of Darley Abbey, Strutts Park and Little Chester, and working on a protected tree without consent can lead to significant fines. Derby City Council handles applications within the city, while surrounding villages fall under Amber Valley, Erewash or South Derbyshire district councils.
A reputable tree surgeon will check this for you and can usually submit the application on your behalf. Conservation area notifications require six weeks' notice, and TPO applications can take up to eight weeks, so it is worth building that into your plans rather than waiting until the tree becomes urgent.
Photographs and phone estimates are a starting point, but any firm figure should follow a proper site visit. When you get quotes, ask for them in writing, check the company holds public liability insurance of at least £5 million, and ask where the waste will go, since fly tipped tree waste can be traced back to the homeowner.
Be cautious of door knockers offering to fell a tree cheaply on the day. Legitimate tree surgeons rarely need to tout for work this way, and a botched felling near a house can cost far more to put right than the original job. Getting two or three written quotes from established local firms is the most reliable way to know you are paying a fair price.
Sometimes, as demand for tree work often dips between late autumn and early spring, and deciduous trees are easier to work on without their leaves. It is always worth asking about availability in quieter months, though prices for straightforward jobs do not vary hugely across the year.
Only if the tree is covered by a Tree Preservation Order or you live in a conservation area, in which case you must apply to your local council first. If neither applies, you can generally remove a tree on your own property without permission.
Usually not. Most quotes cover cutting the tree to ground level and removing the waste, with stump grinding priced separately, typically £80 to £250 depending on size and access, so ask for it to be itemised if you want the stump gone too.
Got a tree job in mind? Tell us about it and we will get a free quote back to you, usually the same day.
Family-run arborists. Derby-based, working all across Derbyshire and Nottinghamshire.