Tree Removal Cost Guide: Boroondara, Stonnington & Manningham (2026)

Tree removal pricing in Melbourne's east in 2026 varies from a few hundred dollars for a small ornamental to well over $10,000 for a large protected gum requiring crane work. This guide covers what to actually expect, how to read a quote properly, and where homeowners commonly get caught out by hidden costs.

Typical Price Ranges in 2026

Realistic ranges from a qualified, insured arborist in Boroondara, Stonnington, Manningham, Glen Eira, Whitehorse, Yarra, Monash and surrounding council areas:

• Small tree removal (under 5m): $400 to $800
• Medium tree removal (5 to 10m): $800 to $2,000
• Large tree removal (10 to 20m): $2,000 to $5,000
• Mature gum or oak removal (20m+): $4,000 to $10,000+
• Crane-assisted removal (where access prevents sectional dismantling): add $1,500 to $4,000 for crane hire
• Stump grinding (typically a separate line item): $180 to $600 depending on stump size and number

These ranges include full clean-up and disposal but generally exclude permit fees and the cost of preparing an arborist report (typically $450 to $650), which most large removals in Boroondara, Stonnington and Manningham require.

A Real Example

To put concrete numbers around a typical job: a recent removal in Kew of a dying liquid amber, approximately 12m tall, in a backyard with reasonable side access. Work included sectional dismantling using a climber, ground crew chipping branches on-site, and full clean-up.

Total time on site: roughly 6 hours for two crew. Total price: $1,950 including GST. Stump grinding was an additional $280 booked for the following week. The tree was below the 110cm trunk circumference threshold for a Boroondara permit, so no permit application was needed.

If the same tree had required a permit, add $550 for the arborist report and roughly $200 in council application fees, bringing the total project cost to around $2,980. The actual removal work would still be $1,950.

What Drives Tree Removal Costs

Tree Size and Species

The biggest single factor. A 5m ornamental pear weighs maybe 300kg. A 20m river red gum weighs over 10 tonnes. Removal time and disposal volume scale roughly with the cube of tree height, which is why a doubling in height often means a tripling or more in price.

Access

The single biggest cost variable beyond size. A 15m tree in an open paddock might be a half-day job. The same tree in a Hawthorn backyard with no rear access, narrow side passage, and 30m of hand-carrying branches to the kerbside chipper, can be a full two-day job and a 2x price multiplier.

Hazards

Trees near power lines, pools, glass houses, fragile fences, neighbouring structures, or solar panels require additional rigging. Expect 20 to 50 percent added cost for significant hazards.

Crane or EWP Requirements

Some trees can't be safely sectionally dismantled from the tree itself. Crane removal is then the only option. Crane hire for a half day is typically $1,500 to $3,000 depending on reach and tonnage, plus the arborist crew on top. Worth it for trees that would otherwise need to come out piece by piece over multiple days.

Council Permits

In Boroondara, any canopy tree with a trunk circumference of 110cm or more (measured at 1.4m above ground) requires a permit before removal. In Stonnington, similar thresholds apply, with the Significant Tree Register adding further protection for specific trees. In Manningham, native eucalypts are heavily protected through Vegetation Protection Overlays. Permit applications typically take four to eight weeks and require a certified arborist report. We've explained the Boroondara law in detail in our plain-English guide.

Disposal

Green waste tipping fees in Melbourne are typically $50 to $150 per cubic metre. A large tree removal generates 5 to 15 cubic metres of chipped material. Keeping the chip as mulch on your property can save $200 to $500. Some homeowners ask for the wood to be cut into firewood lengths, which can also reduce disposal but adds labour time.

Hidden Costs to Watch For

Where homeowners commonly get surprised:

• Stump grinding charged separately. Most quotes are for tree removal only. Stump grinding is usually a separate $180 to $600 line item
• Surface root removal. The visible stump is one thing, but lateral surface roots radiating into the lawn often need grinding too, and aren't always quoted
• Permit fees. The arborist report is one cost; the council's application fee is another (typically $200 to $500)
• Replacement planting. Most Boroondara permit approvals require you to plant replacement trees. A semi-advanced tree plus planting is $200 to $600 per replacement, often three replacements per removal
• Traffic management. For trees near busy roads or requiring crane access, traffic management plans and crew can add $500 to $1,500
• Make-safe versus full removal. After storm damage, "make safe" work to stabilise the tree is a different scope than full removal, often quoted separately

How to Compare Quotes Fairly

Two quotes can look different but represent the same job. To compare fairly, check each quote includes the same scope:

• Full tree removal to ground level
• Stump grinding (or note it as excluded)
• Surface root removal
• All green waste removed or chipped to mulch
• Site clean-up to pre-job condition
• Permit assistance if applicable, with separate fee disclosed
• Insurance details ($20M public liability minimum)
• Cert III qualified arborist
• GST included or excluded clearly

If one quote is significantly cheaper, it's almost always because something is excluded. Ask what's not included before assuming it's better value.

Red Flags in Cheap Removals

• No insurance evidence. Tree removal is high-risk work. An uninsured contractor working on your property leaves you exposed if they injure themselves, damage property, or damage a neighbour's property
• No written quote. Verbal quotes leave you with no recourse if scope changes
• Cash-only operators. Legitimate businesses can invoice properly, take card payment, and provide GST receipts
• Pressure tactics. "I'm in your area today, give you a good price if you decide now" is a tactic associated with under-qualified operators who travel between unauthorised jobs
• No qualifications. AS 4373-2007 applies to removal work too. Cert III is the minimum for a person leading the work
• Door-to-door arborists. Reputable arborists don't cold-knock. The cowboys do
• "We can do it without a permit". A legitimate arborist won't help you breach council law. The penalties under the Boroondara Tree Protection Local Law 2024 can run to thousands per tree

When Cheap Becomes Expensive

The most expensive tree removals we see are jobs that started with a cheap quote and went wrong. A few examples we've been called in to fix:

• A property where an uninsured contractor felled a tree onto a neighbour's fence and outdoor furniture. Insurance claim refused. Property owner liable for $14,000 in damage
• A Hawthorn property fined $6,500 for removing a protected canopy tree on contractor advice that "no permit was needed". The contractor was right that they didn't need one. The property owner was wrong about whether the tree was protected
• A "lopping" job in Kew that left a 6m stump because the contractor's equipment couldn't reach higher. Property owner paid another $1,800 to have it properly removed by a qualified team with the right gear

The savings from cheap quotes are often illusory once you account for the risks.

Our Pricing

We work on fixed-price written quotes for every job. Typical ranges:

• Small tree removal (under 5m): $450 to $800
• Medium tree removal (5 to 10m): $800 to $1,800
• Large tree removal (10 to 20m): $1,800 to $4,500
• Mature gum or oak removal (20m+): quoted case-by-case
• Stump grinding: $180 to $600 depending on stump size
• Arborist reports for permits: $450 to $650

Every quote includes Cert III qualified labour, $20 million public liability cover, full site clean-up, and council permit guidance where relevant. Send us a photo of the tree and your suburb for a free written quote.