Tree removal cost in Brisbane: the short answer
As a 2026 guide, tree removal in Brisbane usually costs somewhere between a few hundred dollars for a small, easy tree and several thousand for a large tree beside a house. Stump grinding is typically a few hundred dollars per stump. Palms and bamboo vary widely with height, number and waste volume.
The bands below are for typical residential jobs in greater Brisbane, Logan, Ipswich, Moreton Bay and the Redlands. They are planning figures only. An on-site quote is needed for a real price.
Guide price bands (2026, AUD)
| Job | Typical range | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Small tree removal (under about 5 m, open access) | $400 – $900 | Shrubs, small ornamentals, young gums |
| Medium tree removal (about 5–12 m) | $900 – $2,500 | Most backyard jacarandas, mangoes, palms |
| Large tree removal (over about 12 m, or close to buildings) | $2,500 – $6,000+ | Big gums, figs, camphor laurels; sectional climbing or crane |
| Stump grinding (per stump) | $150 – $500 | More for very large stumps or difficult access |
| Stump removal (dug out, backfilled) | $400 – $1,500+ | Depends on root spread, machine access and fill |
| Palm removal (per palm) | $300 – $1,500 | Height, number and waste volume drive it |
| Bamboo removal (per clump or stand) | $500 – $3,000+ | Rhizome removal and waste are the big variables |
Very large or complex jobs, such as big trees over houses needing a crane, can go well past the top of these bands.
What pushes the price up
- Proximity to buildings. A tree over the roof has to be climbed and lowered in small pieces. That takes more time and more people than felling in an open yard.
- Power lines. Trees near lines may need specialist workers or coordination with Energex.
- Access. A narrow side path, steps, a steep slope or no truck access means more carrying and smaller machines.
- Species and condition. Ironbark and other dense eucalypts are heavy and slow to cut. Dead trees are brittle and unpredictable, which needs more care.
- Waste. Carting logs and green waste costs money in trips and tip fees. Palm fronds and bamboo are especially bulky.
- Cranes and platforms. Hire costs are significant, but they can shorten a long job enough to be worth it.
- Ground conditions. Wet clay can mean ground mats or a return visit.
- Urgency. Make-safe work after a major storm, when demand is high, can cost more.
What can bring it down
- Combining jobs. Several trees, stumps and palms on one visit share the set-up cost.
- Keeping the timber. Leaving logs as firewood, or mulch for garden beds, reduces carting.
- Clear access. Moving cars, bins and outdoor furniture before the crew arrives saves time.
- Planning ahead. Booking before storm season, rather than after a storm, avoids the rush.
What a written quote should include
A proper quote should spell out:
- Which trees are being removed or pruned, identified clearly.
- The method: climbing and sectioning, platform, crane or felling.
- Whether the stump is cut low, ground or removed, and to what depth.
- What happens to the logs, branches and mulch.
- How property will be protected.
- Who checks council and koala mapping, and who applies for approval if needed.
- Whether GST is included.
- What happens if the job turns out different from what was expected.
If any of these are missing, ask before agreeing.
Costs outside the quote
Council approval. If a tree is protected, councils may charge an application fee and may want an arborist's report. These vary between Brisbane City Council, Logan, Ipswich, Moreton Bay and Redland councils, and are separate from the removal price.
Arborist reports. For protected trees, development applications or insurance disputes, a written report from a qualified arborist may be needed. That is a separate service with its own fee.
Underground service location. For stump removal near pipes and cables, a private locator may be worth paying for.
Insurance and storm damage
Some home insurance policies cover the cost of removing a tree that has fallen on the house or another insured structure, and sometimes the clean-up. Most do not cover removing a healthy standing tree as a precaution. Check your policy, and after a storm take photos of the damage before anything is moved, as long as it is safe. The storm season checklist covers this in more detail.
Getting your price
Call or use the form, tell us the suburb, what the tree is and where it sits, and send photos if you can. A local contractor will look at it and give you a written price. For more on each type of work, see tree removal, stump grinding, stump removal, palm tree removal and bamboo removal.