What’s the Going Rate for Tree Service?

Written By Shira Boss

Of all the home maintenance chores to tackle this season, one of them is literally hanging over your head: tree pruning.

Anyone with large trees knows maintaining these beautiful—and sometimes very old—natural wonders isn’t the kind of job to put off. With storm season here, dead limbs are susceptible to falling. So how much will you have to pay to take care of your trees?

What it costs depends on many factors, including your location, the size of the trees, how much deadwood they have or how much thinning they need, and how accessible they are.

Here are the ranges of what you can expect to pay to prune your trees by size, according to TreeRemoval.com, which connects homeowners with local service providers:

Up to a 30-foot tree: $75 to $450

30 feet to 60 feet: $150 to $875

60 feet and higher: $200 to $1,000 and up

Crowded urban areas cost more because the wood can’t be dropped onto a lawn and instead must be safely lowered by hand. Likewise, if a tree is on a slope or in a backyard where a bucket truck can’t get to it, a climber must do the job, which can raise the price by 50 percent or more.

Is it an emergency? Expect to pay more—emergency services can cost at least $250 per hour.

Make sure the company you use is insured. Choosing an arborist certified by the International Society of Arboriculture helps assure you of a quality job.

What tree service have you used here in town, and how much have you paid to have your trees pruned? If you’ve received multiple estimates, tell us which companies were most reasonable, and if you used them, whether you were happy with their work.

TELL US: What’s the Going Rate for Tree Maintenance?