How much does tree felling cost in South Africa?
Removing a small garden tree can cost under R1,500, while a big tree that has to be taken down in sections near a house runs well over R10,000. Height and access decide most of the price.
Last updated
Get exact prices: compare up to 3 quotesTree Felling prices at a glance
Published 2026 prices put a small tree at roughly R750 to R3,500 to fell, a medium tree at R1,500 to R8,000 and a large tree at R3,000 to R15,000. Very large trees needing a crane can pass R30,000. Stump grinding is usually extra, at about R800 to R5,000 per stump.
| What | Typical price | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Small tree (up to about 5 to 6 m), felled and chipped | R750–R3,500 per tree | Johannesburg guides start at about R750. Cape Town guides start nearer R1,200. |
| Medium tree (about 5 to 12 m) | R1,500–R8,000 per tree | The top end assumes sectional dismantling with ropes because there's no room to drop the tree. |
| Large tree (about 10 to 20 m) | R3,000–R15,000 per tree | Rope work and controlled lowering are usual at this size, plus more haulage. |
| Stump grinding | R800–R5,000 per stump | About R800 to R1,500 for a stump up to 30 cm across. Very large stumps or clusters cost R3,300 or more. |
| Very large tree (20 m and over) | R15,000–R30,000 per tree | Often needs a crane. Prices above R30,000 are possible on difficult sites. |
| Green waste removal | R800–R2,000 per tree | From a single 2026 guide. Some companies include chipping in the felling price but bill for removing the wood. |
| Crane hire, where needed | R3,000–R8,000 per job | From a single Cape Town guide. Large cranes or long setups cost more. |
| Chemical stump treatment (instead of grinding) | R300–R500 per tree | Kills the stump so it doesn't resprout, but leaves it in the ground. |
Estimates only. These ranges come from published South African prices, listed under sources below, and were last checked on 28 October 2026. Your price depends on your site and the specification. Get quotes for an accurate price for your job.
Tree felling is quoted per tree, and the biggest factor is height. But two trees of the same height can be priced very differently. A tree standing in open ground can be dropped in one piece in an hour or two. One leaning over a roof, a wall or a power line has to be cut down from the top in small sections and lowered on ropes, which takes a climber, a ground crew and much longer. One 2026 calculator adds 25 to 60% for trees near buildings, fences or power lines for exactly that reason.
Each company groups trees into its own height bands, so the bands on this page are approximate. Read them as a rough guide to what your tree should cost, then compare the quotes you get against them. Prices published by Johannesburg companies are generally lower than those from Cape Town, which is why the ranges are wide.
Check what's in each price. Most companies include cutting the tree down and chipping the branches. Stump grinding is almost always extra, and removing the timber and chips from site is often billed separately. VAT is mostly not mentioned in the guides we used. One Cape Town guide notes that VAT-registered businesses must add 15%.
What moves the price
Pushes the price up
- Height and trunk size. Taller, heavier trees need more cutting, more rigging and more haulage.
- Buildings, walls and power lines nearby. Sectional dismantling can add 25 to 60% to a straightforward fell.
- A crane. For very large trees over a house, crane hire adds roughly R3,000 to R8,000 or more.
- Poor access. Narrow streets, steep sites and back gardens with no vehicle access mean carrying everything out by hand.
- Emergencies and after-hours work. Storm-damaged trees and same-day callouts cost 30 to 100% more, depending on the company.
- Stump and waste removal. Each can add R800 to R2,000 or more per tree.
Brings the price down
- Several trees in one visit. Many companies give 10 to 20% off for multiple trees.
- Open ground. A tree that can be felled in one piece is the cheapest job.
- Keeping the wood. If you want logs for the braai, you may save on removal.
- Treating the stump instead of grinding. Chemical treatment costs about R300 to R500, if you don't need the ground clear.
- Booking ahead. Planned work in calm weather avoids emergency rates.
An 8 m tree next to a house: a worked example
Say you have an 8 m tree overhanging your roof. It can't be dropped, so it has to come down in sections, and you want the stump ground out so you can lay lawn. Using the ranges on this page:
- Sectional felling of a medium tree: R3,000 to R8,000
- Grinding a stump of about 50 cm: R1,100 to R2,000
- Green waste removal: R800 to R2,000
- Estimated total: roughly R4,900 to R12,000
If a second, smaller tree comes down too
Adding a 4 m tree in open ground costs roughly R750 to R3,500 on its own. With a 10 to 20% multi-tree discount on the whole job, the second tree often adds less than you'd expect, because the crew and equipment are already on site.
What a tree felling quote should say
Ask each company to put these in writing before the work starts:
- Which trees, by position, and whether each is felled whole or dismantled in sections
- Whether the price includes chipping, and whether timber and chips are removed
- Stump grinding, priced per stump, and how deep they grind
- Crane hire, if any, and who arranges it
- Who is liable for damage to roofs, walls and paving, and proof of insurance
- Whether VAT is included
Costs that catch people out
The felling price is rarely the whole bill. The stump, the waste and the cleanup each add a line, and they can come to as much as the felling itself on a small tree.
If the tree is a listed protected species, you need a licence before it can be cut. Trees on the pavement usually belong to the municipality. Neither has a published fee in the guides we used, but getting it wrong can mean a fine far bigger than the felling cost, so ask about it before you accept a quote.
Do prices differ by region?
Published Johannesburg prices are noticeably lower than Cape Town ones. One Gauteng company prices trees of 8 to 15 m at R3,000 to R4,800, while a Cape Town company prices trees of 12 to 20 m at R7,000 to R15,000.
Within Cape Town, the same guide says the Atlantic Seaboard suburbs sit at the top of the range because of narrow streets and timber that has to be carried out by hand. The far south and Helderberg add travel time.
Get exact prices for your job
A guide can only give a range. Tell us about your job and up to 3 tree fellers near you will quote, so you can compare real prices side by side.
Compare up to 3 tree felling quotesTree Felling cost questions
How much does it cost to cut down a small tree?
A tree up to about 5 m in open ground typically costs R750 to R1,500 in Johannesburg and R1,200 to R3,500 in Cape Town, based on 2026 contractor price guides. That usually includes chipping the branches. Stump grinding and taking the wood away are often extra, so check before you accept.
Is stump grinding included in tree felling?
Usually not. Most companies quote it separately. Published prices run from about R800 to R1,500 for a stump up to 30 cm across to R3,300 to R5,000 or more for very large stumps or clusters. Chemical treatment at R300 to R500 is cheaper, but leaves the stump in the ground.
Why does a tree near my house cost so much more?
Because it can't be felled in one piece. A climber cuts it from the top down and lowers each section on ropes, which takes longer and needs more people and equipment. One 2026 calculator adds 25 to 60% for trees near buildings, fences or power lines, and some jobs need a crane.
How much more does emergency tree removal cost?
Published guides put emergency and after-hours work at roughly 30 to 100% above standard prices, with a Cape Town call-out fee of about R450 to R650. If a tree has fallen but isn't causing immediate danger, waiting for a normal booking can save a lot.
Do tree felling prices include VAT?
Most published price guides don't say. A VAT-registered company must add 15%, while a small business under the registration threshold won't charge it. Ask each quote to state VAT clearly so you're comparing the real totals.
Sources
- Tree Felling Prices South Africa 2026: From R750 Per Tree, Tree Wise Tree Felling, September 2026
- How Much Does Tree Felling Cost in Cape Town? (2026 Price Guide), Pro Tree Felling Cape Town, May 2026
- Tree Felling Cost Calculator South Africa - Prices & Permit Guide, OurPower, 2026
- Landscaping prices in South Africa - What are all the costs?, Kandua, date not stated
Related cost guides
Get exact tree felling prices
Up to 3 quotes, free to request and no obligation.