How much does it cost to trim trees away from a house?

Short answer

Trimming small branches away from the house yourself costs $0 to $50, for a pole pruner or loppers if you don't own them, and takes 60 to 180 minutes. An arborist or tree service charges $200 to $800 to trim a mature tree, with the top of the range for a big tree, a tree near power lines, or limbs over the roof. The split is simple: what you can reach from the ground is yours, and what needs a climb, a chainsaw at height, or a cut near wires is theirs.

Cost breakdown

The DIY column is a pole pruner or loppers, which last for decades once bought. The pro column is a crew with a climber or a bucket truck, a chipper, and cleanup, priced per tree or per visit.

What drives the cost

• The tree. A small ornamental is the low end. A mature oak or maple with big limbs over the roof is the high end, and a very large tree can exceed it.
• Power lines. Branches near a service drop or a distribution line take a crew trained for it, and the utility may trim what touches its lines for free if you ask.
• Access. A tree the bucket truck can reach from the driveway is cheaper than one in a back yard that has to be climbed.
• Cleanup. Hauling the brush and chipping it is usually included, but ask. Leaving the wood for firewood can cut the price.
• The number of trees. A crew already on site trims the second tree for less than the first, so do them together.

DIY vs. pro

Ground-level trimming is yours. How often to trim trees away from the house is once a year, and a pole pruner reaches the small branches that brush the siding, the gutters and the roof edge, which is most of what the house needs.

Call the arborist at $200 to $800 for anything that means leaving the ground with a saw, any limb big enough to damage the roof if it drops wrong, and anything near a wire. Those are the jobs that put people in the hospital, and a crew with ropes and a chipper finishes in an hour what would take a homeowner a dangerous day. Ask for a certified arborist for a valuable tree, since a bad cut can't be undone.

FAQ

How much does it cost to trim a tree?

$200 to $800 for a mature tree from an arborist or a tree service, more for a very large tree or one near power lines.

Can I trim tree branches away from my house myself?

The ones you can reach from the ground with a pole pruner, yes. Anything that needs a ladder and a saw, or is near a wire, is a job for a crew.

Will the power company trim trees near the lines for free?

Often, for branches touching the lines they own. Call the utility and ask. The service drop to your house is usually your responsibility.

How often should trees be trimmed away from the house?

Once a year, in late winter for most trees, and right away after a storm leaves a damaged limb over the roof.