How Much Does Tree Felling Cost in Cape Town?
With Top Trimmers, tree felling in Cape Town's northern suburbs usually starts from around R1,500 a tree, and taking the waste away costs R450 a trailer load when it isn't already in the price. Here's what makes a tree cost more or less.
Most people asking what tree felling costs have a tree that's become a problem and no idea what getting rid of it will cost. The honest answer is that it depends on the tree, but what drives the price isn't a mystery.
Top Trimmers' tree felling usually starts from around R1,500, with the stump dug out on request and the waste taken away at R450 per load on our large trailer. Quotes are free, and the quickest way to one is to WhatsApp us photos of the tree.
Top Trimmers' tree felling prices at a glance
| What you need | Top Trimmers' price | Good to know |
|---|---|---|
| Felling a tree | From around R1,500 | Per tree. Bigger trees, tight access and trees near a roof or wall cost more |
| Digging out the stump | Quoted per job | Every stump is different: we look at photos or the stump itself first, then quote. We dig stumps out rather than grind them |
| Taking the waste away | R450 per load | On our large trailer. Sometimes already part of the job price |
| Your quote | Free | From WhatsApp photos or a quick look at the tree |
| Paying | EFT or cash | Whichever suits you |
| VAT | None added | Top Trimmers isn't VAT registered, so there's no VAT on our quotes |
How much is it to cut a tree in South Africa?
There's no single national price: what a tree costs to cut down depends on the tree, how hard it is to reach and how much waste it leaves. In Cape Town's northern suburbs, Top Trimmers' tree felling usually starts from around R1,500, and you'll know your exact price from a free quote before any work starts.
Where your tree lands above that starting price depends on the things below: its size, how easy it is to reach, the stump and the waste.
What's included in a Top Trimmers tree felling price?
- Felling the tree, in sections where a roof, wall, pool or power line is close by.
- Cutting it up into pieces small enough to carry out and load.
- Digging out the stump, when you ask for it, so the ground can be levelled, paved or planted.
- Taking the waste away on our large trailer at R450 a load, or already in the price on some jobs. Your quote says which.
- Coming back if anything isn't right. Top Trimmers is happy to come back, evaluate and correct whatever needs fixing.
What makes tree felling cost more or less?
- Size. A taller tree with a wider spread takes longer to bring down and makes more waste.
- Access. A tree in the back garden behind a narrow side passage means every branch is carried out by hand. A tree on an open front lawn is quicker.
- What's around it. Next to a roof, a boundary wall, a pool or power lines, a tree has to come down in small sections instead of in one go.
- The stump. Leaving the stump is cheaper on the day. Digging it out costs more, but you get the ground back.
- The waste. One small tree may fit on one load; a big gum or a row of palms can take several. At R450 a load, the waste can add up.
Costs people forget to budget for
- Waste removal. Some quotes leave it out. Ask whether taking the branches and logs away is included. At Top Trimmers it's R450 a load when it isn't.
- The stump. A quote for felling may mean the stump stays. If you want it out, say so up front.
- Doing the waste yourself. City drop-off sites limit what you can bring and how much, so check the City's drop-off facilities page before you load up a whole tree.
- VAT. When you compare quotes, ask whether VAT is added. Top Trimmers isn't VAT registered, so there's no VAT on our quotes.
- Permission. A tree on the verge belongs to the City, and a protected tree needs a licence. Read what permission you need to cut a tree before you get quotes.
How can you keep the cost of tree felling down?
- Ask whether a trim will do. If the tree is healthy and simply too big, trimming or pruning leaves less to cut and less waste to take away.
- Decide about the stump up front. Saying from the start whether you want it dug out means one visit and one price, not a second booking later.
- Clear the way. Move cars, pots and garden furniture away from the tree before the team arrives, so the work can start straight away.
- Send clear photos. The more we can see of the tree and what's around it, the closer the first price is to the final one.
- Check permission first. A verge tree or a protected tree needs the City's permission or a licence, and it's better to know that before you book.
How does Top Trimmers price tree felling?
Every tree gets its own price. Tylor looks at your photos, or at the tree itself, and gives you one price for the job: the felling, the stump if you want it out, and the waste if you want it gone. The quote is free and you'll have it within 24 hours of sending photos. You can pay by EFT or cash.
If anything isn't right after the job, Top Trimmers is happy to come back, evaluate and correct whatever needs fixing.
How do you get an accurate tree felling quote?
The better the photos, the closer the first price. Send these on WhatsApp to 071 623 4949:
- One photo of the whole tree, top to bottom
- One of the base of the trunk and the ground around it
- One showing what's close by: walls, roof, pool, power lines or the neighbour's side
- How we get to it: through the house, a side gate or straight off the street
- Your address, and whether you want the stump out and the waste taken away
Tree felling cost questions
Is the stump included in the tree felling price?
Only if you ask for it. Top Trimmers digs stumps out rather than leaving them in the ground, and the stump is priced into your tree felling quote when you say you want it gone. If you'd rather keep the stump for now, the felling costs less.
Does a tree near a roof, wall or power lines cost more to fell?
Usually, yes. Next to a roof, a boundary wall, a pool or power lines, Top Trimmers has to take a tree down in small sections instead of in one go, which is more work. Tylor prices each tree in Cape Town from your photos or a look, so show what's around it when you WhatsApp us.
Do you charge for a tree felling quote?
No. Top Trimmers' tree felling quotes are free. WhatsApp photos of the tree with your address to 071 623 4949 and we'll reply within 24 hours with a price or a time to come and look.
Is there a cheaper time of year to have a tree removed in Cape Town?
Top Trimmers prices each tree on its own, from photos or a look at the tree, so ask for a quote whenever it suits you. Our post on the cheapest time of year for tree removal goes into timing.
Is it cheaper to trim a tree than to fell it?
Usually, yes, because less of the tree comes down and there's less waste to take away. If the tree is healthy and in the right place, Top Trimmers can trim or prune it instead, and we'll tell you honestly which makes more sense from your photos.
Find out what your tree will cost
WhatsApp photos of the tree to 071 623 4949. Your quote is free and we reply within 24 hours.