HOW TO HIRE · GARDEN & OUTDOOR · CHECKED OCTOBER 2026
How to hire a tree felling contractor in Ireland
The checks, the questions and the paperwork.
A tree felling in Ireland costs €300–€3,000 per tree, typically around €800. Here is how to check that in a minute, what to ask before you book, and what you must be handed when the job is done.
- Search and compare — no account needed
- Nearest to you first
- One score from Google, Trustpilot and Locufy reviews
THE 60-SECOND VERSION
Hiring a tree felling contractor in five steps
- Are you a trader, and can I see that in writing?No register covers tree felling contractor work, so trader status is what your consumer rights hang on — debris Cleanup — after the tree has been felled, the service typically includes the removal of branches and logs.
- How does tree size change the price?More ground to cover means more time on site. — ask before the quote rather than after.
- How does complexity of the job change the price?A clear answer here gets you a firmer quote. — ask before the quote rather than after.
- How does accessibility to the site change the price?Parking restrictions in town add to what you are charged. — ask before the quote rather than after.
- What is not included?Tree Removal Techniques — different techniques are employed based on the tree's size and location — get the exclusions named in the quote, because a tree felling contractor job is priced on what was agreed and not on what was assumed.
BEFORE YOU BOOK
Check before you book
No register applies
NO REGISTER APPLIES TO TREE SURGEONS. This is the family where that matters most, because the work is high, heavy and next to houses and power lines. Membership of the Arboricultural Association is voluntary. What you can check is insurance, certification for the chainsaw and the climb, and whether the tree is PROTECTED — a tree under a preservation order or in a conservation area may not be cut without permission, and the liability for cutting it is yours.
Look for the trader badge and the ID-checked badge on the Locufy profile — both are checked by us, not claimed by the provider.
What to check instead
Whether the tree is protected — ask the local authority BEFORE anyone quotes; the penalty falls on the owner; Public liability at a level that matches a tree near a house, and employer's liability for a climbing crew; Chainsaw and aerial-rescue certification for the people actually climbing; What happens to the arisings — chipped, taken away, or left, priced accordingly; How they will protect the lawn, the beds and the neighbour's property; For anything near a power line, that they contact the network operator, not you.
Ask for each of these before you agree a price, and get the answers in the same message as the quote.
Insurance
Expect public liability with a high limit, and employer's liability for a crew. From a company, ask for the insurer, the limit and the VAT number, and ask who actually attends: the team that turns up may be employed, subcontracted or both, and only one of those is supervised by the firm you are paying.
Ask to see the current certificate of insurance — the insurer's name, the limit and the date it runs to.
Trader or private seller
Under the Consumer Rights Act 2022 a trader must tell you they are a trader, and your consumer rights — work carried out with reasonable skill and care, and a cooling-off period on a contract agreed in your home or online — apply to traders and not to private sellers. On Locufy the trader status is shown on the profile.
Look for the trader badge on the Locufy profile, and ask anyone else for it in writing before you agree a price.
VAT
VAT at 13.5%, the reduced rate Revenue publishes for this service. Ask whether the price you were given includes it. A trader under the €42,500 registration threshold does not charge it; one over it must, and must show it separately.
Ask whether the figure you were given includes it, and for the VAT number if they are registered — Revenue publishes the rate for this service. revenue.ie →
A good answer: No register covers tree felling contractor work, so trader status is what your consumer rights hang on — debris Cleanup — after the tree has been felled, the service typically includes the removal of branches and logs.
A good answer: More ground to cover means more time on site. — ask before the quote rather than after.
A good answer: A clear answer here gets you a firmer quote. — ask before the quote rather than after.
A good answer: Parking restrictions in town add to what you are charged. — ask before the quote rather than after.
A good answer: Tree Removal Techniques — different techniques are employed based on the tree's size and location — get the exclusions named in the quote, because a tree felling contractor job is priced on what was agreed and not on what was assumed.
A good answer: Expect public liability with a high limit, and employer's liability for a crew — site Assessment — before any tree felling begins, professionals conduct a thorough site assessment to evaluate the tree's health and position.
A good answer: A written scope and a price before the tree felling contractor starts, and an itemised invoice after — tree Pruning — selective removal of certain parts of a tree to maintain its health and shape without complete removal.
Getting the quote right
- Tree size — more ground to cover means more time on site.
- Complexity of the job — a clear answer here gets you a firmer quote.
- Accessibility to the site — parking restrictions in town add to what you are charged.
- Potential need for specialised equipment — providers quote this separately because it varies so much.
- In writing before anyone starts — a message on Locufy counts
- What is NOT included, named
- Who actually attends, and whether they are employed or subcontracted
- The VAT number, and whether it checks out on the Revenue register
Walk away if
- They will not talk about it: tree size — more ground to cover means more time on site
- They will not talk about it: complexity of the job — a clear answer here gets you a firmer quote
- They will not talk about it: accessibility to the site — parking restrictions in town add to what you are charged
- A price for the tree felling contractor before anyone has asked the size, the access or the condition of what they are working on
- Cash only, or a large deposit before anything at all has started
- No written quote, or one that moves once the tree felling contractor has begun
What a tree felling contractor costs: €300–€3,000 per tree
The figures are for the job, per tree, and a quote for your own is the only number that binds anyone. Complete tree removal and Crown reduction each carry their own band. Tree Felling price guide →
Guide prices compiled by the Locufy team from published Irish and UK provider price lists and 2026/27 cost guides. Updated 2026.
KNOW WHAT TO LOOK FOR? NOW FIND ONE
Tree felling contractors near you, with the badges that matter shown
ID checked, trader status and one score from every review — on the card, before you message anyone. Nearest first. No account needed to look.
Or post the job free and let them come to you.
- Look firstTree size — more ground to cover means more time on site — that is what the tree felling contractor is judging on the first visit, and a price given without it is a guess.
- Agree what is being doneComplexity of the job — a clear answer here gets you a firmer quote — put in writing before anyone starts, because it is the document you both read back at the end.
- The work itselfAccessibility to the site — parking restrictions in town add to what you are charged — and anything found on the day that was not in that is priced before it is started.
- Check it togetherPotential need for specialised equipment — providers quote this separately because it varies so much — walked against the written scope rather than against the feeling of it, while the tree felling contractor is still there.
- What you are handedThe itemised invoice and any guarantee on the workmanship and the parts, always hire qualified professionals with experience and appropriate insurance for tree felling.
- Site Assessment
- Before any tree felling begins, professionals conduct a thorough site assessment to evaluate the tree's health and position.
- Tree Removal Techniques
- Different techniques are employed based on the tree's size and location.
- Debris Cleanup
- After the tree has been felled, the service typically includes the removal of branches and logs.
- Complete Tree Removal
- This involves cutting down the entire tree, including the removal of branches and trunk.
- Crown Reduction
- A method that reduces the height or spread of the tree's crown while retaining its health.
- Stump Grinding
- The process of grinding down the remaining stump after a tree has been felled to ground level.
AFTER
When the job is done
Hiring a tree felling contractor: questions people ask
The cost of tree felling can vary based on factors like tree size, location, and accessibility. Additional costs may arise if the tree is near power lines or requires special equipment.
The duration of a tree felling job depends on the tree's size and the complexity of the site. Generally, a small to medium tree can take a few hours, while larger trees may require a full day or more.
Same-day availability for tree felling services can be limited, especially during peak seasons. It's best to book in advance, but some providers may accommodate emergency requests.
Services that are usually out of scope include landscaping after the tree is removed, soil replacement, and any repair work to structures that may have been damaged during the felling process. Timing can be crucial; certain times of year may be better for felling based on tree species and local regulations.
NO REGISTER APPLIES TO TREE SURGEONS. This is the family where that matters most, because the work is high, heavy and next to houses and power lines. Membership of the Arboricultural Association is voluntary. What you can check is insurance, certification for the chainsaw and the climb, and whether the tree is PROTECTED — a tree under a preservation order or in a conservation area may not be cut without permission, and the liability for cutting it is yours.
Under the Consumer Rights Act 2022 the work must be carried out with reasonable skill and care, and put right if it is not. Say what is wrong in writing first.
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