HOW TO HIRE · GARDEN & OUTDOOR · CHECKED OCTOBER 2026
How to hire a tree surgeon in Ireland
The checks, the questions and the paperwork.
A tree surgery in Ireland costs €200–€2,000 per job, typically around €600. 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 surgeon in five steps
- Are you a trader, and can I see that in writing?No register covers tree surgeon work, so trader status is what your consumer rights hang on — emergency Tree Work — tree surgery can also include emergency services, such as removing trees that have fallen due to storms.
- How does tree's size change the price?A bigger job is harder to fit into a gap in the diary. — ask before the quote rather than after.
- How does complexity of the job change the price?Providers quote this separately because it varies so much. — ask before the quote rather than after.
- How does disposal of debris change the price?Providers quote this separately because it varies so much. — ask before the quote rather than after.
- What is not included?Tree surgery generally does not cover landscaping or garden design services — get the exclusions named in the quote, because a tree surgeon 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 surgeon work, so trader status is what your consumer rights hang on — emergency Tree Work — tree surgery can also include emergency services, such as removing trees that have fallen due to storms.
A good answer: A bigger job is harder to fit into a gap in the diary. — ask before the quote rather than after.
A good answer: Providers quote this separately because it varies so much. — ask before the quote rather than after.
A good answer: Providers quote this separately because it varies so much. — ask before the quote rather than after.
A good answer: Tree surgery generally does not cover landscaping or garden design services — get the exclusions named in the quote, because a tree surgeon 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 — stump Grinding — after a tree is removed, stump grinding is a common service provided to eliminate the remaining stump.
A good answer: A written scope and a price before the tree surgeon starts, and an itemised invoice after — tree Removal — in cases where a tree poses a risk to property or health, tree surgery may involve complete removal.
Getting the quote right
- Tree's size — a bigger job is harder to fit into a gap in the diary.
- Complexity of the job — providers quote this separately because it varies so much.
- Disposal of debris — providers quote this separately because it varies so much.
- Any necessary equipment rental — some products have to be ordered in, which adds to the wait.
- 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's size — a bigger job is harder to fit into a gap in the diary
- They will not talk about it: complexity of the job — providers quote this separately because it varies so much
- They will not talk about it: disposal of debris — providers quote this separately because it varies so much
- A price for the tree surgeon 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 surgeon has begun
What a tree surgeon costs: €200–€2,000 per job
The figures are for the job, per job, and a quote for your own is the only number that binds anyone. Tree pruning and Tree felling each carry their own band. Tree Surgery 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 surgeons 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's size — a bigger job is harder to fit into a gap in the diary — that is what the tree surgeon is judging on the first visit, and a price given without it is a guess.
- Agree what is being doneComplexity of the job — providers quote this separately because it varies so much — put in writing before anyone starts, because it is the document you both read back at the end.
- The work itselfDisposal of debris — providers quote this separately because it varies so much — and anything found on the day that was not in that is priced before it is started.
- Check it togetherAny necessary equipment rental — some products have to be ordered in, which adds to the wait — walked against the written scope rather than against the feeling of it, while the tree surgeon is still there.
- What you are handedThe itemised invoice and any guarantee on the workmanship and the parts, look for tree surgeons with relevant qualifications, such as Arborist certification or safety training.
- Tree Pruning
- Tree surgery often includes pruning, which involves removing dead or overgrown branches to promote healthy growth.
- Tree Removal
- In cases where a tree poses a risk to property or health, tree surgery may involve complete removal.
- Stump Grinding
- After a tree is removed, stump grinding is a common service provided to eliminate the remaining stump.
- Emergency Tree Work
- Tree surgery can also include emergency services, such as removing trees that have fallen due to storms.
- Tree Felling
- The complete removal of a tree, often due to safety concerns or disease.
- Crown Reduction
- Reducing the size of the tree's canopy to improve light access and reduce wind resistance.
AFTER
When the job is done
Hiring a tree surgeon: questions people ask
The cost of tree surgery can vary significantly based on the tree's size, location, and condition. Additionally, accessibility and the complexity of the job can also impact pricing.
The duration of tree surgery depends on the scope of the work. Minor pruning tasks might take a couple of hours, while complete removals or large jobs can take several days.
Yes, many tree surgery services offer emergency call-out options for urgent situations, such as fallen trees due to severe weather. Availability may vary, so it's best to check with local providers.
Yes, many companies offer discounts or package deals for booking multiple services, such as pruning and stump grinding. It's advisable to discuss your needs with the provider for the best pricing.
Tree surgery generally does not cover landscaping or garden design services. Additionally, any work involving regulated utilities, such as electrical or gas lines, should be handled by specialised professionals.
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.
MORE GUIDES