Top 7 tree removal and tree lopping services in Canberra
Canberra's best rated tree removal services and arborists, from Belconnen and Gungahlin to the Inner South, Tuggeranong and Queanbeyan. Every business here has an ABN that matches its name, a real local base and a strong record of Google reviews. Many larger trees in Canberra are protected under the Urban Forest Act, so check the rules below before anything comes down.
- 7top picks from 40+ checked
- 5.0average Google rating
- 1offer 24/7 emergency work
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What we check for every listing
- A real businessAn ABN that matches the trading name, a named owner and a real local base. No call-forwarding fronts.
- ReputationA strong record of Google reviews built up over years, not a handful.
- Qualified crewArborist qualifications and insurance as the business states them. Ask to see certificates.
- Direct contactPhone numbers and links go to the business itself.
The best tree loppers in Canberra
Ranked on reputation, qualifications, experience and the range of work each business takes on. Ratings are from Google Maps.
Rankings are editorial and no business pays to be listed or to move up. Any paid placement is labelled Featured. Qualifications and insurance are as each business states them, so ask to see certificates. How we make money
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1
ACT Tree Felling
Lyons office, separate northside and southside lines, covers all of Canberra
Best for long-running crew with in-house consulting arborists
- Trading in Canberra since 1975, the business says
- Arboriculture Australia member, according to the company
- Diploma qualified arborists write tree reports and risk assessments
- Publishes its insurers and cover amounts on its site
More about ACT Tree Felling
ACT Tree Felling started in 1975 under founder Paddy Hanson and calls itself Canberra's longest running tree service. His son Tim van der Linden now runs the family business from an office in Lyons, with separate lines for northside and southside jobs.
Crews handle removals, pruning, cabling and bracing, stump grinding and mulch orders. Diploma qualified consulting arborists look after health checks, risk assessments and management plans, the company says. It is an Arboriculture Australia member and is accredited for work near powerlines, according to the business.
- Based in
- Lyons
- Since
- 1975
- Qualifications
- Arboriculture Australia member; Diploma qualified consulting arborists, the business says
- Insurance
- $20 million public liability and $1 million professional indemnity with QBE, plus workers compensation
- Does
- Removal, Pruning, Arborist reports, Large trees
-
2
Stump'd Tree Services
Ngunnawal base, covers all of Canberra plus Queanbeyan, Sutton and Gundaroo
Best for owner-run removals with stump grinding included
- Owner Leon Ciura is an arborist who works on the jobs
- Offers free on-site tree safety inspections, the business says
- Grinds stumps as well as removing trees
More about Stump'd Tree Services
Stump'd Tree Services is run by owner and arborist Leon Ciura from Gungahlin, covering Belconnen, Tuggeranong, Woden, Weston Creek and Queanbeyan. It has built one of the largest review bases among Canberra tree businesses.
The crew removes and prunes trees, grinds stumps, trims hedges and takes away green waste and wood chip. The business says it uses an elevated work platform for some jobs, carries public liability cover and offers free on-site safety inspections before quoting.
- Based in
- Ngunnawal
- Qualifications
- Owner is an arborist; elevated work platform licence, the business says
- Insurance
- Public liability insurance
- Does
- Removal, Stump grinding, Pruning
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3
LiRo Tree Services
Lyneham base, covers Canberra and Queanbeyan
Best for big removals and urgent storm work
- Offers 24 hour emergency work, the business says
- Does crane assisted removals and land clearing
- Runs its own chippers, loaders and trucks, according to the company
More about LiRo Tree Services
LiRo Tree Services is a younger Canberra company working from the inner north, and it has gathered a large set of five star reviews in a short time. It covers Canberra and Queanbeyan for homes and commercial sites.
The crew handles felling, crane assisted removals, pruning, crown thinning, stump grinding and land clearing, using its own chippers, loaders and trucks, the business says. It lists 24 hour emergency work for storm damage and fallen trees and says it is fully insured.
- Based in
- Lyneham
- Qualifications
- Fully insured crew with its own chippers, loaders and trucks, the business says
- Does
- Removal, Emergency, Large trees, Stump grinding
- Emergency
- 24/7, the business says
- Want 2 quotes to compare? Tell us about the job once and we'll pass it on.Get 2 quotes
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4
Abloom Tree Care
Inner South postal base, covers Canberra, Queanbeyan, Yass and nearby rural districts
Best for removals that need a permit report first
- AQF Level 5 arborist prepares reports, the business says
- Writes tree management plans and VALID risk assessments
- Says it handles emergency approvals for storm jobs
More about Abloom Tree Care
Abloom Tree Care is a Canberra arborist business that combines tree work with consulting. Its reports are prepared by an AQF Level 5 arborist, covering tree management plans for development applications, VALID risk assessments and tree health and root checks, the business says.
Crews also handle removals, pruning, hedges and stump grinding across Canberra, Queanbeyan, Bungendore, Yass and the rural districts. For storm and hazard jobs, the company says it responds quickly and looks after the emergency approval paperwork.
- Based in
- Kingston
- Qualifications
- AQF Level 5 arborist writes reports, the business says
- Does
- Removal, Pruning, Arborist reports, Emergency
-
5
TreeWorks Canberra
Queanbeyan East base, covers all of Canberra plus Yass, Bungendore and the Southern Tablelands
Best for risky trees that need a formal assessment
- Senior arborists qualified to AQF Level 8 and Level 5, the business says
- Arboriculture Australia member, according to the company
- Offers arborist reports, risk assessments and emergency work
- Evoenergy accredited for work near powerlines
More about TreeWorks Canberra
TreeWorks has served Canberra and Queanbeyan since 2011 from a yard in Queanbeyan East. Senior arborists Steve Griffith and Brendan Murphy hold postgraduate and diploma qualifications in arboriculture and are registered QTRA risk assessors, the business says.
The team does removals, pruning, stump grinding, powerline clearing and storm clean ups for homes, strata, schools and government sites. It also writes arborist reports for safety, development and disease questions. The company says it is an Arboriculture Australia member and fully insured.
- Based in
- Queanbeyan East
- Since
- 2011
- Qualifications
- Senior arborists at AQF Level 8 and 5; Arboriculture Australia member, the business says
- Does
- Removal, Pruning, Arborist reports, Emergency
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6
Treetops Tree Services
Campbell base, covers all of Canberra plus Queanbeyan, Jerrabomberra, Sutton and Wamboin
Best for careful pruning of established street and garden trees
- Climbing Canberra's trees since 1999, the business says
- Owner quotes every job and works on site
- Prunes to Australian Standard AS 4373, according to the company
More about Treetops Tree Services
Treetops Tree Services has been climbing Canberra's trees since 1999, the business says. Owner Ben quotes each job himself and leads the work on site, from a base in Campbell in the Inner North.
The focus is pruning and removal: deadwood removal, canopy lifting, building clearance and restorative work on older trees, as well as full removals. Pruning is done to the Australian Standard, according to the company, and it carries public liability cover. It covers every Canberra district plus Queanbeyan and the nearby NSW border areas.
- Based in
- Campbell
- Since
- 1999
- Qualifications
- Qualified arborists, pruning to AS 4373, the business says
- Insurance
- Public liability cover, certificate of currency available on request
- Does
- Pruning, Removal
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7
Any Tree Arboriculture
Belconnen base, covers Canberra, Queanbeyan, Murrumbateman, Gundaroo and Bungendore
Best for small family crew for Belconnen pruning and removals
- Family owned, led by arborist Inny Dean
- Claims 17 years of experience in tree work
- Covers removals, selective pruning, stump grinding and call outs
More about Any Tree Arboriculture
Any Tree Arboriculture is a family owned business from Charnwood in Belconnen, led by Inny Dean. The business says its team brings 17 years of experience to tree work around Canberra and the nearby NSW towns.
Services include removals, selective pruning, deadwood removal, canopy thinning, hedge trimming, stump grinding and emergency call outs, plus tree planting and firewood. The company says its arborists are qualified and the business is fully insured.
- Based in
- Charnwood
- Qualifications
- Qualified arborists, the business says
- Does
- Removal, Pruning, Stump grinding
How much does tree removal cost in Canberra?
Typical ranges for Canberra. Your quote depends on the job, so get two to compare.
| Job | Typical range |
|---|---|
| Small tree removal, under 5 m | $280 to $880 |
| Medium tree removal, 5 to 10 m | $880 to $2,750 |
| Large tree removal, 10 to 20 m | $2,200 to $5,500 |
| Very large tree, over 20 m | $4,950 and up |
| Pruning or trimming, per tree | $220 to $1,330 |
| Palm removal, per palm | $280 to $1,330 |
| Stump grinding, small stump under 30 cm | $170 to $330 |
| Arborist report | From about $330 |
Typical ranges in metropolitan Canberra from published Australian cost guides, checked November 2026. Prices include GST where the source gives it. Access, powerlines, the species, how much green waste goes, whether a crane is needed and protected tree approval move a quote the most.
Do you need approval in Canberra?
The ACT Government protects many trees on private land. Check before any work starts, because fines for removing a protected tree without approval can be large.
What's protected
A living tree on private land in the built-up urban area is regulated if it's at least 8 m tall, has a canopy at least 8 m wide, or has a trunk circumference of 1 m or more measured 1.4 m above natural ground level. A multi-trunk tree counts if its trunks average at least 625 mm around and add up to 1 m or more. Large dead native trees (1.88 m around or more), trees planted in the last 5 years under a canopy contribution agreement and trees on the ACT Tree Register are also protected.
Common exemptions
Trees under all the size limits don't need approval, unless they're registered or were planted under a canopy contribution agreement. A tree that's a declared pest isn't regulated, and dead trees aren't either, unless they're large natives. If a tree on private land is an urgent safety risk, call Access Canberra on 13 22 81 and ask for an urgent circumstances authorisation, then lodge an application as soon as you can.
Pruning
Minor pruning of a regulated tree doesn't need approval: for example, removing only deadwood, removing no limbs 100 mm or more across, or a first prune for the calendar year that takes less than 10% of the canopy without changing its shape. Pruning should follow the Australian Standard AS 4373. Major pruning and lopping need approval and a pruning plan, and any pruning of a registered tree needs approval.
Approval and fees
Apply online to the ACT Government with a tree activity application, ideally at least 2 months before work. Decisions can take up to 35 working days, and you can ask for a reconsideration within 14 days. If removal is approved, homeowners plant 2 trees on the block for each tree removed or pay $600 for each one not planted. Penalties reach $80,000 for an individual and $405,000 for a corporation.
Official source: ACT Government: tree protection laws.
Trees near powerlines
Evoenergy runs Canberra's electricity network. It says homeowners and occupiers are responsible for keeping trees on their property clear of powerlines: most trees must stay at least 1 m from service lines and 1.5 m from powerlines, or 2 m from higher voltage lines and in bushfire prone areas. Private poles and lines are the owner's to maintain. Evoenergy clears trees near its overhead lines on public land. Use an Evoenergy accredited arborist for trees close to lines, and never prune near powerlines yourself: Evoenergy says penalties may apply.
Neighbour's tree over the fence
Talk to your neighbour first. The ACT Government says you can do minor pruning of a neighbour's tree where it grows over the fence, but don't drop the cuttings on their side, and pruning too much can count as damage to their property. If the tree is protected, anything more than minor pruning needs a tree activity application with the tree owner's written consent, and any pruning of a registered tree needs approval. If talking doesn't work, the ACT Government points you to the Conflict Resolution Service. The ACT Civil and Administrative Tribunal hears nuisance claims of $25,000 or less and can award damages or order the interference to stop. Bigger claims go to the Magistrates Court.
Storm damage
A tree down on the house or across the driveway? Get people clear first, then call for help. 1 of the businesses on this list say they do 24/7 emergency work.
Lopping, pruning or removal: what are you asking for?
Most people say lopping when they mean any tree work. To an arborist, lopping means cutting branches back to stubs between natural branch points. Arborists generally discourage it, because the tree regrows weak shoots that can break off later. Pruning to AS 4373, the Australian Standard for pruning amenity trees, cuts at natural branch points instead.
Pruning takes out selected branches to lift, thin or reduce the crown while keeping the tree healthy. Removal takes the whole tree down, usually piece by piece on a suburban block, and the stump is ground out as a separate job.
Not sure which you need? Ask for a quote on both. A good operator will tell you when pruning will do the job.
How we chose these tree services
We built the list from public information, then checked each business by hand.
- 1
Build a long list
We started with tree services in Canberra found through Google Maps, Arboriculture Australia and local searches across Canberra's suburbs.
- 2
Weed out the fronts
Tree lopping is full of keyword websites that forward calls to whoever pays. We checked each business's ABN, owner and base, and dropped any we couldn't confirm.
- 3
Check reputation
Shortlisted businesses needed a strong, consistent record of Google reviews over years. A few glowing reviews wasn't enough.
- 4
Read their own details
Qualifications, insurance, services and service area come from each business's own website. If a detail was unclear, we left it out.
- 5
Rank the list
Ranked on reputation, qualifications, experience and the range of work each business takes on.
What doesn't affect ranking
- Payment. No business pays to be listed or to rank higher.
- Size or advertising spend.
- Spotted something out of date? Tell us and we'll recheck it.
Tree removal in Canberra: questions people ask
How much does tree removal cost in Canberra?
A small tree under 5 m usually costs $280 to $880 to remove, a medium tree of 5 to 10 m $880 to $2,750, and a large tree of 10 to 20 m $2,200 to $5,500. Access, powerlines, the species and green waste removal move the price most. Stump grinding is usually quoted separately.
Do I need approval to remove a tree in Canberra?
Yes, if it's a protected tree. The Urban Forest Act 2023 replaced the Tree Protection Act 2005 from 1 January 2024. A living tree on private land in Canberra's built-up urban area is regulated if it's at least 8 m tall, has a canopy at least 8 m wide, or has a trunk circumference of 1 m or more at 1.4 m above ground. Trees on the ACT Tree Register are protected too. You apply to the ACT Government, not a council, and penalties reach $80,000 for an individual.
What qualifications should a tree lopper have?
Qualifications vary a lot in this industry, so ask. Look for a crew with an AQF Level 3 arborist qualification, current public liability insurance you can see a certificate for, and a Level 5 consulting arborist if you need a report for council.
Can I trim a tree near powerlines myself?
No. Keep well away and use a professional. Evoenergy says to get one of its accredited arborists for trees too close to powerlines, and penalties may apply if you try to trim them yourself. Trees on your property are yours to keep clear of powerlines, including the service line to your home. In Canberra, call Evoenergy on 13 10 93 for electricity emergencies, or 13 23 86 for questions about trees and powerlines.
Should I get the stump ground at the same time?
It's usually cheaper to book it with the removal, because the crew is already on site. Most tree services quote stump grinding as a separate line item, so ask for it in your quote.
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