Most crown reductions in Birmingham cost £220–£750, including taking the waste away. A small tree under 5m is usually £220–£300, a medium tree of 5–10m £320–£480 and a large tree of 10–15m £480–£750. Lighter pruning, such as a crown lift or thin, costs less: from £180–£280 for a small tree.
These are the ranges our quote form uses for crown reduction and pruning in Birmingham and the West Midlands. Trees over 15m, or anything touching a building, near cables or over a road, are priced after a free survey.
Crown reduction prices
A crown reduction shortens the branches all round to make the tree smaller while keeping its natural shape.
| Tree height | Typical price |
|---|---|
| Small (under 5m) | £220–£300 |
| Medium (5–10m) | £320–£480 |
| Large (10–15m) | £480–£750 |
| Over 15m | Free survey |
Pruning, crown lifting and thinning prices
These are lighter jobs. A crown lift removes lower branches to clear a drive, path or lawn. A crown thin takes out some inner branches to let more light through. General pruning covers deadwood, crossing branches and shaping.
| Tree height | Typical price |
|---|---|
| Small (under 5m) | £180–£280 |
| Medium (5–10m) | £280–£400 |
| Large (10–15m) | £400–£600 |
What affects the price
Tree size
Height and spread set how long the climber spends in the tree and how much brash there is to chip and take away.
How much is being taken off
A light reduction takes less time than a heavy one. The specialist will usually advise how much can be removed without harming the tree.
More than one tree
| Number of trees | Price |
|---|---|
| 1 | Single-tree price |
| 2–3 | About 1.8 times the single-tree price |
| 4 or more | About 2.5 times the single-tree price |
Access
If everything has to go out through the house, or the tree is more than 20m from where the van can park, expect about 15% more.
Keeping the chippings
If you keep the chippings, the price is typically about £75 less.
Minimum charge
Small jobs carry a minimum of about £150.
When a survey is needed
A specialist will want to see the tree first, free of charge, if it is over 15m, touches or overhangs a building, is near overhead cables, overhangs a road, or the estimate comes to more than £1,200.
Crown reduction, pollarding or topping?
Crown reduction keeps the tree's shape and is the usual choice for a garden tree that has outgrown its space. Pollarding cuts back to the same points on a regular cycle and suits certain species that have been managed that way before. "Topping", which means cutting the top off a tree without regard to its structure, tends to cause weak regrowth and decay. If a quote says "top the tree", ask what they mean.
Worked examples
- An 8m cherry in a Harborne back garden with side access, reduced to let light into the house: about £320–£480.
- Crown lifting two medium sycamores over a Kings Heath drive: 1.8 times £280–£400 is about £500–£720.
- A 13m beech in an Edgbaston conservation area, reduced: about £480–£750, once six weeks' notice has been given to the council.
- Thinning a small apple tree in a Solihull garden, chippings kept: £180–£280 less about £75 would be £105–£205, so the minimum charge applies and it is about £150–£205.
If the tree overhangs your house roof, the job moves to a free survey, whatever its size.
Crown reduction costs in the West Midlands
Birmingham has a lot of mature trees in its older suburbs. Edgbaston, Moseley and parts of Sutton Coldfield have many large trees in private gardens, and some of these areas are conservation areas, so checking for protection before work is common here. In inner-city terraces, access through the house is often the main thing that raises the price.
National cost guides generally report higher prices in London than elsewhere. We do not quote a national average, because published figures vary widely and rarely say what is included. The ranges here are for the West Midlands and include waste removal.
How to get a fixed price
- Fill in the quote form and choose pruning or reduction. You get an instant price range.
- Add photos of the whole tree, with the house or a fence for scale, and say what you want to achieve: more light, clearance over a drive, a smaller tree.
- We pass your enquiry to one vetted local tree surgeon for your area, who confirms a fixed price with you directly, or arranges a free survey if needed.
What to photograph for a quote
Good photos usually mean a fixed price without a visit. More photo tips.
- The whole thing, with your house or fence in shot for scale
- The base or ground level and what’s around it: walls, sheds, beds
- The route in from the road: side gate, steps, the path through
What to check before you pay
- Insurance. Ask for a current public liability certificate. If they employ staff they must also hold employers' liability insurance.
- NPTC or equivalent certificates for climbing and chainsaw use. See do tree surgeons need to be qualified?
- Waste carrier registration with the Environment Agency. Check the public register on GOV.UK.
- A written quote that describes the work: how much will be reduced, which branches, and whether waste is taken away.
- No cash-only demands. Expect a receipt and bank transfer.
Questions
How much does crown reduction cost?
Usually £220–£300 for a small tree, £320–£480 for a medium tree of 5–10m and £480–£750 for a large tree of 10–15m, including waste removal. Trees over 15m are priced after a free survey.
How much does it cost to have a tree cut back?
A crown lift, thin or general prune costs about £180–£280 for a small tree, £280–£400 for a medium tree and £400–£600 for a large one. A full crown reduction costs a little more.
What is a tree surgeon's day rate?
One published UK guide (MyJobQuote, updated August 2026) puts a single qualified tree surgeon at about £200–£350 a day and a full crew at about £400–£700 a day. Most pruning jobs are quoted as a fixed price because a day rate does not tell you how long the job will take or whether waste disposal is included.
Can I cut back my neighbour's tree?
You can usually cut branches that overhang your property back to the boundary, but not beyond it, and not if the tree is protected. See cutting your neighbour's overhanging branches.
Is crown reduction cheaper than removing the tree?
Usually. A medium tree costs about £320–£480 to reduce against about £480–£720 to remove. Removal is permanent, though, and reduction may need repeating every few years. See the tree removal cost guide.
Do I need permission to prune a tree?
Only if it has a Tree Preservation Order or is in a conservation area. See do I need permission to cut down a tree?