What A Tree Job Actually Costs In Sussex & Surrey
There is no price list, because there is no such thing as a standard tree. Size, access, disposal, and whether the council needs to sign off first all move the number. Here is what actually decides the price, so you know what you are asking for when you call.
The six things that actually decide the price.
None of these are hidden. They are the same six questions Brad asks himself while walking round the tree, before he says a number out loud.
How Brad prices a job, in practice.
What drives the price on each type of job.
Every job has its own cost logic. Here is what specifically moves the number for each service Capel covers.
Tree Removal
Driven mostly by height, trunk diameter, and how close the tree stands to the house, a shed, or a boundary. A straight fell into a clear field costs a fraction of the same tree taken down piece by piece over a conservatory.
Tree Removal →Tree Felling
Priced lower than a removal of the same size when there is genuinely open space to drop the whole tree in one direction. Rural plots and woodland edges suit felling. Most gardens do not.
Tree Felling →Crown Reduction
Priced on how much canopy comes off and how careful the cuts need to be, not just the size of the tree. A veteran Oak that needs reducing without ruining its shape takes longer than a young Leylandii hedge topper.
Crown Reduction →Crown Lifting
Usually the cheapest of the crown-work options, since it means removing lower limbs to raise clearance over a drive or path rather than reshaping the whole canopy.
Crown Lifting →Stump Grinding
Priced on the stump's diameter, how deep the grind needs to go, and access for the grinder. Full breakdown of what moves this number specifically:
What Stump Grinding Costs →Hedge Trimming
Priced by length, height, and how overgrown the hedge has got. A hedge trimmed every year costs less to maintain than one that has not been touched in five.
Hedge Trimming →Emergency Tree Work
Priced on urgency as much as the job itself. Making a split trunk or hanging limb safe out of hours costs more than the same work booked in for a normal weekday.
Emergency Call-Outs →Before you call for a price.
What do tree surgeons charge in Horsham and the surrounding area?
There is no fixed rate, because two trees that look similar from the street can be completely different jobs once access and disposal are factored in. What Capel does instead is look at the tree (or a clear photo of it), work out what actually needs to happen, and give a real number for that specific job. Call 01403 730771 with the details and you will get a straight answer, not a vague range.
How much does it cost to cut down a tree?
It depends on the tree's size, how close it stands to buildings or boundaries, whether it can be felled in one piece or has to come down section by section, and what happens to the timber afterwards. A large tree in an open field is a smaller job than a much smaller tree wedged between a house and a fence. Describe the tree and the site and Capel will price the actual job, not an average one.
How much does stump removal cost?
Stump grinding cost is driven by the stump's diameter, how deep it needs to be ground for whatever goes there next, and how easily the grinder can reach it. Most stump jobs follow directly on from a tree removal and get priced together rather than as a separate call-out. See the full cost breakdown on the stump grinding page.
Do tree surgeons charge by the day?
Capel prices by the job, not by the day. A day rate makes sense for a contractor with no fixed scope. A tree job has a defined start and end, the tree comes down, the site gets cleared, so it gets a fixed price for that scope once access and disposal are agreed, not an open-ended hourly or daily rate that keeps climbing.
How much does crown reduction cost?
Crown reduction is priced on how much canopy needs to come off and how much care the cuts need, not simply the height of the tree. Reducing a mature Oak back from a roofline without ruining its shape takes longer, and more skill, than topping a fast-growing conifer. Describe the tree and what it is doing (blocking light, overhanging a roof, too big for the plot) and Capel will give a price for that specific reduction.