Tree Service Estimate Template
A tree service business estimate forecasts the price before work starts: 8 lines for remove a 60 ft dead oak leaning over a garage, prune two maples and grind the oak stump, totalling $3,640.00, with services the largest share (76%). It states its assumptions and stays valid for 30 days. Edit the lines and download the PDF.
Pre-filled for a tree service: remove a 60 ft dead oak leaning over a garage, prune two maples and grind the oak stump. Example prices: replace them with your own.
From
Fox Hollow Tree Service
607 Market Street
Fairview, OR 97024
billing@example.com
(978) 555-0107
Estimate
Prepared for
Avery Lindqvist
140 Orchard Drive
Franklin, TN 37064
client@example.com
| Description | Qty | Rate | Amount |
|---|---|---|---|
| Remove 60 ft dead oak by sectional climb and riggingLimbs and trunk lowered on ropes over the garage roof | 1 each | $1,800.00 | $1,800.00 |
| Bucket truck | 0.5 day | $600.00 | $300.00 |
| Crown cleaning, silver mapleDeadwood over 1 in removed, canopy raised over the driveway | 2 tree | $425.00 | $850.00 |
| Stump grinding, 8 in below grade30 in diameter oak stump | 30 inch | $4.00 | $120.00 |
| Brush chipping and haul-away | 2 load | $150.00 | $300.00 |
| Trunk cut to 18 in firewood lengths and stacked | 1.5 hr | $90.00 | $135.00 |
| Topsoil to fill the stump hole | 1 cu yd | $60.00 | $60.00 |
| City tree removal permitBilled at cost | 1 each | $75.00 | $75.00 |
- Subtotal
- $3,640.00
- Estimate total
- $3,640.00
Notes
A tree service estimate should identify each tree, the work (removal, pruning, crown reduction), the stump grinding depth, wood and debris handling and the equipment needed for access.
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Tree Service estimate at a glance
| Scope estimated | Remove a 60 ft dead oak leaning over a garage, prune two maples and grind the oak stump |
|---|---|
| Estimate total | $3,640.00 before tax |
| Valid for | 30 days from the estimate date |
| Deposit | Small jobs are paid on completion; large removals that need a crane often take a deposit when the crane is booked. |
| Services (3 lines) | $2,770.00, 76% |
| Fees (2 lines) | $375.00, 10% |
| Equipment (1 line) | $300.00, 8% |
| Priced in | job |
Estimate breakdown for remove a 60 ft dead oak leaning over a garage, prune two maples and grind the oak stump
| Item | Type | Est. quantity | Est. amount |
|---|---|---|---|
| Remove 60 ft dead oak by sectional climb and rigging | Services | 1 each | $1,800.00 |
| Bucket truck | Equipment | 0.5 day | $300.00 |
| Crown cleaning, silver maple | Services | 2 tree | $850.00 |
| Stump grinding, 8 in below grade | Services | 30 inch | $120.00 |
| Brush chipping and haul-away | Fees | 2 load | $300.00 |
| Trunk cut to 18 in firewood lengths and stacked | Labour | 1.5 hr | $135.00 |
| Topsoil to fill the stump hole | Materials | 1 cu yd | $60.00 |
| City tree removal permit | Fees | 1 each | $75.00 |
| Estimated total | $3,640.00 |
What to write on a tree service estimate
A tree service estimate should identify each tree, the work (removal, pruning, crown reduction), the stump grinding depth, wood and debris handling and the equipment needed for access.
Materials and products are $60.00 of this $3,640.00 estimate (2%), so say how long those prices hold: supplier prices can move before the job starts.
Prices each tree or job after an on-site look, based on height, trunk diameter, access and how much wood and brush is hauled away, with stump grinding quoted as an extra.
Assumptions behind each line
Write these next to the 8 lines so the customer sees what the $3,640.00 depends on.
- Remove 60 ft dead oak by sectional climb and rigging: 1 each, $1,800.00.
- Bucket truck: 0.5 day of hire ($300.00); longer hire is extra.
- Crown cleaning, silver maple: 2 tree, $850.00.
- Stump grinding, 8 in below grade: 30 inch, $120.00.
- Brush chipping and haul-away: a flat $300.00.
- Trunk cut to 18 in firewood lengths and stacked: 1.5 hr at $90.00 per hr ($135.00); extra hr at the same rate.
- Topsoil to fill the stump hole: 1 cu yd at $60.00 ($60.00); another grade or brand changes this line.
- City tree removal permit: a flat $75.00.
Changes, overruns and change orders
If the customer adds work, put it on a signed change order first. Here one more hr of "Trunk cut to 18 in firewood lengths and stacked" adds $90.00, or 2.5% of the estimate.
A 10% rise in material prices would add $6.00 to this job, which is why many tree service businesses limit how long an estimate stays valid.
Tips from tree service billing
- Identify each tree by species, height and position, such as 'front-left oak, 60 ft', so the customer, an HOA or the city can tell exactly which trees were removed or pruned.
- State what happens to the wood: chipped and hauled, trunk left in log lengths or cut and stacked as firewood, because haul-away expectations cause more arguments than the price of the cut.
- Price stump grinding by the inch of diameter, give the depth below grade and say whether the grindings are hauled or left, since homeowners often expect a level lawn ready for sod.
- Reference the permit number when your town regulates tree removal and bill the permit at cost; the paper trail matters if a neighbor complains about a protected tree coming down.
Checking the labour rate
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2024: median hourly wage of Tree Trimmers and Pruners $24.25 (employees, not contractor rates).
The sample's $90.00 per hour for "Trunk cut to 18 in firewood lengths and stacked" is 3.7 times that employee figure; a business rate also has to cover insurance, tools, travel, unbilled admin time and profit.
Turning the tree service estimate into an invoice
-
Get it approved
Ask Avery Lindqvist to sign or reply in writing to estimate EST-1216.
-
Record the changes
Update quantities to what was actually used across the 8 lines.
-
Switch the document type
Change Estimate to Invoice in the tool; the lines and parties stay.
-
Deduct what was paid
Enter any deposit as amount paid so the balance due is correct.
Frequently asked questions
How do I write a tree service estimate?
Describe the job (Remove a 60 ft dead oak leaning over a garage, prune two maples and grind the oak stump), list each line with an estimated quantity and rate, total it ($3,640.00 in the sample), state how long it is valid and what it assumes, then send it as a PDF for approval.
Is a tree service estimate binding?
An estimate is a forecast, not a fixed price, so the final invoice can differ when the work or materials change. Rules vary by country and state; to stay safe, get written approval before billing noticeably more than the $3,640.00 you estimated.
How long should a tree service estimate be valid?
Thirty days is common and is what this template uses. With 2% of the price in materials, a shorter validity protects you if supplier prices rise.