Clearing Several Trees From a Block: How the Quote Adds Up Per Tree

Clearing several trees from a block costs roughly $2,100 per tree once you include stump grinding and access, so a typical five-tree clear sits somewhere between $1,400 – $2,300 and $1,750 – $2,950 per tree, multiplied out across the lot. There's no flat "land clearing" rate — arborists and tree services price each tree on its own height, access and stump, then add haulage for the lot as a whole.

Why it's priced per tree, not per block

A tree-removal quote is really three line items stacked together: felling, limb and trunk disposal, and stump treatment. None of those scale neatly with the number of trees, because every tree on a block is usually a different size and a different problem to reach. A builder clearing a block for a new driveway or a bigger shed will often get one quote that lists each tree separately, then a lump-sum discount for doing them all in the same visit — crews save on travel, equipment set-up and tip runs when they're not re-mobilising for each job.

That's the number to sanity-check a multi-tree quote against: add up what each tree would cost on its own, then expect 10-20% off the total for doing them together, not a steep "bulk" discount. If a quote for eight trees comes in barely above the cost of felling two or three, ask what's being skipped — usually it's stump removal or proper disposal.

What drives the per-tree price

Height. This is the single biggest swing factor.

Material	Typical	Usual range	Lifespan
Small, up to 9 m (30 ft)	$1,150	$890 – $1,500	–
Medium, 9-15 m (30-50 ft)	$2,100	$1,600 – $2,700	–
Large, 15-24 m (50-80 ft)	$3,400	$2,650 – $4,450	–
Very large, over 24 m (80 ft)	$5,950	$4,650 – $7,750	–

shows how far it can move. A block with a mix of small ornamentals and a few large gums isn't one job — it's two very different jobs sharing a work day.

Access. A tree in open ground that can be felled in one piece is the cheapest version of removal. Most suburban blocks aren't that simple — a typical garden tree has to come down in sections, and anything $3,000 over a shed, fence or power line needs to be rigged down piece by piece. On a multi-tree clear, it's common to have two or three trees with easy access and one or two that are genuinely awkward; those awkward ones can cost more on their own than the easy trees combined.

Stumps. Deciding whether to $1,750 or $2,100 matters more across a whole block than it does for a single tree, because the cost multiplies by every stump left behind. Grinding stumps out makes sense if the cleared area will be lawn, a driveway or a garden bed; leaving them flush is the cheaper option if the block is going to stay rough for a while, but it leaves a regrowth and trip-hazard problem for every stump, not just one.

The hidden cost on a multi-tree job: permits

Councils in most states require a permit before removing a tree over a certain size, in a heritage overlay, or on a block with vegetation protection controls — and that check applies per tree, not per block. It's entirely possible for three trees on the same lot to need three separate approvals with three separate wait times, which can hold up the whole clearing job even though the felling itself is quick. Before accepting a quote for a multi-tree job, confirm whether the quoted price assumes $2,750 or $2,100 — and whether the contractor is handling the applications or leaving that to you. A quote that's silent on permits for a block with several mature trees is a quote that's likely to blow out on time, even if the dollar figure holds.

Working out your own total

For a realistic estimate of clearing several trees:

• List each tree with its rough height and how hard it is to reach.
• Price each one using the height and access bands above, rather than assuming they're all "average."
• Decide stump treatment per tree, not for the block as a whole — grinding is worth paying for where the area will be used, not where it won't.
• Ask upfront whether permits are needed for any tree, and who's applying for them.
• Expect a modest same-visit discount on the combined total, not a steep one.

If a quote for your block looks a long way off that approach — unusually low for the mix of trees involved, or missing a line for stumps and disposal — it's worth running it past our "is my quote fair" tool before you accept it.

Clearing land often leads straight into other work — a new boundary once the overgrowth is gone, or a fresh driveway once the roots are out of the way. See our guides to Fencing and New driveway for what those jobs typically cost once the block is clear, and our main Tree removal guide for single-tree pricing if you're only dealing with one problem tree rather than a whole lot.