Tree Removal Estimate Template (Free Excel and PDF)
Templates · 4 min read
A tree removal estimate template puts the job, each line of work, the price and your terms into one document the customer can read and sign. Download ours as an Excel file or a printable PDF. It is free, and you do not need to sign up.
Download Excel (.xlsx) Download PDF
The Excel file has three sheets. Estimate is blank. Example is the filled estimate you see above. Price builder turns your costs into a price. Line totals, extras, tax, total and balance work out on their own. The PDF is the same blank estimate on one page, to print and fill in by hand.
What a tree removal estimate must include
These are the parts of the template, and why each one is there.
- Your details and credentials: business name, phone, email, license or ISA number, liability insurance, workers' comp. Customers often want proof, so put it on the page.
- The customer and the job address. The job address can differ from the billing address.
- The trees: species, height, trunk width, where each tree stands and its condition.
- Access and hazards: truck access or climb only, power lines, structures, fences, septic or utilities. These change the price, so write them down.
- Method, debris, stump and permit: climb and rig, bucket truck or crane; haul away, chip or leave logs; grind the stump or leave it; who handles the permit.
- Each line of work with its own price. The customer sees what they pay for.
- Optional extras the customer can accept or decline, such as stump grinding or topsoil and seed.
- What is included and what is not. Say it in writing, for example "lawn repair not included".
- Total, tax, deposit and balance.
- Validity, planned date and terms. The estimate is not a contract. Work starts after the customer signs.
Tree removal estimate example
This is the filled example from the Excel file. All names and prices are made up. Use your own rates.
The tree: oak, 60 ft, trunk width 24 in., back yard, 8 ft from the house. Healthy, some dead limbs.
Site: truck access, fence on the north side. Climb and rig, haul away, no permit needed.
| Work | Qty | Unit price | Line total |
|---|---|---|---|
| Remove oak: climb and rig | 1 | $1,200.00 | $1,200.00 |
| Chip brush and haul away | 1 | $250.00 | $250.00 |
| Haul away logs | 1 | $150.00 | $150.00 |
| Cleanup, rake and blow | 1 | $0.00 | $0.00 |
| Work subtotal | $1,600.00 | ||
| Extra accepted: grind stump, 24 in. wide, 8 in. below grade | 1 | $180.00 | $180.00 |
| Extra declined: fill hole with topsoil and seed | 1 | $90.00 | $0.00 |
| Total | $1,780.00 | ||
| Deposit before work | $200.00 | ||
| Balance on completion | $1,580.00 |
Included: removal of the oak, chipping brush, hauling logs, raking and blowing. Not included: lawn repair, damage to hidden underground lines, and the stump unless accepted above.
How to price each line
Work out the cost first, then add overhead and profit. For the whole job, add up:
- Crew hours multiplied by your crew rate, for the climber, ground crew and operator.
- Equipment and fuel: truck, chipper, crane or bucket truck, grinder.
- Disposal: dump fees or the time it takes to haul.
- Permit fees, if you pay them.
- Overhead: insurance, office and vehicles. These costs do not show up on one job, but you still pay them.
- Profit on top.
The Price builder sheet in the Excel file does this sum for you. Fill in your own numbers and percentages. Then split the price across the lines of the estimate: removal, chipping, logs, cleanup.
Keep each part as its own line. A customer who sees "Stump grinding $180" can say yes or no to it. A single big number invites the question "why so much?". Put work the customer may skip, like stump grinding or topsoil, under optional extras.
Tree trimming and tree service estimates
Use the same file for a tree trimming estimate or any other tree service estimate. Replace the work lines. For trimming, lines such as crown reduction, deadwooding, crown cleaning or a price per tree work well. Keep the rest: scope, what is not included, validity and signature.
Estimate or quote?
A quote is usually a fixed price. An estimate can change if the job turns out different. Use the word your customers use, and say in the notes whether the price is fixed. The template works for both.
Tips for estimates that get accepted
- Get the details before you visit. Photos and the address up front save a trip. A customer form collects them from the customer.
- Send it the same day. Customers often say yes to the first clear estimate they get.
- Write down what is not included. It prevents most arguments on site.
- Keep your prices in one place. Retyping rates for every job leads to mistakes.
When a spreadsheet is not enough
A spreadsheet works for a few estimates a week. With more jobs, you retype prices, lose track of which estimates were sent, and cannot see who said yes. ArbTask keeps your prices saved and does the math. You build the quote inside the job and send it from the site. See how the quote maker works. Quotes are in the free plan too. Every feature is free while you have fewer than 5 active jobs, see pricing.
Questions
What should a tree removal estimate include?
Your business details, the customer and the job address, what work is included and what is not, a price for each line, the total and any tax, how long the price is valid, payment terms, and a place for the customer to sign.
How do I price a tree removal job?
Add up crew hours at your crew rate, equipment and fuel, disposal or dump fees, and stump grinding if it is included. Then add your margin. Price each part as its own line so the customer can see what they pay for.
Is this tree removal estimate template really free?
Yes. Download the Excel file or the printable PDF. You do not need to sign up or give an email address.
Can I use it for tree trimming and other tree service jobs?
Yes. Change the work lines. For trimming, use lines such as crown reduction, deadwooding or a price per tree.