Pricing
What this actually costs
Most arborist websites won't tell you. That's not because the work is unpredictable — it's because a vague quote is easier to inflate. Here is what each service starts at, and what moves the number.
| Service | Price | Turnaround | What it covers |
|---|---|---|---|
| Arborist Report | $660inc. GST | 2-3 business days | Covers one site visit and one tree. Additional trees quoted per tree. |
| Arboricultural Impact Assessment | $1,100inc. GST | 5-7 business days | Scales with site size and tree numbers. Fixed quote after we review your plans. |
| Tree Risk Assessment | $550inc. GST | 1-3 business days | Per site. Portfolio and multi-tree pricing available for managed properties. |
| Pre-Purchase Tree Inspection | $475inc. GST | 2-3 business days | Standard residential block. Acreage and heavily treed sites quoted separately. |
| Tree Health & Soil Diagnostics | $440inc. GST | 5-7 business days | Excludes external laboratory analysis, which is quoted separately if warranted. |
| Tree Protection Plan | $770inc. GST | 3-5 business days | Often bundled with an Arboricultural Impact Assessment at a reduced combined rate. |
| Project Arborist | Upon request | Booked to your construction programme | Scoped against your construction programme — a fixed fee for a defined scope, or a retainer where hold points run across months. |
| Tree Management Plan | $1,320inc. GST | 2-3 weeks | Depends on site size and tree numbers. Quoted after an initial scoping conversation. |
| Tree Valuation | $400inc. GST | 1-3 business days | Per tree for standard valuations. Multi-tree assessments quoted on scope. |
| Expert Witness & Dispute Reports | Upon request | 7-10 business days | Scoped once the dispute has been reviewed. Fixed fee for the report; court or tribunal attendance quoted separately. |
All figures include GST unless marked otherwise. These are genuine starting prices for standard scopes, and every job gets a fixed written quote before work begins — that quote is what you pay.
Cost drivers
What moves the price
Four things account for most of the variation between a starting price and a final quote.
Number of trees
The first tree carries the site visit. Additional trees are incremental, so a five-tree assessment costs considerably less than five single assessments.
What the report must answer
A health and condition report is simpler than one that must respond to a development application, calculate protection zones against architectural drawings, and justify encroachments.
Site complexity
Acreage, steep or difficult access, and trees requiring root collar excavation or decay detection all add time on site.
Urgency
Standard turnaround is 2–3 business days. Compressing that to around 48 hours means reordering other work, which carries a fee.
Travel
Free travel to any suburb in Brisbane. For jobs considerably further out a travel fee may apply, though we do our best to avoid it and to keep it small — jobs in the same area get grouped onto the same day wherever possible. Where one does apply it is in your quote up front, never added afterwards.
What's always included
- A free, no-obligation quote before anything starts
- A fixed price — the quote is the invoice
- Free travel to any suburb in Brisbane
- An honest answer if you don't need the report at all
- A report referenced to the local law your application sits under
- Follow-up questions answered without an extra invoice
Pricing questions
Why do you publish prices when most arborists don’t?
Because hiding them wastes everyone’s time. Most people looking for an arborist report want to know whether it is a $400 problem or a $4,000 problem before they pick up the phone. Publishing a genuine starting figure means the enquiries that arrive are from people who already know the range and are comfortable with it.
Is the "from" price the price I will actually pay?
For a straightforward job, yes. The starting figure covers a standard scope — typically one site visit and a small number of trees. Cost increases with tree numbers, site complexity, acreage, and whether the report has to address a development application. You always get a fixed quote before any work starts, so the number you agree to is the number you pay.
What makes a report more expensive?
The main drivers are the number of trees assessed, whether the site requires survey work or drawings, whether the report must respond to a development application or an information request, and turnaround urgency. Sites with difficult access, or trees requiring root collar excavation or specialist decay detection, also cost more.
Do you charge for a quote?
No. Quoting is free and there is no obligation. If a phone conversation establishes that you don’t need a report at all, that conversation is also free.
Do you charge a travel fee?
Travel is free to any suburb in Brisbane. For jobs considerably further out a travel fee may apply, though we do our best to avoid it and to keep it to a minimum — jobs in the same area get grouped onto the same day wherever possible. Where a travel fee does apply it is in your quote up front, never added afterwards.
Can I get it faster?
Standard turnaround is 2–3 business days from the site visit. Where a deadline is tighter, a rush turnaround of around 48 hours is often possible for an additional fee. Tell us your deadline when you enquire and you will get a straight answer on whether it is achievable.
How do I pay?
Invoiced on delivery of the report for residential work, with standard commercial terms available for builders, developers and managed properties.
Want a number for your specific job?
Send the address and a photo. Most quotes come back the same business day, and there's no obligation attached to asking.