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Hire top-rated arborists in VIC

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Estimated range

$523 – $1,370

$523$11,641

Guide pricing only. Final quotes vary by scope, access, materials, and site conditions.

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Greater Melbourne

Arborists based across the regions of Greater Melbourne.

All arborists in Greater Melbourne⁠

Where the arborists are

469arborists

  1. Outer East Melbourne106
  2. South East Melbourne75
  3. Frankston & Mornington Peninsula60
  4. North East Melbourne46
  5. Inner South Melbourne44

+ 4 more regions in Greater Melbourne

See every region⁠

Regional VIC

Arborists based in the regions outside Greater Melbourne.

Where the arborists are

214arborists

  1. Latrobe & Gippsland59
  2. Hume37
  3. Barwon36
  4. Central Highlands25
  5. Warrnambool & South West22

+ 3 more regions in Regional VIC

See every region⁠

What to expect when hiring arborists in Victoria

Where arborists in Victoria are based, how to choose one, what the job should cost, what a good quote includes and which licence to check.

Where arborists are based in Victoria

Outer East Melbourne has the most arborists in Victoria.

Arborists based in each region

  • None listed yet
  • Water

The map shows approximately where businesses are based, but tradies will often travel for work. Darker shading means higher availability in an area.

Show regions as a list
Victoria: where arborists are basedMap of 17 Victoria regions from ABS 2021 boundaries, with water shown. Regions are shaded from light to dark teal by how many arborists are based there compared with the rest of the state; white regions have none listed. A list of regions grouped by band follows the map.
Region boundaries: ABS ASGS Edition 3 (2021), CC BY 4.0

How to choose a good arborist in Victoria

Victoria has plenty of well-reviewed arborists to choose from. Use these numbers as a reference point when you compare profiles and quotes.

Most arborists here are rated highly, so it helps to check how many reviews sit behind a rating. The typical arborist has 12 reviews. Of the 528 rated arborists based in Victoria, 174 have 4.8 stars or more from at least 20 reviews.

SureQuote rankings take both star rating and review count into consideration to ensure you're seeing the best of the bunch. Updated October 2026.

average rating
4.78
typical reviews
12
what the best have
4.8★ · 20+

Star rating

64% of arborists here have a perfect 5.0

Best: 4.8+

Number of reviews

Half have 12 or fewer reviews

Best: 20+ reviews

How do areas in Victoria compare?

AreaAverage star rating
Hume27 rated arborists8 typical reviews
4.96
Inner South Melbourne33 rated arborists22 typical reviews
4.93
Frankston & Mornington Peninsula54 rated arborists14 typical reviews
4.91
Latrobe & Gippsland43 rated arborists13 typical reviews
4.82
All Victoria528 rated arborists12 typical reviews
4.78
Outer East Melbourne84 rated arborists13 typical reviews
4.78
South East Melbourne60 rated arborists10 typical reviews
4.69
North East Melbourne40 rated arborists16 typical reviews
4.66
Western Melbourne29 rated arborists24 typical reviews
4.60

What arborist costs

Across Australia, arborist typically runs $523 – $1,370 for tree removal, and $820 – $2,745 for storm-damaged tree make safe.

Local prices vary, so these are typical Australia-wide ranges, not a quote for Victoria. What you'll pay comes down to the size of the job, the condition of what's being worked on, and the finish you choose. Get a few quotes to see your exact number. It's free.

Full arborist cost guideGet an instant estimate

Things to consider before you book

The local conditions that shape the job, the best time of year to book, and what to sort out before you choose a arborist.

Bushfire Prone Land

  • Keep Gutters Clear and Check Council Rules

    Most of Victoria is classified as bushfire prone land — keeping gutters and roof valleys clear is especially important here. If your property is near bushland, check with council whether any specific requirements apply.

  • Cooler Months Mean Fewer Delays

    Summers in most of Victoria get warm — on hot days, your tradie will plan their work around the temperature throughout the day, tackling heat-sensitive tasks early and adjusting as conditions change.

What's in a good Arborist quote?

A good quote spells out how the job is priced and what's covered (labour, materials, prep and clean-up), so you're comparing like for like. Check what each arborist's quote covers before you choose.

Worth knowing: getting two or three quotes is the simplest way to land a fair price, and it costs you nothing.

  • 01
    Qualifications

    Crew holds at least AQF Certificate III in Arboriculture.

  • 02
    Insurance

    Current certificate for $10 million public liability cover.

  • 03
    Removal method

    Felling or sectional dismantling, not just tree removal.

  • 04
    Council permit

    Who applies for it and who pays the fee.

  • 05
    Stump grinding

    Always extra, so check it is quoted or included.

  • 06
    Green waste

    Who hauls it away, or whether woodchips stay on site.

Cheapest isn't always the best. Check these before you hire anybody.

  • Recent, genuine reviews

    Read the latest ones, not just the count

  • Experience near you

    Jobs like yours, done locally

  • Credentials for the job

    Licence, insurance and business details

  • A clear written quote

    Itemised, so you can compare like-for-like

Hiring an arborist in VIC

What the law requires before and after you sign.

Arborists do not need a licence in VIC.

Victoria has no licence for tree work. Planting trees, shrubs or lawns needs no registered builder.

Written contractover$10,000

The contract must be in writing and set out all its terms. The price includes labour, materials and GST.

Applies to arborist jobs.

Deposit cap

The cap is 5% of a contract price of $20,000 or more. It is 10% of a price under $20,000.

Applies only when the contract also includes building work on your home.

Home warranty insuranceover$20,000

Home Warranty from the Building and Plumbing Commission covers contracts signed on or after 1 July 2026.

Applies to arborist jobs.

Cooling-off period5 business dayson contracts over $10,000

You can withdraw at any time in that period. It starts when you receive a copy of the signed contract.

Applies to arborist jobs.

Sources: bpc.vic.gov.au, consumer.vic.gov.au, Domestic Building Contracts Act 1995, Building Act 1993. Checked 16 Oct 2026.

Frequently asked questions

Hiring arborists

How much do arborists typically charge?
Arborist costs vary widely depending on the type and scale of work. Factors such as tree size and species, site access, whether removal and stump grinding are needed, required equipment and disposal all affect the total. Most quotes separate a call-out component from labour and materials, and after-hours or emergency jobs generally attract higher rates. The live pricing on this page shows current estimates for different job types.
Do arborists charge call-out fees?
Many arborists charge a call-out fee to attend and assess the job, which is usually separate from labour and materials. That fee typically covers travel and the initial site inspection, and smaller or remote jobs may be subject to a minimum charge. It's worth confirming whether a call-out fee is included in any quote you receive.
When do arborists need a licence?
Arborists often need registration or specific contractor credentials for higher-risk, large-scale or regulated tree work. Where the scope overlaps with regulated building or contractor work, providers should hold a valid state contractor or builder credential and comply with local council permit requirements for protected trees. For higher‑risk tasks, look for evidence of public liability insurance, documented work-at-heights controls and SWMS.

Using SureQuote

Is the SureQuote estimate a quote, and why can a tradie's quote be different?
No. Your estimate is a guide price for a typical job that matches your answers. A tradie prices your actual job in their quote, once they've seen things like access, condition, materials and the full scope. Read the full answer
What happens after I submit my job, and how many tradies will contact me?
We email you your estimate and a link to your job. Up to 3 local tradies can take it and contact you to quote; only they get your name, phone and email, and you choose who to hire, if anyone. Read the full answer
Is it free to get quotes, and does the tradie's fee raise my price?
Yes, getting quotes is free and you don't have to hire anyone. Tradies pay us a capped fee to take your job, and we set it before they quote, so nothing is added to your quote. Read the full answer
Can I add photos to my job?
Yes. Add up to 10 photos in the chat after you give your contact details, or later from the job in Hire, and tradies see them before they take the job. Read the full answer
Do I have to hire one of the tradies?
No. Getting quotes is free, you're never obliged to hire anyone, and you pay only the tradie you choose to hire. Read the full answer
Does SureQuote check tradies' licences and insurance?
We collect each business's ABN, licence, insurance and warranty details and keep them as up to date as we can, so you can see them in one place on its profile. We don't guarantee them, so always check the licence yourself on the relevant licence register before you hire. Read the full answer

Questions about arborist in VIC

Do arborists need a licence in VIC?

Arborists do not need a licence in VIC.

Victoria has no licence for tree work. Planting trees, shrubs or lawns needs no registered builder.

Do I need a written contract with an arborist in VIC?

Arborist jobs over $10,000 need a written contract.

The contract must be in writing and set out all its terms. The price includes labour, materials and GST.

How much deposit can an arborist ask for in VIC?

The cap is 5% of a contract price of $20,000 or more. It is 10% of a price under $20,000.

Applies only when the contract also includes building work on your home.

Does an arborist have to give me home warranty insurance in VIC?

Arborist jobs over $20,000 need home warranty insurance.

Home Warranty from the Building and Plumbing Commission covers contracts signed on or after 1 July 2026.

Is there a cooling-off period for a contract with an arborist in VIC?

You have 5 business days to cool off on contracts over $10,000.

You can withdraw at any time in that period. It starts when you receive a copy of the signed contract.

Sources: bpc.vic.gov.au, consumer.vic.gov.au, Domestic Building Contracts Act 1995, Building Act 1993. Checked 16 Oct 2026.

Every region in VIC

Each region with its areas. Numbers are arborists based there.

Greater Melbourne

Greater Melbourne hub⁠

Regional VIC

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