How Much Will It Really Cost You To Move A Tree In Your Yard?

Are you interested in transplanting a tree in your yard, or maybe moving a favorite ornamental tree to your new property? The cost to move a tree in your yard averages about $800, with many homeowners spending between $300 and $1,000 for the service. That price tag covers smaller projects, but be aware that the cost can soar well past $10,000 if you have a large, mature tree that needs to be relocated. The difference in prices comes down to a few factors that tree service professionals consider before they even start digging. Most people assume the overall expense is about labor costs, but it also includes risk mitigation, machinery, and preparation that begins long before moving day.

The final price reflects the effort that's required to safely uproot and replant a living tree while giving it the best chance of survival. Moving a small, 5-foot tree by hand is very different from transporting a decades-old one with a massive root system. Understanding what contributes to the wide range in pricing helps you budget for your tree moving project. You need to consider everything from the tree's diameter to the equipment needed to lift its weight and the aftercare for it to survive the shock of relocation.

For homeowners looking for tips for transplanting fruit trees, the most important thing to remember is that the size of the tree is the most significant factor in the overall expense of moving it. For example, a small, 5- to 10-foot ornamental tree can often be moved to a different location on the same property for a few hundred dollars. This size allows for manual digging and less expensive excavation and planting methods. The cost dramatically goes up once a tree's trunk diameter reaches 10 inches or more.

Moving a large tree with a trunk between 10 and 15 inches in diameter typically costs between $1,500 and $3,500. These trees can't be moved with hand tools, and professionals need to use specialized, truck-mounted equipment called a tree spade. This machine digs out the tree and its root systems in one clean motion, lifts it, transports it, and replants it. Transporting this type of machinery to a job site adds $500 to $1,000 to the total bill. For really large trees with trunk diameters over 16 inches, the total cost can skyrocket to over $10,000. Moving these giant trees may require cranes, custom support frames for the roots, and a larger crew, especially if the tree is being transported a long distance or needs to be lifted over a house.

The physical size is only one piece of the puzzle. Other factors like the tree species, the distance of the move, and site accessibility also influence the price. Transplanting an oak tree with its deep taproots or a wide-spreading maple needs more preparation and precision during the digging phases, which increases the labor time and overall expense. While Japanese maple trees are smaller and easier to move than an oak, its value and the special care that's needed for its root system can still add to the relocation price.

Transporting a tree to an off-site property adds more to the bill, sometimes costing $5 to $10 per mile minimum for transport, plus any needed permits. The location of the tree also comes into play, since a tree in the middle of an open field costs less to move than one growing between a fence, a shed, and power lines. Difficult access requires the crew to work more slowly and sometimes use specialized equipment or manual labor to avoid damaging surrounding property, which can increase the cost of the project.