True Cost Guide Lawn & Garden Trim a Palm Tree

How Much Does Palm Tree Trimming Cost?

Typical Range:

$200 - $1,200

Cost data is based on research by HomeAdvisor.

Published November 11, 2022

Written by HomeAdvisor.

The average palm trimming cost is $640, with a typical range of between $200 and $1,200. Small palm trees under 30 feet might cost as little as $75 to trim, while trees over 60 feet can run as high as $1,500. Trimming a palm tree will cost you more if you’ve neglected the tree for a long time, or if there are other complicating factors, such as nearby power lines or buildings.

Average Cost to Trim a Palm Tree

Average Cost	High Cost	Low Cost
$75	$1,500	$1,200

Cost to Trim Palm Tree by Height

Like many other tree trimming costs, the cost to trim a palm tree varies widely depending on height. Typically, the taller the palm tree, the more branches that need trimming and, thus, the higher the cost. Most palm trees are between 30 and 60 feet tall on average. However, some species, such as the Mexican Fan Palm and the Phoenix Palm, can reach heights of 100 feet or more, while others, such as the Pygmy Date Palm, don’t grow beyond 10 to 12 feet.

Palm Tree Size	Average Cost for Trimming
10 ft. – 30 ft.	$75 – $400
30 ft. – 60 ft.	$130 – $800
Over 60 ft.	$200 – $1,500

Palm Tree Trimming Cost Breakdown

If you decide to trim a palm tree yourself, you’ll have to budget for the cost of materials. The cost of materials can reach upwards of $1,000. On the other hand, if you hire a local tree trimming service, they will come with all the necessary materials to the site, so you’ll only have to pay for labor.

Materials

Expect to spend between $140 and $1,200 for tree trimming tools and supplies if you opt to DIY the project. Some of the tools you might need and their average costs include:

Tree trimming saw: $10–$90
Chainsaw: $60–$450
Ladder: $50–$400
Pruning shears: $10–$100
Gloves: $4–$45
Safety glasses: $7–$30

Labor

On average, expect to spend between $200 and $1,200 per tree for most palm tree trimming jobs. If a professional tree service company charges you by the hour, the cost per hour typically runs between $25 and $50 per employee. However, most tree trimming pros charge per job rather than per hour. The pro will assess your tree, determine the scope of work needed, and then give you a quote.

These project and hourly costs can vary depending on geographical location. Trimming labor costs are likely to be greater in places with a strong demand for palm tree trimming services, such as Florida and California, than in areas where palm trees are uncommon and there’s little need for these services. You'll also pay more if the task is an emergency and the tree trimming professional has to travel a long distance.

Compare Quotes From Top Palm Tree Trimming Pros

Other Palm Tree Trimming Cost Factors

Besides size, other factors will also affect how much it costs to trim a palm tree. These include accessibility of the tree, health of the tree, location of the tree, and clean up.

Accessibility

If there’s restricted or narrow access to the palm tree, it’ll cost you more to trim it. Therefore, one easy way to keep palm tree trimming expenses down is to remove any obstacles from the ground that may be blocking access to the tree before you call a tree trimming specialist.

Location

If a tree sits right up against your house or close to power lines, trimming it’ll be more challenging. You’re therefore likely to pay more for the service. If your palm tree’s fronds intersect with power lines, consider calling your utility company before you even seek the services of a professional tree trimmer. Some utility companies will take care of the tree for you free of charge, saving you on the costs of tree removal or trimming.

Health of the Tree

Health issues such as fungal diseases, insect damage, cracks, and weak roots can all jack up the price of palm tree trimming services. The tree service pro will need to give more care and attention to the tree when trimming to avoid any aggravating issues and causing further damage to the tree. You'll incur additional costs if you require an arborist to address any health issues to be as part of the trimming project. Tree pest control, for example, can add between $50 and $250 to your project total.

Number of Trees

The number of trees you need trimmed might also affect the average cost of each tree. Tree trimming pros may offer you a discount if you have multiple trees trimmed at once since they’ll already be on your property with the necessary equipment.

Clean Up

Check to confirm whether your palm tree cost estimate includes hauling away branches and cleaning up the space around the tree. If your estimate doesn’t include these services, you may have to pay an additional $25 to $100 for this task. If you have other clean-up work around your yard, such as removing leaves, you could hire a yard cleaning service, which costs between $200 and $600.

DIY Palm Tree Trimming vs. Hiring a Pro

Unless you have professional experience trimming trees and have the necessary tools, palm tree trimming is best left to professionals, especially for any tree that is 15 feet talland higher.

Trying to trim a palm tree of medium to large height yourself may also result in unwanted scenarios, including injuries in case you fall off, damaging the tree, damaging nearby building structures, or interfering with power lines. Not to mention, tree trimming equipment or supplies can set you back up to $1,100, which is more than the average cost of bringing in a pro.

Professionals have the necessary training or experience as well as the equipment to complete the task correctly and safely. They can also provide valuable extra services in addition to tree removal. A local licensed arborist, for example, can inspect your tree for health issues such as pest infestation. They can also offer useful information, such as the ideal time to trim specific palm tree species and any special considerations when trimming to protect the tree's health and integrity.

Find a Local Palm Tree Trimming Pro in Your Area

FAQs

How often should a palm tree be trimmed?

There are no hard and fast rules about how often to trim a palm, but one to two times a year is typically more than enough. Trim your palm trees if:

Dead fronds weigh down your tree; dead fronds are brown, yellow, or orange
The fronds are too close to building structures
The fronds intersect with or nearly intersect with power lines

When is the best month to trim palm trees?

The best month to trim palm trees is May, that is, late spring before summer. This is because summer is the most important growing season for many palm tree species. So, by trimming old and dying elements just before summer, the palm can focus its energy on new growth once the summer season starts.

What happens if you don’t trim palm trees?

Dead, old palm fronds can be a hazard to people and structures around them. The fronds, for example, may fall and land on someone, causing serious injury, or fall on a building and structure and damage it. Poorly maintained palm trees are also a fire hazard. Flying embers from things like fireworks or even an outdoor barbeque grill can become lodged in the dry leaf stem bases of palm trees and cause fire to consume the tree. And once the tree is on fire, the leaf bases and dry fronds might detach from the tree and be blown far away by the wind.