Cost Guide 2026

Leylandii Removal Cost 2026 - What to Expect

Leylandii removal is one of the most common jobs we carry out in Sheffield and South Yorkshire - and one of the most variable in price. A single small tree might cost £150 to remove. A long, mature Leylandii hedge running 20 metres at 8 metres tall is a different job entirely, with disposal alone taking up a significant part of the day.

This guide gives you realistic 2026 price ranges, explains what drives the cost up or down, and tells you what a proper quote should include so you can compare fairly.

Quick Price Reference - Leylandii Removal 2026

These are guide prices for Sheffield and South Yorkshire based on typical jobs in 2026. Every job is different and your actual quote will depend on the specific factors covered below.

What Affects the Cost of Leylandii Removal

The single biggest driver of cost is volume - how much material needs to be cut, handled, and removed. But several other factors can move the price significantly:

• Height and girth. Taller trees mean more material, slower sectional dismantling, and more time at height. A 4m Leylandii and a 10m Leylandii are not the same job - the taller tree may take four or five times longer. The width of the hedge also matters - a dense, overgrown hedge that is 3 metres wide creates more material than a neatly maintained one.
• Access. If a vehicle-mounted chipper can park adjacent to the hedge, clearance is fast. If material has to be carried 30 metres through a gate and along a narrow path, the job takes significantly longer. Access to a stump grinder is often a separate consideration - machines vary in size and some cannot fit through standard garden gates.
• Proximity to structures. A hedge growing against a fence, wall, building, or overhead cable requires more careful sectional work rather than straightforward felling. This adds time and may require rope access techniques on taller specimens.
• Time of year. Leylandii can be removed year-round, but jobs planned outside the spring growth flush (April to June) are generally simpler. Always check for nesting birds before any work between March and August - active nests must be left undisturbed, which can mean pausing or rescheduling work.
• Number of operatives required. A large, tall hedge typically needs two or three people working together - one in the tree, one feeding the chipper, one clearing. Smaller jobs can be handled by one or two. Labour is the largest cost component, so team size drives price directly.
• Disposal requirements. Large Leylandii produce an extraordinary volume of material. Some contractors chip on site and leave the chippings (reducing disposal cost), others remove everything. If a skip is required, current Sheffield skip hire adds £200-£400 to the job depending on size. Clarify what is included in the quote.

Stump Grinding - Is It Worth It?

Stump grinding is almost always worth including when removing Leylandii, for two reasons.

First, Leylandii stumps do not rot quickly. Left in the ground, they can remain solid for ten or more years, making the area unusable for replanting and acting as a trip hazard. Unlike some deciduous tree species, Leylandii stumps do not regrow vigorously from the base, so you will not get new shoots - but the stump itself persists.

Second, if you want to replant the area, a ground-out stump makes this much easier. The grinder removes the stump to 150-300mm below ground level, leaving a mix of soil and wood chips that breaks down over time and allows turf or planting to establish.

Typical stump grinding costs for Leylandii in Sheffield run from around £60 for a small isolated stump to £180 for a large one with restricted machine access. For a hedge row, many contractors price this as a per-stump or per-metre rate - a 10-metre hedge might have 8-12 stumps depending on spacing. Ask for this to be itemised in the quote.

Waste Disposal - What to Expect

Leylandii removal produces large quantities of material. A mature 8m tree generates the equivalent of two or three full skip loads of branch material before chipping. A 15-metre hedge run at the same height produces enough waste to fill a small lorry.

Most tree surgeons chip the brash (smaller branches and foliage) on site using a tow-behind chipper. This reduces volume dramatically and the chippings can either be left on site as a mulch or removed. Larger stemwood (trunks and main branches) is usually cut into sections and loaded for removal, or left as logs if you want them.

What varies is whether disposal is included in the quote or charged separately. Common arrangements:

• All-in price - felling, chipping, and removal of all material included. Most straightforward to compare.
• Chippings left on site - reduces price, but you need space to spread them. A thick layer of fresh Leylandii chippings is mildly allelopathic (it can inhibit germination), so keep it away from seedbeds.
• Logs left on site - reduces price if you have a log burner or storage space. Leylandii burns hot but spits, so it is best mixed with slower-burning hardwood.
• Skip hire added separately - some contractors quote labour only and invoice skip hire at cost. Get clarity on this before work starts.

Getting and Comparing Quotes

Get at least two quotes for any significant Leylandii removal job. When comparing them, make sure you are comparing like-for-like:

• Does the price include stump grinding, or is that extra?
• Does it include removal of all material, or will chippings or logs be left?
• Is VAT included? Tree surgery contractors who are not VAT-registered will quote lower but the comparison is not straightforward for larger jobs.
• Does the contractor carry adequate public liability insurance? Ask for a copy - reputable contractors will provide this without hesitation. You want at least £5m cover for residential work near structures.
• Are the operatives NPTC/Lantra qualified for chainsaw work and work at height? This matters for safety and also for your insurance position if anything goes wrong.

A quote that is significantly cheaper than others is not automatically the best value. Underpriced jobs sometimes result in work being rushed, waste being disposed of incorrectly, or insurance and qualification corners being cut. The cheapest quote and the lowest risk are not the same thing.

Can You Remove Leylandii Yourself?

For small Leylandii up to about 3-4 metres, DIY removal is feasible if you are comfortable with a chainsaw and have somewhere to dispose of the material. The tree should be felled away from any structures, the area should be clear of people and obstacles, and you must follow safe chainsaw practice throughout.

For anything taller, DIY removal becomes significantly more risky. The main hazards are:

• Uncontrolled felling direction. Tall Leylandii have an unpredictable weight distribution, particularly if they have been previously trimmed unevenly. Controlling the fall requires skill and the right equipment.
• Working at height. Sectional dismantling of a tall tree requires competent rope work and a clear understanding of rigging. A section of trunk dropped from 8 metres without control is dangerous.
• Disposal. Without a chipper, you are left with an enormous volume of material that is difficult and expensive to dispose of through domestic waste channels.

The hire cost of a decent chipper alone (£150-£250 per day) plus skip hire often brings DIY removal of a medium-sized hedge close to professional quotes, without the risk reduction that professional experience brings.

If you are in Sheffield or South Yorkshire and would like a free, no-obligation site assessment and quote, get in touch or call us on 0114 489 5482. We will measure up, give you a clear written price, and tell you honestly whether there are any complications before any work begins.