Tree surgeon invoice template
A worked example for tree surgeons in the home, garden and cleaning category, with 2026 prices and the VAT rules that apply.
A tree surgeon invoice should show a unique invoice number, your name and address, the client's details, the date, each item of work with its price, and the total due. Tree surgeons typically allow 7 days to pay. VAT at 20% is added only if you are VAT registered.
Example tree surgeon invoice
Dated 1 October 2026 with 7 day terms. Names and prices are fictional.
Invoice
INV-0042
From
D. Brennan
Tree surgeon
43 Castle Street
Bristol
BS1 3DE
Bill to
Mr and Mrs D. Walsh
3 Beech Close
Harrogate
HG2 9PR
- Invoice date
- 1 October 2026
- Due date
- 8 October 2026
- Terms
- 7 days
- Reference
- Tree surgeon work, October 2026
| Description | Qty | Unit price | VAT | Amount |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fell and remove mature sycamore, rear garden, including sectional dismantle | 1 fixed | £950.00 | 20% | £950.00 |
| Stump grind to 200 mm below ground | 1 fixed | £180.00 | 20% | £180.00 |
| Crown reduce two silver birches by 30% | 2 trees | £260.00 | 20% | £520.00 |
| Chip and remove all arisings | 1 fixed | £120.00 | 20% | £120.00 |
- Subtotal
- £1,770.00
- VAT at 20%
- £354.00
- Total
- £2,124.00
Typical rates for tree surgeons
Guide figures for 2026. Rates vary by region and experience; the VAT figures come from the 2026-27 tax year data.
| Item | Typical figure |
|---|---|
| Typical hourly rate | £35 to £60 |
| Typical day rate | £350 to £650 |
| Payment terms | 7 days |
| Deposit | Not usually taken |
| VAT flat rate sector | Forestry or fishing (10.5%) |
| VAT registration threshold | £90,000 taxable turnover in 12 months |
How do tree surgeons usually invoice?
Tree surgeons quote a fixed price per tree or per job that covers the climbing team, chipper and waste removal, and invoice on completion with 7 day terms because most jobs are finished in a day. Stump grinding, logs left on site and TPO or conservation area applications are listed separately. Work for councils, housing associations and utility companies is invoiced monthly against a schedule of rates on 30 day terms.
Tree surgeons in this example give the customer 7 days to pay. Hourly rates run from £35 to £60. A full day is typically £350 to £650.
What should a tree surgeon put on an invoice?
Beyond the legal basics, tree surgeons should:
- Describe each tree, the species and the work done (fell, crown reduce, pollard) as its own line.
- State whether arisings were removed or left as logs and chip; it changes the price.
- Reference the TPO consent or conservation area notification number where one was needed.
- Quote your insurance cover and the team size on the invoice for commercial clients.
Every UK invoice, whatever the trade, must also show:
- a unique, sequential invoice number
- your business name and address (and company number if you trade as a limited company)
- the client’s name and address
- the invoice date and, for VAT invoices, the date of supply if different
- a clear description of each item of work or goods
- the amount due and when it must be paid
- your VAT number, the VAT rate per line and the VAT total, if you are VAT registered
Do tree surgeons charge VAT?
You only charge VAT once registered, which is compulsory when taxable turnover passes £90,000 in any rolling 12 months. Below that, show no VAT line and no VAT number. Once registered, this work is standard rated at 20%.
On the Flat Rate Scheme the sector for tree surgeons is usually “Forestry or fishing” at 10.5% of VAT-inclusive turnover, with a 1% discount in the first year of registration. If you spend little on goods you may be a limited cost trader and have to use 16.5% instead. The scheme suits businesses with few VAT-able costs; check it against the standard method with the VAT calculator before joining.
Source: GOV.UK: Invoicing and taking payment from customers; GOV.UK: VAT Flat Rate Scheme, how much you pay. Last updated .
Frequently asked questions
- How much does a tree surgeon charge per day?
- A two or three person team with a chipper costs £350 to £650 a day in 2026, with large fells quoted individually from £600 to over £2,000. Stump grinding is £80 to £250 per stump. Most tree surgeons quote fixed prices after a site visit rather than day rates.
- Do tree surgeons charge VAT?
- Most established tree surgery firms are VAT registered because equipment, staff and insurance push turnover past £90,000, so they charge 20%. A sole climber working for other firms may be below the threshold and charge none. Tree work is standard rated; it is not zero rated as agriculture.
- Does CIS apply to tree surgery?
- Not usually. Felling and pruning trees is not a construction operation. Site clearance that is part of preparing land for building can be caught when a developer pays you, so if you clear sites for builders, expect them to deduct 20% from labour and set up CIS registration.
More home, garden and cleaning templates
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Read next
Cite this page: “Tree surgeon invoice template (free UK example)”, SoleKit, https://solekit.co.uk/invoice-template/tree-surgeon