THE SHORT ANSWER
The Tree Is Only One Part of the Price
Tree planting costs change with the tree, the property, and the number of trees involved.
A smaller tree near an open driveway is one kind of job. A large balled-and-burlapped tree that has to cross soft ground is another. Ten arborvitae planted along an accessible fence line are different from ten trees carried behind a house through a narrow gate.
We can estimate the plant cost using its species and size. The rest of the price comes from what it takes to deliver and plant it correctly.
PLANT-ONLY PRICES
What the Tree Itself May Cost
These are plant-only examples taken from published wholesale price lists. They are not Big Tree Planting Co. quotes, and they do not include delivery or installation.
Shade trees are generally priced by trunk caliper. Evergreens and many ornamental trees are often priced by height.
| Tree and size | Published plant-only range |
|---|---|
| Maple or oak, 2-inch caliper | $130 to $225 |
| Maple or oak, 2.5-inch caliper | $150 to $265 |
| Maple or oak, 3 to 3.5-inch caliper | $160 to $315 |
| Maple or oak, 4 to 5-inch caliper | Approximately $200 to $330 |
| Green Giant arborvitae, 5 to 6 feet | $85 to $160 |
| Green Giant arborvitae, 7 to 8 feet | $130 to $220 |
| Green Giant arborvitae, approximately 9 feet | Approximately $250 |
| Norway spruce, 7 to 8 feet | Approximately $175 |
| Norway spruce, 8 to 9 feet | Approximately $210 |
| Norway spruce, 9 to 10 feet | Approximately $250 |
Wholesale inventory changes throughout the season. Variety, nursery grade, availability, and source can move the plant price above or below these examples.
FLOWERING TREES
What About Redbuds, Dogwoods, and Other Ornamental Trees?
Flowering trees do not all follow the same price pattern. A compact dogwood may be priced by height, while a single-trunk redbud may be priced by trunk caliper.
| Tree and size | Published plant-only range |
|---|---|
| Eastern redbud, 5 to 7 feet | $180 to $250 |
| Kousa dogwood, 5 to 7 feet | $140 to $180 |
| Serviceberry, 5 to 7 feet | $150 to $195 |
| Magnolia, 5 to 7 feet | $200 to $280 |
The variety matters here. So does the form of the tree. A multi-stem serviceberry and a single-trunk serviceberry can be different products even when their listed heights look similar.
Learn more about flowering and ornamental tree planting.PROJECT EXAMPLES
What Those Numbers Look Like Across a Project
Quantity adds up quickly. It can also make delivery and crew planning more efficient. That is why a multi-tree estimate should be priced as one project, not calculated by multiplying a single-tree quote.
| Tree and size | Published plant-only range |
|---|---|
| One 2 to 2.5-inch maple or oak | $130 to $265 |
| Three 3 to 3.5-inch shade trees | $480 to $945 |
| Three 5 to 7-foot flowering trees | $420 to $750 |
| Ten 5 to 6-foot Green Giants | $850 to $1,600 |
| Ten 7 to 8-foot Green Giants | $1,300 to $2,200 |
| Twenty 7 to 8-foot Green Giants | $2,600 to $4,400 |
These totals cover the plant material examples only. They do not include delivery, planting, equipment, mulch, cleanup, or warranty coverage.
See our 113-tree estate and farm planting project in Paris, Kentucky.
THE REST OF THE JOB
The Price Changes Before the Hole Is Even Dug
Orlando learned this work while managing Kentucky planting crews that handled tractor-trailer loads of trees.
One lesson becomes obvious when you work at that scale: buying the tree and planting the tree are two different costs.
First, the trees have to reach the property. Then the crew has to unload them without damaging the trunks, branches, or root balls. The route from the truck to the planting location matters too.
An open lawn near a driveway may allow straightforward equipment access. A wet lawn, steep grade, narrow gate, overhead line, or planting location behind the house can change the equipment and time required.
A COMPLETE INSTALLATION
What the Planting Work May Include
This is why the lowest nursery price does not always produce the lowest completed project price.
- Sourcing and inspecting the trees
- Coordinating nursery pickup and delivery
- Unloading and moving the root balls
- Preparing the planting locations
- Setting each tree at the correct depth
- Mulching and staking when needed
- Cleaning the work area
- Providing watering and aftercare instructions
PLANT PRICE VS. INSTALLED PRICE
A Useful Comparison From a Nearby Market
A Cincinnati-area tree company currently advertises a 6-foot Green Giant for $425 installed. The same company advertises a 2-inch plane tree for $595 installed.
Those are not Big Tree Planting Co. prices, and they are not quotes for your property. They simply show the difference between the cost of a plant and the cost of delivering and installing it.
WHAT CHANGES THE ESTIMATE
Six Details That Matter Most
- 01
Tree size
A larger tree brings a larger root system and root ball. It may also require different equipment and more room to unload and position.
- 02
Number of trees
One tree and twenty trees require different planning. Larger projects may spread delivery and equipment costs across more trees, but the crew still has to handle and plant every tree.
- 03
Access
The truck, trailer, and planting equipment need a safe route. Gates, slopes, soft ground, retaining walls, utilities, and overhead lines can change that route.
- 04
Distance
Nursery location, property location, and the number of delivery trips affect transportation costs.
- 05
Site conditions
Compacted soil, poor drainage, buried debris, roots, rock, and difficult grades can add preparation time.
- 06
What the finished scope includes
Mulch, staking, cleanup, watering instructions, disposal, and warranty terms should be clear before comparing estimates.
BEFORE REQUESTING A PRICE
What to Send for a Useful Estimate
You do not need to know the exact tree yet.
If you are unsure about the species or size, tell us the result you want. Shade, privacy, spring color, and large-property planting each lead to different recommendations.
- The property address
- Photos of the planting area
- Photos of the route from the driveway to the planting area
- The number of trees you are considering
- Your preferred starting size, if you have one
- What you want the planting to accomplish
- Any gates, slopes, fences, overhead lines, or soft areas
- Your preferred planting timeline
FAQ
Common Questions
Can you estimate tree planting from photos?
Often, yes. Clear photos of the planting area and equipment route can be enough for an initial estimate. Larger or more complicated projects may require a site visit.
Is planting several trees cheaper per tree?
Sometimes. Delivery and equipment costs may be spread across more trees, but size, species, access, and layout still affect the final price.
How much do ten arborvitae cost?
Published wholesale examples put ten 5 to 6-foot Green Giants at approximately $850 to $1,600 for the plants alone. Ten 7 to 8-foot trees may cost approximately $1,300 to $2,200 before delivery and installation.
Why do large trees cost more to plant?
Large trees have heavier root balls and require more room, equipment, and handling. The nursery price can rise with size, but the installation method may change too.
Does a planting estimate include the trees?
Our estimate should identify what is included in the project. Plant material, delivery, installation, finish work, cleanup, and applicable warranty terms should be clear before work begins.
SOURCES
Where the Price Examples Came From
The figures on this page are dated market examples. Supplier availability and pricing change, so they should be used to understand the scale of a project, not as a current quote.
REQUEST A PLANTING ESTIMATE
Let's Price the Actual Project
Send us the property, a few photos, and what you want to plant. We will review the trees, delivery route, access, equipment, and complete planting scope.