Planting a single tree typically costs between $150 and $2,000, with $300 being a common midpoint for a medium-sized tree installed by a professional. That range swings dramatically based on the size of the tree, how it was grown, and whether you need professional labor or heavy equipment to get it in the ground.
Cost by Tree Size
Tree size is the single biggest factor in what you’ll pay. A small tree under 6 feet tall runs about $100 total, including the tree itself and basic planting. These come with a root ball roughly the size of a 5-gallon pot, so they’re easy to handle and don’t require special equipment.
A medium tree under 10 feet averages around $255. At this size, the root system is established enough that the tree adapts quickly after planting and needs only basic care. For most homeowners looking for a balance between cost and visual impact, this is the sweet spot.
Large trees up to 20 feet tall jump to about $2,420 on average. Pricing at this size often works out to roughly $150 per caliper inch (the diameter of the trunk near the base), and the root ball is large enough to require a box-sized hole. Expect the job to involve a backhoe or similar equipment, which adds significantly to labor costs. Extra-large trees over 20 feet can reach $5,000 or more, requiring cranes or other heavy-duty machinery for transport and installation.
What Mature Trees Cost
If you want a tree that looks established from day one, mature specimens typically cost between $890 and $2,700 to plant, combining the price of the tree and professional installation. Trees over 20 feet can push well past that range. The labor alone is more intensive: the hole must be wider and deeper, the tree is heavier and harder to maneuver, and specialized equipment like backhoes or cranes may be needed. For many homeowners, the tradeoff is worth it. A mature shade tree or ornamental adds immediate curb appeal and function that a small sapling won’t match for a decade.
How the Growing Method Affects Price
Trees reach you through a few different production methods, and each one carries different costs. Container-grown trees (raised in pots at a nursery) typically cost around $144 per tree before planting. Field-grown trees, dug from the ground and sold with their root ball wrapped in burlap, average closer to $107 per tree. The field-grown option tends to be cheaper upfront, but container trees can be planted year-round and often establish faster in certain conditions.
Beyond the tree itself, expect to pay roughly $145 for transporting and planting a single tree (assuming the nursery is within about 50 miles), plus $25 for staking if it’s a container-grown tree that needs support. Irrigation during establishment is another cost that’s easy to overlook. Watering twice weekly for six months runs around $131 per tree, while a lighter schedule of once weekly for six weeks drops that to about $22. Those post-planting care costs can meaningfully change your total budget, especially if you’re planting several trees.
Labor and Professional Installation
About 30% of a typical tree planting bill goes to labor. If you hire an arborist or tree planting service, the planting portion of the job generally runs $100 to $300 per tree. Arborists who charge hourly (less common) typically bill $75 to $200 per hour, though most price by the job instead.
There’s a meaningful discount for planting multiple trees at once. While the first small tree might cost $100, each additional tree drops to $40 to $70 because the crew is already on-site with equipment. If you’re planning to plant several trees, scheduling them together is one of the simplest ways to lower your per-tree cost.
Large-Scale and Reforestation Costs
If you’re thinking bigger, like reforesting a rural property or restoring woodland on acreage, the economics shift completely. Reforestation costs range from under $100 to over $450 per acre, depending on how much site preparation the land needs. A low-investment approach using basic seedlings and minimal prep runs about $100 per acre. A medium-investment plan with better site preparation averages $250 per acre, while a high-investment option with thorough ground prep and premium seedlings reaches $450 per acre.
To put that in perspective, a typical loblolly pine reforestation project plants about 436 trees per acre, spaced 10 feet apart in each direction. At the low end, that works out to roughly 23 cents per tree. The rotation to harvestable timber takes about 30 years, with one or two thinnings along the way. Even at the highest investment level, the per-tree cost stays well under a dollar, a fraction of what residential planting costs because the trees are bare-root seedlings rather than nursery-grown specimens, and planting is mechanized.
What Drives Costs Up or Down
Beyond size, several factors shift the final number. Tree species matters: a common shade tree like a red maple costs less than a slow-growing ornamental or a large specimen oak. Site accessibility also plays a role. If the planting location is in a tight backyard with no equipment access, crews may need to move soil and the tree by hand, adding labor hours. Rocky or clay-heavy soil that’s difficult to dig increases costs too.
Timing can work in your favor. Late fall and early spring are ideal planting seasons in most climates, and some nurseries discount stock during these windows to move inventory. Buying bare-root trees (shipped dormant without soil around the roots) is the cheapest option if you’re willing to plant them yourself during the dormant season. These can cost as little as $10 to $30 for common species, though they’re only available for a narrow planting window and require immediate care after arrival.
For a single decorative tree in a front yard, most homeowners end up spending $200 to $500 total. For a large shade tree that makes an immediate visual statement, budget $1,000 to $3,000. And if you’re planting an entire property’s worth of trees, buying in bulk and hiring a crew for a single visit will stretch your budget significantly further than planting one tree at a time.