How much does hedge trimming cost?
Updated 19 Oct 2026
Typical cost per hedge
£40 – £120
Hedge trimming in the UK typically costs £40–£120 per hedge, or roughly £5–£15 per metre for routine work. Height is what changes the price most: anything needing a platform or pole saw takes longer and carries more risk. Waste removal is usually charged separately, and on a big hedge the clippings can outweigh the trimming itself.
| Job | Typical cost |
|---|---|
| Small hedge, routine trim | £40 – £80 |
| Average hedge | £40 – £120 |
| Per metre, routine trim | £5 – £15 |
| Tall or conifer hedge | £100 – £300 |
| Half day | £70 – £140 |
| Waste removal | £30 – £80 |
Typical UK guide prices — see the note at the foot of this page.
What affects the price?
Height first. A waist-high box hedge is quick and safe. A four-metre conifer needs a platform or a pole saw, takes far longer, and requires someone comfortable working at height with a blade.
Length next — most gardeners will quote per metre for anything substantial, so measure before asking for prices.
How long since it was last done. An annual trim takes off soft new growth. Three years of growth means cutting into thicker wood, which is slower and produces a great deal more waste.
Species matters. Beech and privet are forgiving. Conifers, particularly Leylandii, will not regrow from bare brown wood, so cutting back hard is a one-way decision that needs someone who knows what they are doing.
And access. Hedges backing onto a neighbour, over a fence, or beside a road all slow the job.
Nesting birds: the timing rule that matters
It is an offence under the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981 to intentionally damage or destroy the nest of a wild bird while it is in use or being built. That applies to hedges, and it applies to homeowners as much as contractors.
The main nesting season in the UK runs roughly March to August, which is precisely when hedges are growing fastest and people want them cut. That is not an absolute ban on trimming, but it does mean the hedge must be checked for active nests first, and work stopped if one is found.
Any competent gardener will know this and will check before starting. If someone offers to blitz a thick hedge in May without a glance inside it, that is a warning sign about the rest of their work too.
The simplest approach is to book structural cutting for late summer through winter, and keep to light maintenance in the nesting months.
Trim, reduce or remove?
A trim tidies the current shape and takes off the year's growth. It is the cheapest option and what most people need annually.
A reduction takes real height or depth off, and is a bigger job with much more waste. On species that regrow from old wood it is straightforward; on conifers it can leave permanent bare patches, so it needs planning and often staging over two or three years.
Removal is a different job again, involving the root system, and is usually priced with clearance and disposal rather than as trimming.
Be clear which you are asking for when getting quotes. "Cut the hedge back" means very different things to different gardeners, and the price gap between a trim and a reduction is large.
How to keep the cost down
Trim annually. It is far cheaper than periodic rescues, and it keeps the hedge dense rather than woody.
Deal with the clippings yourself if you can. A council green bin or a compost heap absorbs a routine trim and saves the waste charge.
Combine it with other garden work in one visit rather than a separate call-out.
Keep it at a sensible height. Every metre above head height adds disproportionate time and cost, permanently.
And book in the quieter months. Late summer and autumn are easier and often cheaper than the spring rush.
Frequently asked questions
How much does hedge trimming cost?+
£40–£120 for a typical hedge, or roughly £5–£15 per metre. Tall conifer hedges needing platforms run £100–£300.
When can hedges be cut?+
Avoid the main bird nesting season, roughly March to August, unless the hedge has been checked and no nest is in use — damaging an active nest is an offence. Late summer through winter is the safe window for structural work.
How often should a hedge be trimmed?+
Once a year suits most hedges. Fast growers like privet and Leylandii may want twice. Annual trimming is cheaper overall than periodic hard cutbacks.
Do gardeners take the clippings?+
Usually for an extra £30–£80, since they need a waste carrier registration and pay tip fees. Using your own green bin is the cheapest option where the volume allows.
Can Leylandii be cut back hard?+
Not into bare brown wood — conifers generally will not regrow from it, leaving permanent bare patches. Reductions need planning and are often staged over two or three years.
What is the difference between a trim and a reduction?+
A trim takes off the season's growth and keeps the shape. A reduction removes real height or depth, produces much more waste and costs considerably more — so specify which you want when getting quotes.
Related price guides
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