Hedge trimming in Melbourne starts from around $90 for a small, straightforward job. What you actually pay depends on the total run in metres, the height, the species, and whether waste removal is included. This guide breaks down typical pricing for different job sizes, the main factors that push costs up or down, and what a fair quote from a local professional hedge trimming service should look like before anyone picks up a trimmer.
What does hedge trimming cost in Melbourne?
Here is a starting point based on typical residential jobs across Melbourne in 2026:
These prices reflect a single trim plus basic site cleanup. Green waste removal may be quoted separately depending on the crew, so always confirm before booking. If you need clippings hauled away, see our green waste and rubbish removal service.
Small hedges under 5 metres
A short box hedge lining a path, a compact murraya row in the front garden, or a small lilly pilly border. Most of these jobs sit between $90 and $150. At this size it is fast work. If you are already on a regular garden maintenance schedule, small hedges are often bundled into the fortnightly visit rather than quoted separately.
Medium hedges, 5 to 20 metres
This is the most common residential category across Melbourne. A lilly pilly screen along the back fence, a pittosporum run down the side boundary, or a viburnum hedge separating the front yard from the street. Prices typically range from $150 to $350. What moves the price is density, how much growth has built up since the last trim, and whether both faces need shaping.
Large screens and boundary hedges
Long boundary runs over 20 metres, or hedges that have skipped a season, can run from $300 to $600 or more. Condition matters as much as length here. A well-maintained 30-metre run is a very different job to a 30-metre run left to its own devices since spring. For jobs like this, a free site visit to confirm the price before work starts is the right approach.
Tall hedges over 2 metres
Height is the single biggest cost driver in hedge trimming. Working above head height means platform ladders, more frequent repositioning, and slower overall progress. Budget an extra 30 to 50 percent on top of the price for the same hedge at standard height. A 10-metre boundary hedge at 1.5 metres might run $150 to $200. The same hedge at 3 metres will realistically be $220 to $300 or more.
What affects the price of hedge trimming in Melbourne?
Hedge height and why a 2m job costs more than a 1m job
Everything above head height takes longer. The trimmer needs repositioning more often, visibility is reduced, and there is no safe way to rush it. A 3-metre lilly pilly screen can cost close to twice as much to trim as the same plant at 1.5 metres. The linear run is identical. The time is not.
Hedge density and species
Dense, fast-growing species like photinia, murraya, and viburnum produce more volume per cut and take longer to shape cleanly. Slower growers like English box produce less material but need more precision to get a flat, even finish. Not sure which species you have? Our guide to the best plants for hedging in Melbourne covers all the common varieties and their maintenance needs.
Access and site conditions
A hedge backing onto a narrow side passage, a sloped block, or a property that requires equipment to be carried through a gate adds time. Moving ladders and a long-reach trimmer through a tight side passage takes longer than setting up directly from an open driveway, and that time is reflected in the final price.
Is waste removal included?
Some operators quote the trim only and charge separately for hauling clippings. Others include removal as standard. Always confirm before booking. At YardMate, clippings are loaded up and removed as part of every job. If you are wondering what else you can do with the material, read our guide on what to do with hedge trimmings in Melbourne.
Hedge trimming prices per metre vs per hour, which is fairer?
Per metre pricing works well for long, uniform hedge runs where the crew can accurately estimate the time before they arrive. It gives you a firm price upfront with no surprises.
Hourly pricing is more common for jobs that are hard to estimate in advance, such as heavily overgrown hedges needing staged work, mixed species of different heights along the same run, or properties with awkward access that makes efficient movement difficult. If you are dealing with a hedge that has been left for more than a season, it is worth reading our guide on how to trim an overgrown hedge without killing it so you know what to expect from the job.
In practice, a reputable local crew will offer a fixed price once they have seen the job. If a quote comes back as hourly only with no ballpark total, ask for an estimated cap before any work starts.
Rather not guess at the price?
We assess the job and give you a fixed price before any work starts. Free, no obligation, no pressure.
What is included in a professional hedge trimming service in Melbourne?
A standard professional visit in Melbourne typically covers:
- Shaping the top and both faces to a clean, consistent line
- Removing loose growth, dead wood, and crossing branches
- Blowing clippings off paving, paths, and entertaining areas
- Clipping removal and responsible disposal (confirm when booking)
Some crews also offer light formative pruning as part of the trim, which encourages denser, more uniform regrowth. Worth asking about on hedges that are developing visible gaps or uneven patches.
Timing your trim correctly makes a big difference to how the plant recovers. Our guide on the best time to trim hedges in Melbourne covers the right window for every common species across all four seasons.
Is it worth hiring a professional rather than doing it yourself?
For a small hedge under a metre tall, DIY is fine if you have decent tools and a steady eye. For anything taller, longer, or on a shared boundary, a professional trim is almost always worth the cost.
Here is the honest comparison. A decent electric hedge trimmer runs $150 to $400 to buy. A proper ladder for anything over 1.5 metres adds another $100 to $200. Factor in two hours of a Saturday and the gap between DIY and a $90 professional job starts to narrow considerably.
Hedge trimming is the most under-appreciated job in the garden. Nobody notices when it looks good. They do notice when it looks bad.
There is also the quality question. Getting a hedge perfectly level without a guide line takes practice. The most common DIY result is a hedge that drifts wider at the top or develops a visible lean over time. A professional crew uses guide lines and has shaped the same species hundreds of times.
If the hedge has been neglected and needs a staged recovery, read our guide on how to trim an overgrown hedge without killing it before attempting a hard cutback yourself. Getting it wrong with the wrong species can set the plant back by years.
You might also want to know how often hedges need trimming in Melbourne by species, so you can budget accurately whether you DIY or hire a crew.
How to get an accurate hedge trimming quote in Melbourne
A fair local quote is built on a few key details:
- Total run in metres (estimate by walking the length)
- Approximate height and whether both faces need trimming
- The species, or a photo if you are not certain what you have
- Current condition, maintained or significantly overgrown
- Whether you want clippings removed or kept for compost
A quick message with a couple of photos is usually enough to get a solid ballpark before anyone comes out. For larger jobs, most crews including ours offer a free site visit to confirm the price. We cover professional hedge trimming across Melbourne including hedge trimming in Eltham and surrounding suburbs. Get in touch and we will come out and price the job before anything starts.
FAQ: Hedge trimming costs in Melbourne
How much does hedge trimming cost per metre in Melbourne?
Expect to pay between $5 and $20 per lineal metre depending on height, species, and whether both sides are included. A 10-metre hedge trimmed on both faces at standard height typically sits in the $100 to $180 range. Height adds significant cost above these figures. For general gardening cost guidance, see Agriculture Victoria.
What is a fair hourly rate for hedge trimming in Melbourne?
Most Melbourne hedge trimming operators charge between $65 and $95 per hour. A sole operator sits at the lower end. A two-person crew with proper equipment charges more and finishes significantly faster. For larger jobs, a fixed-price quote is almost always the better option. You can also compare against our broader garden maintenance cost guide for Melbourne to understand typical rates across services.
Is the quote free and no obligation?
Yes. At YardMate, the quote is always free and there is no pressure to proceed. We assess the job, give you a fixed price upfront, and you decide whether to go ahead. Nothing to pay unless you book. See how the whole process works on our hedge trimming service page.
Do professionals take the clippings away?
Most do, yes. At YardMate, clippings are removed and disposed of responsibly as part of every job. If you would prefer to keep them, just say so. For all the options on dealing with green waste after a trim, see our guide on what to do with hedge trimmings in Melbourne.
How much does it cost to trim a tall hedge in Melbourne?
A hedge over 2 metres adds roughly 30 to 50 percent to the cost of the same job at standard height. A 10-metre hedge that would normally sit at $150 to $200 at 1.5 metres will typically be closer to $220 to $300 at 2.5 metres. The extra cost reflects setup time, ladder work, and the slower pace that height requires. Before committing to a tall hedge, it is worth knowing who is responsible for hedge trimming in Victoria if the hedge sits on or near a boundary.
