Tree Value Calculator
Enter local quotes below. The replacement model adds costs directly; condition and species/location factors are not applied.
Tree & Valuation Inputs
Tree Value & Cost Breakdown
Planning estimateVisual Valuation Breakdown
Area × local unit cost × condition × combined factor
Formula & Worked Example
Trunk area= π × (DBH ÷ 2)²
Base cost= trunk area × unit cost
Adjusted estimate= base cost × condition × combined factor
Calculations use unrounded values. Figures are estimates based on your inputs.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is this an official CTLA appraisal?
No. Trunk-Area Estimate is a simplified educational model: circular trunk area × entered unit cost × condition × one combined species/location factor. The CTLA Guide for Plant Appraisal describes a broader professional process; current techniques distinguish condition, functional and external limitations and may include additional costs. This tool does not reproduce or certify a complete CTLA appraisal.
How do I determine local unit cost?
Use documented regional nursery or appraisal cost information. A unit cost may be derived from a suitable nursery tree price divided by its cross-sectional trunk area, with the measurement convention documented. The initial 27 USD/in² is an editable example, not a current local price or universal recommended range.
What changes in Replacement Cost mode?
The model adds your nursery tree, delivery, planting/installation and aftercare quotes. Diameter and depreciation factors do not affect this direct sum. These inputs retain their values when switching methods. This is an itemized cost basis; it is not automatically the value of an existing mature tree.
Does changing currency convert prices?
No. USD, EUR, GBP and TRY change currency labels only. No exchange rate is applied. Enter every cost in the selected currency. Changing in/cm measurement units does convert diameter and cost per square unit, preserving the estimate.
More valuation questions
What does the Tree Value calculator calculate?
A simplified adjusted trunk-area cost estimate or an itemized replacement-cost total. The trunk mode also displays area, unadjusted area-based cost and the product of the two entered factors. Neither result establishes timber sale value, carbon credit value or legal compensation.
Which values should I enter?
For trunk-area mode, enter DBH, a documented local cost per square inch or square centimetre, condition from 0–100%, and one combined species/location factor from 0–100%. For replacement mode, enter four nonnegative local quotes. Blank required values are invalid; enter 0 when a cost does not apply.
What formula does this calculator use?
Circular trunk area = πD²/4. Base area cost = area × local unit cost. Adjusted estimate = base cost × condition/100 × combined factor/100. Replacement total = nursery + delivery + installation + aftercare. All calculations use unrounded canonical values.
Why might my result differ from another source?
Professional appraisal methods, regional costs, measurement conventions, depreciation assumptions, additional costs and rounding can differ. Combining species and location is an explicit simplification; do not enter their product and then apply either factor a second time.
Does the result update automatically?
Yes. Inputs, sliders, example condition buttons, methods, currencies and measurement units update the result and diagram. Reset restores the 12 in, 27 USD/in², 70% condition, 80% combined example. Example buttons set only condition; they do not independently assess health, structure or form.
Who should perform an official tree appraisal?
A suitably qualified arboricultural appraiser should inspect the tree, document the assignment, sources, methods and assumptions, and follow applicable professional requirements. An online numerical estimate does not substitute for that assessment.
Where should I measure DBH?
Use the measurement convention appropriate to the appraisal and document it. US forestry often uses 4.5 ft above ground; many metric protocols use 1.3 m. Changing display units does not change the physical measurement height. Multi-stem or irregular trunks may require a different method.
Do the illustration or preset ratings diagnose tree health?
No. The tree and wood images are decorative, not measurements or age assessments. Excellent 100%, Good 70%, Fair 40%, Poor 20% are editable example ratings; a real assessment requires inspection. The diagram labels and bar proportions reflect the inputs, not an automated health diagnosis.
Sources & References
References provide professional context, not endorsement or certification of this calculator.
Tree Value Calculator Estimate the monetary value of a landscape tree using the Council of Tree and Landscape Appraisers (CTLA) trunk formula method. — free online calculator.