Free tool
Tree size estimator
By Umair Nawaz, founder of Lirevon Updated How we test tools
Size a tree in the yard with a tape and a stick, or from a customer's photo. Get the trunk diameter (DBH), a height estimate, the crown spread and a size class. Then tick off the quote factors and copy clean job notes for your estimate. Every number is yours to change.
Related: DBH, crown, tree species, tree pests and diseases, how Lirevon helps tree companies.
1. Trunk at 4.5 feet
Wrap a tape around the trunk 4.5 feet up (chest height). On a slope, stand on the uphill side. The tool divides by pi (3.14) to get the diameter.
2. Height
a. Stick method
Find a stick as long as your arm reach (eye to fist). Hold it straight up at arm's length. Walk back until the bottom of the stick lines up with the base of the tree and the top lines up with the tree top. Pace or tape the distance to the trunk.
b. Shadow method
On a sunny day, measure your own shadow and the tree's shadow (trunk to the tip of the top) within a few minutes of each other, on flat ground. The heights keep the same ratio as the shadows.
From a photo: use any object of known height standing near the tree. Put its real height as "your height", its size in the photo as "your shadow" and the tree's size in the photo as "tree shadow" (same units, like inches on screen). Rough only.
3. Crown spread
Pace the drip line (the edge of the branches) across the widest part (A), then again at right angles (B). The tool averages the two.
4. Size class cutoffs
Starting point, change it. These are not an industry standard. The tree takes the bigger class of its DBH and its height.
5. Quote factors to check
Size is only part of the price. Mark what you saw.
Size estimate
Tree
Size class
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DBH
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Height
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Crown spread
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Height method
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Quote factors
Estimates only, from field measurements. Climbing and removal risk is your own professional judgment on site.
How the math works
- DBH = circumference at 4.5 feet ÷ pi (3.14159). Feet are turned into inches first (× 12).
- Stick height = distance walked × (stick length ÷ arm reach). When the stick equals your reach, height is roughly the distance walked.
- Shadow height = your height × tree shadow ÷ your shadow.
- Crown spread = (widest spread + spread at right angles) ÷ 2.
- Size class = the bigger of the DBH class and the height class, using your cutoffs.
All results are estimates. Slopes, lean, a hidden top and a soft tape all add error. They help you size a job and plan crew and gear. They do not replace your eyes on the tree.
Questions about measuring trees
How do I measure DBH on a tree?
Wrap a tape around the trunk 4.5 feet above the ground and read the circumference. Divide by pi (3.14) to get the diameter. On a slope, measure from the uphill side. A diameter tape does the division for you, but a normal tape and this tool work just as well.
What if the tree splits into several trunks below 4.5 feet?
Measure each stem at 4.5 feet and note them separately in the job notes. Many owners also record the biggest stem as the main size. If the split is right at 4.5 feet, measure just below the swelling where the stems join.
How accurate is the stick method?
It is a rough field method. On flat ground, with a straight stick held upright and a careful walk back, it is often close enough to plan a job. Slopes, leaning trees and a hidden top make it less exact. Use it to size the job, not to plan a cut.
How does the shadow method work?
The sun hits you and the tree at the same angle, so the shadows keep the same ratio as the heights. Measure your own shadow and the tree shadow within a few minutes of each other. It needs sun, flat ground and a shadow that does not fall on a house or fence.
Can I estimate tree height from a customer photo?
Roughly, yes. Find something in the photo with a known height that stands about as far from the camera as the tree, like a person or a door. Use the shadow method fields: put that object’s real height as your height, its size in the photo as your shadow, and the tree’s size in the photo as the tree shadow. Treat the result as a first guess until you see the tree.
Why does crown spread matter for a quote?
A wide crown means more limbs to rig and lower, more brush to chip, and a bigger drop zone. It also tells you how far the canopy reaches over a roof, fence or driveway, which changes how you take it down.
Where do the small, medium, large and very large cutoffs come from?
They are starting points we picked so the tool works out of the box. They are not an industry standard. Change them to match how you price, then the tool remembers your cutoffs in this browser.
Does a bigger tree always cost more to remove?
Usually, but not always. A medium tree over a house with no truck access can take longer than a large tree in an open field. That is why the tool lists lean, targets, access, power lines and dead wood next to the size.
What should I do if the tree is near power lines?
Keep your distance and follow the safety rules that apply to you and the utility’s process for lines near trees. Work near energized lines is often limited to trained line-clearance crews or the utility, and the rules vary by state. Short note, not legal advice.
Is anything I type sent to Lirevon?
No. The math runs in your browser. Your numbers are only kept in this browser on this device so the form is filled in next time. Clear your browser data to remove them.
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