In this study, the quality of Bertholletia excelsa seedlings was evaluated in relation to the transplanted seedling’s size. Thirty days after transplanting the seedlings to the forest nursery, the first height measurement was performed. From the 30th day onwards, evaluations were carried out every 15 days, being nine in total. The Dickson Quality Index (DQI) was evaluated to determine the seedlings quality, where all seedlings had their root pruned. The experimental design, totaling 160 individuals, was completely randomized with four treatments and four replications, including the shoot cut and three seedling sizes with no shoot cut. Shoot cut seedlings presented a DQI of 0.66 ± 0.23, significantly higher than the large seedlings (≤ 17 cm in height) with no shoot cut (F3,76 = 2.762, p = 0.047). Transplanting had significant effects over the development, growth, and quality of Bertholletia excelsa seedlings during the first 165 days of seedling production. Therefore, shoot pruning resulted in better performance of B. excelsa seedlings to be planted in the field.