How much does it cost to hire a mouse exterminator?

Reviewed by Irene Pomares remodeling expert. Written by Fixr.com.

Mice Extermination Cost vs Mice Removal Cost

For extermination companies, “mice extermination” and “mice removal” refer to the same process. If your preferred definition of “removed” is relocated as opposed to killed, your best bet is to contact wildlife removal specialists in your area. Unlike professional exterminators, wildlife removal companies are more receptive to and can handle the “catch and release” method of mouse removal. The rodent exterminator cost is between $450 to $600. Extermination includes inspection, sealant, a variety of snap traps, jaw traps, or bait stations, and a follow-up appointment.

The cost of mouse removal by a company specializing in wildlife removal costs between $300 to $600 for the same service as extermination. The only difference is that mice will be caught in humane live traps that the company (or you) need to release back into the environment. This mouse removal method is recommended by national animal welfare organizations, including the ASPCA and the Humane Society of the United States. When releasing mice, experts recommend not taking the animal too far from your home (within a few blocks) so that they can still find familiar food and water sources. As long as the removal service includes the exclusion/sealing of rodent entry points on the exterior of your home, then you do not need to worry about the mouse getting back in.

Mouse Control Cost by Home Size

If your mouse problem is house-wide, then the size of your home will impact the number of traps or amount of poison needed to take care of the infestation. The costs below are what homeowners can expect to pay to get rid of a medium mouse infestation throughout the home. If your home is larger than average, you can expect to pay $1,000 or more.

Mouse Exterminator Cost by Method

A multitude of methods are available for mouse extermination. Mousetraps are a common option, but poison, bait stations, and rodenticides are also used. Mice fumigation is another option typically used in cases where a home is severely infested with mice. Here are ranges for the exterminator cost for mice based on the method used to trap and/or kill them in a 2,000 sq.ft. home:

Mouse Traps

The cost of traps varies based on the type used but ranges from as low as $250 for snap traps to as high as $650 for electric traps. Traps are the most commonly used form of extermination, and many different types of traps are available. Professionals can identify the best locations to place these traps based on the location of the nests, trap type, and the other inhabitants of the home, such as pets or small children.

Mice Snap Trap

Expect to pay $250 to $300 for mouse extermination with snap traps. A mice snap trap is a baiting mouse trap because it uses bait to lure in rodents. This trap is very easy to set and release. However, it can be a short-term solution if the source is not sealed. You should keep in mind that mice will eventually be smart enough to avoid it. Snap traps also run the risk of snapping on curious children and pets.

Live Mouse Trap

Mouse extermination with live mouse traps costs between $300 to $500. Live traps for mice are a humane method for removing mice from your home. The trap attracts the mice inside it with food. When the animal enters the trap, it triggers the door to close and traps the animal inside. You can then transport and release the mouse within two blocks of your home. If humanely trapping and releasing a mouse appeals to you, then it is important to note that relocating the animal to a forest or other wild place is not doing it a favor. A mouse can only reliably find food and water in an environment that is familiar to it. As long as the exterminator has also sealed any potential entry holes into your home, the mouse will leave you alone even if it remains on your street.

Mouse Glue Trap

Expect to pay $300 to $500 for mouse extermination with glue traps. Glue traps have no snapping mechanism, but they are also baiting mouse traps. They are a safer method for homes with young children and pets. However, it is the least humane method to kill a mouse since the death is drawn-out and slow due to lack of food and water.

Jaw Mouse Trap

Mouse extermination with jaw mouse traps costs between $300 and $500. Jaw mouse traps are heavier duty versions of snap baiting mouse traps. They are made of heavy-duty plastic with a spring-loaded, serrated “jaw” that snaps shut on a mouse when the creature ventures in for the bait. The jaw mouse trap results in an easier clean-up because the jaws break the animal’s neck without breaking its skin.

Electric Mouse Trap

The cost is higher than other traps, so expect to pay $450 to $650 for mouse extermination with electric traps. Electric traps are baiting mouse traps that are reusable, quick, and effective. Moreover, these are long-term and efficient solutions for mice infestations. Mice enter the enclosed trap and are electrocuted. They die in a few seconds.

Mouse Poison

The cost for extermination with mouse poison is $300 to $500. Some exterminators use mouse poison if it is not possible to fit a trap into the required space. This method should be a last resort. Mouse poison is not recommended because it requires the professional to leave open containers of toxic poisons in your home. Curious pets and children are at risk of accidentally consuming it. Mouse poison does not trap or kill the mouse instantly, and they can still roam around before they die.

Mouse Bait Station

You will pay $450 to $650 for mouse extermination with bait stations. Mouse bait stations also rely on poison to kill mice. But unlike uncovered mouse poison, bait stations are closed containers with a small opening for mice. Inside the enclosure, mice eat poisoned bait which eventually kills them. Bait stations are not reusable. They are effective at killing mice, but it will be a slow death.

Rodenticides

You will pay $750 to $1,000 for mouse extermination with rodenticide. A rodenticide is a pesticide specifically formulated to kill rodents. This includes mice, rats, beavers, chipmunks, and woodchucks. Rodenticide is typically sold in multi-gallon quantities because it is intended to be used in large areas. Barns are the most common places where people use rodenticide to exterminate mice. A word of caution about rodenticides: they are made from wheat, which means that horses find them especially tasty. Use with extreme care in a barn setting.

Mice Fumigation

The cost of mice fumigation ranges between $2,000 and $6,000. Fumigation is the most costly method for exterminating mice from your home or garage. Like fumigating for other pests, this method involves sealing off sections of your home and piping in a toxic gas to kill all the mice present. For a large infestation, it is the quickest and most lethal extermination technique. With mice fumigation, you will not likely need any follow-up appointments.

Mouse Extermination Prices by Severity of Infestation

It’s startling to see one mouse in your home or office. When you see or hear groups of them scurrying around, it can be downright alarming. The cost to exterminate a mouse problem depends on many factors, including the severity of infestation. After the exterminator determines how many mice and nests are on your property, they’ll decide on the best method for getting rid of them. The method is the most significant factor in the final cost. Generally speaking, the larger the infestation, the more invasive and costly the method.

Mouse Pest Control Cost by Frequency

Some homeowners only need a one-time visit from a pest control expert to take care of a mouse infestation. This includes everything from assessing the extent of the issue to locating where the mice are hiding, finding entry points, building and implementing an extermination plan, and placing traps and chemicals. However, others choose regular pest control monthly, quarterly, or annually.

Annual frequency works well when there are limited or seasonal pest issues. Quarterly visits are better at preventing infestations since a professional visits four times a year. Monthly pest control is a good option when a homeowner is dealing with a large infestation or persistent issues with pests. A one-time visit can be as little as $200, while monthly contracts can reach up to $1,200 for an annual series of visits.

Mice Pest Control Cost by Company

Homeowners dealing with mice may prefer to choose a large company that operates nationwide to handle pests or a smaller business or contractor in the local area. Many choose large companies since they are highly experienced and can be used in almost any location. It is easy to find information about their services and speak with past customers to be sure they can handle the mice infestation in a home.

Orkin Prices for Mice

Orkin mouse control costs $250 to $500 for a single visit. This company has been in business for over 100 years and handles pests like mice, cockroaches, termites, bedbugs, and more. The pest specialists undergo at least 160 hours of training, and their business serves over 1.7 million customers. Working with Orkin starts with an initial inspection followed by scheduled visits that are implemented based on the plan you choose.

Terminix Prices for Mice

Terminix is the other major pest company across the United States. Terminix mice control costs $350 to $600 for one visit. Terminix has been doing this work for over 90 years and serves about one million more customers than Orkin. It is well known for its customer service by offering an online chat function that is quick and easy to use. Treatment plans are similar to Orkin with targeted treatment plans for mice and other pests, such as ants, termites, and silverfish.

Mice Exterminator Cost by Location

Mice exterminator prices vary by the location of the mouse problem, including how many entry points need to be sealed off. What kind of traps a professional sets to catch mice also impacts the cost. High-traffic areas or rooms with small children and pets require different traps than spaces that are easily closed off.

Professionals can exterminate mice in many locations, including barns, sheds, and garages. This typically involves placing traps and sealing any holes to the outside so additional mice cannot come inside. Mice can also be in walls, roofs, ceilings, heating ducts, and floorboards. In some cases, areas may need to be dismantled to access the mice and lay traps for them. Mice can also be exterminated if there are many of them in your yard. Kitchens and bedrooms will often be inspected before humane live traps or glue traps are set. Costs range from $50 for basic shed extermination to $1,000 for a large barn with a serious infestation.

Removal costs range from $250 to $475 for mice in the attic, depending on the size and level of infestation. This is a common area for mice to be found since they come in through gaps and find somewhere convenient to nest. An exterminator seals off entry points, sets snap traps and makes sure additional mice cannot make it inside.

Here are ranges for the exterminator price for mice based on the most common places that problems occur. In some cases, the process of extermination is really similar from one location to another, although the prices are different. This is because the smaller the location, the easier it will be to seal holes and check for mice.

Mice Inspection Cost

It is important to call a professional when you realize you may have a mouse infestation. Pest control companies make an initial inspection to determine the size of the problem. Many pest control companies offer free inspections, but some do charge for these services. In many cases, the inspection is part of the initial visit, which totals $350 to $550 and includes consultation, planning, and initial extermination services. If the inspection is a separate price, it costs $75 to $100. Get quotes from a few different companies if you can. Ask company representatives whether or not they charge for the first visit.

Mice Exclusion Cost

Mice exclusion refers to sealing off the entry points that mice use to get into your home. Exterminators use copper mesh to seal any holes, cracks, and gaps in exterior building materials. The cost of mice exclusion is most often included in the cost of a mouse extermination package. Setting traps for mice will be minimally effective if entry holes are not excluded/sealed because mice can easily escape the traps. For this reason, it is rare for an exterminator not to include mice exclusion in their fees.

If an exterminator does not include mouse exclusion in their estimate, you can order this separate service for between $50 to $300. You can also hire a handyman to do it. The cost of a handyman depends on the number and size of the holes. A handyman would charge this project at an hourly rate as opposed to a project-based flat fee. The cost ranges between $100 to $300 for up to three hours of work. If the handyman needs to seal the holes from a significant infestation with more than one colony (family group) of mice, the cost increases at an hourly rate of $100. If you choose a handyman instead of an exterminator service to seal the holes, we recommend choosing one with experience identifying rodent entry points.

Mice Extermination by Type of Mouse

Several types of mice can get into homes and cause problems, including deer mice, field mice, and house mice. The extermination prices are the same for all of these mice when using most pest control professionals. However, there can be some differences in terms of the best way to remove these mice or keep them from entering your home. Below is what you need to know about each of these species of mice.

Deer Mouse Control

Deer mice are not as common in homes but can be issues in vacation houses, farming areas, sheds, and other outbuildings. Keeping these mice out means any holes larger than the size of a pencil need to be sealed. Lawns should be mowed regularly, and food should not be left in places where it will tempt the mice. The mice will try to nest in boxes and other items in sheds and garages, so those should be inspected. To remove deer mice, traps are often used by professionals.

Field Mice Extermination

Field mice are another type of mouse that may or may not enter homes. They are more common to find in garages, sheds, outhouses, and other buildings that have easier access for the pests to forage for food. To prevent field mice, any holes leading into a home should be closed. Fruit in the yard should be removed, as should any nesting areas. Trapping is often the quickest way to remove these mice, but a professional will consider the specifics of your situation before deciding on the right control plan.

House Mice Extermination

The most common type of mice to find in a home are house mice. These mice can adapt quickly and breed fast, which may leave you with a serious infestation in weeks to months. If these mice are in the home, gnaw marks, tracks, burrows, droppings, and damaged goods may be noticed. While home remedies help control house mice, a professional pest control expert will have an easier time handling the pests. They can inspect the home and determine which treatment option is right for your situation.

How Long Does It Take to Exterminate Mice?

The initial consultation with an exterminator will provide you with the information you need about how long it takes to exterminate mice. During the inspection, the exterminator will diagnose the extent of the problem and provide you with an estimated timeline to completion. Any extermination or removal of mice will take at least 2 appointments: the initial inspection and 1 follow-up visit within 90 days to confirm that the mice are gone. Keep in mind that this is the maximum length of time. Most mouse problems can be fixed in much less time.

When to Call an Exterminator for Mice?

By the time you see a mouse in your home, you may already have a problem. Stay vigilant for common signs that you are hosting little guests in your home, garage, boat, or vehicle. Signs of a mouse infestation in your house include droppings, scratching sounds, piles of nesting material like shaved wood, and moldy or foul smells.

Mice are nocturnal creatures, which means that they are active at night and sleep during the day. If you are a heavy sleeper, it is possible that you will not know there is a problem until you are bordering on an infestation. Stay aware of any signs that mice have moved in and started building nests.

Call a professional as soon as you suspect a problem. If you wait, you risk extensive damage to your property. Mice have incisors that never stop growing. They keep these teeth manageable by constantly chewing on things to wear them down. When those things are your belongings, you could incur some serious costs.

Waiting to contact a professional also carries potential health risks. Mice love food. When scampering around your pantry, they are most likely also defecating and urinating. Without proper removal or extermination, you expose your family to the numerous pathogens that mice can carry.

Cost to Repair Mouse Damage to a House

Mice and other rodents may do damage to areas of your home that will require repair. If the exterminator needed to open the walls to reach the nest, you may need to repair the drywall at a cost of roughly $30 per sheet. If the mice have eaten electrical lines, you may need to hire an electrician at a cost of $40 to $120 an hour. If plumbing has been disturbed, you may need to hire a plumber at a cost of $45 to $200 an hour to make the necessary repairs.

If there are mouse urine stains on the ceiling or other stains as a result of mice, have your house deep cleaned and also book an exterminator package. Ideally, book a deep cleaning service to remove any difficult stains before the exterminator arrives. On average, expect to pay $325 for a house deep clean, which includes the cleaning of walls and baseboards with disinfectants.

If you have already had an emergency mouse removal and now need to book a deep clean to remove the urine stains on the ceiling, it is recommended that you wait at least 5 days. This is especially true if your extermination treatment involved a spray pest repellent. Otherwise, the deep clean will wipe it away.

If you experienced mice carpet damage, hire a carpet repair professional to fix the hole for about $200 on average.

Dead Mouse Removal Cost

If you purchase a mouse extermination package, dead mouse removal will be included in the price to exterminate mice. If you find a dead mouse on your property and do not want to remove it yourself, hire a wildlife removal specialist or exterminator to help you dispose of it. If you don’t hire the service as part of a mouse extermination contract, the range for dead mouse removal cost is between $100 to $200, which includes one trip to your home and disposal fees. All dead animals carry the risk of spreading pathogens to your family. It is important to safely and quickly remove them as soon as possible.

All About Mice

It is true that mice can cause a homeowner serious headaches. But it is hard to refute how much these tough little creatures have in common with humans. Hundreds of types of mice can be divided into New World and Old World species. The most common types of mice in North America include the deer mouse, field mouse, and house mouse.

People tend to group mice and rats together, but these animals are distinct members of the rodent family. One big difference between them is their size. On average, mice grow between 1 to 7 inches in length. They are very small animals that only weigh between 0.5 and 1 ounce. Some mice in Africa are even smaller.

Mice are social animals that communicate with each other using audible sounds as well as ultrasonic waves. Like humans, they are omnivores, meaning that they eat meat and plants. Despite their small stature, they eat a lot. They choose to build their nests near food sources so that they can fill their bellies up to 20 times per day.

In the wild, mice only live 1.5-2 years. Pet mice can live as long as 6 years. Female mice (called does) begin breeding with male mice (called bucks) when they are between 4 and 7 weeks old. She will carry her babies for about 20 days before giving birth to a litter of between 4 and 12 babies (called pinkies or pups).

Where Do Mice Nest?

The first thing you want to do when you have a mouse problem in your home is to establish where their nest is and the population size. Mice typically build their nests in dark, undisturbed spaces like garages and attics. Ensure that they do not have easy access to any food (including your pets’ food) by sealing all food items and storing them in airtight containers.

Are Mice Dangerous?

While there are many different species of mice, it is the droppings and saliva of specific species that are known to contaminate food and spread diseases within the home. As explained by the Center for Disease Control and Prevention, many diseases can be spread by mice. It is important to know what they are and how serious each of them is.

Tularemia is a common disease among mice, and humans may be infected through contact with the rodents or other items they have contacted. This can be fatal but may be treated with antibiotics. Another common disease is salmonellosis, caused by contact with infected animals or food and lasts up to a week without treatment. Rat-bite fever or Haverhill fever can be fatal and is caused by handling rodents, receiving scratches and bites, or consuming contaminated food or drink. Hantavirus pulmonary syndrome is caused by contact with mice and has symptoms similar to the flu. Finally, lymphocytic choriomeningitis is also caused by infected rodent exposure or bite and may require hospitalization to treat.

Emergency Mouse Removal Cost

Any need to get rid of mice in your home could be considered an emergency. If you have elderly or immune-compromised adults in your home, who might be more susceptible to pathogens that mice can carry, an infestation is a big deal. On the other hand, you might have a flexible work schedule, and the regular business hours of 9-5 do not align with your daily activities. Whatever the reason, when you see a mouse in your living space, many exterminators are available 24 hours a day.

In most cases, the complete and permanent removal of mice from your home is a multi-step process. The process is the same even if the call is an emergency. For after-hours service, an exterminator will perform a complete inspection and diagnose the extent of the problem. They will also set an initial set of traps in the problem areas. However, this is merely a short-term solution for an emergency situation. Traps are only effective if mice have nowhere else to go. Without sealing all the entry points, they can simply escape out the way they came in. Exterminators will schedule an appointment with you in the very near future to seal off the entry points with copper mesh and refresh the traps. Expect to pay between $550 to $750 for an emergency mouse removal service with mouse exclusion.

Pet-Friendly Mouse Control Cost

Unfortunately, it is difficult to exterminate a significant mice problem without chemicals. Ask your exterminator what kind of chemicals they use for mice so that you can do some research on them. The “trap and release” option with live traps ($100 to $200) may be available if your property only has one or two mice. Consider this option if you have children and/or pets.

You can always explain to your children that they need to be careful when chemicals are present, but what about your pets? During the mouse extermination process, you want to take several steps to keep your pets safe. The chemicals that exterminate mice are highly toxic to pets.

Start by telling your exterminator that you have pets, and ask what they recommend for safety. Dogs and cats should be kept away from treated areas while the chemicals dry. Either move them to an untreated room or, in the case of dogs, let them play outside. You may also choose to kennel your pet for a day or so, especially if you have a lot of rooms that need treatment. Move fish tanks, bird cages, and hamster cages to untreated rooms if possible. If that is not a possibility, put a sheet over the cages to keep your pet from inhaling fumes.

How to Prevent Mice in House

There are some things you can do to prevent mice from invading your home. First, thoroughly clean your home, focusing on the pantry and kitchen areas, attics, garage as well as any areas that could possibly be a nest for rodents.

After you clean the area, a mouse repellent can also be an effective way to keep mice out of your home, garage, boat, RV, and vehicle. There are 3 main types of mouse repellents that use different methods for detracting mice: mouse repellent sprays ($10 to $20), mouse repellent pouches ($15 to $20), and ultrasonic mouse repellent ($20 to $60), which are devices that generate ultrasonic waves, and sometimes also LED lights, to disorient both rodents and insects, including mice, rats, and cockroaches.

The key to preventing any mouse problem is ensuring they do not get into your home in the first place, this is why mouse exclusion is an important part of a mouse extermination project.

Enhancement and Improvement Costs

Mouse Cleaning Services

It is best to start with a clean home before calling in a professional because you need to leave the treated areas undisturbed for at least 5 days to ensure that the problem is dealt with. If you do not want to clean your house yourself, house cleaning costs range between $159 and $250 per visit for a regular-size home.

Additional Considerations and Costs

• IPM. Integrated Pest Management (IPM) is an ecosystem-based approach of pest prevention that focuses on knowing the habits of the pest and targeting it with humane traps and less toxic chemicals. First, you need to know your pest’s habits and how they are gaining access to your home. Second, keep your home clean and your food in airtight containers. Mice are looking for food. If despite the prevention you see a mouse, use traps and bait first to catch and remove it. Lastly, continue to monitor the area so that you can get ahead of pests before you have a real problem.
• Seasonal infestations. The most common season for mice to enter homes is during the fall/winter due to the drop in temperature and the need to seek food indoors.
• Poison. Be wary of any pest exterminator who uses poisons to deal with the infestation. Poisons can cause the mice to die inside your walls, where their decaying bodies may smell and spread further diseases. Poison may also be harmful to the health of pets or people living in the house.
• When the infestation began. Do you remember what the date was when you first noticed signs of a rodent problem? If so, write it down and tell the exterminator. This information can help the exterminator figure out how bad the problem may be. If you do not have the exact date, a rough estimate can also be helpful.
• Talk to your neighbors. Mice can travel quickly from one house to the next, which means that if you have a mouse problem, some of your neighbors probably do, too. It is a good idea to let your next-door neighbor know what you are dealing with so that they can be prepared.
• Working cat. Adopting a "working cat" from a local animal shelter or rescue group can be an inexpensive way to remove mice from your barn. Working cats are feral (wild) cats that have been brought into the shelter because they cannot return to their outdoor colony. These cats also cannot live inside because they are closer to wild animals than tame house cats. In exchange for the safe shelter of your barn plus food and water, a barn cat will be your personal security guard to keep mice at bay.