How Much Does Bee Removal Cost?

In this guide

Bee Nest Removal Cost by Type of Bee

There are actually a number of different types of bees in the world. The most common to be found on your property, though, will likely fall into one of four categories:

Bumble Bee Removal Cost

If a bumble bee infestation has become troublesome, it should only cost between $80 and $200 to treat the nest. Bumble bees are larger, yet live in much smaller nests. A bumblebee nest will only have up to 50 bees in it at one time. They live in areas in or near the ground, such as in your yard or under your deck. Bumble bees generally have a mellow temperament and are unlikely to sting, unless they feel threatened. However, they can sting multiple times. As with other types of bees, the sting should only be dangerous if allergic to bee stings. Since bumble bees are not normally aggressive and their nests rarely cause damage to homes, it is unlikely that they will need to be removed.

Carpenter Bee Removal Cost

Carpenter bee extermination costs range from as low as $100 to as high as $2,500 if carpentry repairs are needed. Carpenter bees are solid black, and only the females are able to sting. Their sting should not be dangerous, unless allergic to bee stings. They make their homes by burrowing deep inside wood, particularly on decks and in attics. They can do serious structural damage to your home if not removed in a timely manner. Carpenter bees are more solitary creatures, so it is unlikely to have a large infestation. However, there could be several small burrows located around your home. The damage may become severe if carpenter bee treatment is not performed as soon as possible.

Honey Bee Removal Cost

The cost range for removing honeybees is vast, ranging from as low as $100 for exterior removal to as high as $1,000 for removal from walls or ceilings. Honeybees are social, living in large swarms of up to 50,000 in one nest. Even a new nest may have up to 9000 bees living in it at one time. A honey bee can sting, but usually only does so when feeling threatened, and it can only sting one time. The sting can be life threatening to anyone who is allergic to bee stings, but to most people, it will just hurt for a small amount of time. Honey bee nest removal by a company that offers these services can be one of the most costly because of the large nature of their nests and the fact that dealing with the honey can leave things quite sticky. Honey bee removal cost will depend on the size and location of the nest.

Killer Bee Removal Cost

Removal/extermination of killer bees should cost between $150 and $800 since their colonies are fairly small. The killer bee, also known as “Africanized honey bees,” can be frightening because of their aggressive nature. They are slowly spreading throughout the United States and are generally more likely to swarm and attack in larger groups. When one bee stings, a pheromone released causes other nearby bees to become agitated and attack. Even though a killer bee dies after one sting, multiple stings from a number of bees can make an attack fatal, especially if allergic to bee stings. Killer bees can live underground, in rocks, or around buildings. They are quick to leave a nest if it is disturbed and take up residence elsewhere.

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Average Cost of Bee Removal by Location

The location plays an important role in the overall cost of your bee removal, with prices ranging between $100 and $1,500. The cost goes up for locations that are more difficult to reach, such as in the soffits ¹, behind walls, in high trees, or beneath siding. The main reason the cost increases is it requires more labor to complete. Below you will see the average costs for removing bees from some of the most common locations.

How to Get Rid of Bees in Shed

If you need to have bees removed from the shed, you can expect to pay between $100 and $500. The cost for this removal is less costly than others since the area is usually easier to access than others, and it is situated outdoors. If bees were to escape during the removal, it would cause less of a problem than if it occurred in the house. For most cases, you can expect to pay on the lower end unless you are dealing with carpenter bees that have begun to burrow into the wood.

Bee Nest in Garage Removal

Removing a bees nest in a garage can cost between $100 and $600. The process is similar to removal from a shed, though the removal specialist will have to be careful to keep the bees from venturing into the house. Since garages often provide for wider spaces and not too high of ceilings, the cost for removal is relatively less expensive than other places. If you notice a hive in your garage, you may want to leave the door open to encourage as many to leave before the removal process.

Bee Nest in Ground Removal

Ground removal of bees runs between $100 and $700. The depth of the bees and the size of the nest determines which part of the range your removal costs will be. The outdoor location of this removal makes it one of the least costly, though digging up the nest will take additional labor than simply removing a hive from a tree. Ground bees prefer dry soil to make their nests, so the soil should be easy to replace after removal.

Remove Bees from Roof

You can expect to pay between $200 and $800 to have a bee’s nest removed from the roof. If the nest is on a first story, it will be less costly to remove than if the removal specialist has to remove it from a second story or higher. Most often, bees make their nests along the eaves ² or the overhang of the roof. Occasionally they build them in cracks along the roofline, which can make the removal process more complicated.

Bees in the Attic Removal

Removing bees from an attic can be more expensive, costing between $200 and $1,000. If the hive is in an open area that is easy for the specialist to remove while standing, you will pay less. The process can take longer and is more tedious as the location in the house means they will have to be more cautious not to send the bees off to other areas in the house. If the bees are hiding in the eaves or ceiling of the attic, you will spend more to remove them. Often, repairs will be required after the removal.

Remove Bees from Chimney

Removing bees from a chimney can run anywhere between $200 and $1,500 depending on the location of the nest. If you suspect you have bees in your chimney, do not light a fire. Beeswax is highly flammable and can result in a dangerous situation. Seal off the bottom of your chimney to prevent the bees from coming into your home and contact a specialist. Beekeepers will come to remove as many bees safely as they can but will unlikely be able to remove the hive. Bee removal specialists will then determine where the hive is in the chimney and remove it. If masonry work is required to get to the hive, you can expect to pay more.

Bees in Window Frame

If you have bees in a window frame in your home, you may pay anywhere between $250 and $450 to remove them. Bees like to make their nests in safe places where they can be hidden. Window frames, especially those close to overhangs, are prime spots. To remove bees from a window frame, your specialist will have to remove the frame to access them. The frame will likely have to be replaced because it probably has suffered damage from the bees' presence.

How to Get Rid of Bees in the Basement

Removal of bees from a basement can be simple or difficult, depending on where they decide to make their nest. You can expect to pay between $250 and $1,000 for their removal. Walkout basements can be less expensive for removal as they are easier to access than enclosed basements. If the bees have made their way into the rafters or ceiling area of the basement, you can expect to pay more.

Cost to Remove Bees from Wall

If you have developed an infestation of bees in the walls of your home, the removal of the bees and the nest can be quite expensive. You can pay anywhere between $800 and $1,500, depending on the severity of the infestation in the walls. The inspection process and labor can take longer. Your professional will have to remove enough of the wall to allow them to access the bees and the nest. After removal, you can expect some repair costs.

Bee Removal Prices By Size of Infestation

While the location and type of bee being removed can play a role in the removal cost, so can the size of the infestation. You will pay between $80 and $2,500 depending on the size of infestation as different levels of infestation require differing amounts of labor and resources. In cases of severe infestation, extermination may be required if all the bees cannot safely be relocated without causing significant damage to your home.

A small infestation may involve a nest or two in the home or along the overhangs of the exterior of the house, where a severe infestation will likely involve the presence of bees throughout the walls in your home.

Below you will see the average cost you can expect to pay based on the level of infestation.

Bee Removal Cost by Company

Several companies offer bee removal services. On average, you can expect to pay between $100 and $500 for their services. While most of the companies use similar methods for removal, what they cover in the cost of their services varies. In most cases, these companies have a network of beekeepers they know to help them with the relocation process. Below you will see the average cost you will pay for removal based on the company that you choose.

Ehrlich Bee Removal

Erlich bee removal services run between $100 and $200 for a service. This service typically includes the removal of the nest once the bees have been relocated. Ehrlich does not include a bee inspection in their cost, so you can expect to add that if you have not already had an inspection. Their cost is lower but does not offer repairs that may be necessary due to the removal process. While they do have 45 offices throughout the U.S., they are not in every region.

Terminix Bee Removal Cost

Terminix offers the widest range in pricing for bee removal, ranging from $100 to $500. The price for their services increases with the complexity of the case and the level of infestation. Their price includes an initial inspection and consultation where they will determine the appropriate course of action. While repairs after the nest and bee removal are mainly the responsibility of the homeowner, their cost may include simple repairs such as reinstalling an undamaged window frame. Terminix locations are available in most regions.

Orkin Bee Removal Costs

Orkin removal costs range between $150 and $400. Their services include an initial inspection and minor repairs such as replacement of wood pieces or doors that were removed. Otherwise, repairs will be at the expense of the homeowner. Orkin offers basic guarantees of their services and will return for additional removal if the job was not completed satisfactorily. Orkin has locations close to most regions in the U.S.

Bee Removal Cost

There are a few ways that bees can be removed or exterminated. The direction you take will be based partly on the type of bees being removed, as well as the area, and any regulations nearby. There are many companies that will tackle the live removal of the bees and their nest from your home. This will involve reaching the nest, potentially by opening walls in your home, smoking to quiet the bees, and then the removal of the entire nest and all the bees. Some of these companies will then make repairs to the area they removed the bees from at a further cost to you.

Some beekeepers will even remove a healthy nest for free, but most charge a fee. The price really comes down to how difficult it is to access the nest. If the bees have taken up residence inside walls or ceilings, expect higher costs. A nest located outside of the house can cost as little as $80 to remove, but nests located on the second story of a home inside of the walls can cost over $1,500 to remove. Nest removal costs start at around $80 after assessment for just the removal of the nest.

Bee Inspection

In most cases, calling a bee removal specialist will result in an inspection of the nest. Some companies will roll this cost into the removal price, but others will charge a separate fee, especially in the case of a large infestation. This inspection runs around $150 to $250, and will help the specialist determine the type of bee and the best way to get rid of it.

Bee Exterminator Cost

Depending on where you live, and what the local bee population is like, you may have a hard time finding a pest company who will kill the bees; some will offer removal services, while others will simply pass on the job. If it’s been determined that the only way to remove the bees is to kill them, you will need to pay an exterminator.

While it isn’t necessarily illegal to kill bees anywhere in the U.S., there are strong federal guidelines that push for relocation measures to be used for bumble bees and honeybees since they are beneficial pollinators and cause little harm.

Carpenter bees are often a candidate for extermination as they create their nests by drilling holes into wood. In the wild, this is fine, but when they infest your home, it can lead to major structural problems. Whether a pest control specialist decides to remove or exterminate carpenter bees will be determined after the initial inspection. In cases where they are burrowed well into the home, extermination may be the only option. Exterminator costs range from $250 to $500 on average.

Killer bees may or may not be exterminated. They can be overly aggressive, making humans fearful of them, but they are not as dangerous as often portrayed unless you have a bee allergy. Some beekeepers will keep killer bees, so that option is usually explored first.

Bee Removal Process

The bee removal process starts with gaining access to the location of the bees. This can include opening up walls or ceilings, unearthing a ground nest, or clearing away brush or branches. Once the area is easily accessible, a beekeeper or bee specialist will use a humane vacuum to draw the bees in and then put them into a temporary hive.

Once as many of the bees have been removed as possible, it is time to remove the nest or hive. If there are bees still on the combs, the beekeeper may gently remove the combs and place them into the temporary hive as well.

The bee removal specialist will then remove the rest of the pieces of the hive and clean the area, making sure all beeswax is removed as it is highly flammable. After removal, repairs may need to be made if there was damage.

All About Bees

Bees are flying insects that are related to wasps and ants. Some bees are known for producing honey, and all are known for their role in pollination, which makes them an important species to protect. They are good for the stability of the ecosystem and also for commercial agriculture.

Certain species of bees colonize and live together, such as honey bees and bumblebees. Other species such as carpenter bees and mason bees are solitary. Bees range in size from as small as 0.08 inches to as big as 1.54 inches. Stingless bees are the smallest, and leafcutter bees are the largest. They primarily feed on pollen and nectar. Pollen provides them with the protein and nutrients they need. The nectar gives them energy to perform their work. Pollen is also used to feed their larvae. The life cycle of bees varies depending on the species, and in the case of social bees, their colonization level. On average, bees live from 30 to 90 days after the egg has hatched.

Bees are known for their oval bodies, larger eyes, antenna, and wings. Most will have orange or yellow coloring mixed with black, though their specific look depends on their species. Honeybees are mostly black, bumblebees are yellow and black striped with fuzzy bodies, and carpenter bees look similar to bumblebees but fly in an erratic pattern. While some species of bees can be aggressive such as killer bees that swarm when triggered by loud noises or certain smells, most bees go about their day without bothering humans unless they feel threatened.

Where Do Bees Nest?

The location of the nest is largely dependent on the type of bee that you have living there. Carpenter bees will target outdoor wood structures such as porches, window frames, and decks. Bumblebees will likely target your yard, as well as crawl spaces beneath your home. Honeybees are looking for open areas or structures big enough for their nest. They prefer chimneys, hollow trees, and walls, as well as crawl spaces and attics.

The location of the nest plays a big role in how easy or difficult it is to remove the bees. Carpenter bees and bumblebees tend to be easier to remove, simply because their nests are smaller and more likely to be located in an easy to access area. Honeybees can be more difficult to remove because they like to be contained, which may require the opening of walls or chimneys to get them out.

Can Bees Damage Your House?

The vast majority of the time, it’s a good thing to have bees around. Unfortunately, in the Spring as their number expands, they begin looking for new places to build their homes. In some cases, they will take up residence in your home or yard. This can lead to damage that needs additional repair after the nests are removed.

Depending on where it is located, you may need to hire a carpenter to help repair the area at a rate of $70 an hour. Removing a honeybee swarm may require 4 to 6 hours of work afterward to repair the damage.

Repairing damage done by carpenter bees may take a minimum of 4 - 6 hours as well. Carpenter bees can cause damage to your home when they make their nests, as they like to burrow into wood.

The repairs that are needed will often be linked to the location of the bees and how significant the infestation is. When bees have made their home beneath your deck, you will likely have to make at least minor repairs after the job is completed. Average deck repairs can cost around $850.

Another common type of repair that may be necessary after bee removal is drywall repair which can cost $240. When bees are in your walls, your exterminator will have to open up quite a bit of space in the area, requiring the removal of large pieces of drywall. In severe wall infestations, it may actually be necessary to remove a wall, which can cost around $2,500.

Are Bees Dangerous to Humans?

While bees are extremely beneficial to the environment and ecosystem, they can cause problems for humans, especially those who are allergic. Complications from bee stings can range from mild discomfort to life-threatening conditions.

If you have no allergies to bees, a sting will cause pain, swelling, heat, and redness in the area leading to mild discomfort. When someone is allergic to bees, the venom from the sting can lead to mild allergic reactions such as severe swelling and numbness to major medical emergencies such as anaphylaxis. When this occurs, you may have difficulty breathing, become dizzy, have your throat swell, have a slow or rapid heart rate, break out in hives or lose consciousness. If not treated quickly, anaphylaxis can result in death.

Even if you don’t have allergies, multiple stings —a dozen or more— can cause enough venom to enter your system for you to experience nausea, headache, convulsions, fainting, and dizziness. Multiple bee stings are an emergency for older adults, children, and those with heart conditions. This can make swarms of bees particularly dangerous.

What Attracts Bees?

Bees may be attracted to your home for many reasons. One of the main things that attract bees is the smell of honey. If you have old hives around your home, it would be beneficial to remove them.

Another thing that can attract bees is certain colors of plants. They prefer yellow, blue, and purple varieties and also fragrant flowers, such as lilacs. Flowering fruit and vegetable plants also can attract bees.

Bees look for new homes that can provide them with cover. This gives them protection from both predators and the heat. They prefer to put their hives in hidden cracks and overhangs and search for pollen through ground cover that provides shade.

Signs of a Bee Infestation

Usually, the first sign of a bee infestation that most people notice is the presence of bees around your home. If your infestation is outside, you may notice multiple bees swarming around the area and may find a nest in a tree, bush, shed, or other cracks around the exterior of your home.

If you have a bee infestation inside your home, you may notice bees and see darkened spots on your walls and ceiling. When honey bees nest, they begin producing honey which can drip out and leave marks close to their nests.

If you have a carpenter bee infestation, you may notice small holes in wood in or around your home where they have burrowed to make their nest.

Emergency Bee Removal

If you have bees in your home or even in your yard and are allergic, you may need emergency bee removal services. You can expect to pay $50 to $100 more for this service depending on whether the call is after hours or on a holiday. Depending on the time of the call, it may be more difficult to locate a beekeeper to take the removed bees, which may add $40 to $75 to the overall costs. While most beekeepers remove the bees for free before the exterminator removes the nest, emergency calls to the beekeeper may also incur a fee.

Some of the most common emergency calls are related to swarms of bees. Swarms on your porch may prevent you from safely entering your home, and swarms in your home may temporarily put you out. Professionals will advise you on what steps to take while you are waiting for their arrival. For example, if they are coming in a hole in your house, you will not want to seal the hole as it may prevent their only means of escape. Additionally, you may be advised to turn on your air conditioner. Bees find it difficult to fly when the temperature is cold enough and may fall to the ground.

How to Prevent Bees from Coming Back

There are many things that a homeowner can do to make their properties less attractive to bees looking for a home. Take a look around your property and search for places that bees might like to live in, as well as small holes in the siding that could allow entry to bees. Clean up piles of leaves, branches, and weeds and repair any holes in the exterior of your home. This is especially important around the entrances to the home. Use caulking ³ or expanding foam spray to seal up any holes or gaps. Other places that look exciting to bees include empty pipes, garden sheds, and empty plant containers or buckets.Try not to leave these things lying around and inspect them often for signs of infestation. Bees tend to look for new homes from March to July, so this is the most important time to be alert.

Another thing to try is bee repellent spray. Apply the spray yourself, or have a pest control company come to your home. A one-time visit to apply a bee repellent spray to the perimeter of your home should cost between $50 and $200.

Wasp vs Bee

Many people will use the terms wasp and bee interchangeably, though they are completely different insects. The confusion is because many people find it hard to tell them apart. While they look similar, their behavior is quite different. Bees are gentle and will only show aggression when protecting their hive or defending themselves.

Wasps will get aggressive at slight provocation and sting if annoyed. They tend to be brighter in color, shinier, and have a bright yellow coloring which earns them the term “yellow jacket.” You can tell a wasp’s nest from a bee’s as it will appear more brittle and paper-like. Beehives will have a more hexagonal shape and be filled with comb. When you have a wasp infestation, they will be exterminated instead of rehomed like bees. You can expect to pay around $390 for a wasp nest to be removed. The average cost to remove a bee’s nest runs a little higher at around $550. The additional costs are mostly related to the attempts to relocate the bees instead of exterminating them.

Remodeling Terms Cheat Sheet

¹ Soffits: Construction material, typically composed of vinyl or aluminum, used to enclose the underside of eaves and ceilings

³ Caulking: A chemical sealant used to fill in and seal gaps where two materials join, for example, the tub and tile, to create a watertight and airtight seal. The term "caulking" is also used to refer to the process of applying this type of sealant