How Much Does It Cost To Hire An Exterminator?

Reviewed by Carol J Alexander remodeling expert. Written by Fixr.com.

Household pests can be more than annoying. The silent termite damages the home’s structure before you even know it’s there, and mice and roaches spread unwanted germs. To help combat these pesky critters, many homeowners hire an extermination company to perform regular pest control services.

On average, a one-time pest control assessment and service costs from $156 to $289. However, on the high end, the cost to fumigate for termites or heat treat a home for bed bugs runs about $3,500, depending on your location. This guide discusses all the factors that influence the cost of hiring an exterminator so you can make the best choice for your situation.

Cost to hire an exterminator

Factors that influence pest extermination cost 

The cost to hire an exterminator depends on the types of pests you have and how often they invade your home. Other cost factors include the size and location of the infestation and how they treat it. Below, we break down each element for you. 

Type of pest

Household pests come in all shapes and sizes. From hornets and spiders to cockroaches and termites, they can be eliminated with the help of an exterminator – and the cost of an exterminator’s services depends on your pest type. The following chart shows the cost of removing different kinds of pests from your property. We don’t list every insect you may encounter because most extermination companies like Terminix or Orkin use a formula that kills or deters a wide range of pests with a single application. 

Cost of extermination by type

Common household insects

Many extermination companies treat your home for a host of pests like ants, spiders, wasps, crickets, earwigs, silverfish, fleas, rodents, scorpions, and centipedes with one formula. Always ask what types of pests they treat to ensure you’re covered. The typical one-time pest control visit costs $156 to $289. However, you will save money by contracting for regular visits.

Bed bugs

To treat your home for bed bugs, expect to pay from $300 to $3,500, depending on the extent of the infestation and the type of treatment you use. On the low end, you can chemically treat one bedroom. On the high end, you can heat treat an entire four to five-bedroom home. Treating bed bugs takes precision and know-how. DIY treatment isn’t recommended, but it is possible. In some areas of the country, you can rent a heat machine for $249 to $899.

Termites

The two varieties of termites require different treatment methods. Depending on your location, drywood termites demand a fumigation process that costs from $1,776 to $3,306. Subterranean termites bore up from the ground and are treated by injecting chemicals into the soil around the perimeter of your home and, if your home is built on concrete, through the slab in areas where evidence occurs. Treating subterranean termites costs $7 to $10 per linear foot of the treatment area.

Rodents

A one-time rodent removal costs from $150 to $500. You'll pay more to include rechecks, dead body removals, or live trapping. But, if you already pay for a regular “pest control” program, many of the multi-pest formulas also deter mice and rats.

Wild animals

From raccoons in the attic to snakes in the basement, removing wildlife from your home takes particular skill. Generally, a removal expert will charge from $100 to $500 to remove the animal, depending on what type of animal it is, whether it’s a nest, and where in the home it’s located. If trapping is called for, they may charge more to set the trap and return on subsequent days to check it.

Type of treatment

The type of pest control treatment or wildlife removal a company uses varies depending on the type, location, and severity of infestation. Each type of treatment carries a different price tag. 

Chemical

Chemical spray treatment is the most common method of eliminating pests and typically costs $402 to $749 annually. It involves applying spray or powder pesticides that kill the pest and discourage their return. As some treatments aren’t safe for children and pets, discuss the chemical options with a professional to see what is best for your home and family. With a treatment plan that includes quarterly visits, pesticides effectively eliminate most pest problems. 

Fumigation

Depending on your location, fumigation pest control costs $1,776 to $3,306. It is a method for larger infestations of a severe nature, like termites or bed bugs. Fumigation is the most expensive option and requires you to leave your home. Workers seal off the house with a huge tent and release chemicals into the space. After waiting to allow the pesticide to do its job, they remove the tent and air out the home before you can return. 

Removal

You want someone to capture and remove the critter unharmed in the case of wildlife like squirrels, bats, or snakes. The average cost of removal services is from $100 to $500, depending on where you live and the type of animal. The worker may catch and extract the varmint in one visit if it’s present. Still, removal could take several visits if the animal only comes around occasionally, like a raccoon who rummages through your garbage cans in the middle of the night. The exterminator will set traps and return to check them and retrieve the animal. Traps are most often used for mammal, bird, and reptile pests.

Size of infestation

Pests are the least expensive to deal with when you first notice them. The longer you wait, and the larger the colony grows, the more expensive it is to eradicate. 

Location of infestation

Where the pests take up residence could influence the cost of the extermination. For instance, a raccoon that gets into your garbage at night is much easier to trap than one with a nest of babies in the attic. Also, a swarm of honeybees is relatively easy to coax into a box shortly after it lands on your siding. But let them enter through a crack and take up residence, and the removal just got a lot more expensive.

Frequency of treatments

Treatment costs differ depending on the frequency of the visits. A one-and-done application typically costs $156 to $289 – and contracted visits throughout the year range from $402 to $749 annually. 

The exterminator will discuss a pest management plan during your initial visit. They’ll let you know if a one-time treatment will resolve the issue or if you’ll need follow-up visits. Unless they come to dispatch wildlife or tent your home for termites, you’ll likely enter into a contract with a company for ongoing service. This agreement will include an initial treatment with regular visits throughout the year, depending on the insect. During these visits, the exterminator will inspect for droppings or other signs of pest infestation and apply appropriate chemicals.

The cost of services varies by frequency, as shown in the following table.

Cost of extermination by frequency of visits

The cost to hire an exterminator for your home

The most inexpensive way to remove pests from your home is to exterminate them yourself. However, if you have extra in the budget for this expense, you can afford to hire an extermination company to do the work for you. The following pricing tiers reflect different ways to give unwanted pests their eviction orders and how much you can expect to pay.

Budget-friendly extermination

If you have a trail of ants marching through your kitchen or a single mouse that got lost on his way to the neighbor’s, you can certainly take care of them on a budget. This pricing tier provides for a DIY treatment of a small infestation of insects or rodents. Expect to pay from 88 cents for a mouse trap to $30 for a gallon of insecticide.

Mid-range extermination

You may need a one-time visit from an exterminator for a more significant problem, like mosquitoes, after a rainy season. Because many insecticides don’t kill eggs, one-time treatments are not a cure-all for the problem. But for those instances where it will help eradicate the pests, expect to spend $156 to $289. 

High-end extermination

If you have the funds to spend, you don’t have to share your home with all manner of slithering, slinking, sneaky vermin. When you hire a professional extermination company to visit your home regularly, they will advise you of ways to varmint-proof your home and treat it for those who get past the gates. Regular pest control treatments cost $402 to $749 annually, with extra for things like termites, bed bugs, or wildlife removal. Some extermination companies offer package deals that include mosquito treatment for a nominal fee when you already subscribe to regular quarterly visits. However, for the two scariest of six-legged creatures–termites and bed bugs–expect to pay as much as $3,500 to treat a 2,000-square-foot home.

How to tell if you need an exterminator

From droppings to bites, there are signs that you need an exterminator in your home. Here are a few.

• Droppings – Mice leave small, black, rice-sized droppings in your cabinets, along baseboards, or in the pantry. You may not hear the scurry of padded paws, but you won’t miss the smell of mice in your house. Roach droppings are smaller, but there nonetheless. For anything suspicious, call for an inspection.
• Frass – As termites feast on your woodwork, they leave little piles resembling sawdust behind. Watch for flying termites in the spring and frass any time of the year.
• Chewed packaging – If you pick up a bag of rice to discover a small hole, chances are a mouse nibbled into it. 
• Bites – From fleas and bed bugs to mosquitoes, bug bites are a sure sign you have a problem. Familiarize yourself with what the bites of different insects look like, and you’ll know who the culprit is.
• Holes – Moths leave holes in your clothes and bedding. Termites leave holes in your woodwork. Both holes may be small, but it’s best to schedule an inspection if you start seeing them appear.

Ways to prevent pests in the home

Cleanliness may be next to godliness, but it’s also the best way to deter pests from your home. By practicing preventative measures, you can avoid pest issues in the first place. The food residue left on kitchen counters and floors attracts ants, roaches, and mice. Larger pests like mice and snakes enter the home through openings around pipes or under doors. Do a thorough inspection and fill in any gaps that look like an open door to them.

Finally, mosquitoes breed in standing water. Do regular sweeps through the yard for stagnant water in places like old tires or flower pots piled behind the shed, low-lying areas of the lawn, or the splash guards below the downspouts.

Cost to DIY pest extermination

For small infestations, you may consider treating your property yourself. From traps to sprays, there are a few DIY pest control options. However, before attempting to eradicate the pests yourself, consider the infestation size and how damaging the pest is to your home or health. Depending on the size of your home and the insecticide or DIY method you use, expect to pay from $.88 to $27 for your extermination project. On the low end, you buy a mouse trap and set it under the sink before your unwanted visitor invites all his friends and family. On the high end, you purchase insecticide by the gallon for regular treatments throughout the season. The following chart shows the price ranges for quick fixes you can buy at the local hardware store.

Cost of DIY extermination by type

Pests best left to the pros

While you may feel confident in spraying for roaches around your home, some pests are best left to the professionals. Here are a few.

• Wildlife removal – Trapping and relocating wildlife requires knowledge of the animal’s behavior. So, unless you’re the skunk whisperer, you may want to call in the troops to rid your home and property of their likes, including squirrels, raccoons, opossums, and venomous snakes.
• Termites – Termite treatment done wrong results in continued damage to your home. Protect your investment by calling a professional exterminator. 
• Stinging insects – Removing a single wasp nest is one thing, but when you have thousands of honeybees in residence, call a beekeeper. They know how to remove a swarm effectively and will likely do it for free.

Pros and cons of DIY pest extermination

Many homeowners try to rid their homes of pests initially. Sometimes it works, and sometimes it doesn’t. Here are the pros and cons of going solo regarding extermination.

Pros

• Cost – Purchasing traps and chemicals and applying them yourself is definitely cheaper than hiring a professional.
• Control – When you DIY the project, you have more control over timing, frequency, application, and chemical choices.

Cons

• Knowledge – Professional exterminators know the best use and choice of chemicals and methods for each type of pest. Their expert knowledge keeps you safe and worry-free.
• Less exposure – The person applying the chemicals experiences greater exposure than the occupants.

Paying for your pest extermination

Unless you’ve found extensive damage from termites, pest extermination is an expense most homeowners manage. Depending on your selected treatment program, pest control companies typically offer monthly payment plans. Always ask the company about pricing models, what they include, combination packages, and payment plans to save money.

However, sometimes you find pests after significant damage is done. If you must add the cost to fumigate your home for termites to the cost of replacing damaged roof trusses or floor joists, you may be wondering where the money will come from. Consider withdrawing funds from your home equity line of credit (HELOC) for these types of instances. If you haven’t opened one, speak with a lender to get the ball rolling.

Ways to save money on pest extermination

Savvy homeowners are always looking for ways to save. And saving money on pest control is no exception. If you’ve shopped around, asked for a free quote, or otherwise negotiated with professional pest control companies and still need to cut corners, here are a few suggestions.

• Do it yourself – Many homeowners have no qualms about spraying for bugs or setting a few mouse traps. If you have a small infestation, by all means, do it yourself. 
• Go with less – Does your problem truly warrant a full-scale extermination program? If you’ve had a rainy spell, emptying standing water from your yard and lighting a citronella candle until the mosquitoes move on will save you money.
• Sign the contract – When you contract with a professional service provider, the per-visit cost is less when you sign a contract for regular appointments over paying the one-time visit fee multiple times.

Other considerations

Here are a few more things to think about when hiring a professional exterminator.

• Location – Costs vary by location because climates and pests do. 
• Customer reviews – Ask your friends and family who they use to help you find a reputable extermination company. Then, read their online reviews to help you choose the best company for you.

Clear pests from your home

Unless you’re camping, you really don’t have to cohabitate with creepy crawlies. And while you can do it yourself, professional extermination will give you peace of mind that your family is safe and comfortable when they go to bed at night.