When pests invade your home, you can tackle minor problems cheaply by heading to the home improvement store for a $7 can of bug spray or a $6 pack of mouse traps. But, if you’re dealing with an infestation or want to prevent pests from ever making themselves at home, you’ll need to invest in a professional pest control service.
Pest control prices range from $275 to $615 for a one-time treatment of a moderate insect or rodent problem, depending on where you live, the size of your home and the severity of the infestation. However, prices vary dramatically depending on the severity of the pest issue.
Key takeaways:
The average cost for pest control ranges between $275 and $615.
Cockroaches, bedbugs and termites are the most expensive to remove.
Ants, wasps and the occasional mouse are the best candidates for DIY pest control and can cost less than $50 to remove.
Save money on pest control by taking advantage of off-season deals and bundling services.
Average pest control costs
Pest control prices range from $275 to $615 for a one-time treatment of a moderate insect or rodent problem, depending on where you live, the size of your home and the severity of the infestation. However, prices vary dramatically depending on the severity of the pest issue.
“Costs may range from a low of $200 to treat a single wasp nest up to $10,000 or more for a tarped fumigation for wood-destroying insects,” said Craig Sansig, the service director at Viking Pest Control, which serves the Mid-Atlantic region.
Common pest control prices by pest
|
|
Cost
|
|---|---|
| Ants | $100 - $500 |
| Bedbugs | $350 - $5,500 |
| Cockroaches | $100 - $600 |
| Fleas | $100 - $400 |
| Mosquitoes | $75 - $500 |
| Rodents | $175 - $2,500 |
| Spiders | $150 - $500 |
| Termite removal | $750 - $4,000 |
| Termite prevention (annual) | $400 - $1,500 |
| Wasps | $100 - $1,300 |
A year’s worth of preventive treatments costs between $450 and $1,300. With a preventive pest control plan, the pest control company treats your home periodically throughout the year.
These treatments are typically quarterly; however, they can be bi-monthly or even monthly if you live in a warmer pest-friendly climate or have a lot of pests in your area. Most pest companies agree to perform additional spot treatments at no charge if you spot pest activity between the regular treatments.
Average ongoing pest control prices
|
|
Cost
|
|---|---|
| Initial visit (ongoing service) | $150 - $375 |
| Annual (4 - 6 treatments) | $450 - $1,300 |
| Quarterly | $100 - $275 |
| Monthly | $40 - $75 |
| One-time service | $275 - $615 |
Additional pest control costs
Sometimes, there are additional costs that can add to the overall price. “If you want a pest control service that only uses organic methods, or if you need a treatment on the weekend or outside normal business hours, expect to pay more,” Sansig said.
Some pests can also leave behind a significant amount of damage you’ll have to repair after they’re gone. Termites and carpenter ants are the most destructive, potentially costing homeowners thousands of dollars in damage.
“A failure to detect termites in your home may lead to tens of thousands of dollars in repair costs not covered by homeowners’ insurance,” said Sansig.
What impacts the cost of pest control?
Several factors can impact how much you’ll pay for pest control, including the market you live in, the pest being treated and the size of the structure.
Home and yard size
The size of your property is a major factor in pricing. The more ground and square footage the pest control company has to treat, the higher the cost.
“When we service a house, we have a long brush, and we clean around the windows and eaves, and we granulate and spray around the house,” said Matt Smith, a licensed professional pest control technician and owner of Green Pest Management in Delaware. “It’s going to take more time and more product to do that for a larger home, so we have to charge more for that. If you have outbuildings, like a shop or barn or storage sheds, that can also add to the price.”
Location of your home
Where you live will also significantly impact how much you pay for pest control services. Locations with a high cost of living will have higher rates, and you may also have to pay more if the pest control technician has to drive farther to reach your home.
Number of treatments
If you go with a recurring treatment plan, the number of treatments you receive will impact the cost. While most treatment plans are quarterly, you may want more treatments depending on the climate, the pest activity in your area and how much you tolerate certain pests. “Some people can’t stand spiders. If that’s the case, you better have monthly service,” said Garrett Thrasher, the co-owner of Thrasher Termite and Pest Control in San Diego.
Size of the infestation
The severity of the infestation will also have a big impact on price. “In pest control, as in all service businesses, time equals money,” Thrasher said. “Once a pest species sets up shop in your home and starts reproducing, it is much tougher and more expensive to evict them.”
Variety of pest
Some pests are more difficult to get rid of than other pests. While common pests like spiders and ants are among the most affordable to remove, others require more effort.
“Specialty pests like termites and bedbugs take quite a bit more time to treat and remove,” said Smith. While you might pay between $100 and $500 for an ant or cockroach treatment, removing bedbugs can run into the thousands, depending on how bad the infestation is.
Weighing DIY pest control vs. hiring a professional
In some cases, using store-bought pest control products can solve your pest problems or at least keep the creepy crawlies at bay until you can get the pros in to treat the problem.
“Ants, wasps and the occasional mouse are good candidates for the DIYer. But, if these pests persist past one or two treatments, it is best to then loop in a professional, or you may inadvertently drive up treatment costs,” said Sansig. “Hard to remove pests, like cockroaches, bedbugs, termites, rats and any pests that have invaded your food supply should only be tackled by a professional.”
DIY solutions include sprays, baits and foggers for insects, and traps and poisons for rodents. You can purchase liquid ant baits and insect sprays for between $6 and $15. DIY rodent control products range from as little as $3 for simple mouse traps or glue traps or up to $50 for large bait stations that use poison blocks.
One of the newer trends in DIY pest control is subscription-based preventive services. These companies will send you the type and amount of pest control chemicals you need based on the size and location of your home. A DIY pest control subscription is more affordable than professional treatments but pricier than other DIY products. You’ll pay around $150 for four treatments delivered to your doorstep every quarter.
DIY pest control costs
|
|
Average cost
|
|---|---|
| Insect sprays, foggers, baits | $6 - $15 |
| Rodent traps, baits | $3 - $50 |
| DIY pest control kits (quarterly) | $125 - $200 |
While DIY treatments are an appealing, low-cost alternative to professional pest control, Smith points out that pest problems will often persist with DIY treatments. “The products you get at the store aren’t nearly as good as what we have,” he said. “Many are topical and take out pests that you see, but not the ones in the nest that’s 3 feet in the ground. And so, they’ll keep coming back throughout the year because the nest is not taken care of.”
How to choose a pest control company
You should select a pest control company based on both competence and value. According to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, “If pesticides are misused, both health and property can be damaged.” Before you choose a company, do the following:
- Ask your neighbors. Start by checking with your neighbors to see what pest control company they use, especially since they’re probably dealing with the same pest headaches you are.
- Read online reviews. Sites like Google allow you to read individual customer experiences with specific companies and look at aggregated star ratings.
- Compare quotes. Don’t go with the first pest control company that comes knocking at your door. Instead, collect multiple quotes and compare the services and rates that each offers.
- Look for certifications. Pest control companies with certifications from the National Pest Management Association have been vetted by the professional pest management industry.
- Ask about guarantees. “Regardless of how often a company treats, it is still possible for insects to enter a home, ” says Sean Hearn, a certified operator and the Director of Business Development at All U Need Pest Control. “Most reputable companies will stand behind their work and take care of these issues without charging any more for that service.”
6 tips to reduce pest control costs
There are a few things you can do to limit the cost of pests at bay:
- Keep up with regular treatments. “Many companies that are regularly treating a home offer free service calls to handle any issues that arise throughout the year, which can save you money in the long run,” states Hearn.
- Take advantage of off-season deals. Sansig advises homeowners to look for deals during the colder months when pests are less active. “Many companies run specials in the winter months with reduced rates for early signup,” he said.
- Purchase a bundled service. Buying a preventive package that covers a list of pests is usually more affordable than purchasing individual treatments to handle pest problems as they crop up. For example, some pest control companies will give you a discount on specialized services, such as termite prevention, if you already have a pest control contract with them.
- Take advantage of referral programs. Check with neighbors to see if they have a pest management service, as many offer referral programs with discounted rates.
- Keep your property tidy. Thrasher said homeowners can cut pest control costs by making their homes less hospitable to pests and easier to treat. “Clutter attracts and harbors pests,” he said. “Remove boxes and cans, tools, lumber scraps or firewood, old toys and sporting equipment leaning against the side of the house.” He also advises homeowners to trim back any vegetation that pests can use as a bridge to enter the home.
- Call right away. Hearn urges homeowners to call a company at the first sign of an infestation. “It will be much easier for them to treat a small, isolated issue, rather than waiting for it to become a widespread infestation,” he adds.