While it seems that is an easy DIY project, pest control and extermination can be tricky jobs because sometimes just a can of spray won’t do the job. In those cases, a professional pest control company is your best option.
Average pest control costs between $200 to $600, but you can pay as little as $150 for beehive removal and up to $8,000 for termite fumigation. Many factors can affect the overall cost of pest control, including:
- The pest you need to be eliminated
- Property size
- The severity of the infestation
- The location and access to the affected area
- How easy it is to get rid of them
- Number of visits required
In this article, you will find the average cost of pest control service, cost by the type of pests, factors that will affect the price, and some tips on saving money.
One-time visit averages between $300 and $550, depending on the type of pest control required. This type of service is more expensive than regular visits because the technician will need to investigate, diagnose the problem, and finish the treatment all at once.
On the other hand, not all pest issues can be solved in a single visit. Repeated treatments may be needed for the complete elimination of the pests. If the professional exterminator determines that you will need multiple treatments for the initial treatment, expect to pay between $150 and $300.
Periodical visits cost
Most pest control companies’ visits are one-time visits. But some ongoing projects and monthly treatments take time, patience, and money. The below table represents a national average cost for ongoing pest control:
| Type of Service | Price Range |
|---|---|
| One-time Service/Single Treatment | $300 - $550 |
| Ongoing Service Initial Visit | $150 - $300 |
| Monthly Service | $40 - $70 |
| Quarterly Pest Control | $100 - $300 |
| Annual Pest Control | $300 - $550 |
Pest control cost by type of pest
Different type of pest requires different material, methods, and labor to get rid of them. According to this different pest different amount. The table that follows will tell you everything:
| Type of the pest | Cost |
|---|---|
| American Cockroaches | $120 - $160 |
| Ants/Carpenter ants | $60 - $125 |
| Bed bugs | $300 - $5,000 |
| Bees | $95 - $200 |
| Carpet Beetles | $100 - $600 |
| Dust Mites | $145 - $350 |
| Fleas | $140 - $350 |
| Mice | $150 - $200 |
| Moths | $150 - $300 |
| Mosquitos | $100 - $500 |
| Scorpions | $120 - $215 |
| Silverfish | $100 - $300 |
| Spiders | $145 - $200 |
| Termite inspection | around $145 |
| Termite treatment | $1,000 - $3,000 |
| Ticks | $200 - $500 |
| Wasp removal | $100 - $1,300 |
| Wood-boring beetles | $1,500 - $5,000 |
The most expensive pest treatment is full-house fumigation for pests like cockroaches due to the equipment and labor needed to perform the service. Full-house fumigation costs between $2,000 and $8,000, or about $1 to $4 per square foot.
Pest control services by the state cost
According to pest-control.promatcher.com the following are the average prices in the States. Again table…
| State | Average Cost | Price Range |
|---|---|---|
| Orlando, FL | $150 | $95 - $210 |
| Raleigh, NC | $185 | $120 - $495 |
| New York, NY | $255 | $160 - $350 |
| Portland, ME | $220 | $185 - $280 |
| Chicago, IL | $165 | $130 - $220 |
| Kansas City, MO | $130 | $100 - $165 |
| Dallas, TX | $165 | $90 - $240 |
| Phoenix, AZ | $105 | $60 - $155 |
| Denver, CO | $130 | $100 - $175 |
| Sacramento, CA | $105 | $60 - $150 |
| Portland, OR | $185 | $210 - $245 |
| Alabama, AL | $130 | $110 - $160 |
| Alaska, AK | $187 | $155 - $220 |
| Arizona, AZ | $105 | $60 - $155 |
| Arkansas, AR | $127 | $105 - $150 |
| California, CA | $105 | $60 - $150 |
| Colorado, CO | $130 | $100 - $175 |
| Connecticut, CT | $185 | $150 - $220 |
| Delaware, DE | $145 | $120 - $170 |
| District of Columbia, DC | $197 | $160 - $235 |
| Florida, FL | $150 | $95 - $210 |
| Georgia, GA | $132 | $105 - $160 |
| Hawaii, HI | $235 | $190 - $280 |
| Idaho, ID | $137 | $110 - $165 |
| Illinois, IL | $165 | $130 - $220 |
| Indiana, IN | $135 | $110 - $160 |
| Iowa, IA | $135 | $110 - $160 |
| Kansas, KS | $135 | $110 - $155 |
| Kentucky, KY | $125 | $100 - $150 |
| Louisiana, LA | $137 | $110 - $165 |
| Maine, ME | $220 | $185 - $280 |
| Maryland, MD | $180 | $145 - $215 |
| Massachusetts, MA | $175 | $140 - $210 |
| Michigan, MI | $135 | $110 - $160 |
| Minnesota, MN | $145 | $120 - $170 |
| Mississippi, MS | $550 | $100 - $1,000 |
| Missouri, MO | $130 | $100 - $165 |
| Montana, MT | $142 | $115 - $170 |
| Nebraska, NE | $125 | $100 -$150 |
| Nevada, NV | $142 | $115 - $170 |
| New Hampshire, NH | $165 | $135 - $195 |
| New Jersey, NJ | $170 | $135 - $205 |
| New Mexico, NM | $172 | $70 - $275 |
| New York, NY | $255 | $160 - $350 |
| North Carolina, NC | $185 | $120 - $495 |
| North Dakota, ND | $135 | $110 - $160 |
| Ohio, OH | $250 | $100 - $400 |
| Oklahoma, Ok | $345 | $90 - $600 |
| Oregon, OR | $185 | $210 - $245 |
| Pennsylvania, PA | $137 | $75 - $200 |
| Rhode Island, RI | $120 | $30 - $210 |
| South Carolina, SC | $137 | $110 - $165 |
| South Dakota, SD | $135 | $110 - $160 |
| Tennessee, TN | $125 | $100 - $150 |
| Texas, TX | $165 | $90 - $240 |
| Utah, UT | $142 | $115 - $170 |
| Vermont, VT | $172 | $140 - $205 |
| Virginia, VA | $245 | $90 - $400 |
| Washington, WA | $147 | $120 - $175 |
| West Virginia, WV | $135 | $110 - $160 |
| Wisconsin, WI | $137 | $110 - $165 |
| Wyoming, WY | $140 | $115 - $165 |
Factors that affect pest control price
The pest control service doesn’t have a fixed price. Local pest control specialists can give you free estimates based on your property and pest problem. There are several factors listed below that are crucial for the final exterminator costs:
- Type of service: Depending on your pest problem, you may need chemical sprays, fumigation, bait traps, or other services, all of which have different price tags.
- Frequency of service: Each subsequent visit will be cheaper than the previous one.
- Location: If your home is significantly further from a technician’s place or office, he will likely charge a bit more to cover travel costs.
- Type of treatment: If you are an environmentally friendly person, expect to pay more because natural products tend to cost more than raw chemistry.
- Type of pests: Some pests are easier to treat than others, leading to differences in overall cost
- Size of property: Because the most usual approach in pest control strategies is surrounding the perimeter of the home, larger homes will cost more to treat.
- Level of infestation: This is very simple, serious infestation will cost more than small infestations.
When to call a professional pest company?
Despite all the efforts you make to keep pests out of your home, some of them will find their way home. Most people have a hard time telling when is the right time to call a professional pest control company. The following are a few indicators that will tell you that the red light is on:
When stinging insects show up
If you have stinging insects around your property or inside your home, then it is definitely time to call a professional pest company. Even they play a key role in the ecosystem, insects such as bees, wasps, and yellowjackets present a real danger to the people as their venom can cause severe allergic reactions.
When biting insects show up
The presence of biting insects should be another sign for you to call a professional pest company. Bed bugs, fleas, and ticks not only have highly irritating bites but can also carry serious diseases, so get rid of them as soon as possible.
If the problem keeps coming back
If you have already tried home pest controls methods numerous times and invaders come back again, then you should definitely call professionals.
DIY pest control - Is it worth
Although some people believe that they can DIY the pest control process, and actually it is not impossible, there are some reasons that don’t agree with that:
Do not underestimate the problem
When you spot pests in your home, there’s a chance that they have already built their nest somewhere in your home or somewhere on your property. Just one little insect you have seen might be nothing compared to the actual situation.
Pest control experts know strictly what to look for and where to look for it. They use special equipment to help determine the source of the problem and provide you with the solution that ensures a pest-free home.
Environmental risk
Harmless bees or butterflies can be affected by your DIY solutions, and if the pesticide finds its way into the water it can contaminate it and be a real danger to the people too.
Let the experts do their work and protect the environment.
Using the wrong solution
Using pest control products is not as simple as going to the store and buying a bug spray to deal with pests like houseflies, mosquitoes, or roaches. You need to be sure that you are using the right solution.
There are specific products or pesticides for specific pests and a strategy that worked for one pest may not work for the other.
Chemicals exposure
Some of the chemicals in the pesticides are poisonous and if are not handled with care they can put you and your family at risk of toxic exposure. Also, lack of the right gear might put you at risk of being bitten and exposed to some infections.
Exterminators are experienced and know how to handle the chemicals, which solution to apply to your home without putting you at risk.
Wasting money
When you buy the wrong products, use the wrong treatments solutions, or fail to see the underlying cause of the problem, you will spend more money trying to get a solution that works.
Pests like termites if not treated the right way and on time can cause very costly damage to your home. It will cost you more to repair and replace your doors or walls than you would if you had hired a professional pest company in the first place.
Incorrect use of products
Some pesticides, such as caustic sprays, when misused can damage the paint, wallpaper, and other materials and surfaces in your home.
The wrong treatment can only scare away the pests and not kill them. They can end up having multiple nests or colonies in your home and come back even stronger than before.
5 things to look for when hiring a pest control company
Past experience has shown that among other factors that will help you choose the best pest control company, the following ones are top priorities:
Integrated pest management
The most important thing is to look for a company that uses integrated pest management (IPM). IPM is a process used to solve pest problems while minimizing risks to people, animals, and the environment. IPM focuses on the long-term prevention of pests or their damage by managing the ecosystem.
Integrated pest management programs combine management approaches such as biological control, cultural controls, mechanical/physical controls, and chemical controls for greater effectiveness.
Chemicals or natural sprays
Chemical treatments
Many companies use “pyrethroids” for pest control treatment, an insecticide derived from chrysanthemum flowers toxic to insects. These sprays are toxic both to the uninvited pests, as well as to a wide range of beneficial ones like butterflies, ladybugs, bees, and other pollinators. Even those pesticides are approved by EPA, the agency itself acknowledges that they are still highly toxic to bees even for multiple days after the initial spray treatment.
Natural alternatives
Most pest control providers use alternative “natural” spray options that are considered less dangerous to other beneficial insect life. Still, more researches are needed to determine how harmful these alternatives can be, but for sure they are less harmful, especially when sprayed directly on the “innocent” pest or animal, lawn, or any other surface nearby.
Packages available
Usually, professional pest control companies offer a wide range of services for a wide variety of bug species as well as rodents, birds, lizards, rats, and other common household pests.
If you want a peaceful future without pests, indoor or outdoor, look for a company offering packaged pest control treatments. This will often save you thousands of dollars since companies can send the same technician out to provide multiple pests control services that you may need.
Free estimate and inspection
Almost all of the companies on the market offer free cost estimates, but not all of them offer free inspections. Look for a company with no obligation.
Good reputation and qualified and licensed staff
Do some research before. Nowadays with the internet is very easy to do that. Look for a company with a good reputation among the customers. A company with licensed and qualified technicians and staff is a must because those people will be wandering around your property.
FAQ's
- What removal methods will the company be utilizing?
- Does it use IPM techniques?
- Which chemicals are a company using, and are they safe for children?
- Is their staff trained, qualified, and licensed?
- Does the company require a long-term contract?
- Does the company guarantee their work, and what are the terms?
The answer to this question lies in the nature of the problem that you have. If you have just a few ants or wasp nests in a high-traffic area, you shouldn’t need regular service. But if you have serious pest problems, you will likely need at least an annual pest control service or quarterly or even monthly service if you have a stubborn problem.
The damage depends on the type of pest you are dealing with. Rodents are famous for chewing through wires and damaging electricals, HVAC systems, walls, and insulation. Termites eat wood too and can destroy floors, or even cause some structural damage.
It is generally accepted that spring is the best time of the year for pest control, but you will definitely react when you notice the problem no matter what time of year is.
Exterminating in spring destroys nests, eggs, and any adults pests before they have had time to excessively multiply or cause much damage to your property.
