The cost of pest control depends on a lot of factors including what the homeowners want to achieve from the intervention. Here’s what to keep in mind.

Written by Jacoba Bood

Reviewed by Carrie Adkins

Updated on Apr 27, 2022

Table of Contents

Average cost of pest control
Factors influencing costs

A recent nation-wide survey

conducted by Realtor.com

found up to one-third of the homes in the Houston and Tampa are infested with cockroaches, and about 15 percent of the home in New York City or Boston have a rat problem.

If you've ever experienced a pest problem, you're not alone.

Needless to say, pests are a common problem in the United States, so much so that professional pest control services are often required. Left unchecked, common pests will become more than just an inconvenience. Infestations can quickly cause thousands of dollars of damage to a home and at-home solutions will often fail to eradicate the problem at the source.

Basically, it is always a good idea to call in a professional pest control service at the first signs of an infestation. The sooner that the problem is eliminated, the less chance that these critters will have a chance to cause any lasting damage.

That being said, high pest control services come at a price, and the cost will vary according to several different factors listed below. Here are the

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The average cost of pest control

Calling an exterminator? The average price of pest control will vary according to the type of contract involved.

For a one-time visit, you can expect to shell out anywhere from $300 to $550, but keep in mind that some types of infestations are more costly than others. A single termite treatment can easily cost upwards of $1000 for the initial spray, while fleas and ticks tend to be less costly to manage.

Some homeowners prefer to opt for ongoing treatment, which is the best way to keep an infestation from taking hold. In this case, the average cost for an initial visit will be about $180, but this figure will vary according to the type of treatments required and how much ground needs to be covered.

After that, homeowners typically sign up for either monthly, bi-monthly, or quarterly visits, with a pest control company. Those prices usually start at $40 to $45 a month.

That being said, prices can vary substantially depending on the following factors.

MORE:

How to keep rodents out of your car

Factors that influence pest control costs

The type of pest

There are many different types of household pests out there, and each different species requires a different course of action. For instance, carpenter ants will be dealt with differently than a mouse infestation, and some solutions will be more costly than others.

How extensive the problem is

More extensive infestations require more chemical treatment and labor to get them under control. As a general rule, the more well-contained a problem is, the easier it will be to treat, so all the more reason to call up the pros right away after noticing the signs of pest infestations.

The treatment options

In some cases, there will be a range of treatment options for homeowners to choose from.

For instance, you might have to choose between interventions that will simply keep pests in check or those that will eradicate them completely. Of course, pest control specialists don’t only provide reactive solutions. They also will offer a range of preventive measures that will deter pests before they have a chance to take up residence.

Likewise, the cost of the service will differ according to the type of intervention that is required.

The number of required treatments

Depending on the situation, the extensiveness of the infestation, and the type of pest involved, multiple visits are usually required to get things under control.

Generally speaking, the more follow-ups needed, the higher the final bill will be. Don’t take this as an excuse to skip out on the adequate amount of professional help. If you've already invested in getting the problem under control, it only makes sense (financially and otherwise) to follow through.

The size of the property

The final thing to consider is the size of the property itself. For example, it will take more resources to treat a problem on a sprawling estate than one neatly contained in a small condo unit. Not only does it require more materials to get the pest problem under control, a larger property will also have many more entry points for the pests to get inside.

Regardless of the problem, most pest control services will provide free estimates. The more bids you seek out, the better the position you will be in to choose the best service for the best price.

Just don’t forget to consider the quality and range of the services offered in relation to the cost. The best service isn’t always the cheapest, so be sure to ask plenty of questions and ensure all that your basic needs are covered.

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