How Much Does an Exterminator Cost in 2026?

How much does this pest control job cost?

Exterminator cost depends on the pest and the service. National estimates from published sources put a single visit at $171 (This Old House), a service call at $108 to $261 per visit (Angi), and a monthly general pest plan at $40 to $75 per visit. These are planning estimates, not a PestChief quote.

Next: browse pest control by pest type, check the seasonal pest calendar for the right treatment window, or see coverage by state and city.

Per visit, per treatment, per one time program, per nest, per job, per room, per season and per year on a recurring plan. Every figure in the tables states which basis applies.

What does pest control cost by pest?

Pest type is the single biggest driver of price, because it decides how long the work takes, how many visits are needed and whether separate licensing or equipment is involved. It also decides the basis: some pests are priced per treatment, others per nest, per room, per job or per season. Every figure below is a national estimate from published sources, stated on the basis given in the table, and none of them is a PestChief quote.

National cost estimates by pest. Every row states its basis: per treatment, per nest, per job, per room, per program or per season.
Pest	Typical range and basis	Notes
Ants	$100 to $500 per treatment	Range reflects severity and the number of visits needed
Cockroaches	$100 to $600 per treatment	Usually two to three visits
Spiders	$100 to $500 per treatment	Often handled on a recurring plan
Wasps or hornets	$100 to $1,300 per nest	Add $5 to $10 per foot above the second story
Mosquitoes	$75 to $350 per treatment	$350 to $700 for a season of six to eight treatments
Fleas	$75 to $430 per treatment	Usually a minimum of two visits, two to three weeks apart
Ticks	$250 to $900 per season	Sold as a seasonal program rather than per visit
Rodents	$395 per job	HomeAdvisor national average, within a published range of $189 to $655. Mice $150 to $550 per job, average $350 (This Old House). Exclusion is a separate job at $200 to $600
Bed bugs	$250 to $800 per room	Whole home $1,500 to $6,000 per program across two to four visits
Termites	$500 to $2,000 per whole home program	Liquid barrier $3 to $16 per linear foot of foundation
Wildlife removal	$198 to $636 per job	HomeAdvisor, average $402. Raccoon $400 to $600, squirrel $200 to $600 per job
Scorpions	$200 to $500 per treatment	Most common in the desert Southwest

Published sources differ on the rodent and wildlife numbers, so each is attributed to the single publisher that states it rather than blended into a range across publishers.

How does a one time treatment compare with a recurring plan?

A one time visit solves a specific problem today. A recurring plan costs less per visit and is designed to stop general pests establishing in the first place, which is usually the better value where pest pressure runs year round.

The difference that matters most is not the headline price but what happens between visits. Recurring plans usually include free re-treatment for covered pests, so a problem that comes back in week three is handled. A one time visit that fails is normally charged again.

One time treatment versus recurring plans. Each row states whether the figure is per visit, per one time program, one off or per year.
	One-time treatment	Quarterly plan	Monthly plan
Typical price	$108 to $261 per visit (Angi), or $300 to $550 (HomeAdvisor) per one time program	$100 to $300 per visit	$40 to $75 per visit
Initial or setup fee	Included	$150 to $300 one off	$150 to $300 one off
Typical annual cost	Not applicable	$300 to $900 (HomeGuide) per year on a recurring plan	$300 to $900 (HomeGuide) per year on a recurring plan
Covers	The pest you called about	Common general pests	Common general pests
Re-treatment between visits	Usually charged	Usually included free	Usually included free
Best for	A single nest, a one-off problem	Moderate pest pressure, cooler climates	Heavy pressure, warm and humid climates

Does home size change the price?

Yes, though less than people expect for interior work and more than they expect for exterior and perimeter work, where the linear footage of foundation drives the labor. A long single-story home can cost more to service than a taller home with a smaller footprint.

One-time general pest treatment by home size, national estimates per treatment. Published national sources give no separate figure for recurring plan pricing by home size, so none is shown.
Home size	One time treatment
1,000 to 2,000 sq ft	$250 to $600
2,000 to 3,000 sq ft	$350 to $750
3,000+ sq ft	$450 to $950

How does severity change the price?

Severity decides how many visits the job takes, and visit count is what turns a treatment into a program.

Pest control cost by infestation severity, national estimates with typical visit count.
Severity	Range	Typical visits
Mild	$100 to $500	1
Moderate	$300 to $700	2 to 4
Severe	$1,000 to $8,000	3 to 8+

What makes an exterminator quote go up or down?

Seven factors account for most of the spread between two quotes on the same house. Ask about each one when you compare numbers, because a cheaper quote that excludes follow-up is not actually cheaper.

Severity: a long-running infestation takes more visits than something noticed last week
Access: crawlspaces, finished basements and blocked attics add time
Structure: slab, crawlspace and multi-story homes take different amounts of work
Licensing: termite and wildlife work requires separate licensing and pricing
Follow-up: whether re-treatment and a warranty are included in the quoted number
Local labor rates: metro pricing is usually higher than rural pricing, and labor alone is estimated at $50 to $100 per hour
Season: peak-season demand can affect scheduling more than price

What do these figures not include?

A treatment price covers the treatment and nothing else. The items below sit outside it, and each is quoted separately by the company doing the work.

Repairs to wood, insulation, drywall or wiring, which are carpentry and construction work rather than pest control
Specialty services outside a general pest plan, including termites, bed bugs, wildlife and mosquito programs
Any initial or setup fee charged on top of the ongoing recurring rate, estimated at $150 to $300 one off
Exclusion work to seal a structure against rodents, which is priced as its own job at $200 to $600
Local price differences, since metro labor rates sit above rural rates

How can I keep the cost down?

Most of the savings available to a homeowner come from acting early and comparing scope rather than haggling over a number.

Compare more than one local quote rather than accepting the first number
Ask exactly what is included: how many visits, what re-treatment costs, what the warranty covers
Fix the moisture and food sources yourself so treatment does not have to fight them
Act early, because severity is the main thing that turns a one-visit job into a program
Ask whether an annual plan covers the pest you called about, instead of paying for separate visits

Where do these numbers come from?

Every figure on this page is a national estimate from published sources, given for planning only. Each one states its basis: per single visit, per treatment, per one time program, per nest, per job, per room, per season, or per year on a recurring plan. None of them is a PestChief quote, and PestChief neither sets prices nor performs pest control.

Your actual price comes from the independent local pest control company that inspects your home. It moves with the pest, the size and construction of the property, how severe the problem is, whether you buy a one time treatment or a recurring plan, and local labor rates. Only that company can quote you.

These are national estimates drawn from published industry sources, not PestChief quotes. Every figure states the basis it is measured on. The real price comes from the company that inspects your home.

October 6, 2026

What does this cost you? Nothing.

PestChief is free to the homeowner. The figures above are national estimates from published sources, not a PestChief quote. Only the independent local pest control company that inspects your home can price the work, and that one company contacts you directly.

Find my pro

What does this figure cover, and what does it not?

Covered: the treatment itself, as the published sources measure it, meaning labor, materials and the visits the program includes. A figure quoted per year covers a recurring plan. A figure quoted per visit covers one visit only. The basis is stated next to every number on this page.

Not covered: inspection fees that some companies charge separately, repairs to damage the pest has already done, exclusion work such as sealing or screening, and anything added for difficult access or a larger property. None of these figures is a quote. A quote comes only from the company that inspects your home.

Frequently asked questions

How much does an exterminator cost for one visit?

A single visit is estimated nationally at $171 (This Old House), with Angi's comparable national figure at $172 per visit within a published range of $108 to $261. Specialty pests cost more because of licensing, equipment and the number of visits involved. These are national estimates, not quotes.

Is monthly or quarterly pest control cheaper?

Published national sources price both by the visit: monthly at $40 to $75 per visit and quarterly at $100 to $300 per visit, with a recurring plan of any frequency estimated at $300 to $900 (HomeGuide) per year. Monthly makes sense where pest pressure is year round; quarterly suits moderate climates.

Do exterminators charge a separate initial fee?

Many do. Recurring plans often carry an initial or setup fee estimated at $150 to $300 one off, covering the heavier first treatment, then bill the lower ongoing rate. Ask for both numbers before signing.

Is pest control worth the money?

For structural pests such as termites, rodents and carpenter ants the answer is usually clear, because the damage costs more than the treatment. For nuisance pests it comes down to how much pressure your home gets.

Can I negotiate a pest control quote?

There is often flexibility on the initial fee and on bundling services, and comparing two or three local quotes gives you the clearest view of a fair local price. Do not trade a warranty away for a discount.

Are these prices a quote from PestChief?

No. Every figure on this page is a national estimate from published sources, given for planning. PestChief does not set prices and does not perform pest control. Only the independent local company that inspects your home can quote you.

Does PestChief charge homeowners anything?

No. PestChief is free for homeowners. Independent local pest control companies pay PestChief for qualified introductions, and the price for the work comes from the company that would perform it.

Where do these figures come from?

Which pest does this guide cover?

Cost tracks the pest, because the treatment, the number of visits and the licensing required all change with it.

Read the pest guide

How Much Does an Exterminator Cost?