How Much Do Ant Exterminators Cost? [2022 Rates]

For many homeowners, there’s no worse indication of an unkept or filthy home than an infestation of pests – like ants. If you find ants inside your house, it’s highly likely that you also have them outside. Depending on the type of ant that you have, you may have to tackle nests or mounds to prevent them from getting inside. Though, for the majority of ant infestations, this isn’t a problem.

Although some folks elect to try to handle the ant infestation themselves, the traps that you purchase from the store typically only affect the ants that you can see. For best results – and especially if you have a major infestation – you need an ant exterminator to come out to your property, target the whole colony of ants, and prevent them from coming back. Not to mention, most store-bought treatments aren’t effective on carpenter ants and fire ants.

The average ant exterminator cost is $250 for a 3,000 square foot house. Homeowners can spend $100 for standard ant repellant treatment, and advanced two-step extermination costs $750. It costs $150 to use poisoned ant bait, homeowners spend an average of $5 per ant mound for extermination.

Continue reading for our comprehensive guide on ant exterminator costs, so you can obtain a more well-rounded understanding of how to appropriately budget for this service.

Generally speaking, the cost to hire an ant exterminator will depend on the type of ant, the frequency of the treatments required, the size of the area that needs to be treated, the method of treatment, and the level of infestation. The average cost of ant extermination is between $175 and $325, with $250 being the most common price that homeowners pay to eradicate the issue.

However, depending on the aforementioned factors, ant exterminator costs could be as low as $150 or as high as $1,000. The table below displays a brief overview of the average costs to hire an ant exterminator:

How often your home requires treatment will determine the average cost of eliminating the ant problem in your home. Most pest control companies offer contracts that allow homeowners to book routine service appointments, which are beneficial for those who are trying to prevent future infestations.

Oftentimes, more frequent appointments are given at a discounted rate compared to one-time visits from the exterminator. The table below outlines the average costs for treating a 2,000 square foot home, based on frequency:

There are countless species of ants across the globe, though most that live in the United States will see some of the more common types frequently. Although you don’t want to have any type of ant inside of your home, there are some that are more harmless than others. Knowing the type of ant that you have in your home will help determine the appropriate treatment for removal.

Not to mention, the type of ant that is infesting your property has a major impact on the cost of extermination, as ants like the fire ant and the carpenter ant cannot be eradicated by DIY methods. For these ants, the only way to get rid of them is to enlist the help of a professional ant exterminator. Also, certain species simply cost more to treat – which we’ll explain below.

Rover ants are a small ant species that are commonly found throughout southern states in the United States. They are roughly 1/16-inch in size, and range in color from yellow to black. The key distinguishing characteristic of rover ants is their uneven body and hump-like appearance.

These ants typically remain outside of the home and will seldom nest indoors. They prefer to set up shop in trash cans, leaf piles, and mulch piles. The cost to exterminate rover ants is around $150, for a one-time treatment.

Sugar ants, also known as little black ants, are 1/16-inch in size and are found throughout most of the United States. They commonly invade pantries and are most prevalent in July and August. The coloring of sugar ants is different between males and females. Male sugar ants are all black in color, while female sugar ants have an orange hue.

As their name suggests, sugar ants seek out sweets, like spilled juice or honey. The cost to exterminate sugar ants is around $150 for a one-time treatment.

Also known as thief ants, grease ants are tiny, shiny ants that are 1/16-inch in size and have two distinct segments. They are found throughout much of the United States and can range in color from yellow to a very deep brown. As their name indicates, grease ants prefer greasy foods but they will feed on virtually any type of food.

Activity for these types of ants hits its peak during the summertime, where you’ll usually find them invading kitchens. The cost to exterminate grease ants is roughly $160 for a one-time treatment.

Odorous house ants are brown or black in color that around 1/8-inch long and have an unevenly shaped thorax. As their name suggests, these ants emit an unpleasant rotten odor when crushed. Although odorous house ants can be found throughout most of the United States, they are less common in desert areas.

They usually nest outdoors under rocks and patio blocks, but move indoors to seek out food. The cost to exterminate odorous house ants is about $250 for a one-time treatment.

This species is large in size – about 1/8th to 1/4th of an inch long – and have black or reddish-brown font ends with red tail ends. Allegheny mound ants are known for constructing large mounds that are about 1 foot to 3 feet in height. They prefer open outdoor areas for making their nests, such as pastures and fields.

Since they feed on other insects, they are not a common household pest. The cost to exterminate Allegheny mound ants is around $250 for a single treatment.

Although fire ants can be found throughout the majority of the United States, they are more common in southern states. These ants are usually red in color, but some may be brown and feature a darker abdomen. Fire ants are between 1/8-inch and ¼-inch, and produce mounds that can be as tall as seven inches.

They are most known for their sting and are also less active during the daytime when temperatures are at their highest. The cost to exterminate fire ants is about $300 for a one-time treatment.

Carpenter ants may be winged or wingless, are usually black, and can vary in size. They are found throughout much of the United States, but are most commonly seen in wooded, rural areas. Unlike fire ants, carpenter ants do not sting. However, these ants are the most expensive species to control since they are notorious for returning.

Oftentimes, carpenter ants are mistaken for termites since both can cause structural damage to wood. However, carpenter ants bore through wood to make their nests, rather than consuming wood as termites do. The cost to exterminate carpenter ants is about $500.

This method costs around $5 per mound, with an average total treatment cost of $125. When it comes to controlling fire ants, the mound control method is the most effective. This method involves your exterminator drilling into the mound to apply a chemical powder that kills the queen and colony inside.

This process is very challenging and time-consuming, as the professional has to ensure that all the mounds are taken care of. Oftentimes, this method is used in conjunction with additional interior methods.

If you use bait to eliminate your ant problem, you can expect to pay around $150. This interior control method involves placing poisoned bait in designated areas throughout your home that the ants frequent. The ants will then carry the bait back to their nests, where it will kill both the carriers and the other ants. This method is effective at controlling most types of ants.

Though, it’s important to note that this method may take up to 7 days to work, and must be repeated frequently to prevent the ants from returning.