2022 Roach Exterminator Cost | Average Rates for Fumigation

If cockroaches make their way into your home they can be a serious nuisance. These pests are opportunists and they enjoy the warmth and convenient access to food and water that most houses provide. This is exactly why it’s common for roaches to be found in residential areas. Although having a cockroach infestation isn’t always a sign of a dirty home, something should be done to remove them as soon as you detect evidence of them indoors.

Roaches are known to spread diseases and can oftentimes be very difficult to get rid of. Fortunately, an exterminator can help get rid of your roach problem once and for all. They’ll not only eradicate the cockroaches, but they’ll also work with you to discover what is attracting them to your home, the source of pests, and what can be done to prevent future infestations.

The average cost of roach extermination is $300, and it costs $4,350 to tent a house for roaches. Homeowners spend an average of $70 to spray for roaches, $350 for glue traps, and $1,850 for fumigation. You can stop a small roach infestation for an average of $125, and gel bait traps cost $250 on average.

The cost to hire a roach exterminator can vary significantly from home to home, depending on the size of the house, the type of cockroach, the extermination method used, the company you choose, and the size and scope of the infestation. Also, if multiple visits are required to get rid of the roaches, this will obviously drive the price up quite a bit.

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

Generally speaking, the cost to hire a roach exterminator will depend on the severity of the infestation, the size of the home, the type of treatment, how many treatments are required, and even the type of cockroach. The average cost of roach extermination is between $150 and $450, with $300 being the most common price that homeowners pay to eliminate the problem.

However, depending on the aforementioned factors, roach exterminator costs could be as low as $100 or as high as $1,600. The following table displays a brief overview of the average roach exterminator costs:

One of the key factors in determining the price of roach extermination is the size of your home. In fact, it also has a huge impact on the overall extermination process. When you base roach exterminator costs on the square footage of your home, you can expect to spend anywhere from $100 to $650. As a general rule of thumb, the bigger the house, the more spots that cockroaches can hide. This explains why pests tend to be more common in large apartment buildings, as simply treating one apartment will not kill off all of the roaches.

Additionally, the larger your property, the more time the treatment will take which drives up the overall cost of roach extermination. Roaches don’t care if you live in a fancy sprawling multi-million-dollar estate – they are in it for the cooler temperatures, and food and water sources. Although the idea of having to hire roach extermination may be repulsive, it may be necessary. The following table describes the cost of roach extermination, broken down based on the size of your home:

Different types of cockroaches will require a different extermination method. Depending on both the type of roach and the severity of the infestation, you can expect to spend between $40 and $7,500. The size of your home will also play a role in the overall cost of the treatment. It’s not uncommon for exterminators to use a combination of extermination methods in order to remove the roach problem from your home.

Treatment costs usually boil down to the cost of labor and the cost of necessary supplies and materials. The following methods are the most common ones used to treat roaches and other kinds of pests that may be found in the home:

Spray treatments are typically used for outdoor areas or and hard to reach spots throughout the property. Depending on the size of the area that’s being treated, spraying for roaches can cost anywhere between $40 and $100 a treatment. Using a spray is usually very effective at killing off roaches quickly and is also a safer alternative to many other methods, which is very important for those who may have pets or children in the area being treated.

This method can be done monthly or quarterly and is usually done as a preventative treatment to keep roaches from returning. Though, it also works well when there are roaches present at a moderate level and they’re hiding behind appliances and in dark corners throughout the home.

Glue trap treatments done by a professional exterminator will typically cost you between $100 and $600 a treatment. The final cost depends on how many strips are needed in order to complete the job. Glue traps are commonly used as a preliminary treatment before gel bait. Their purpose is to help determine the severity of the infestation and where the roaches are located in the home.

Opt for glue traps when you’re not sure about how many roaches are in your home and if you’d prefer to avoid major chemical treatments.

Gel baits are a very effective treatment for almost all types of cockroaches. However, the main drawback is they tend to take some time to work. Additionally, kids and pets should not have access to the bait while it’s being used as it is highly toxic. Gel baits are usually used by professionals as a way to draw the cockroaches out. They feed on the gel and then return back to their nest to die and infect the rest of the roaches.

Since the other roaches will eat the infected roaches, they too will get infected and die. As previously stated, many exterminators will use this method in combination with glue traps. Although, gel bait can be highly effective on its own. It costs between $100 and $600 to have a roach gel treatment done by a professional and is best suited for a moderate level infestation.

You can also have this method of treatment done when you don’t know the estimated number of roaches in your home and where exactly they may be hiding.

Exterminators may elect to use roach dust, which usually ranges between $100 and $600 for a single treatment. This treatment method involves your exterminator sprinkling dust around your home. Then, the roaches will walk through the dust and as they’re grooming themselves they ingest the poison. However, this method isn’t always the most recommended option as it contains boric acid and is highly toxic to both people and pets if ingested.

With that said, roach dust extermination is most often reserved for extreme infestations when tenting isn’t desired. Since the dust is toxic to humans and animals, all occupants of the household (pets included) will have to leave the premises until the treatment process is over.

When fumigation is done without tenting the home, you can expect to pay between $1,200 and $2,500 on average for a single treatment. This actual cost will depend on the size of your home. During the fumigation process, the infected area is filled with a poisonous gas that is designed to suffocate the cockroaches.

This method is usually reserved for severe infestations, and those that are difficult to locate the source of the roach problem. Although fumigation is an extremely effective method, it is one of the most dangerous options since it involves the use of chemicals. After the treatment is completed, you won’t be able to return to your home until the gas has completely dispersed.

The cost to fumigate a home, with tenting included, is between $1,200 and $7,500 for one treatment. Final costs will depend on the size of your home. Tenting a home is usually the most expensive roach extermination method because it requires more time and labor to prep your home for the treatment.

The tenting process involves your entire home being covered in a tent-like material and then your home is filled with a poisonous gas to kill the pests. Both the high cost and the fact that you have to leave your home during the treatment makes tenting a last resort for roach extermination. As such, this method is traditionally reserved for severe cockroach infestations.

Finding a cockroach in your home can make just about anyone freak out. While they may seem harmless, these pests can carry diseases that could spread to your family. Not to mention, they much on your furniture, clothes, books, rugs, and more. Depending on the severity of the infestation, roaches can absolutely wreak havoc on your home.

Costs for extermination typically run from as low as $100 to as high as $1,600. The table below describes the average costs for roach extermination based on the severity of the infestation:

A small or minor cockroach infestation is usually categorized based on the occasional spotting of the roach in a home. Treatment for this type of infestation usually ranges from $100 to $150. Small infestations are often detected at night, as roaches like to come out when it’s both dark and quiet. If you find one in the evening, it’s highly likely that there are more.

Although a minor infection may not seem like a big deal, they should still be treated. Roaches release a chemical that will draw more for breeding purposes. Also, having just a few roaches can still lead to the possibility of bacteria and diseases spreading throughout your home.

For the full treatment process, medium roach infestations tend to cost a bit more – ranging from approximately $150 to $250. A medium level infestation involves more frequent sightings and more signs of roaches living in your home. You may find shed skin, excrement, or droppings throughout your house.

To detect an infestation like this, look out for what appears like black pepper or coffee grounds on your surfaces. If the cockroaches are depositing visible droppings, this is a sign of a larger infestation. It is absolutely crucial to treat this size of infestation before it gets worse. Appropriate treatment methods will eliminate the need for more extreme approaches, while also preventing further damage to your home and your property.

To take care of a larger infestation in your home, you can expect to pay between $250 and $350. When a roach infestation reaches this level, it’s common for more costly and extreme treatment methods to be required. A large roach infestation is usually indicated by seeing the presence of cockroach reproduction. This includes shed skin, eggs, egg casings, and possibly even visible nests.

Since nests can hole up to 40 eggs, a large infestation is a major problem to have. If you come across a roach nest, it’s highly likely that you have a substantial number of cockroaches in your home. When infestations reach this level, the health of the household’s occupants is a major concern as you can get sick the roaches’ waste and the bacteria they spread.

Moving up the list, a severe roach infestation is much more challenging to take care of and, therefore, costs more to treat – between $300 and $600. Cockroaches prefer darkness and if you see one during the daytime, this could mean that it had nowhere to go because there are so many others in your home. With this level of infestation, you might find damage to your books, bedding, and furniture.

Not only will you see cockroaches during the day with a severe roach infestation, but you’ll also find them in more open areas of the home. You might also see brown smears on your walls and surfaces, in addition to noticing an overall musty odor in the home. At this level, the health concern is substantial. Failure to remedy this problem can result in illness of the household occupants.

When the roaches have developed such a presence that they, more or less, take over the household, you have an extreme infestation on your hands. To treat this level of infestation, you can expect to pay between $610 and $1,600. Extreme infestations typically occur in homes that have had significant water damage or are filled with a lot of clutter. Homes that have been abandoned or neglected may also have extreme roach infestations.

With extreme roach infestations, you will see roaches throughout the home. They will move throughout the house during both the daytime and in the evening, as there isn’t much room left in hiding spots. The home typically becomes filled with nests, droppings, egg sacs, and shed skins. Severe roach infestations often lead to damage to the walls of the home and pose a serious enough health threat that the home should not be occupied until it has been completely treated.

When you base roach extermination costs on the frequency of treatment, you can expect to spend between $40 and $100 on average for a single treatment. With roach extermination, you typically have the option to choose a one-time treatment or purchase a plan. Plans involve treatments in consistent intervals, such as monthly, quarterly, or annually.

Signing up for an extermination plan helps to ensure that major infestations don’t occur and that roaches cannot take up permanent residence in your home. Regular extermination treatments is usually advised for those who live in areas that are commonly plagued by roaches, such as humid regions or rural areas. It is also recommended for any homeowner that has a lot of undisturbed space in their house.

The following table describes the different treatment options based on frequency, and the average cost you can expect to pay for each:

Another way to categorize the cost of roach extermination is by the company that you hire for the job. Cockroach exterminator costs vary from company to company, though most fall between $50 and $300 a treatment. Costs will also vary depending on the specific contract or service requirements presented by the company.

While some extermination companies require a minimum commitment, there are others that let you pay fees for one-time treatments. The following table displays the average costs for roach extermination based on some of the most popular companies in the industry:

Rentokil provides residential and commercial pest control in worldwide in over 60 countries. Roach treatment from Rentokil will usually run you between $50 and $100 per monthly treatment, and between $600 and $1,220 charged annually. The actual price will depend on the type of pest and the level of infestation in your home. Similar to Terminix, roach control treatment is provided under an annual contract only and with regular monthly treatments.

Their annual service package includes both indoor and outdoor roach inspections, in addition to a guarantee of their services. Should you find cockroaches after any of their treatments, you can call them up and they’ll come out to treat your home again for free.

Terminix is one of the most well-known pest control companies, operating for over 90 years and currently serving 47 states and 11 countries internationally. Cockroach treatment from Terminix will run you between $100 and $200 a visit and requires an annual contract with an initial sign-up fee and then quarterly payments after. The cost to sign-up is between $100 and $150, while each quarterly visit is about $100 to $200.

The Terminix yearly contract provides an initial inspection of the interior and exterior of your home, along with quarterly roach treatments from a licensed and bonded professional exterminator. Their protection guarantee promises to eliminate your pest problem and promises their work is satisfaction guaranteed.

Founded over 100 years ago, Orkin provides residential and commercial pest control throughout North America with more than 400 locations. Their pest control prices for roaches typically run anywhere from $100 to $200 a treatment. The cost for an Orkin roach treatment includes the cost of inspection and the required treatment to eliminate the pests.

When scheduling a cockroach treatment with Orkin, no contract is required – unlike both Terminix and Rentokil. Orkin also delivers a satisfaction guarantee and if the roaches come back between regular treatment intervals, they will retreat your home for free.

In order for your roach problem to be completely eliminated, it usually requires more than one visit from the exterminator. With that said, professional roach extermination usually costs between $250 and $350 depending on how bad the infestation is and the size of your home. However, follow-up visits may be needed in order to ensure that the roaches don’t come back.

In most cases, the flat fee that your exterminator charges will include a follow-up visit. Although exterminators typically charge between $16 and $20 an hour, it’s very rare to pay an hourly rate for this type of job.

Depending on the specific extermination company you choose, the initial inspection may be free or included in the treatment package. However, for especially large homes and some companies, the inspection fee may be between $40 and $75. If you follow up the inspection with treatment, the company may wave this fee or roll it over into the cost of the extermination.

In most cases, the inspection is done along with the first treatment unless it’s an extreme infestation or the infestation encompasses a large area. Having an inspection done is very important, as it gives your exterminator all the essential information they need about the severity of the problem, the type of cockroaches they need to treat, and where the infestations are happening. Using this information, your exterminator will come up with the best and most effective treatment plan.

A follow-up inspection is also important to verify that all the roaches have been eliminated. Since roaches are notorious for hiding and being hard to kill, it is very possible to accidentally miss some. The follow-up inspection will allow your exterminator to take care of the problem before the infestation gets out of control again.

Cockroaches are known for being incredibly hard to kill. As such, it almost always requires a professional to get rid of the problem. Additionally, cockroaches are usually found in packs, meaning that if you see one roach it’s almost guaranteed that you’ll see more.

Although it may be cheaper to purchase your own extermination supplies – usually between $40 and $180 – it is both more effective and safer to hire a professional. They have the experience, knowledge, and professional-grade products that will effectively target the problem. Whereas, store-bought pesticides tend to delay the issue or only kill one cockroach at a time.

Related Questions

How long does it take to get rid of cockroaches?

A professional cockroach exterminator can usually eradicate a small infestation in about a week or two. However, with more severe infestations, it could take months for the bait and insecticides to kill off the entire colony and completely eliminate the infestation. Ultimately, the time it takes to get rid of roaches comes down to the severity of the problem and the steps that are taken to prevent the pests from returning.

How can I keep cockroaches away from my home?

After an exterminator has treated your home, there are steps you can take to prevent roaches from returning. For example, try to keep your house as clean as possible, as cockroaches thrive in dirty environments. This includes taking out your trash often and avoiding leaving open bowls of food in the sink or on the counter overnight. Also, eliminate their hiding spots by picking up clutter and get rid of their entry points by plugging up openings with caulk or spray foam.

Is it normal to see more roaches after spraying?

Yes, it is common for roaches to come out of their hiding spots once you spray, and up to two weeks after. After roaches have been sprayed, they will wander around your home looking for food and water sources to survive. Though unpleasant, it is completely normal to see more cockroaches after your home has been sprayed.

Is one cockroach a sign of infestation?

More often than not, seeing one roach means there are many more in hiding. However, the best way to know for sure is to hire a professional roach exterminator.