Between all of the maintenance costs of owning a home, the last thing you want to pay for is pest control.
It’s understandable. Pests are already such a nuisance, and the last thing you want to add on top is a massive pest control bill.
But, oftentimes, the cost of pest control is more affordable than many people think it is. And preventative pest care can cost even less and give you greater peace of mind.
To help you navigate the world of pest control, let’s discuss how much you can expect to pay for your average pest control service.
Pest control prices generally differ by the level of service you require and the type of pest that needs to be controlled.
For homeowners, three types of pest control services are generally available:
Emergency services will yield the highest pest control costs, while preventative maintenance will yield the cheapest.
For example, my company’s Pest Protect 365 plan will cost the average homeowner or business around $50 or more a month, depending on several circumstances.
However, ongoing treatments for pest control could cost upwards of $100 or more per visit, compounding the amount with each visit.
Finally, emergency termite treatments for subterranean termites that have invaded a home could be upwards of $1000, depending on the size of the home.
Treatment | Estimated Cost |
Ongoing Treatment | $100-$300 per appointment |
Monthly Maintenance | $40-$70 per month |
Emergency Service | Upwards of $1000 |
As previously mentioned, pest control costs tend to differ by pests, which require different treatments for elimination.
To help you determine what to expect from each pest, we’ve created a table of the average cost per pest below.
Pest Type | Estimated Pest Control Cost |
Ants | $100-$500 |
Bed Bugs | $300-$5000 |
Cockroaches | $100-$400 |
Rodents | $150-$500 |
Spiders | $100-$200 |
Stink Bugs | $100-$300 |
Termites | $200-$8000 (depending on treatment) |
Source: https://www.angi.com/articles/how-much-does-pest-control-service-cost.htm
These estimates are based on nationwide data. They include various factors that impact their pricing, which you should be aware of.
To compare the price of preventative pest control with emergency services, you need to calculate how much annual pest control costs for generalized prevention. According to Architectural Digest, the average person can expect to pay as much as $400 to $950 for annual pest control.
While more expensive than some of the services listed above, you need to factor in that preventive maintenance accounts for every type of pest and is significantly cheaper than emergency services for bed bugs or termites.
Furthermore, businesses and homeowners can benefit more from the peace of mind that preventative maintenance provides, ensuring your home/business is entirely pest free.
While some people may be tempted to save money using DIY pest control, most professionals generally recommend against it.
For example, spotting certain pests like cockroaches, bed bugs, and termites will automatically imply an infestation and require quick treatment.
Furthermore, these bugs are very difficult to contain on their own and often require pesticides to eliminate them for good.
On the other hand, pests like rats may be easier to deal with during the cold winter months if there are not too many already in your house.
For this reason, if you spot bed bugs, cockroaches, termites, multiple rodents, and a huge infestation of any other pest, you will save more money and get rid of them faster with the help of an exterminator.
DIY pest control may be cheaper short-term, but it all depends on its efficacy. If you cannot successfully treat a pest infestation on your own, then you will pay significantly more than if you hired a professional in the first place.
Most exterminators recommend monthly service, though quarterly is also acceptable. The more your home is inspected and treated, the safer it will be from pests.
Professional pest control is very affordable, safe, and effective, making it the right choice in the case of an emergency or any type of infestation.