Have a Roach Problem? Here’s How Much an Exterminator Will Cost You

 

Let’s face it, cockroaches are the worst. They hide in crevices around your home, then sneak around in the dark, feasting on your food, garbage, and oil splatters. And where there’s one roach, there are likely many, many more.

Thankfully, there are lots of ways to treat roach infestations. While there are some relatively inexpensive DIY methods that can be effective on a small scale, they tend to be messy and time-consuming and aren’t typically sufficient for severe infestations. If you see signs of heavy cockroach activity, it’s best to have a pest control technician inspect your home, diagnose the problem, and perform extermination.

The cost of professional extermination depends on the area that needs to be treated and on the specific method used, which can vary based on the species of roach and the severity of the infestation. On average, most roach treatments cost between $250 and $375, but if you need to fumigate, prepare to spend at least $1,000. With that in mind, we’ve laid out a range of cost estimates and an explanation of what factors into your final bill. Eradicating cockroaches might not be cheap, but it’s always necessary.

How Much Is an Exterminator for Roaches?

According to the CEO of Goodbee Plumbing, Allison Harrison—who frequently partners with extermination companies in her role—cockroach treatment prices “can depend on several factors, including the severity of the infestation, the size of the property, the type of treatment required, and the location of the property.” Due to all of these variants, price estimates cover a pretty broad range, with prices generally getting higher as the infestation becomes more severe and widespread.

Tim Sherrer, the owner of Expest Exterminating, provided a range of estimates for exterminating German cockroaches, the most common species of roach that homeowners encounter:

Low estimate	$95–$125
Average estimate	$250–$375
High estimate	$450–$1,500

Cost of Roach Treatments

There are different types of roach treatments available, and it will be up to the exterminator you’re working with to decide which to use. They’ll likely make their decision based on the severity of your infestation. Minor to moderate roach issues tend to be treated with sprays, gel baits, glue traps, and roach dust. Generally speaking, for these treatments, the more rooms you need to apply the treatment in, the more the extermination will cost.

Fumigation is reserved for the most severe infestations and requires you to vacate your home while it’s being conducted, as a poisonous gas is released throughout the premises. As such, this is the most expensive type of treatment. According to Harrison, this is what you can expect to pay for various roach treatments:

Treatment Type	Average Price per Treatment
Spray	$40–$100
Gel bait	$100–$600
Glue traps	$100–$600
Roach dust	$100–$600
Fumigation	$1,000–$3,000

Best Roach Exterminators Near You

Key Specs	Terminix	Orkin	Arrow Exterminators
No. of Locations	300+	400+	171
Free Consultation?	Yes	Yes	Yes
Types of Treatments	Baits, glue traps, sprays, fumigation via contractors	Baits, dusts, growth regulators, sprays, fumigation	Baits, sprays, fumigation
Service Guarantee	Will either eliminate pests or provide free additional treatments	30-day, money-back guarantee, plus will either eliminate pests or provide free additional treatments	100% satisfaction guarantee (details unclear)

Terminix

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Terminix is one of the biggest names in pest control, with over 300 locations nationwide and nearly a century of experience. It offers both quarterly and one-time roach extermination plans. When a technician comes to your home for an initial visit, they’ll determine exactly which species of cockroach has infested your home, as well as the severity of the problem. Then they’ll share recommended treatment methods. Terminix will tailor its treatment to your situation and may use baits or sprays to eliminate the infestation. The company doesn’t perform fumigation itself; instead, it will subcontract that service out to a third party if your situation requires it.

Terminix also offers a Nix Pest Guarantee, which means that if the initial treatment fails to eradicate your roaches, the company will return for a re-treatment, free of charge. Keep in mind that there’s a bit of fine print you should read before booking a cockroach elimination plan with Terminix. For example, its One-Time Pest Control plan only provides re-treatment if pests return within 30 days of the first treatment; after that, you’re not guaranteed free re-treatments.