Cockroaches are resilient, sneaky pests that can flatten their bodies and sneak into small cracks and crevices in your home. Roaches reproduce quickly and are resilient to many treatments, making them challenging to eradicate. Generally, you can expect to pay between $100 and $700 for one round of roach treatment, with an average cost of $200. Severe roach infestations have a much higher price tag and can cost thousands of dollars, even up to $7,500 in extreme cases. Keep reading to learn everything you need to know about roach exterminator costs.
Roach Exterminator Cost by Treatment Type Pest control costs depend on multiple factors, such as location, treatment type, property size, location, and more. Based on your home and the severity of the infestation, your professional roach exterminator may recommend several treatment types. You can expect to pay between $100 and $700 for one cockroach treatment, with an average cost of $200. Here’s a breakdown of average prices based on the treatment type.
Treatment Type Average Cost Range Sprays $40–$100 Glue traps $100–$600 Gel bait stations $100–$600 Dust $100–$600 Fumigation $1,000–$3,000 Tenting $2,500–$7,500 Cockroach Treatment Types Top pest control companies offer a wide range of treatment options for cockroaches. Some treatments are unsafe for children, pets, or humans, so speak with your pest control provider about the best options to address the problem and keep your family safe.
Here’s a quick overview of the main cockroach treatment types:
Over-the-counter sprays: Roach sprays are popular because you can directly spray a roach you spot, killing it quickly. However, sprays don’t address the root problem, and roaches may die within your walls or in difficult-to-access nooks and crannies. Jopestkil Kenya. Glue traps: Glue traps are sticky traps you set throughout your home. Once a roach runs across the trap, it’s trapped by the strong adhesive glue. While these traps can catch rogue cockroaches, they won’t address the root issue or infestations. Bait stations: Bait stations, also called gel luring, are gel or mini “stations” left out around your home in common areas roaches visit. Once they consume the gel or bait, the cockroach dies. Some roaches won’t eat the bait or are resistant to it, so this treatment type usually produces mixed results. Dust: Dust, such as boric acid, is spread throughout your home and puffed into common roach hiding places. Once roaches eat the powder, it kills them. However, this isn’t safe for humans or pets to be around, so plan to vacate your home before the treatment. Fumigation and tenting: Fumigation and tenting are the last options for severe roach infestations that have survived other treatments. An exterminator seals your home with a tent and then releases a fumigant (a deadly gas). The fumigant penetrates all cracks and crevices to kill cockroaches and their eggs. What Factors Affect How Much Roach Extermination Costs? Multiple factors, such as property size, location, service frequency, and infestation severity, determine roach extermination costs. Here’s a quick breakdown of how each factor affects pricing.
Size of Your Home The bigger your home is, the more chemicals, labor, and time exterminators dedicate to treating the roach problem. As you’d expect, larger homes have a higher average treatment cost than smaller homes because there are more rooms and hiding places for roaches. The following table estimates how much you might pay for cockroach treatments based on your home’s square footage.
Home Size Average Cost for Roach Extermination 1,000 square feet $100–$150 1,500 square feet $150–$200 2,000 square feet $250–$350 2,500 square feet $350–$450 3,000 square feet $450–$550 Location Location impacts roach extermination costs in two key ways. The more challenging it is to reach the area where roaches live, the costlier it will be to treat them. For example, roaches hiding in the walls or behind appliances require more labor than roaches trapped within your pantry.
Where you live also affects the cost of roach infestations. According to Terminix, urban areas usually have more severe infestations because these pests have greater access to food waste and living quarters. Apartments or housing connected to neighbors often require more expensive or frequent roach control measures.
Service Frequency Cockroaches are resilient pests that usually require multiple visits to eliminate. How often you need follow-up visits to keep roaches away will determine how much you pay for the treatment overall.
Pest Control Service Frequency Estimated Cost One-time $100–$400 Monthly $50–$100 per visit Quarterly $50–$100 per visit Annually $200–$1,000 Infestation Severity A minor infestation you catch earlier can be treated with less intensive methods and fewer follow-ups, saving you money. However, a severe infestation with established roaches throughout your home will likely require your professional exterminator to return for several visits and take more extreme measures, like fumigation or many gel bait stations. That’s why calling an exterminator as soon as possible can save you money in the long run, especially if you can catch the infestation early on.
Here are rough cost estimates for roach treatment based on infestation severity.
Infestation Severity Average Treatment Plan Cost Small infestation $100–$400 Major infestation $300–$700 Severe infestation $2,500–$7,000 What Are Signs of a Cockroach Infestation? Cockroaches are about 1.5 inches long, making them easier to spot than other pests like bed bugs. Their flat bodies allow them to slip through the smallest openings, such as cracked windows, dryer vents, and door jambs, allowing them to find crumbs, trash, or clutter throughout your home to use as food and shelter.
Cockroaches are nocturnal, meaning they hide in cracks and crevices in your home during the day and come out for food at night. That means it’s typically easier to spot signs of a cockroach infestation rather than look for the actual insect.
Look for the following signs of a cockroach problem:
Bodies of dead cockroaches Damaged food packaging Damage to organic goods (i.e., leather and books) Droppings (these resemble pepper or coffee grounds) Egg capsules (look for tan, black, or brown eggs that are pill or oval-shaped) Molted cockroach skins Oily, musty, and semi-sweet smells (caused by cockroach pheromones) Smear marks on horizontal surfaces or at-wall junctions (typically brown and irregularly shaped) What are DIY Roach Removal Methods? DIY roach removal methods are abundant, but many are ineffective if you have a roach infestation because they won’t reach hidden nesting areas or fix the root cause. Many roaches are even resistant to over-the-counter insecticides, so these initially cost-effective methods can quickly add up without solving the problem. We’ve evaluated some of the most common DIY roach removal methods and their effectiveness against cockroaches.
Fabric Softener Homeowners looking to save money are often told to use watered-down fabric softener (about three parts fabric softener to two parts water) to exterminate cockroaches. Fabric softener kills cockroaches by blocking the pores in their skin, killing them through suffocation. However, this method only impacts cockroaches you spray, so roaches hiding in your walls won’t be affected. Overall, this DIY removal method is best for a couple of lone roaches rather than a full-blown infestation.
Soap and Water Soap and water work the same way as fabric softeners—they suffocate live cockroaches by blocking the pores in their skin. However, this method is only effective when applied to live cockroaches and won’t address an entire infestation.
Elimination A good way to address a cockroach problem and keep it from returning is through elimination. Take steps to eradicate everything cockroaches need to survive. Throw away garbage and clutter, deep clean your house, fix leaky faucets or other water sources, and keep all food tightly sealed. Eliminating food sources and hiding places discourages roaches from hanging around your home.
Over-the-Counter Roach Control Standard over-the-counter roach control options include roach foggers, electronic repellents, bait stations, and sprays. Roach foggers, also known as bug bombs or roach bombs, are aerosol cans that release a pesticide mist to eliminate roaches and other common pests, like fleas. However, these foggers won’t reach hiding places, making them only somewhat effective.
Another option is electronic repellents that emit ultrasonic sound waves to kill pests. While this pest control method is excellent in theory because humans can’t hear the sound and the sound reaches roach hiding places, the evidence that it works well is lacking.
Bait stations and cockroach sprays are also common options. While they’re typically effective, they won’t kill the root problem and may result in dead cockroaches in your walls.
When Should You Call a Professional for Roach Removal? You should call a professional for roach removal as soon as you notice signs of cockroach activity in your home. Cockroaches in the house are a health hazard because they carry disease-causing germs and may trigger asthma attacks in individuals sensitive to cockroach antigens (found in cockroach debris like old shells, droppings, and saliva). Young children are particularly sensitive to these allergens.
Spotting a cockroach in your home, especially during the day, could be a sign of a severe infestation, as these pests are nocturnal. Call for professional pest control services immediately in this case. Cockroaches present a real hazard, and DIY pest control methods are unlikely to be effective against an infestation.
How To Hire an Exterminator A reputable extermination company, like Orkin or Terminix, has the knowledge to identify and address your roach problem quickly, making it a valuable option for getting the infestation under control. Follow these recommendations when hiring an exterminator:
Look up pest control companies with cockroach services in your area. Ask friends and family in the area for recommendations. Vet each company by reading independent reviews from third-party review websites like Trustpilot and the Better Business Bureau. Carefully consider the company’s offerings. Is it certified for the specific services you might need, like fumigation? Does it have extensive experience dealing with cockroaches specifically? Does this provider offer a free inspection and consultation? Make appointments with at least three providers for a consultation and ask them to inspect your home for pests. Treat this as a job interview, and don’t hesitate to ask questions about their experience and treatment recommendations. Then, get a free quote. Before choosing a service, compare quotes, treatment recommendations, reviews, and your gut feeling about each provider. Book a treatment with your preferred provider. Be prepared to have several follow-up appointments for reinspections or several treatments, as this is common with roaches. How To Prevent a Roach Infestation There are many effective roach extermination methods, but the best (and cheapest) method is preventing the roach infestation in the first place. Follow these recommendations to roach-proof your home and avoid a roach infestation.
Check containers and purchases, such as paper bags, before bringing them home from the store. Seal entry points and hiding places, like cracks and crevices around walls or doors. If you live in an apartment, take extra precautions to seal entry points from neighboring apartments or rooms. Keep your home clean and tidy by sweeping and vacuuming the floor frequently and tightly sealing garbage containers. Eliminate water and food sources by fixing leaky plumbing, not leaving pet food out, and wiping down your counters daily. Focus on cleaning your kitchen before bed because roaches are nocturnal and seek out nighttime food sources. Clear clutter throughout the home. Roaches look for warm, dark places to hide. Cardboard boxes and paper are popular choices, so avoid storing them, especially in areas where cockroaches are prone to hanging out, like the kitchen. Is Roach Extermination Worth It? Yes, roach extermination is worth it. While some DIY approaches can address a minor roach problem, professional roach extermination is the most comprehensive and surefire way to tackle this issue. Having roaches in your home poses several risks to you and your family’s health, such as contaminating and spoiling food, producing unpleasant smells, and irritating allergies and asthma. Roach extermination costs money, but the long-term payoff for your family’s health and the sanitation of your home is worth it.
Signs of a Roach Infestation The first step to dealing with a cockroach infestation is identifying the signs. These include:
Seeing roaches: Roaches are nocturnal, so if you spot them during the day, it’s a clear sign of infestation. Roach feces: Small, pepper-like droppings indicate a roach problem. Egg cases: Roaches leave behind oval-shaped egg cases, often found in secluded areas. Unusual odor: A musty or oily smell is a telltale sign of a severe infestation. Dead roaches: Finding dead roaches in your home suggests an active infestation. Different Types of Roaches There are several types of roaches, but the most common ones include:
German Roaches: These are small, light brown roaches known for their fast reproduction. They often infest kitchens and bathrooms. American Roaches: Larger and reddish-brown, these roaches prefer warm, damp areas like basements or sewers. Oriental Roaches: Also called water bugs, they thrive in cool, damp areas. Brown-banded Roaches: These are small, dark brown roaches that prefer warm, dry areas like inside electronics or furniture. Factors Affecting the Cost of Roach Control Several factors affect the cost of roach control:
Severity of the Infestation: The more severe the infestation, the more work is required to eliminate it, increasing the cost. Size of Your Home: Larger homes require more resources to treat, hence the cost increases. Type of Treatment: Different treatment methods have different costs. These methods include sprays, fogging, gel baits, glue traps, and heat treatment. Number of Treatments: Depending on the level of infestation, multiple treatments might be necessary. Location and Accessibility: If the infestation is in hard-to-reach areas or if your home is located far from the service provider, costs may increase. Choosing a Roach Exterminator When looking for a professional exterminator, consider the following:
Experience: An experienced exterminator will know the most effective treatment methods for different types of roaches and infestations. Reputation: Look for reviews and testimonials from past customers. Guarantee: A reputable company should offer a guarantee for their services. Safety Measures: Ensure they follow all safety guidelines and use environmentally friendly products. Cost: Get estimates from different companies and compare their services and costs. Remember, the cheapest option may not be the best one. A professional exterminator will not only handle the current infestation but also help prevent future problems. They will identify potential entry points and provide recommendations on how to seal them off to prevent roaches from re-entering. Remember, early detection and prevention are key to controlling a roach problem. Don’t wait for the level of infestation to become unmanageable before seeking help.
