Alongside bed bugs, fleas are probably the most annoying insects. These small, creepy parasites can easily jump from one place to another and infest your home, posing a health threat to your precious cat and dog, and in some cases, your family!
As such, getting rid of them should always be your first priority once you spot them. The national average cost of getting rid of fleas stands between $105 and $415.
Below, we break down how most pest control services price their services and come up with quotes.
How much you’ll spend to exterminate fleas will depend on several factors. From the level of flea infestation, to the treatment method used, to whether you’ll choose to hire a professional or challenge yourself to a DIY job.
The average homeowner in the country spends anywhere from $200 to $500 on this, placing the national average at around $350.
Cost of flea extermination
| Typical range | $200 - $500 |
|---|---|
| Minimum cost | $100 |
| Maximum cost | $1,000 |
| National average | $350 |
Flea extermination cost by the level of infestation
The level of flea infestation in your home is one of the most important factors used in determining the total extermination cost. In most cases, if the flea problem only affects your pets (cats or dogs) then it’s probably a small-medium infestation.
But in the case where even your family is experiencing flea bites, then that could be an indication of a severe infestation.
Small/low level of flea infestation
For a small-scale infestation, you can expect to spend anywhere from $100 – $200 for the flea control. A pest control company will only need to make one or two follow-up visits to ensure that the fleas are completely gone.
Medium flea infestation
If the fleas have spread to more than one part of your house, then that’s probably a sign of a medium infestation. In such cases, your exterminator will need to make an initial visit for inspection followed by several monthly or quarterly visits.
The average cost to treat a medium flea infestation stands between $200 – $400. The initial treatment will cost you about $100 and all other additional visits will cost you around $75+ each.
Large/severe flea infestations
If the fleas are spread across your entire house and are now biting humans, that could be an indication of a severe infestation. You may also notice a large infestation if the fleas are all over your yard.
To get rid of them, expect to spend anywhere from $350 – $600 during the initial treatment and an extra $75+ during the follow-up treatments.
As part of the package, most exterminators offer to visit your home at least twice a month to ensure the fleas don’t come back.
| Flea Infestation level | Low | High |
|---|---|---|
| Small-scale infestation | $100 | $200 |
| Medium-level infestation | $200 | $400 |
| Severe infestation | $350 | $600 |
Flea extermination cost by location
Besides the level of infestation, the areas affected by the infestation also play a significant role in influencing the prices for extermination. For some areas, you’ll spend as low as $75 to exterminate while in others as high as $400.
It will all depend on how difficult it is to exterminate fleas in that location. Here’s a breakdown of how much you can expect to spend by location.
| Location | Low | High |
|---|---|---|
| Outdoors | $80 | $150 |
| Yard | $50 | $100 |
| Kitchen | $150 | $250 |
| Bedroom | $100 | $200 |
| Carpet | $50 | $100 |
| Entire house | $300 | $500 |
Cost to get rid of fleas outdoors
If you suspect you have fleas in your outdoor space, you can expect to spend at least $80 – $150 for the flea control. This pricing will depend on whether the infestation is small or large.
When checking for these small parasites, your flea exterminator may check not just your lawn, but also the patios, deck, and porch.
Cost to exterminate fleas in the yard
If you can’t seem to find fleas in your house, then your yard could be the culprit. In many cases, your pets tend to get their fleas from the grass on your lawn and then transfer them to your house.
The fleas love the grass in your yard because it provides shade and a moist environment, perfect for their survival.
When left untreated, the fleas will burrow on your lawn, thinning out the grass and causing the remaining grass and plants to dry out and wither.
The average cost of flea control in your yard stands between $50 – $100, depending on the size of your yard.
Cost to exterminate fleas in the kitchen
Although not very common, flea infestations may also occur in your kitchen. This may be a result of your pet hanging around and touching surfaces, transferring the pests to any hiding spots present.
To get rid of such an infestation, expect to spend anywhere from $150 – $250. These costs may be slightly higher since the flea exterminator has to be more careful with the treatments he/she uses around the kitchen.
Cost to exterminate fleas in the bedroom
If you’re one to sleep with your pets in the bedroom, then you’re more likely to find a heavy flea infestation in your bed. The warm environment, as well as the close proximity to the hosts, makes your bedroom the perfect hideout for fleas.
The average cost of flea extermination ranges between $100 – $200. Besides your bed, the fleas could be hiding in any crevices or cracks in the room.
A flea exterminator will have to use pesticides to ensure that all the fleas are removed. To cut on the costs, you can remove all your pet bedding, wash them in hot water, then place them in the dryer under the highest setting to kill all the fleas and their eggs.
Cost to exterminate fleas in the carpet
Carpets are also a fantastic hideout for fleas in your home. The average cost to remove fleas from the carpet ranges between $50 and $100 depending on the level of flea infestation and the size of the carpet.
The fleas get on your carpet through pets and will easily hide beneath it if it isn’t regularly washed.
Flea pest control cost for the entire house
For full-house flea extermination, the total costs tend to be much higher, ranging between $300 – $500. The job involves conducting an inspection to determine all the rooms infested with fleas.
The exterminator checks all possible hiding spots from your furniture to the bed, carpets, pet bedding, and the wall cracks and crevices.
Flea extermination cost by treatment methods
The treatment method employed by your flea exterminator will also be a massive factor in determining your total costs. This is because different methods will require different chemicals, tools, and manpower.
Generally, the more labor and time a treatment method requires, the more you’ll need to spend. Here’s a breakdown:
| Treatment | Price per unit | Low | High |
|---|---|---|---|
| Flea bomb | $10 - $15 | $100 | $200 |
| Vacuuming | - | $80 | $150 |
| Fumigating | - | $180 | $400 |
| Heat treatment | - | $1300 | $600 |
| Spray treatment | $10 - $15 | $150 | $300 |
Cost of flea extermination using flea bombs
The use of flea bombs or flea foggers, is one of the most popular flea treatment solutions used by exterminators today. The method works using aerosols, where the flea exterminator sprays the fog in the affected spaces.
The fog then settles down and sticks to the surfaces killing all the fleas that come into contact with it.
The average cost to kill fleas through this method ranges from $100 – $200. The bomb usually takes around 4 hours to be effective and will kill both the fleas and their eggs.
Cost of flea extermination by vacuuming
Vacuuming is one of the cheapest ways to get rid of fleas. It entails vacuuming all the rooms, furniture, pet bedding, carpets, etc., to get rid of all eggs and fleas in the house. In most cases, this treatment isn’t used by itself.
Your flea exterminator may use it before and after completing a chemical treatment to ensure they’ve gotten all the fleas.
You can expect to spend anywhere from $80 to $150 for this treatment.
Cost of flea fumigation
Fumigation refers to the use of gaseous pesticides to get rid of fleas and other pests. Exterminators use this treatment method, which covers the use of both sprays and flea bombs, when the flea infestation covers your entire house.
It’s, therefore, more expensive than most other treatment methods. You can expect to spend around $180 – $400 on this treatment depending on the size of your house.
Cost of flea extermination using heat treatments
If you don’t want to take chances with your flea extermination, heat treatment is always the way to go. The method involves raising the temperature of the affected rooms, to the highs of around 140 Fahrenheit which will kill all the fleas and eggs.
Heat also gets rid of fleas hidden in cracks and crevices making it one of the most effective methods. Nonetheless, we always recommend hiring a flea exterminator to help you conduct this treatment.
On average you can expect to spend anywhere from $300 – $600 for the treatment and clean-up.
Cost of flea extermination using spray treatment
Like the flea foggers or bombs, spray treatments are also very common for small infestations. An exterminator usually uses a spray can and sprays the pesticides into corners, crevices, and joints until all the fleas are gone.
This treatment is the most popular among DIY homeowners, but exterminators may charge between $150 – $300 for flea control.
Flea extermination cost by frequency of treatment
After you’ve completed your flea extermination, the next step is usually scheduling follow-up visits. This is because if you missed even one flea during the treatment, your fleas may repopulate and come back.
How often a flea exterminator will need to visit your home will mainly depend on the intensity of the initial infestation.
For small infestations, you’re likely to spend around $250 – $300 for a one-time visit. If you had a medium to large flea infestation, you might need a more frequent treatment schedule with your pest control company.
Most companies will offer two major contracts i.e., the monthly plan and the annual plan. Monthly plans may cost you anywhere from $75 – $100 per visit while the annual plan usually ranges around $400 – $600 per visit.
| Frequency | Low | High |
|---|---|---|
| One-time treatment | $250 | $300 |
| Monthly treatment plan | $75 | $100 |
| Annual treatment plan | $400 | $600 |
Flea exterminator cost
Hiring an exterminator to get rid of fleas may cost you anywhere between $40 – $80 per hour, excluding the inspection costs.
If the exterminator doesn’t bill by the hour, you can expect a flat rate for the job of around $75 – $150. The cost of inspection alone will start at $50+ depending on the size of your home.
If you hire the exterminator, you’ll benefit from free inspection, with its cost deducted from the overall quote.
Any follow-up visits required after the extermination will however cost you an extra $75 in the least, depending on the re-infestation level.
How long does it take for exterminators to get rid of fleas?
While most treatments take anywhere from 2 – 6 hours to eliminate fleas, their life cycle means that they can be back in around 4 – 6 weeks. Your exterminator will therefore need to conduct several follow-up treatments to ensure all flea eggs and larvae are destroyed.
In severe flea infestations, an exterminator might take as long as three to four months to finally get rid of all the fleas.
Cost of flea treatment by major pest services
Another factor that will influence how much you’ll spend on flea extermination is the pest control company you choose to hire. Each company prices its services differently depending on its reputation and expertise in the business.
Among the most popular pest control companies in the country are Orkin, Terminix, and Aptive Environmental. Here’s how much you can expect to spend if you hire either companies:
| Company | Average cost of treatment | Cost range |
|---|---|---|
| Orkin | $550 | $500 - $600 |
| Terminix | $625 | $500 - $700 |
| Aptive Environmental | $575 | $500 - $650 |
Orkin flea treatment
Orkin is one of the most popular pest control companies in the country. The company has been in the industry for more than a decade and it’s considered among the best when it comes to urgent, ‘same-day’ services.
Orkin also prides itself in the rigorous and regular training that its exterminators go through to be able to offer and maintain effective extermination of all pests.
You can expect to spend a total of between $500 – $600 to hire them for extermination. For a one-time visit, your costs will range between $150 and $200 and any extra follow-up visits will cost you at least $200 each.
Terminix flea treatment
Terminix pest control is widely regarded as the best extermination company in the United States. From its name, it mainly specializes in dealing with termite infestations, but they’ve expanded into other pests like bedbugs, fleas, roaches, etc.
On average, you can expect to spend anywhere from $550 – $700 on flea treatments if you hire the company. They operate in around 47 states and have been lauded for their excellent pest control guarantee.
For a one-time extermination visit, Terminix will charge you at least $200, then an extra $100 for a quarterly follow-up visit plan.
Aptive Environmental flea treatment
Aptive Environmental is one of the newest players in the pest control field in the country. With offices in 27 states, this exterminator has become popular for the flexibility and customizability of its pricing plans.
Their most popular plan is the comprehensive Four Seasons Protection Plan, which involves an initial visit, then four visits across the year, once in each season.
Aptive Environmental may also customize a plan according to your pest problem and level of infestation. This makes them better placed to solve your flea problem once and for all.
The average cost to hire them ranges from $500 – $625 depending on the details of your customized package.
Additional factors that influence flea extermination prices
Besides the factors mentioned, other things that a pest control company may consider in their pricing process includes:
- Your location – How far or close you are to the exterminator will influence their travel and fuel costs as well as the cost of products. As such, the longer the exterminator has to travel, the more they’ll charge you.
- Time of the year – Exterminators tend to charge higher during the hot, humid months than during the cool winters. This is because fleas tend to thrive in the warm humid months, hence increasing the demand for the extermination services.
- Sanitation – Most contractors will charge you more if they find that your home is dirty or a mess. Finding things like your dog or cat hair, unvacuumed floors, dirty pet beddings, and even overgrown weeds on your lawn, will mean that they’ll have to do more work to get rid of the fleas. As such their labor costs increase.
Fleas: What you need to know
Fleas are small, wingless insects that move around by jumping from one place to another and feed on animal and human blood. Their bites are commonly characterized by skin irritation, discomfort, and itchiness.
The fleas go through a 21-day life cycle, from an egg to larvae (which takes 5 – 11 days), to pupa, then finally, adult fleas.
Types of fleas
In total, there exist more than 2,000 types of fleas in the world. Of these, around 300 species can be found in the country, but only five are more common in residential areas. They include:
Cat fleas
Known to be the most popular type of fleas in the country, the cat flea occurs as reddish-brown in appearance and can grow up to 3mm in size. It can jump up to 35cm high, thanks to its long elastic legs, which is an astonishing 150 times its body size.
Cat fleas mostly infest cats, but they can also be found on dogs, wild animals, and humans. It’s especially prevalent in North America.
Dog fleas
Known by the scientific name, Ctenocephalides canis, the dog flea is very common among dogs and cats. Its appearance is very similar to that of the cat fleas, except for its more rounded head.
Besides dogs, this flea can also infest rabbits, rats, humans, foxes, and woodchucks. Dog fleas can be found in most European countries like Greece, Hungary, and Ireland, but you shouldn’t be surprised to find them in the northern parts of the country.
Human fleas
Also known as the house flea, or by its scientific name, Pulex irritans, this tiny monster targets humans as its primary host. However, it’s also quite fond of carnivorous animals like dogs.
Human fleas are attracted to human hair because of its warmth. If not treated early, the fleas can transmit disease-causing parasites like tapeworms and typhus.
This flea can also be found all over the world and has the longest lifespan compared to other fleas (up to 2 years).
Rat or rodent fleas /oriental rat fleas
This type of flea feeds on rodents and is popularly known for transmitting diseases like plague and murine typhus. While it prefers rats, rabbits, and mice, the fleas can also hang on to humans, cats, and dogs.
Bird fleas
Popularly known as the chicken or hen fleas, this flea is very prevalent during the spring months when birds are nesting or raising their chicks. They’re not only common on birds, but also on cats, dogs, and sometimes, humans.
The bird fleas get on a host by jumping on their shadows, hoping to settle on a host. They pose the risk of anemia and even death to baby birds in cases of extreme infestations.
Where do fleas come from?
More often than not, the fleas in your house come from your pets after they’ve interacted with an infested animal. However, this isn’t the only way they get into our home.
Since they’re very good jumpers, the fleas can also get easily into the house through any cracks or crevices on your floor or window screens.
They may also hitch a ride on your clothes, although not very often, to get into your house, then find a host in your pet.
Pest control experts have, however, determined that unless forcefully removed, fleas stay on the same host for most if not their entire lifetime.
Signs of a flea infestation
If you suspect that your pets or house is infested with fleas, here are a few signs you can look for:
- Live fleas – The most obvious sign is if you see these small parasites hopping onto your carpet, furniture, or drapes. Although they’re small, spotting them could mean that your home is heavily infested.
- Flea droppings – If you can spot a string of red and brown flea dirt on your pet’s skin, then that could be an indication of an infestation.
- Excessive pet scratching – If your pet keeps scratching, licking, or biting their fur, that could be an indication that they are infested.
- Red skin and losing – Pets that are heavily infested with fleas may sometimes develop red skin and even begin losing fur. When you spot this, don’t hesitate to contact a veterinarian.
Health risks from fleas
Besides annoying and irritating your pets, fleas are also known to transmit disease-causing parasites to both humans and pets.
Risks to humans
Some of the diseases caused by fleas to humans include plague, flea borne murine typhus, cat scratch disease (CSD), dermatitis, and Tularemia among other diseases. Flea bites can also transmit parasites like tapeworms to humans.
Risks to pets
For your pets, the most common diseases caused by fleas include anemia, alopecia, flea allergy dermatitis, tapeworms, Bartonella, murine typhus, cat scratch fever, and Rickettsia.
Flea cleaning service
Once your flea exterminator has completed the flea control, you’ll need to spend a few extra dollars on the cleaning. This may cover your carpet, floor, and pet bedding, to ensure that all flea eggs, larvae, and adults are eliminated.
On average, you can spend around $200 to clean the entire house, and up to $60 to clean your carpet.
DIY flea removal vs professional flea treatment
That said, it’s also quite common for homeowners to try and handle the flea control as a DIY. Doing this, you’ll spend anywhere from $50 – $350 depending on the level of flea infestation in your house.
However, DIY methods are only effective for mild and small infestations. In such cases, simply vacuuming, steam cleaning, or shampooing the infested items will get rid of the pests.
But if you’ve tried your DIY solutions and the fleas still remain rampant in your house and pets, then that’s your cue to call in the pros. A flea exterminator has adequate experience and equipment to get rid of fleas and ensure they don’t come back to your home.
FAQ's
Yes! If you spend a lot of time with your pet in your bedroom, the fleas will be attracted to your bed because of its warmth. You’ll, therefore, discover an infestation soon.
Not really. As long as you do nothing about your flea infestation, they’ll keep hiding on your pets and keep spreading throughout the house.
Yes! While hiring an exterminator can be expensive, the professionals have the right knowledge, skill, and experience to completely get rid of the fleas.
Usually, yes. Fleas lay eggs very quickly, and so, just one or two adult fleas can lay hundreds of flea eggs in a short while, leading to an infestation.
Some of the signs to look for include, the pet scratching itself excessively, presence of flea dirt or droppings, adult fleas jumping, and sudden redness of your pet’s skin.
