The fight against roaches is one that most homeowners across the country battle with nearly every day. These tenacious pests are really hard to eliminate and even when you think you’ve gotten rid of them, they can just as easily make their way back to your home.
The national average cost to get rid of a cockroach infestation stands at around $310. Most homeowners, however, spend between $120 and $500 depending on the size of their home and the level of infestation.
In this guide, we’ll break down just how much you might spend on cockroach extermination and the factors that influence an exterminator’s pricing.
Before submitting a quote or estimate, there are numerous factors that a pest control company considers. This ranges from the level of infestation, treatment method required, size of your home, frequency of treatment, among other factors.
An exterminator will first conduct an inspection of your home then determine how much they’ll charge you. This may range from as low as $100 to the highs of $2,000.
Cost of Roach extermination
| Typical range | $120 - $500 |
|---|---|
| Minimum cost | $100 |
| Maximum cost | $2,000 |
| National average | $310 |
Cockroach extermination cost per square footage
The average cost to get rid of roaches per sq. ft is between $0.10 – $0.30. These costs could, however, be much higher for larger homes because they require more products and time.
Roach extermination costs by the size of the house
For a 1,000 sq. ft house, you’re likely to spend anywhere from $100 – $350 for a complete roach extermination. If your home is larger than 3,000 sq. ft, you’ll end up paying between $600 – $1,000 for major infestations.
Here’s a breakdown of these costs.
| House size | Low | High |
|---|---|---|
| Up to 1,000 sq. ft | $100 | $350 |
| 1,500 sq. ft | $150 | $525 |
| 2,000 sq. ft | $200 | $600 |
| 3,000 sq. ft | $300 | $700 |
Cockroach extermination cost by level of infestation
The size of your infestation is another key factor that most pest control companies consider pricing your extermination. The larger the roach infestation, the more you’ll spend on their removal.
This is because the large infestations are more time and labor-demanding, and utilize more treatment products than smaller infestations.
Moreover, due to the recurring nature of cockroaches, an exterminator will also need to make frequent visits to your home to completely eliminate this pest. This adds a significant amount to your overall costs.
| Size | Small infestation | Medium-large infestation | Severe infestation |
|---|---|---|---|
| Up to 1,000 sq. ft | $100 - $150 | $160 - $300 | $400 - $550 |
| 1,500 sq. ft | $150 - $250 | $250 - $400 | $500 - $700 |
| 2,000 sq. ft | $250 - $400 | $400 - $600 | $600 - $900 |
| 3,000 sq. ft | $350 - $600 | $550 - $850 | $800 - $1,500 |
Small/minor roach infestation
If you’ve only spotted one or two roaches around your one room in your house, then that’s likely to be a small infestation. An exterminator will only require one visit to contain the infestation and get rid of it.
This makes the extermination cheaper, costing you anywhere from $100 – $200 depending on the size of your house.
Medium-large roach infestation
If you spot several cockroaches running away every time to switch on the kitchen lights, then you have a medium or sometimes, large infestation. You might also spot this if you keep finding cockroach dirt and droppings on your surfaces.
Treating such a roach infestation is usually more involving forcing the exterminator to use traps and sprays to exterminate roaches. You can expect to spend anywhere from $250 – $500 for this job.
Major/severe roach infestation
If you keep finding roaches walking around your house in broad daylight, that’s an indication of a major and severe infestation. It shows that all the dark hiding spots have already been occupied by other roaches, which is bad news for you.
A severe infestation is also characterized by a musty odor, molted roach skin, droppings, and damage to your furniture, bedding, or food packaging.
An exterminator will have to adopt an expensive treatment like fumigation or house tenting to get rid of such an infestation.
This will cost you anywhere from $500 – $1,500 or higher, depending on the size of the house.
Roach extermination cost by treatment frequency
An exterminator will also charge you more depending on how often they’ll need to make follow-up visits. The more they visit (depends on the level of infestation), the more you’re likely to spend.
The most common treatment plans among pest control companies include:
One-time pest control service
This is usually the most convenient treatment plan for many homeowners. The roach exterminator visits your home, conducts the inspection, and handles the extermination in just one day.
The only drawdown with this plan is that most professional exterminators won’t offer a warranty for it. The one-time payment also tends to be quite expensive.
You can expect to spend around $100 – $500 for this plan.
Annual contract
While roaches aren’t seasonal pests, in some areas, you might notice that cockroaches only appear in specific warm months.
For such a case, you can opt for a yearly contract where the roach exterminator visits your home once a year for the treatment. But like the one-time visits, this plan isn’t viable for a heavy infestation.
Most homeowners spend anywhere between $150 – $300 on this treatment plan.
Quarterly contract
With a quarterly treatment plan, an exterminator visits your home every three months to handle the roach infestation. This works out perfectly if the roaches hand a seasonal tendency throughout the year.
To enjoy this plan, you’re likely to spend $250 – $500 per visit depending on the infestation levels.
Monthly/bi-monthly contract
In cases of a severe roach infestation, a monthly and bi-monthly treatment plan is usually the most recommended. For this, pest control professionals visit your home each month to get rid of any recurring roaches that survive treatment.
It’s mainly required by homeowners living in areas with hot and humid conditions, which favor the reproduction of roaches.
You’re likely to spend anywhere from $50 – $70 per visit for this treatment, with the assurance of a warranty from the roach exterminator.
Cockroach extermination cost by type of cockroach
A common misconception most people have is that all roaches are the same. That couldn’t be farther from the truth. There are numerous species of cockroaches around the world, but only five species are more dominant across the US.
| Cockroach species | Low | High | Distinguishing feature |
|---|---|---|---|
| Terminix | $150 | $450 | Yellowish band behind the head |
| Orkin | $500 | $700 | Two nearly parallel black stripes behind the head |
| Aptive Environmental | $300 | $100 | Antennae longer or equal to its body size |
| Oriental roach | $200 | $450 | Both male and female can’t fly |
American cockroach pest control
Right from its name, it’s obvious that this is the largest and most common type of cockroach in the country. It’s usually reddish-brown in color and has a distinct yellowish 8-pattern on its back behind the head.
These cockroaches, both male, and female have wings and can fly for a short distance. They can also bite, even though they aren’t poisonous, but they rarely do.
With a lifespan of up to 2 years, you’re likely to spend anywhere from $150 to $450 on its extermination.
German cockroach pest control
The German cockroach is known to be the most common roach species in the world. It’s also arguably one of the most difficult ones to get rid of due to their fast breeding and multiplication rate
It appears smaller in size, compared to the American cockroach and is light brown to tan in color. Most people, however, recognize it because of the two, nearly parallel black stripes running across its back.
You’re likely to find this roach around the kitchen, restaurants, hotels, and nursing homes. The average roach exterminator cost to get rid of this pest ranges from $500 – $700, but goes as high as $7,000 for a large property.
Smoky brown cockroach pest control
When it comes to outdoor roaches, the smoky brown roach is one you can’t miss. These pests get their name from the color of their body, which is dark, and glossy brown or a mahogany brown shade.
This species is very similar to the American cockroach with the only difference being that it’s slightly smaller and its wings allow them to fly for longer distances. The key distinguishing feature of the smoky brown roach, however, is its antennae which is often as long or longer than its body size.
Getting rid of them will cost you anywhere from $100 – $300 depending on the infestation size.
Oriental cockroach pest control
Like the smoky brown roach, the oriental cockroach is also an outdoor pest. They appear as dark brown to black in color highlighted by a shiny and smooth exterior, earning them the name ‘black beetle cockroach.’
A key distinguishing feature of this roach species is that they can’t fly. Additionally, the male and female oriental cockroaches are very different in appearance. The male is short with three-quarter-length wings, while the female is longer with no wings.
You’re likely to spend anywhere from $200 – $450 to get rid of these roaches.
Roach extermination cost per treatment method
The treatment method your roach exterminator intends to use is also vital in determining your overall expenses.
The most common methods used today include house tenting, use of glue traps, roach sprays, dust, gel baits, heat treatments, and fumigation.
Conducting each of these treatment varies in cost because the products required and the effectiveness of each is different. Here’s a breakdown of how much these treatments cost.
| Treatment | Cost per sq. ft | Pros | Cons |
|---|---|---|---|
| House tenting | $2,500 - $7,500 | Kills roaches quickly, Best for large infestations | Very expensive, Time and labor-consuming |
| Glue trap | $100 - $600 | Doesn’t use harmful chemicals, effective | May require follow-up treatments, maybe harmful to pets |
| Roach sprays | $50 - $100 | Works indoors and outdoors, effective in hard to reach areas | Some sprays may be harmful to children and sprays. Not effective in large infestations |
| Gel baits | $100 - $600 | Highly effective at killing roaches | May be harmful to humans and pets. Take a long time to work |
| Roach dust | $100 - $600 | Kills multiple roaches once they take it back to the nest | Harmful to humans and pets. You may need to evacuate for a while. |
| Fumigation | $1,000 - $2,500 | Eliminates roaches in all lifecycles instantly. Perfect for severe infestations | Homeowner has to evacuate, can be very expensive |
| Heat treatment | $2,000 - $6,000 | Environmental friendly. Kills the roaches in just one hour. Works for large infestations. | Can be very costly. Heat may ruin some of your appliances or property |
Glue traps
The use of roach glue traps is one of the most common treatment methods in use today. It involves using a sticky strip with a roach bait attached to it. Once the roaches come for the bait, they get stuck in the trap.
This method is mainly used by DIYers when dealing with a small infestation. Exterminators, on the other hand, mainly use this trap as a way to measure the level of infestation in your home.
Once they know what they’re dealing with and where their nests are, they then use gel baits to get rid of the cockroaches permanently.
The average roach exterminator cost when using this method ranges from $100 – $600.
Roach sprays
Using sprays is probably the easiest and quickest way to kill cockroaches. It’s commonly used to eliminate outdoor roaches, but it can also come in handy indoors, for roach nests that are hard to reach.
If you hire a professional roach exterminator, they’re likely to combine sprays with another treatment, like roach traps or bug bombs, to ensure all the cockroaches are killed.
For a one-time spray treatment, you’re likely to pay anywhere from $50 – $100, but this can extend to around $300.
Gel baits
Perhaps the best and most effective roach treatment for a small to medium infestation is the use of gel bait. The gel works by attracting the roaches to eat it and take it back to its colony, killing multiple roaches at once.
The only downside to this treatment, however, is that it takes a long time to work. You might have to wait for a week or two or even a month, before seeing the results.
This treatment is so effective that in one study, scientists discovered that a gel bait took out around 99% of all german roaches in just one month.
The average cost to exterminate roaches using this treatment method stands between $100 and $600.
Roach dust
Another popular treatment method among exterminators is the use of roach dust. Like with other pests, the roach exterminator spreads the insecticide dust on the floor for the cockroaches to ingest as they walk through it.
The dust contains boric acid which kills the roaches but can also be harmful to humans and pets. As such, it’s advisable that you leave the house while this treatment is being used.
Most exterminators charge around $100 and $600 for this treatment, depending on the size of your home.
Fumigation
Regarded to be the most effective treatment method, fumigation involves sealing the entire house and spraying it with gas chemicals. This treatment kills both the cockroaches and their eggs quickly and easily ensuring none is left standing.
This method works better than others because the gases used penetrates through any roach hiding spot including wall cracks and crevices.
During the entire fumigation process, your home is sealed and you’ll have to move out for a few days. This is because the chemicals used in the house are lethal and could poison you if inhaled, especially within the first 24 hours.
A roach exterminator is likely to charge around $1 – $3 per sq. ft for the job or between $2,000 – $6,000 for a 2,000 sq. ft house.
House tenting
This goes hand in hand with roach fumigation as the processes involved are very similar. House tenting means covering your entire house with tarp panels or similar material, creating a sealed casing that allows the exterminators to pump poisonous chemicals into the home.
The gas easily penetrates through all surfaces in the house, killing all the roaches and their eggs.
Most exterminators will combine the costs of this treatment with that of fumigation to give you a cheaper quote, while others charge them separately.
You’re likely to spend between $1,500 – $4,000 for tenting a small house, and around $3,000 – $8,000 for a large house.
Heat treatment
If you don’t want to spray harmful chemicals into your home, you can opt for the environmental-friendly option, heat treatment. The process for this starts with tenting, just like fumigation, and then the exterminator cranks up the heat to temperatures of between 122° Fahrenheit and 140° Fahrenheit for up to an hour.
This kills the roaches instantly allowing you to have a pest-free home in just one day. The average cost for this treatment ranges between $2,000 – $6,000 for a 2,000 sq. ft house.
Cockroach extermination cost by pest control company
The pest control company you choose to handle your roach extermination job will also influence how much you’ll spend on the job. Among the biggest pest control companies in the country today are Orkin and Terminix.
Each of these companies offer roach pest control services, but you’ll notice that Orkin charges you slightly higher than Terminix.
If you hire Orkin, you’re likely to spend anywhere from $250 – $650 on the job. Terminix, on the other hand, will cost you between $200 – $550.
This difference in their pricing arises from the methods and chemicals they prefer to use for treatment.
You might, however, find that hiring a qualified local exterminator will be, much cheaper than hiring a big brand.
| Company | High | Low |
|---|---|---|
| Terminix | $200 | $550 |
| Orkin | $250 | $650 |
DIY pest control vs hiring an exterminator
If you’re a do-it-yourself enthusiast, roach pest control is something you wouldn’t think twice about doing. Thanks to their small size and harmless nature, it always seems easy to get rid of these notorious creatures.
All you need is a roach bait station or gel bait ($10 – $20) or a spray ($5 – $10) and you’ll be able to handle a small infestation.
However, when dealing with a large infestation, it’s always best to contact a professional exterminator. They always know the most effective treatment for your infestation and also know how to prevent the roaches from coming back to your house.
FAQ's
It depends mainly on the size of your infestation. For a small infestation, the roaches may die in 1 – 3 days. However, larger infestations may take a few weeks to three months to eliminate all the cockroaches.
Yes! Unlike most other pests, roaches tend to come back a few weeks after treatment. That’s why a preventive treatment isn’t enough to completely get rid of them – you’ll still need a continuous proactive treatment plan.
Roaches love hiding in dark and warm areas close to sources of food. You’ll, therefore, find their nests in cabinets, drawers, and cupboards, under appliances like your refrigerator, and in furniture.
Yes! When cockroaches are squished, they release oleic acid and a pungent odor that attracts other roaches to your home.
Yes! While it’s not the most popular hiding spot for roaches, they can easily live in walls if they offer the warmth and humidity required to reproduce.
