How Much Does Bed Bug Extermination Cost?
$200 – $400 Per Room
$1,000 – $2,200 Average Total
$1,000 – $2,200 Average Total
On average, most homeowners spend between $1,000 and $2,200 to exterminate bed bugs. Depending on the level of infestation, you can expect to pay $200 to $400 per room for bed bug treatment. Get free instant estimates from bed bug exterminators near you.
Average Bed Bug Exterminator Costs
On average, most homeowners spend between $1,000 and $2,200 to exterminate bed bugs. Depending on the level of infestation, you can expect to pay $200 to $400 per room for bed bug treatment. Costs depend on how big the house is, how widespread the infestation is, the treatment used, the number of treatments, and where you live. For a small isolated issued in a single bedroom might cost you $300, whereas a large home fumigation will cost about $4,800.
| National Average Cost | $1,579 |
| Minimum Cost | $300 |
| Maximum Cost | $6,000 |
| Average Range | $1,000 to $2,200 |
Maybe you’ve tried your own methods of pest control and bed bugs are still there. It's highly recommended you call a professional bed bug exterminator as there may be health risks involved. Pest control experts will not only exterminate your bed bug problem, they will also teach you how to prevent bed bug infestations in the future.
Table Of Contents
- Average Bed Bug Exterminator Costs
- Bed Bug Exterminator Costs By Home Size
- Bed Bug Treatment Cost
- Bed Bug Inspection Cost
- Preparing For Bed Bug Treatment
- Bed Bug Prevention
- Health Risks Of Bed Bugs
- Frequently Asked Questions
- Hiring An Exterminator
- Bed Bug Exterminators Near Me
Bed Bug Exterminator Costs By Home Size
Pest control professionals will charge by the room, by the total square footage, or give you a flat fee, but most infestations will require more than one visit. For bed bug heat treatment, most homeowners report spending $300 per room, or $1,579 for their whole home. Here are the average prices based on home size for a standard treatment.
| Bed Bug Extermination | Average Cost |
|---|---|
| 1-Bedroom Apartment | $300 – $800 |
| 2-3 Bedroom House | $400 – $1,200 |
| Whole House | $1,000 – $2,500 |
| Per Square Foot | $1 – $3 |
Bed Bug Treatment Cost
Your bed bug extermination service might suggest one or more of the following ways of treating your infestation, depending on how extensive it is:
| Bed Bug Treatment | Average Cost |
|---|---|
| Heat Treatment | $2,000–$4,000 ($1–$3 per square foot) |
| Fumigation | $4,000–$6,000 ($4–$8 per square foot) |
| Chemicals & Pesticides | $200–$400 per room |
| Steam Removal | $250–$1,000 per room |
| Freeze Treatment | $500 per room |
| Monthly Pest Management | $110–130 per month |
Bed Bug Heat Treatment Cost
This is a chemical-free treatment where heat of over 120 degrees is used to drive air into the space infested with bed bugs. This treatment method is 100% effective and kills bed bugs at every stage of life. It doesn’t harm electronics, and exterminators will often use their own generator to make sure your electric bill isn’t exorbitant that month. Expect to pay $1-$3 per square foot to treat the infected areas or around $2,000–$4,000 for your whole home.
Bed Bug Fumigation Cost
Fumigation cost is based on your home’s square footage. The average cost of fumigation is $4 to $8 per square foot, or $4,000–$6,000 total. Your home will be sealed off and filled with fumigation gas to kill all the bed bugs, but it will mean you’ll have to vacate the home for a few days so as to avoid chemical poisoning and breathing in high VOCs. If done properly, it will kill all the bed bugs in the house. Fumigation costs 3–5 times more in the North than in southern states.
Structural Fumigation Cost
If the foundation of your home is found to hoard bed bugs, you’ll possibly need a structural fumigation as well, which can cost as high as $30 per square foot. It is unlikely that your homeowner’s insurance policy will cover the cost as it falls under home maintenance/preventative damage costs.
If the infestation is so bad that your house must be fumigated, be sure to put everything you own into a trailer or storage unit and fumigate that as well. Trailer fumigation can cost less than $1,000 and ensures you won’t bring the bed bugs back into the house once it’s been treated.
Chemicals & Pesticides Cost
Bed bug-killing chemicals will be laid or sprayed throughout the home. Direct spraying into cracks and crevices is effective. Bed bugs are beginning to develop resistance to pesticides though. While you can buy bed bug spray and spray the mattress, your treatment plan needs to be all encompassing. Expect to pay $200–$400 per room for professional chemical treatment.
Bed Bug Steam Removal Cost
Machines produce 200+ degree steaming heat which will kill bed bugs at all stages in the life cycle on contact. They are especially effective at reaching into cracks and crevices. The process takes about 7 hours and does such an effective job that no follow up is required unless more bed bugs are brought into the home. Dry vapor steam is also an option. On average steam bed bug removal costs $250–$1,000 per room
Bed Bug Freeze Treatment Cost
Machines use a dry ice snow powder to freeze all bed bugs at all stages in the life cycle on contact. Cryonite machines use a pressure hose to convert liquid carbon dioxide into a dry ice solid. They are a good alternative to steam vapor because they don’t cause any moisture damage. The process is much easier and faster than heat treatment, saving money. However, bugs can appear dead and then become active again once they are warm. Bed bug freeze treatment costs $500 per room on average.
Integrated Pest Management Cost (IPM)
IPM combines the use of pesticides and chemicals with monitors, box spring and mattress covers, heat treatment, and Hepa-filter vacuums into a monthly plan. It is much more likely that your exterminator will use a multi-faceted approach to your extermination project. Monitors can come in the form of detection kits, under the bed leg detectors, bed bug lures, and bed bug traps. As soon as one is detected, you can treat again and prevent all future multiplication. A monthly pest management costs $110–130/month on a bi-annual plan.
Bed Bug Inspection Cost
Many bed bug exterminators will offer a free inspection while some will charge an average of $70–$175. Visual inspections carried out by professionals will include a thorough look at all the areas mentioned below. Sometimes these inspections can last as long as four hours. How does an inspector tell if you have bed bugs?
Hepa-filter Vacuums
These will pick up as many live or dead bed bugs, and their feces and eggs, as possible and give you a good idea of how bad the infestation is.
Bed Bug Sniffing Dog Costs
An inspection by bed bug sniffing dogs can detect bed bugs with 95% accuracy, both before and after treatments. Well trained dogs have a higher accuracy level than humans. They are especially useful when locating bed bugs in large buildings and are capable of discovering even low levels of infestation. $300–$600
Signs of Bed Bug Infestation
- By sight - They are usually too small for the naked eye to see, but you’ll see the evidence they leave of brown spots or smears of poop on the sheets.
- By smell - Sometimes you can smell something like slightly rotting raspberries, which is the odor they can give off.
- By location - You’ll most often find them in your bedroom because they enjoy living in bed frames and mattresses so they can be near their food source at night ... you. They are also often found in luggage, furniture, clothing, pillows, picture frames, pets’ bedding, loose wallpaper, boxes, and any cracks and crevices they find. Your bed bugs love the dark, and they’ll hide out near beds or sofas in large extended families which grow by the minute. They’ll stay hidden, and they love clutter.
- Movement - They don’t fly, but they move quickly.
Preparing For Bed Bug Treatment
In order to prepare effectively for the bed bug treatment and prevent a re-infestation, the homeowner will have to remove every possible infected item from the infested rooms and place them outside. They can’t be brought back in until they and the room have been treated and follow-up has been done.
- All fabric – Put all clothing and other soft fabrics—bed linens, bedding, soft toys, drawer contents, drapes—into zipped or tightly sealed disposable bags and put them outside. Run all of the above through a dryer cycle on high for 30 minutes. Drop off all dry-cleaning items at a dry cleaner’s in sealed bags and inform them of the possible infestation. Throw away all disposal bags containing infected fabric. Only bring dried clothes back in in new bags after first AND follow-up treatments are done.
- All furniture – Pull all furniture at least 6” from the walls. Remove all furniture that cannot be heat treated and treat it outside the house with an alternative method. Throw away any furniture that cannot be treated. Don’t leave it on the curb to infect other homes.
- Fixed elements – Remove electrical plates and tape outlets. Disconnect or cover smoke detectors.
- Carpet/flooring – Vacuum and throw used vacuum cleaner bags in the outside trash.
- Clutter – Empty all nightstands and shelving units. Leave nonfabric items bagged in the room. Throw out any magazines, paper, clutter you can. Wash all baby toys in hot soapy water and seal in a trash bag.
- Pets and food – remove all pets, plants, food, pet food, etc. close food utensils in cabinets.
Bed Bug Prevention
Bed bugs ride into the house on anything they can from the outside world—clothing, bags, used furniture can all give them access to your home. Once in, your bed bugs are happy to inhabit your world. And so begins the drama.
How to Avoid a Bed Bug Infestation
- Enclose your mattress and box spring in a bed bug mattress cover. Covers cost $18–$50, with the SafeRest brand getting the top reviews.
- Remove clutter.
- Check mattresses and drawers for signs of an infestation before sleeping in hotel rooms.
- Check the Bed Bug Registry before booking your hotel room to see if anyone has reported bed bugs in hotels you’re considering.
- Seal clothing and belongings in plastic bags when traveling.
- Wash all clothes immediately on returning home.
- Fill any cracks and holes in the walls and trim. Glue down loose wallpaper.
- Don’t bring used furniture into the house until it’s been checked for bed bugs.
- Monitor all the rooms in your house with bed bug interception devices for returning bed bugs.
A good bed bug extermination service will also teach you what to look for and how to prevent any future infestations. They also usually leave you bed bug monitors so you can call them if you see any bed bugs.
Health Risks Of Bed Bugs
Bed bugs are not inherently dangerous themselves according to the CDC. A bed bug’s only food is blood, and it’s partial to yours. While they’re not great at spreading disease, bed bugs can give you skin rashes, itching, and blisters. Some people may also suffer from an allergic reaction to bed bug bites which will require immediate medical attention.
In addition, all pesticide products used in bed bug extermination must be registered by the EPA and your state’s department of agriculture. Keep in mind these products can be an irritant to the skin and eyes.
Frequently Asked Questions
Where do bed bugs come from? How do you get bad bugs?
Bed bugs ride into the house on anything they can from the outside world—clothing, bags, used furniture can all give them access to your home.
What do bed bugs look like? What are bed bugs signs and symptoms?
They are usually too small to see until they mature, but sometimes you’ll see the evidence of their presence—they leave spots or smears of poop on the sheets. Bed bugs can give you skin rashes and blisters, and you might find yourself with an allergic reaction to bed bug bites. The usual way to treat bed bug bites is with antiseptic or antibiotic creams or lotions to prevent infection.
How much does it cost to exterminate a 1-bedroom apartment?
At a rate of $250 per room or $0.75/sqft, a 1-bed apartment can cost $500–$600 to exterminate, and more if the infestation requires additional treatment measures.
How to kill bed bugs in leather, cotton, or foam furniture?
Vacuum with a Hepa-filter vacuum, steam, or treat with a disinfectant spray like STERI-FAB Bed Bug Spray (contact spray).
Are there safe, non-chemical ways to get rid of bed bugs?
Yes. A trusted part of natural DIY treatment includes desiccants like food-grade diatomaceous earth powder. It’s a natural killer of bed bugs, dehydrating them until they die. It will kill indefinitely and is safe for pets and children to be around, but powder must be applied with a mask due to inhalation risks. Boric acid tablets can also be placed in dark corners inaccessible to pets and children. Neem oil can be applied to all cracks and crevices as a preventative measure.
How much does a bed bug mattress cover cost?
The top-rated bed bug mattress cover designed specifically to prevent bed bugs from taking over is made by SafeRest. Covers cost $18–$50.
Can bed bug professionals get rid of other pests?
Yes, most pest control services are licensed to get rid of any unwelcome bugs or pest in the home.
How do I get rid of bed bugs myself?
Depending on the type of treatment you choose, you can try and exterminate bedbugs yourself for 25%–50% less than when paying a professional to do it, but keep in mind that you must also do follow-up treatments, use ongoing preventative measures, and absorb the cost of replacing all bedding, linens, and clothing. For treatment alone, expect it to cost about $50–$150 for treatments and kits you can buy yourself.
Hiring An Exterminator
To find your bed bug extermination company, look for him or her to fulfill as many of the following requirements as possible. Then ask for a detailed proposal from your top three and pick the one that appears best.
- Licensed contractors – Licenses may be verified by calling the various state departments of agriculture.
- Offer a warranty on labor
- Are bonded and insured
- Have an A or A+ rating with the Better Business Bureau
- Have excellent ratings on social media sites
- Include setup and complete cleanup costs in the quote
- Provide excellent communication from your first phone call or e-mail
Make sure you pest exterminator includes a warranty in the contract, because it’s normal for him/her to have to treat your home 2 or 3 times to achieve full eradication. Most contractors will offer a 30-day warranty on labor.
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