Roach Exterminator Cost (2022 Guide) - MarketWatch

In this article: Roach Exterminator Cost | Cost Factors | DIY vs. Professional Roach Removal | The Bottom Line | FAQs | Methodology

Roaches can damage your furniture and packaged goods, spread illness and trigger allergic reactions. Unfortunately, simple cleaning isn't usually enough to get rid of them. Roaches enter your home in search of food and shelter; your home's cleanliness often has nothing to do with a cockroach infestation. 

To help you find an exterminator, we've researched and ranked the best pest control companies in the United States. This guide covers average roach exterminator costs, plus each provider's roach treatment plans and pricing.

Roach Exterminator Cost

The average cost for a roach exterminator is $113 to $411.* A single treatment typically costs $196. However, homeowners can pay more than $1,000 to treat a severe infestation. 

You might be able to save money by enrolling in a pest treatment plan. Many pest control companies offer additional treatment options for cockroaches monthly or bi-monthly. For example, enrolling in an annual treatment plan may only cost you $75 per month.

*This figure is based on averages from multiple 2021 reports.

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Factors That Influence Roach Exterminator Cost

Here are some of the key factors that influence roach extermination costs.

Cost per House Size

The size of your home determines some of the extermination pricing. Namely, the more square footage an exterminator treats, the more they will charge. Below are rough estimates for cockroach extermination costs based on square footage.

• 1,000 square feet: $100–$150
• 2,000 square feet: $250–$350
• 2,500 square feet: $350–$500
• 3,000 square feet: $500–$650
• 3,500+ square feet: $650–$800

Cost by Infestation Level

The severity of the infestation also influences the total cost of cockroach treatment. If you only have a few roaches, you'll likely have to pay for a simple, one-time treatment. You'll need a more extensive treatment plan with multiple visits if cockroaches cover your home.

• Small: $100–$200
• Medium: $150–$300
• Large: $250–$400
• Severe: $450+ 

Cost per Treatment

Your exterminator will determine the type of treatment you need based on your specific infestation. Below is a breakdown of different cockroach treatments and their average cost per square foot.

• Fumigation ($1,000–$3,000 per square foot): Fumigation, sometimes called tenting, is typically used for severe infestations. It uses chemical gasses to fill your entire home. The downside is that you can't return home until all the gas is gone. You may need to stay away for up to 60 hours, depending on your level of infestation.
• Gel bait ($100–$600 per square foot): This treatment involves putting poisonous bait around your home that roaches bring back to their nest, where other cockroaches eat it and die.
• Glue trap ($100–$600 per square foot): Glue traps get rid of cockroaches without harmful chemicals. Instead, roaches stick to the traps and die. Unfortunately, this treatment often requires a second round to work effectively.
• Roach dust ($100–$600 per square foot): Boric acid dust can be placed throughout your home to eliminate cockroaches as they crawl through and ingest it.
• Spray ($40–$100 per square foot): A pest control technician can spray insecticide around your home's interior and exterior entry points to eliminate cockroaches quickly. This treatment is ideal for minor infestations but can harm children and pets.

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DIY vs. Professional Roach Removal

Some do-it-yourself (DIY) methods can effectively remove cockroaches. However, there are times when a professional exterminator is best.

DIY Roach Removal

You can purchase cockroach bait stations or liquid gel baits at most home goods stores for $10 to $20. Another affordable DIY treatment is a chemical spray, which kills roaches on contact and costs $5 to $15. 

DIY cockroach treatment is suitable for a few roaches, but a more extensive infestation is difficult to eliminate on your own. Large infestations also require eliminating cockroach nests, which many DIY products can't do. 

Professional Roach Removal

Hiring a professional pest control company is best for most cockroach infestations. You can expect the following benefits from this service:

• Whole-home inspection
• Customized treatment plan
• Safe handling of chemicals and pesticides
• Easy point of contact
• Follow-up visits for additional treatments, as needed

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The Bottom Line: Do You Need Professional Roach Extermination?

Professional roach extermination is often the best route. This guarantees you'll find all the infestation points and receive a custom treatment plan that addresses your home's layout and needs. Even if you only see a few roaches, these are often a sign of many more.

Below are some top pest control services with cockroach treatment options. 

Orkin

• Price: $550–$860 annually
• State availability: 47 (excludes Alaska, South Dakota and Wyoming)

Orkin has more than a century of pest inspection experience and an award-winning certification program. All Orkin technicians are trained at a 30,000-square-foot facility in Georgia, which features a full-size model home to practice German and American cockroach treatments and other pest services. In addition, Orkin Pros receive more than 160 hours of instruction in their first year to ensure the quality of service. 

Get a quote: Fill out Orkin's online form or call 877-868-1416. 

Terminix

• Price: $455–$750 annually
• State availability: 45 (excludes Alaska, Montana, North Dakota, South Dakota and Vermont)

Terminix has 95 years of experience in the pest control business and a widespread network of licensed pest experts. A Terminix technician will visit your home to perform a thorough pest and roach inspection. They'll then build a treatment plan and provide an estimate. Terminix can add roach treatment, including German cockroaches, to any of its annual pest control plans.

Get a quote: Fill out Terminix's online form or call 866-569-4035.

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Frequently Asked Questions About Roach Exterminator Cost

Methodology: Our System for Ranking the Best Pest Control Companies

The Home Media reviews team aims to provide objective reviews by compiling relevant information and rating pest control companies on factors that matter most to consumers.

To guide our recommendations, we crafted a rating system on a 100-point scale based on the following factors. We then divided the points earned for each provider's final score on a 5-point scale.

• Plan options (35 points): We awarded companies with full points if they offered general pest control, termite treatment, bedbug removal and mosquito treatment.
• Customer service (25 points): We awarded full points to companies that offered 24/7 customer service and provided multiple forms of communication, such as online and phone quotes and online chat options. We gave fewer points to companies with limited service hours and communication channels.
• Guarantees (10 points): Pest control companies that provide satisfaction and money-back guarantees to their customers received more points than companies that didn't offer guarantees, as this indicates a high level of concern for customer experience.
• Better Business Bureau (BBB) rating (5 points): BBB ratings are based on publicly available information that the BBB obtains from a company and the number of complaints received from the public. We gave more points to companies with high BBB ratings than companies with low BBB ratings.
• Years in business (5 points): Established companies with decades of experience received points for their expertise and widespread state availability.
• Pricing (20 points): We awarded higher points to companies whose general plans fell under $50 per month, based on our secret-shopping process for homes around the country. Additionally, we awarded points to providers with flexible payment options, such as monthly, quarterly or annual payments. Companies also received credit for discounted initial treatments, as these first visits can often be more expensive than subsequent treatments.

After examining each provider's website, we spoke with representatives from each company to get more insight on coverage, treatments and pricing. To get a sense of customer satisfaction, we read hundreds of third-party customer reviews across multiple sites to determine the most common concerns, benefits and additional feedback. We also surveyed 1,000 consumers who had hired pest control companies to better understand their experiences and the services that are most important to them.

Through our secret-shopping process, we gathered cost information for various treatment types and payment options, simulating a real customer experience. Finally, we considered the company's money-back and reservicing guarantees for reliability.