How Much Does a Bedbug Exterminator Cost?
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Bedbug treatment costs on average $300–$500 per room. Bedbugs can severely disrupt your day-to-day life. Though there are some do-it-yourself (DIY) methods you can try, the fastest way to eliminate them is by hiring a professional pest control service.
We’ve researched the best pest control companies in the United States and evaluated their bedbug treatment options. This guide explains the average bedbug extermination cost and provides recommendations for extermination services.
Bedbug Exterminator Cost
Bedbug treatment costs $300–$5,000* on average. You may also need to pay for a $100 to $150 inspection to determine your infestation level. Bedbug inspections help the technician figure out the best treatment course.
*This cost figure is based on 2021 averages from various sources.
Cost Factors of Bedbug Extermination
Various factors determine the overall cost of bedbug treatment. We’ve listed the most significant ones below.
Cost per Treatment
Most pest control companies charge per square foot of treatment area. The type of treatment you receive depends on the bedbugs’ location and infestation level. Here are the most common bedbug treatments and their cost per square foot.
- Chemicals ($2–$5 per square foot): A bedbug expert may apply a contact insecticide to exterminate bedbugs on contact if the problem is mainly in one room and an easy-to-reach location. They’ll also place a residual pesticide to kill bedbugs on an ongoing basis and sprinkle insecticidal dust around cracks in the infested room to prevent bedbugs from traveling farther.
- Freeze ($3–$6 per square foot): Through specialized treatment, liquid carbon dioxide (CO2) is transformed into dry ice snow particles that freeze bedbugs to death.
- Fumigation ($4–$8 per square foot): Fumigation is used for the most severe infestations. This involves tarping your entire home and releasing fumigant gas inside. The gas reaches every inch of your home, including inside your walls and foundation.
- Heat ($1–$3 per square foot): Heat treatment is one of the most common bedbug treatments. It uses specialized heaters to raise the temperature in your home, killing bedbugs and bedbug eggs.
- Steam ($2–$8 per square foot): Like heat treatment, steam treatment heats infested areas and kills bedbugs instantly with extreme heat.
Cost per Treatment Frequency
Your home may require multiple visits to eliminate bedbugs. Pest control companies charge a flat rate for monthly, semi-monthly, and quarterly treatments. More frequent treatments cost more annually but often have a discounted rate.
- One time: $500–$2,000
- Quarterly: $1,500–$3,000
- Monthly: $5,000–$7,500
- Semi-monthly: $5,500–$8,500
Cost per Room
A bedbug technician will also charge based on the number of infested rooms.
- One room: $300–$500
- Two rooms: $750–$900
- Three rooms: $1,000–$1,500
- Four rooms: $1,500–$2,000
- Whole-home: $3,000–$6,000
Signs of Bedbug Infestation
Try to determine how severe your bedbug infestation is before you call a pro. Keep in mind that having bedbugs doesn’t mean your home is dirty. Bedbugs can enter any home via luggage and other personal travel items. They can also reach your home from nearby units if you live in an apartment or condo.
Look out for these common signs of bedbug infestation:
- Bedbug bites, which are red bumps across your skin that look similar to flea bites
- Black or brown spots along your bed frame
- Blood stains on sheets and pillowcases
- Odor similar to the smell of rotten fruit
- Small, eggshell-colored skins around your bed
Professional Bedbug Extermination vs. DIY Bedbug Extermination
You may be able to handle the problem yourself if you think you only have a few bedbugs. Vacuum your bedding and the surrounding area, including cracks and crevices, and wash and dry your bedding on high heat.
These methods won’t work for more severe infestations, as proper bedbug removal requires a professional pest management service. An exterminator has extensive knowledge and can put together a detailed treatment plan. Professionals also provide bedbug inspections and additional treatment applications to ensure your home stays bedbug-free.
Our Recommendation
We recommend hiring a professional exterminator for bedbug treatment. This gives you more access to treatment options and ensures your infestation will be eliminated. A pro can also help you take steps to prevent future infestations.
Below, we’ve provided our top recommendations for professional pest control companies with bedbug treatment.
Terminix
- Reservice guarantee: Yes
- State availability: 45 states (all but Alaska, Montana, North Dakota, South Dakota, and Vermont)
- Get a quick quote: Visit the Terminix site or call 866-569-4035.
Terminix offers a general pest control plan with an initial inspection and treatment, quarterly visits, and a free reservice guarantee if pests return between treatments.
The company also provides a one-time pest control service with comprehensive interior and exterior inspection and treatment, plus a 30-day reservice guarantee. You can get specialized treatments for bedbugs, mosquitoes, ticks, and wildlife.
Orkin
- Reservice guarantee: Yes
- State availability: 47 states (all but Alaska, South Dakota, and Wyoming)
- Get a quick quote: Visit the Orkin site or call 877-544-4104.
Orkin’s general pest control plan provides preventative and targeted treatments for common household pests such as rodents, ants, beetles, and cockroaches. By secret-shopping the company, we learned that this plan typically includes bi-monthly visits and a thorough initial visit and treatment. It also comes with a 30-day money-back guarantee and free reservice.
Orkin’s termite control comes with follow-up service and the Orkin Guarantee, offering free return visits and refunds up to 30 days after your treatment.
Bedbug Exterminator Cost FAQ
How long does it take to get rid of bedbugs with an exterminator?
Getting rid of bedbugs with an exterminator may take two to four treatments over three to six weeks. The time frame depends on your infestation level and home size.
Can I sleep in my bed after bedbug treatment?
Yes, you can sleep in your bed after bedbug treatment. Encasements, such as mattress covers, should be put on mattresses and box springs. Any surviving bedbugs in the mattress or box spring will not be able to escape the encasement to bite you.
Do bedbugs live in the carpet?
Bedbugs can live in your carpet but typically stay close to the surface. This makes it easier to vacuum them up.
How We Chose the Top Pest Control Companies
Our pest control research process starts with analyzing customer reviews on third-party websites such as the Better Business Bureau (BBB), Trustpilot, and Google Reviews. We then do a deep dive into each company’s website, service plans, and available cost information. We also secret shop the companies we review, reach out to representatives, and request quotes.
From there, we compile the information we’ve gathered and compare each company using our in-depth pest control methodology and review criteria. This process uses a series of factors that are important to our readers, and we score each company depending on how well they perform in each factor. For instance, companies that offer more guarantees for their service earned more points than others, and pest control plans with a larger range of covered pests earned more points than ones with fewer.
After analyzing dozens of residential and commercial pest control businesses through this process, we were able to determine the best pest control companies on the market.