In this article: Identifying an infestation | destruction costs | cost factors | Handyman vs. professional | The final result | frequently asked Questions | methodology
Bed bugs are one of the most difficult pests to eradicate. They are difficult to kill and quickly spread throughout the house. Luckily, they aren’t deadly, but bedbugs cause various other problems like allergic reactions and skin rashes.
When researching the The best pest control companies In the United States, we at the Home Media Review team analyzed the top vendors’ bed bug treatment options and prices. This guide breaks down the average cost of exterminating bed bugs and recommends top-notch pest control services.
Do you have a bed bug infestation?
Make sure you’re dealing with bed bugs and not fleas before calling an exterminator. Remember, bed bugs don’t mean your home is dirty. Bugs can enter any home by infesting your luggage, purses, backpacks, or other personal travel items. If you live in a multi-unit building such as an apartment or condo, bed bugs can enter your home from nearby units.
Live bugs are difficult to spot because they are so small – no bigger than an apple seed. So watch out for these other common signs of bed bugs:
- A musty odor similar to the smell of rotten fruit
- Bug bites that look like small red bumps on your skin
- Black or brown spots along your bed frame
- Blood stains on sheets and pillowcases
- Small, off-white skins around your bed
How much does bed bug extermination cost?
Cost of exterminating bed bugs $534 to $4,167* on average. Treating bed bugs is one of the more expensive pest control services because these hardy pests can survive up to 400 days without food.
We recommend arranging a check-up appointment after an initial bug treatment. However, an inspection costs extra $100 to $150it may detect more bugs and indicate that you need more treatment.
*This cost figure is based on 2021 averages from multiple sources.
Factors that affect the cost of bed bug extermination
These are the most common factors that affect bed bug extermination costs.
Cost per room
The number of infected rooms dramatically increases the cost of removing bugs. The fewer rooms to be treated, the lower the bill.
treatment costs
There are several ways a professional bed bug exterminator can treat your home. An exterminator will select the right treatment based on your budget and the infestation.
Here are the standard treatment methods for bed bug extermination:
- Chemicals: Chemical treatment involves the introduction of various chemical agents throughout your home. A pest control expert will typically place three types of chemicals. The first is a contact insecticide to destroy bedbugs in easily accessible areas. The second is a residual chemical to continuously kill bed bugs. The final treatment is an insecticidal dust to protect cracks in infested spaces. Note that this option depends on bugs being in easily accessible locations.
- Heat: A pest control technician uses special equipment to raise the temperature in your home to kill bugs. Bug eggs die within 90 minutes at 118 degrees Fahrenheit, and all bugs die instantly at 122 degrees Fahrenheit.
- Steam: Like heat treatment, steam treatment heats the infested areas and kills bed bugs on contact with extreme heat.
- Freeze: This option takes advantage of the extreme cooling properties of liquid carbon dioxide (CO2). Equipment converts liquid CO2 into dry ice snow particles that freeze bed bugs.
- fumigation: Perhaps the most well-known bed bug treatment, fumigation is an intense process. It is often used for large infestations as it involves covering your entire home and releasing fumigant gas inside. The gas permeates every inch of your home, including the inside of your walls and under floors.
Below is a breakdown of the average cost per square foot of each type of treatment.
frequency of treatments
Sometimes multiple visits are required to get rid of bed bugs. Companies often charge a flat rate for monthly, semi-monthly, or quarterly treatments. More frequent treatments cost more annually but often come with a discount per visit.
Here are the average costs for different bed bug treatment frequencies.
DIY bug exterminator vs. professional bug exterminator
Homeowners may be able to cut costs by doing the bed bug extermination themselves, but there are times when a professional is needed. Below is a breakdown of each circumstance.
DIY bug removal
Few do-it-yourself (DIY) bed bug removal remedies work effectively. If you think you just have a few bed bugs, you can vacuum your sheets, mattress, box springs, bed frames, and any baseboards and crevices nearby. You should also wash and dry your linens on high heat. This will kill bed bugs living on the material.
Do-it-yourself bed bug extermination kits are available $50 to $200. These kits often use a pesticide. You can also buy a steamer for $30 to $400 to carry out a steam treatment.
These DIY methods will not eliminate a severe infestation.
Professional bed bug removal
Hiring a professional bed bug exterminator gives you access to a wide range of treatment options and knowledge. A professional will inspect your home and create a detailed treatment plan. Depending on your budget and the severity of the infestation, professionals also offer follow-up visits and additional treatments.
Professional bug removal is performed by licensed and insured technicians who offer pet-friendly and child-safe treatments. It costs $534 to $4,167, depending on the type of treatment.
Conclusion: Should you get a professional bed bug exterminator?
Your best bet is to call the bed bug extermination professionals. Bed bugs are difficult to get rid of, and a professional pest control company offers the most effective treatment options. Although treating bed bugs doesn’t come cheap, it will ensure that the problem is eliminated and prevent future infestations.
Below are our top recommendations for pest control providers with bed bug treatment plans.
Orkin
- Pricing: $550-860 annually
- State availability: 47 (excluding Alaska, South Dakota and Wyoming)
Orkin has been in business since 1901. The company offers general pest control plans tailored to your local climate and treats seasonal pests such as ants, roaches, crickets, termites and wildlife. Orkin also offers same-day service, a 24/7 customer service line, and a 30-day money-back guarantee.
Get your offer: Complete Orkin’s online form or call 877-868-1416.
With over 95 years of pest control experience, Terminix offers comprehensive annual plans with four visits per year. All treatments have a guaranteed after-sales service when the pests return. Terminix’s general plan covers many common household pests. Additional or one-time treatments are available for attic insulation, bed bugs, crawlspaces, mosquitoes, intensive rodent control, termites, ticks, wasps and wildlife.
Get your offer: Complete the Terminix online form or call 866-569-4035.
Frequently asked questions about the cost of the bed bug killer
Methodology: Our system for ranking the best pest control companies
Home Media’s testing team strives to provide objective reviews by compiling relevant information and ranking pest control companies on factors that matter most to consumers.
To guide our recommendations, we have developed a rating system on a 100-point scale based on the following factors. We then divided the accumulated points for each vendor’s bottom line on a 5-point scale.
- Plan Options (35 points): We gave companies full marks when they offered general pest control, termite control, bed bug removal and mosquito control.
- Customer Service (25 points): We give full marks to companies that offer 24/7 customer service and multiple forms of communication such as online and phone deals and online chat options. We gave fewer points to companies with limited service hours and communication channels.
- Guarantees (10 points): Pest control companies that offer satisfaction and money-back guarantees to their customers received more points than companies that did not offer any guarantees, as this indicates a high level of concern for the customer experience.
- Better Business Bureau (BBB) rating (5 points): BBB ratings are based on publicly available information the BBB receives from a company and the number of complaints received from the public. We gave high BBB-rated companies more points than low BBB-rated companies.
- Years in Business (5 points): Established companies with decades of experience received points for their expertise and nationwide state availability.
- Prizes (20 points): We award higher points to businesses whose overall plans fell below $50 per month based on our secret home buying process across the country. In addition, we award points to providers with flexible payment options, such as B. monthly, quarterly or annual payments. Businesses also received credit for discounted initial treatments, as those first visits can often be more expensive than subsequent treatments.
After examining each provider’s website, we spoke to representatives from each company to get more insight into coverage, treatments, and pricing. To get a feel for customer satisfaction, we read hundreds of third-party customer reviews across multiple websites to identify top 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 most important to them.
Through our secret shopping process, we have collected cost information for different treatment types and payment options and simulated a real customer experience. Finally, we considered the company’s money-back and maintenance guarantees for reliability.
