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How Much Does a Cockroach Exterminator Cost? (2024)

Average National Cost
? All cost data throughout this article are collected using the RS Means construction materials database.
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$100 - $500

Find costs near you.

Updated On

January 24, 2024

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Few pests are as disgusting and difficult to get rid of as cockroaches. These scurrying insects invade homes looking for food sources and shelter. Once inside, they multiply rapidly, potentially infesting your whole property. Hiring a good exterminator or pest control company to eliminate roaches is essential in stopping an infestation before it gets out of control.

Unfortunately, cockroaches can be difficult to remove, even in the early stages, and treatments can be expensive. This article will help you understand everything you need to know about your home’s cockroach exterminator cost. In this piece, I’ll discuss how roach exterminators price their treatments, what factors play a part in your bill, and how DIY roach removal measures up to professional extermination.

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What Is the Cost of a Roach Exterminator?

You can expect to pay between $100 and $500 for roach extermination on a standard 2,000-square-foot home. One-off treatments for minor infestations typically have a total cost of $150 to $250. However, more severe infestations may require reoccurring visits or extreme treatments, like fumigation, which can cost $2,000 to $3,000.

One-time visit
This one-time treatment includes an inspection, diagnosis, treatment, and follow-up (if needed), costing $150 to $350.
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Monthly service
Averaging $125 to $300 for an initial visit, this service includes inspections and treatments, costing between $50 to $75
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Annual service
A recurring service that provides regular inspections and treatments once a year, costing between $125 to $500.
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What Are the Most Common Types of Roaches?

Cockroaches, or by their scientific name, Blattodea, is a group of over 4,600 species. Thankfully, only 55 types of cockroaches reside in the United States. Most home infestations derive from four culprits: the German, oriental, American, and brown-banded cockroach.

  • German cockroach — When most people picture a cockroach, they’re likely imagining the German roach, Blattella germanica. These are the most common and problematic of the roach species. They prefer humid, coastal climates but inhabit states as far North as Maine.
  • American cockroach — The American roach, Periplaneta americana, is the second most common cockroach in the U.S., and is prevalent in humid, Southeastern states. These roaches prefer living inside sewers, steam tunnels, basements, crawl spaces, and attics.
  • Oriental cockroach — The oriental roach, Blatta orientalis, is known as the “black beetle” or “water bug.” It has a shiny, black appearance and is the most cold-tolerant roach species on this list, living in states like New York, Minnesota, and Oregon.
  • Brown-banded cockroach  —With a similar appearance to the German cockroach, the brown-banded roach, Supella longipalpa, is another common household menace. This roach is often called the “furniture roach” due to its odd nesting behavior, preferring to hide inside high-up locations, like walls, furniture, and closets.

What Are the Different Treatment Options for Roaches, and How Much Do They Cost?

When hiring an extermination company, your chosen treatment method will be the major determining factor for your final bill. Some treatment methods, like sprays or bait traps, cost as little as $100. Others, like fumigation, can cost several thousand dollars.

The following table outlines the most common cockroach extermination treatments, their associated costs, and major pros and cons.

TreatmentCost rangeProsCons
Sprays$50–$100Cheap, quick, and nonintrusive.It can take time to eliminate roaches and may need to be reapplied. Sprays may be harmful to pets and children.
Gel Baits$100–$600Bait stations are safer than sprays and can get rid of small to moderate-size infestations.It can take time to eliminate infestations, and traps must be removed once they’re used up.
Glue Traps$100–$600Does not use harmful chemicals.It may require multiple rounds of treatment to eliminate infestation. Needs to be carefully placed so pets don’t get into them.
Roach / Pesticide Dust$100–$600Dust treatments use boric acid, which is highly effective at killing roaches and takes less time than other methods.Dust can be toxic to pets and humans, requiring households to vacate briefly during treatment.
Fumigation$1,000–$3,000Completely eliminates roaches right away.The household must vacate while the home is filled with gas.
Tenting$1,200–$7.500Uses a sealing tent to more effectively capture and hold gas during fumigation, killing roaches deeply embedded in the home.Extremely expensive and time-consuming. Only to be used for the most severe infestations.

What Factors Affect Cockroach Extermination Pricing?

Besides treatment methods, several other important factors play a role in the final cost of your roach extermination. These factors can include things like your home’s size, the level of infestation, and the season. Below I’ll outline how each of these factors can impact the cost of your roach infestation.

Roach Extermination Cost by Home Size

The larger a home, the more materials, crew members, and labor hours are needed to treat it. Additionally, the size of your home may impact which treatment methods are the most effective.

Here is a quick breakdown of the average cost for roach treatments for various home sizes:

Home Size in Square FootageNational Average Treatment Cost
1,000$100–$175
1,500$150–$250
2,000$250–$350
2,500$350–$550
3,000$450–$600
3,500$500–$650

The Severity of the Infestation

The severity of your infestation can impact all elements of your extermination, including treatment options, crew size, labor hours, and service costs. A small infestation affecting a portion of your home may only require placing a few bait traps. On the other hand, severe infestations may affect entire homes and surrounding structures (like sheds or garages) and require multiple treatment methods and follow-up visits.

One of the most frustrating things about roaches is that they multiply quickly and are more resistant to conventional removal methods. As a result, infestations grow much faster than many other pest species, and reducing their total numbers can be extremely challenging. If you spot roaches in your home, it’s important to address the issue immediately and contact a pest control or extermination company as soon as possible.

When signing up for cockroach treatments, you can expect to pay the following depending on your infestation level:

  • Light infestation: $100–$200
  • Moderate infestation: $160–$300
  • Heavy infestation: $350–$600
  • Severe infestation: $1,000–$3,000

Season and Region

Your home’s location and the season can affect your service costs and the number of treatments needed in your extermination.

Cockroaches are active if temperatures exceed 50℉, meaning they’re a year-round pest for most Southern states. But, for homes in Northern regions, the spring and summer become cockroach season, and extermination companies may charge a premium.

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How Do Cockroach Exterminator Service Options and Costs Compare?

While often used interchangeably, extermination and pest control services are two different things.

Pest control companies, like Orkin or Terminix, use extermination and prevention techniques to eliminate pests and keep them from returning. Exterminators, on the other hand, specialize in getting rid of pests ASAP and are less focused on prevention.

Read our all encompassing review of Terminix for more information on one of our top pest control companies.

While exterminators are excellent for eradicating existing pests, if you live where roach problems are common, you may need a reoccurring pest control plan. When working with a pest control professional, you can choose from one of the following treatment plans: single treatment, monthly, quarterly, or annual. 

The following table shows the pest control costs of different treatment options — remember that you may need to pay for an initial inspection in addition to the cost of treatment. These inspections can run from $50 to $130.

Treatment IntervalCost
One-time treatment$150–$450
Monthly$150–$450 for the initial inspection and treatment, followed by $50 to $70 per month.
Quarterly$125–$300 per visit
Annual$150–$500

For more cost information read our in-depth article on Terminix Pest Control Cost.

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How To Minimize Costs When Hiring a Cockroach Exterminator

Cutting costs on extermination and pest control services can be tricky. Pest control is an important part of homeownership, and you don’t want to skimp when keeping your home free from infestations. However, you can take some proactive steps to reduce the likelihood of pest infestation and cut the cost of treatments when pests find their way inside.

Do Your Own Inspections

Most pest control professionals and exterminators will want to conduct an inspection before applying treatments. While this is typically unavoidable, knowing what pests are present in your home and where they’re located can reduce the cost of initial inspections.

Signs of a cockroach infestation include the following:

  • Droppings: These resemble small grains of pepper or coffee grounds.
  • A musty, sweet smell: This scent results from the pheromones that roaches exude.
  • Dark-colored, pill-shaped egg cases: These eggs are in nesting and infestation areas, like basements or attics.
  • Molted cockroach shells: These resemble dead cockroaches and are found in pantries or nesting areas.
  • Damaged food containers: Cockroaches primarily target starches, grains, sweets, greasy food, and meat.
  • Smears on walls: As cockroaches walk across walls, they create dark, foul-smelling streaks.

If you’re looking for more information on the warning signs of a roach infestation, check out this helpful video:

Shop Smart When Hiring an Exterminator

Finding a reliable and trustworthy exterminator can be difficult, especially if you’re not used to hiring home service professionals. Thankfully, choosing the right extermination company can be easy if you follow these simple steps:

  1. Search for local pest control companies and exterminators: Find companies that operate in your area.
  2. Review company credentials: Look into each company’s work history, customer service reviews, and complaints. Sites like the Better Business Bureau, Yelp, and Google My Business are great for this.
  3. Select the most reliable company: Once you have a good choice, make an appointment for an initial inspection or free estimate. Some pest control companies offer free quotes, while others don’t. If possible, schedule multiple free quotes to compare prices.
  4. Ask questions: During the initial inspection, ask the technician about the pest infestation, how they plan on removing the pests, and any potential problems they foresee.
  5. Review quotes and make a selection: Once you have one or more quotes, review them and select the company that provides the best services for the most reasonable price.

Prevent Roaches in the First Place

The most efficient trick for cutting costs on roach extermination is to prevent them before they become a problem. The best way for homeowners to avoid these invasive insects is by practicing good at-home pest prevention.

Pest prevention is a series of habits that any homeowner can adopt that help deter pests of all kinds, including roaches. Even when signing up with a pest control company, following these steps can help ensure that pests stay out of your home.

Some of the most effective pest prevention techniques for roaches include:

  • Annual outdoor inspections: Most pests make their way inside through small entry points on the outside of your home. These entry points include gaps in siding, crevices in your foundation, spaces between utility lines, and tears in window and door screens. Once per year, I recommend giving the outside of your home a once-over, sealing any entry points you find.
  • Keeping a clean home: Roaches love food and trash. You discourage roaches from settling down by keeping a clean home devoid of dirty dishes and loose trash.
  • Using sealable, plastic food containers: Roaches look for food stored in permeable containers, like paper bags or cardboard boxes. By using sealable plastic containers, you can deprive them of food sources.
  • Keeping a neat yard: Roaches love untended and unruly yards. Tall grass, loose debris, and old rotten firewood all act as cover and habitats for these pests. You dissuade cockroaches from infesting your yard by trimming your grass and keeping your property clutter-free.
Today’s Homeowner Tips
Insects, including roaches, only need a gap or crack of a quarter of an inch to get inside. If you spot one of these, I recommend using a waterproof latex caulk, or similar outdoor sealant, to fill the gap. For larger holes in foundations or walls, an expanding foam spray is a great option.

DIY Vs. Professional Cockroach Control: Which One Is Better?

While you can manage some pest problems with DIY treatments, you can’t handle cockroaches alone. Unfortunately, with how quickly roaches reproduce and their resistance to conventional removal, the DIY methods won’t cut it. If you have repeated sightings of roaches or other signs of an infestation, it warrants the immediate help of a professional roach exterminator.


So, What’s My Take on the Cost of Cockroach Exterminators?

Cockroaches are some of the worst pests a homeowner can deal with. Roaches infest homes quickly, carry diseases like salmonella, and are extremely difficult to eliminate. Thankfully, cockroach extermination prices are relatively low, costing an average of $150 to $500.

If things get bad and your roach infestation worsens, you may be staring at a much larger bill, up to $3,000 or more. Because of this, you should seek the help of a professional as soon as signs of a roach infestation become apparent — the longer you wait with roaches, the more expensive your problems will be.

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FAQs About Cockroach Exterminator Costs

Can you get completely rid of roaches?

Even the most severe roach infestation can be eliminated with the right help and proper procedures. However, some areas are more prone to roaches, and they may be a reoccurring issue. If so, you’ll need consistent pest control through an annual or quarterly plan.


How much does it cost to stop a roach infestation?

Most roach infestations cost between $150 to $500 to eliminate. But, depending on the size of your home, infestation level, and other factors, it will cost more.


What is the fastest and cheapest way to get rid of roaches?

The fastest and cheapest way to get rid of roaches is to sign on with a professional exterminator or pest control company. A pro can accurately assess the nature and severity of your infestation and create the most effective solution for your problem.


Editorial Contributors
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Sam Wasson

Staff Writer

Sam Wasson graduated from the University of Utah with a degree in Film and Media Arts with an Emphasis in Entertainment Arts and Engineering. Sam brings over four years of content writing and media production experience to the Today’s Homeowner content team. He specializes in the pest control, landscaping, and moving categories. Sam aims to answer homeowners’ difficult questions by providing well-researched, accurate, transparent, and entertaining content to Today’s Homeowner readers.

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Lora Novak

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Lora Novak meticulously proofreads and edits all commercial content for Today’s Homeowner to guarantee that it contains the most up-to-date information. Lora brings over 12 years of writing, editing, and digital marketing expertise. She’s worked on thousands of articles related to heating, air conditioning, ventilation, roofing, plumbing, lawn/garden, pest control, insurance, and other general homeownership topics.

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