Fleas are more than an irritating nuisance. These small, unwelcome house guests can transmit dangerous diseases to families and pets. Getting rid of them can be difficult and (especially if your home has been completely infested) expensive.
While fleas are not as destructive as other pests, they’re still a serious risk to the health and safety of your family and four-legged friends. If left unchecked, a few fleas that hitched a ride on a pet can quickly grow into an infestation. The best solution is to contract a reliable pest control company right away to help manage the situation before fleas infest your entire home. Unfortunately, flea extermination can be expensive, especially if you need them removed ASAP.
This article will help you understand everything you need about your next flea exterminator cost. Below, I’ll discuss how flea exterminators price their services, what factors play a part in your final bill, and how DIY flea removal measures up to professional extermination.
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How Much Do Flea Exterminators Cost?
Homeowners can expect to pay between $100 and $450 for professional flea extermination, with the national average price being $250. Flea exterminator prices may vary depending on the level of the infestation, treatment type, and any needed follow-up appointments. An initial inspection will also typically cost between $50 to $200, and if you need follow-up visits after the first treatment, expect to pay an additional $100 to $200 for each.
If you’re only concerned about dog or cat fleas pestering your furry friend, your average cost will be much lower than if you need a full-home flea removal. Over-the-counter flea and tick treatments for cats and dogs cost about $30 to $50. However, these treatments won’t do any good if the fleas have already spread throughout your home. If you suspect a larger flea problem, you’ll want to schedule a pest inspection to see if additional treatments are necessary.
What Are the Most Common Types of Flea Treatments and Their Costs?
When signing on with a flea exterminator or professional pest control company, you can choose from multiple treatment options. Each treatment has its own pros, cons, and prices, so understanding which is right for your infestation is essential. The most common flea extermination techniques include vacuuming, flea bombs, chemical spraying, heat treatments, and fumigation.
Treatment Method | Cost for an Average-Sizes Bedroom (132 Square Feet) |
Vacuuming | $80–$150 |
Flea Bomb | $100–$200 |
Chemical Spray | $175–$380 |
Heat | $350–$450 |
Fumigation | $528–$1,056 |
- Vacuuming: This treatment uses specialized vacuums to suck up adult fleas, larvae, pupae, and flea eggs off surfaces like couches, drapes, floors, walls, pet bedding, crevices, etc. Depending on the location and level of infestation, this treatment may be used independently or alongside other methods.
- Flea bombs: Also called flea foggers, this method uses small cans of aerosolized pesticides that kill fleas when released into an enclosed space. These aerosol bombs function like a small-scale fumigation, completely filling a specific space with a flea-killing gas over a few hours. Everyone must vacate the home during this time, even if only one or two rooms are being treated. Unlike fumigation, which typically targets the whole house and takes multiple days, flea bombs only last a few hours; then you can reenter your home.
- Chemical treatments: Chemical treatments use insecticide sprays to kill fleas and their eggs. These pesticides are applied to the home’s exterior perimeter (including windows, doors, and foundation), the inside of the home, or both. The best flea sprays are highly effective but can be dangerous to children and pets.
- Fumigation: With a fumigation treatment, a pest control company seals all openings to a home and then fills it with toxic, pesticidal gas. You and your family must vacate for one or more days as the treatment exterminates the fleas. Fumigation is typically only used for severe infestations where multiple rooms have become infested or when other options won’t cut it. Fumigation is one of the most effective techniques for removing every flea in a home, but it’s also the most expensive.
- Heat and steam treatments: Heat and steam treatments are chemical-free, quick, and efficient. Since these treatment methods are pesticide-free, they’re great for families with children and pets — however, they can damage surfaces susceptible to high heat, like vinyl floors, blinds, and cords.
What Factors Affect Flea Exterminator Pricing?
In addition to your treatment method, several other factors will influence the cost of flea extermination services. While fleas are less expensive pests to eliminate when compared to termites or rodents, they can still carry a hefty price tag if the infestation is severe. Below, I’ll discuss all the major cost factors that play a part in your final bill.
Season
Flea infestations are more common at certain times of the year. This period of increased activity is referred to as “flea and tick season,” and each portion of the United States experiences it at different times of the year. During tick and flea season, pest control and prevention services for these blood-sucking pests are at a premium and many pest control companies charge an increased price.
The following map from the American Kennel Club shows when different areas of the United States experience flea and tick seasons.
Location and Accessibility of the Infestation
The location and accessibility of your flea infestation play a major part in your treatment options. If you have a small, localized infestation (for example, in a pet’s house or basement), pest control companies can use less invasive treatment methods, like steam or vacuuming.
However, if multiple connecting rooms are infested, your exterminators will likely need to use pesticides or, in extreme cases, fumigation.
Severity of Infestation
The severity of your infestation affects everything in the extermination, from the viable control methods to crew size, labor hours, and service costs. A couple of stray fleas brought in by your pet can be handled with an over-the-counter spray, but a full infestation requires a professional crew.
Exterminators might use multiple treatments depending on where the fleas are located, what they have infested, and how long they’ve had to reproduce. For example, some homes have flea-infested yards — in these cases, pest control companies would need to flea-bomb the house while also applying pesticides to the home’s exterior. In extreme cases, pest control service providers may recommend fumigation, the most expensive form of flea treatment.
Number of Visits
A one-time dog flea treatment may not completely eliminate an infestation. Some homes are located where flea reinfestations are common, requiring follow-up treatments. Thankfully, pest control companies offer multiple flea treatment options, allowing homeowners to pick the best plan to suit their needs. For most companies, you can choose between single, monthly, semi-monthly, quarterly, and yearly treatment plans.
Below is a breakdown of the average costs of regular tick treatments.
Treatment Plan | Total Cost |
Single Visit | $100–$400 |
Monthly | $950–$2,500 |
Semi-monthly | $1,300–$3,500 |
Quarterly | $500–$1,600 |
How Can You Minimize Costs When Hiring a Flea Exterminator?
Cutting down the cost of pest control can be challenging, especially for difficult-to-spot pests like fleas. However, you can cut down on the price of your next flea treatment service by following some of these steps:
Do Frequent Tick and Flea Checks
The best cost-saving tip for fleas is to avoid getting them in the first place. You should always give your dog a quick check after every outing, especially if you go to a flea-prone area, like a dog park or the groomer. Thoroughly checking your pet’s fur for fleas is especially important during the height of flea and tick season. When looking for flea bites, inspect the following places on your pet:
- Thinly haired areas
- Ears
- Armpits
- Groin area
- Around the collar
- Around the tail
- Back of the legs
- Belly
Do Your Own Inspections
You can save on flea inspections by identifying all the infested rooms beforehand. If you think you have a flea infestation, you should look in the following areas:
- Carpets
- Pet beds
- Pet cages
- Furniture
- Beds
- Windowsills
- Floorboards
Shop Smart When Picking a Pest Control Company
When picking a professional flea exterminator, making smart choices can save you money in the long run. By going with the best pest control company in your area, you can avoid hidden fees, overcharges, and other unethical practices.
National brands like Orkin or Terminix are typically a safe bet, but some local brands, like Hawx or Bulwark, are also efficient. Before hiring any pest control company, I recommend checking its local branch’s customer service reviews from the Better Business Bureau, Google My Business Page, and Yelp. Additionally, you can find the best deal by obtaining and comparing multiple free quotes from different companies.
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DIY Vs. Professional Flea Control: Which One Is Better?
While DIY treatments can be effective for small flea problems, major flea infestations require the services and expertise of a professional exterminator. Fleas reproduce quickly, infesting multiple rooms before homeowners can take preventative measures. Because of this, unless you’re certain that fleas haven’t spread, it’s best to call a professional pest control company as soon as you become aware of a flea problem.
Pest control companies like Orkin offer affordable pricing and comprehensive services nationwide. Its team can tailor your flea extermination to fit your needs and will come back to retreat the problem if fleas return.
While a pest control company will handle severe flea infestations better, it can have downsides. Here is a quick rundown of the pros and cons of each flea treatment method:
So, What’s My Take on the Cost of Flea Exterminators?
While not damaging to your home, fleas are a serious health hazard to you, your family, and your pets. Fleas carry a host of nasty diseases and parasites, like tapeworms, which can lead to serious infections and other problems. If left alone to reproduce, they can infest your entire home, requiring expensive treatments to remove.
When picking the best flea exterminator, I recommend Orkin. Orkin is a reliable brand with high customer satisfaction scores and over 100 years of industry experience. Orkin offers custom flea extermination and protection plans tailored to fit your home’s needs.
FAQs About Flea Extermination
Is it expensive to get rid of fleas?
Flea extermination costs vary depending on numerous factors, but primarily on the infestation level and infestation location. If the infestation is bad enough, some treatments can be expensive, especially fumigation. However, fleas are less expensive to treat compared to most other invading pests.
How long does it take to get rid of a flea infestation?
When working with a pest control company, after the initial treatment, flea numbers drop considerably. However, it’s common to see fleas for one to two weeks while the stragglers die off.
How do professionals get rid of fleas in homes?
Professional pest control companies employ several methods for flea removal, including:
- Pesticidal sprays
- Heat and steam treatments
- Vacuuming
- Flea bombs
- Fumigation