How much does pest control cost?

Short answer

Treating the perimeter of the house yourself costs $20 to $50 per treatment, for a concentrate of perimeter insecticide and a tube of sealant for gaps, and takes 30 to 60 minutes. A pest control service charges $50 to $150 per quarterly visit. The job comes every 3 months, so the yearly cost is a few treatments either way, and the DIY version with a pump sprayer does most of what the service does for a fraction of the price. The service earns its fee on the sealing and the diagnosis.

Cost breakdown

Both columns are per treatment. The DIY column is the insecticide concentrate, which makes several gallons of spray, and the sealant. A pump sprayer is a one-time purchase if you don't have one. The pro column is a quarterly visit with the spray, a check for entry points, and a look for signs of anything beyond the usual ants and spiders.

What drives the cost

• The service plan. A quarterly plan costs less per visit than a one-time call, and a plan that includes free call-backs between visits is worth the small premium.
• The house. A big house with a long perimeter, or heavy landscaping against the foundation, takes more product and more time.
• The pests. Ants, spiders and the usual crawlers are the low end. A specific problem like fleas, wasps or a rodent issue is a separate treatment and price.
• The product. A professional-grade concentrate costs more up front than a ready-to-use bottle but makes far more spray, so the per-treatment cost is lower.
• Climate. In a northern climate the winter treatment can be skipped, which drops the yearly cost by a visit.

DIY vs. pro

The perimeter spray is a straightforward DIY job and the money favors it: how often to do exterior pest control is every 3 months, and a pump sprayer with a concentrate along the foundation, around doors and windows, and at the places pipes enter the house takes an hour. Read the label, keep it off the garden, and keep pets and kids off the wet band until it dries.

Pay the $50 to $150 per visit when you'd rather not handle the chemicals, when the house has a problem the spray isn't fixing, or when a service's plan includes free call-backs and a termite check. A technician who finds the gap around the dryer vent that the ants are using has done more than a spray will.

FAQ

How much does quarterly pest control cost?

$50 to $150 per visit on a quarterly plan, depending on the house and the service.

Is DIY pest control effective?

For ants, spiders and the usual perimeter pests, yes. A concentrate in a pump sprayer along the foundation every 3 months does most of what a service does for $20 to $50 a treatment.

Is a pest control plan worth it?

If it includes free call-backs between visits and a check for entry points, often yes. Compare its yearly price to a few treatments done yourself.

Can I skip pest control in winter?

In most northern climates, yes. Insects aren't active, and the fall treatment carries through.