How Much Does Fumigation Cost?
Normal range: $3,125 - $6,375
Fumigation costs $4,750 on average, but it can cost between $1,500 and $8,000, depending on treatment type and the home's size.
When it's time to evict unwanted creepers and crawlers, fumigation costs usually range from $3,125 to $6,375. If unwanted pests have made themselves at home in your house, it’s likely time to fumigate and send them packing. If you're dealing with an alarming infestation, fumigation can eliminate bugs without the need for continued pest maintenance. Here's how much you should budget.
- Average
- $4,750
- Low end
- $1,500
- high end
- $8,000
Fumigation Cost Factors
Fumigation is a whole-house pest-mitigation option for serious infestations. Fumigation house costs vary based on the specifics of your infestation, including the following cost factors.
Insect Type
While some insects quickly skedaddle at the first hint of fumes, other pests only vacate the area after intensive labor and planning. Below is a table of the most common household pests and the average fumigation price.
| Insect Type | Average Fumigation Cost |
|---|---|
| Ants | $1,500–$4,000 |
| Bed bugs | $4,000–$3,000 |
| Bees | $1,500–$3,000 |
| Carpet beetles | $1,500–$5,500 |
| Cockroaches | $1,500–$1,700 |
| Dust mites | $1,500–$3,500 |
| Fleas | $1,500–$4,000 |
| Moths | $2,000–$3,500 |
| Mosquitoes | $1,500–$6,000 |
| Scorpions | $1,500–$2,500 |
| Silverfish | $2,000–$3,000 |
| Spiders | $2,000–$4,000 |
| Termites | $2,000–$8,000 |
| Ticks | $2,000–$6,000 |
| Wasps | $2,000–$3,000 |
| Wood-boring beetles | $1,700–$7,000 |
House Size
Fumigation costs can range from $1 to $4 per square foot. For a 2,000-square-foot home, you can expect to pay between $2,000 and $8,000. This cost range is significantly higher than single treatments for cockroaches, termites, and bed bug extermination because these pests require more labor and invasive treatment methods.
When shopping around for quotes for whole-house fumigation, confirm that the price includes labor, materials, prep, post-fumigation testing, and ventilation. You will not be able to enter your home to perform an inspection and clean-up following fumigation until the exterminator confirms the air quality is safe.
Duration and Frequency
Fumigations can last anywhere from a few hours to a week or more, depending on what kind of infestation you're dealing with, the size and structure of your home, and whether or not you need repeat treatments. The longer a fumigation takes, the larger your final bill will likely be. Repeat fumigations may also be necessary to eradicate pests from your property, and these will cost the same as the initial treatment and double or triple what you pay overall.
Preparation Work
Some homeowners hire landscapers to assist with preparing for fumigation. In order to properly tent your home, an exterminator needs full access to its perimeter. You will need to trim outdoor plants to be at least 12 inches away from your home's exterior.
Exterminators also need all rocks, gravel, bark, and landscaping mulch no closer than 12 inches away from the home's exterior. You'll need to remove any fencing attached to the home. Professional landscaping costs to assist with yard prep for fumigation cost $50 to $100 per hour.
Additional Fumigation Costs to Consider
Don’t forget to budget for the extra costs homeowners may face related to the disruptive nature of fumigation.
Hotel Accommodations
Homeowners must evacuate their homes for at least two nights while fumigation happens. While you may be able to lodge for free with nearby friends or family, checking into a hotel costs an average of $100 to $200 per night, depending on location and amenities.
It's important to budget for a few extra days beyond your projected return date. Once the exterminator removes the fumigation tent, you’ll need to ventilate your home. Your exterminator will check air quality to determine whether your home can be safely occupied. You won't get the green light to move back in until the test comes back with safe results.
Cleaning After Fumigation
Homeowners should thoroughly clean the home once they're permitted to move back in following fumigation. Your exterminator may recommend hiring a professional cleaning company for guaranteed best results. You can expect to pay around $30 to $50 per hour for a professional house cleaner.
Costs of Common Fumigation Add-Ons
While fumigation is a straightforward process without many add-on options, it's worth talking to your exterminator about using pest-control insulation to prevent future infestations. Professional installation of blown-in insulation costs between $980 and $2,200.
How to Save Money on Fumigation
Fumigation project costs can add up quickly, so it’s essential to find ways to save money along the way.
DIY landscaping: Performing your own prep work instead of hiring landscapers to remove shrubbery and landscaping features away from your home is an easy way to cut fumigation project costs.
Get quotes from multiple companies: Fumigation service costs are generally set in stone, but shopping around for quotes from different exterminators in your area can help you find the best rate.
Potential rebates: Finally, inquire about government rebates for installing new insulation when adding pest-control insulation to keep your home free of pests.
DIY vs. Hiring a Pro
Only a licensed exterminator can conduct fumigation. Exterminators have access to fumigation and tenting materials that are not available to the average homeowner. As mentioned above, the cost of hiring a local exterminator varies by the type of insect and the extent of the infestation. Contact a professional exterminator near you to request a price quote for your specific services.
When calculating the cost to bug bomb your home yourself, the major cost factor is a fogger that costs around $25 at home-improvement stores. However, using these "bug bomb" products risks dangers ranging from poisoning to fires. Improperly using foggers for DIY fumigation can result in death for both people and pets.
Cost of Fumigation Alternatives
Although often necessary, fumigation services require a big budget. Consider a handful of cost-effective pest control alternatives before resorting to such an extreme solution. Keep in mind that, like fumigation, these prices can vary greatly depending on the type of bug you're dealing with and the size and structure of your home.
| Treatment Type | Average Cost per Square Foot |
|---|---|
| Insecticide | $2–$4.50 |
| Heat | $1–$3 |
| Freeze | $3–$6 |
| Steam | $2–$7.50 |
If you’ve caught an infestation early, you may also be able to nip it in the bud with a few DIY pest control tricks, like laying out ant traps or spraying roach killer yourself instead of hiring a pro to do it for you.
When Fumigation Services Are Necessary
Sometimes, fumigation is the only way to truly rid your home of pests, especially when it comes to particularly invasive insects like termites and bed bugs. These bugs can cause structural damage to your home and furnishings, so it’s important to hire a fumigation expert near you when you notice them. In other instances, like when dealing with annoying but technically harmless critters like common ants, only consider fumigation after using all your other options, like DIY and heat treatments.
Scott Dylan Westerlund contributed to this article.
Frequently Asked Questions
Fumigation performed by licensed exterminators is safer and more effective than store-bought foggers. That’s because there are a lot of harmful substances and risky techniques used during such a service, and using or doing them without sufficient knowledge can put both you and your home in harm’s way. When in doubt, let a pro take care of tasks like this.
When professionally fumigating a home, clients typically need to be away from their homes for two to three days. However, depending on the type of infestation, the size of your home, and how it’s built, the entire process could take anywhere from a few hours to a week or more—not including repeat treatments. Be sure to ask whoever you hire what to expect so you can make the necessary accommodations in advance.
Fumigation is likely the only way to stop a severe pest infestation. When doing a cost analysis of fumigation, it's important to factor in the cost of potential pest damage. For instance, allowing termites and carpenter ants to linger in a home could result in thousands of dollars in structural damage.
Fumigation should fully eliminate pests in cases of severe infestation. By contrast, pest control seeks to reduce an infestation by either eliminating or deterring pests using isolated treatments. Fumigation is a powerful, whole-house pest-control option that you should only consider for extreme infestations or particularly invasive pests that could cause structural damage to your home or anything inside of it, like termites.