Bed bug extermination typically costs between $1,000 and $4,000. Larger buildings that require fumigation could push the price up to $6,200.
There’s no doubt about it—bed bugs are a nightmare. The average bed bug treatment cost is $2,500, but services range from $1,000 to $4,000. The cost of bed bug extermination varies based on your infestation level. However, the cost can range widely from $350 to $6,200 based on factors like location, severity, and your preferred extermination method.
While bed bugs are definitely a common problem, no two infestations are quite the same, so your cost will depend on a few factors.
Extermination costs around $200 to $400 per room or around $4 to $7.50 per square foot. More rooms and square footage to cover calls for more time and supplies, increasing your cost. The following costs reflect a single professional bed bug treatment.
| Number of Rooms | Cost |
|---|---|
| 1 bedroom | $300–$650 |
| 2 bedrooms | $700–$1,000 |
| 3 bedrooms | $1,050–$1,450 |
| Whole Home | $1,500–$6,200 |
Bed bug treatment costs range from between $270 and $775 per room for chemical treatments to over $50,000 to fumigate a large building with a severe infestation. You'll pay more for non-chemical methods like steam or heat.
| Treatment Type | Cost | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Heat treatment | $1–$3 per square foot | Chemical-free and affordable option |
| Fumigation | $4–$8 per square foot | Best for heavy infestation; potentially harmful to pets and people |
| Chemicals and pesticides | $2–$5 per square foot | Requires professional application; potentially harmful to pets and people |
| Steam | $2–$7.50 per square foot | Targeted attack that penetrates deep into fibers; requires multiple treatments |
| Sniffing dogs | $300–$600, plus removal cost | Reserved for commercial businesses; only detection method |
| Freezing | $3–$6 per square foot | Chemical-free option for spaces vulnerable to heat damage |
Exterminators may need to make multiple visits at a rate of about $415 to $625 each visit. An initial inspection costs $75 to $200, and a follow-up appointment about four to six weeks after your first extermination service is also about $75 to $225. Some infestations require two to three visits, and serious bed bug infestations may require quarterly, monthly, or even semi-monthly treatments.
| Number of Visits | Total Average Cost |
|---|---|
| One-Time | $750–$950 |
| Quarterly | $1,700–$2,300 |
| Monthly | $4,700–$6,800 |
| Semi-Monthly | $5,100–$7,800 |
While an average extermination service for bed bugs costs around $1,000 to $2,500, a more serious case can cost $4,000 to $6,000. Severe infestations take more time and resources to eradicate, which will drive up costs.
| Infestation Severity | Average Cost |
|---|---|
| Mild | $100–$1,000 |
| Moderate | $1,000–$2,500 |
| Severe | $4,000–$6,000 |
Apartment buildings can be hot spots for bed bugs to spread from unit to unit, and extermination costs can be three times higher in areas with lots of apartments, like major cities. Factors such as local labor rates, supply prices, and general cost of living can also all affect your final bill.
Many pros will charge an additional fee for each piece of furniture that needs to get treated. But if the infestation is severe, you may not be able to save that mid-century modern chair you found on the side of the road. In fact, you could spend more to remove the furniture, plus the cost of replacing it.
While it’s a good idea to address a potential infestation ASAP, an emergency call for immediate treatment may cost an additional $200 to $500. Most pros won’t make homeowners wait more than a few days, but either way, vacating the room or even the home until service providers arrive will save money on your bill.
For repeated infestations or preventative maintenance, regular visual inspections go for $65 to $200. Many pest control services will also offer free visual inspections. More in-depth inspections may employ trained dogs to sniff out bed bugs, costing between $300 and $600 for the average home.
If you’re trying to kill bed bugs instantly by yourself, DIY bed bug extermination methods can cost less than $100 and include “fogger bombs” and bed bug treatment kits. You can also consider purchasing a steamer for a few hundred dollars if you prefer to avoid fumigation chemicals. All of these should be used with caution and ideally after talking to a professional.
If you choose to treat bed bugs yourself, there are a few things that you must do to ensure the removal of bed bugs. If not done properly, the bed bugs will simply find another place in your home to dwell.
Vacuum your whole home thoroughly a few times. Be sure to empty the dirt canister into garbage bags and promptly remove it from your home. Besides all of the flooring, you’ll need to vacuum bed mattresses, bed frames, nightstands, wall seams, and every crevice you can find. Wash the dust cup with hot, soapy water to kill any remaining bed bugs and larvae.
Wash bedding in the washing machine with hot water, and dry it on a hot cycle. Or, if you can, consider replacing your old bedding with new.
Place pillows in a plastic bag and into the freezer. Again, consider replacing it if possible.
Note that these fixes only help remedy a small bed bug infestation. There is a good chance that these steps will not solve a more significant problem.
That said, calling in a local pro to exterminate bed bugs is the much wiser route. Exterminating bed bugs on your own requires lots of planning, preparation, and research, and you can't always be sure that you've chosen the right method to kick them out for good based on your infestation and home type.
Plus, you may end up spending more time and money in the long run if you don’t catch every bug because, with every passing day, the infestation can grow. It’s best to leave this one to the pros so you have a good night without any bed bug bites.
You should call a professional bed bug exterminator when you spot a large quantity of bed bugs in one area. An increase in the visible bed bugs population is a huge red flag indicating a growing infestation. Aside from seeing bed bugs or their shed skins, you should also hire a pro to eliminate your bed bug problem if you notice other warning signs of these pests, including clustered bites on skin and blood stains on or under your mattress.
Minor infestations that are caught early are more cost-effective to treat, so it’s important to stay on the lookout for the telltale signs. If professional treatment isn’t in the budget (though again, it really is the best route!), you can also try DIY bed bug treatments:
Add protective mattress covers or bed bug interceptors
Throwing away all affected items
Wash sheets and clothes on high heat to kill live bugs
Use pesticide strips or contact sprays to remove minor infestation
Use a prefabricated bed bug removal kit to treat minor infestation
If you suspect you’re dealing with a bed bug infestation, here’s what to look out for:
Bed bug bites that are small and red, typically occurring in clusters and causing a burning itch
Blood stains on the sheets
Dark or rust-colored spots on your mattress, or wherever bed bugs are hiding
A sweet, musty, berry-like odor
Bugs that look like bed bugs, with brown or reddish-brown bodies that are oval-shaped and about 1/4 inch long
Here are the steps to getting rid of bed bugs:
Get your home evaluated to determine infestation size.
Follow your exterminator's advice to contain the infestation.
Discuss the right extermination method.
Make plans to evacuate your home during treatment if necessary.
Return to a bug-free home.
Bed bugs happen, even in the cleanest homes. While there’s no foolproof bed bug prevention plan, here’s how to avoid inviting them in:
Inspect beds during travel and avoid leaving clothing or luggage on beds.
Avoid secondhand furniture if possible, but be sure to inspect any items that you do bring into your home.
Wash secondhand clothing and linens immediately.
Use a protective cover on your mattress.
Vacuum and wash your linens regularly.
Perform regular furniture inspections.
Have a pro regularly inspect your home.
Home is the most important place on earth, which is why Angi has helped more than 150 million homeowners transform their houses into homes they adore. To help homeowners with their next project, Angi provides readers with the most accurate cost data and upholds strict editorial standards. We extensively research project costs to develop the pricing data you see, so you can make the best decisions for you and your home. We rely on reputable sources, including the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, academic journals, market studies, and interviews with industry experts—all to ensure our prices reflect real-world projects.
Want to help us improve our cost data? Send us a recent project quote to costquotes@angi.com. Quotes and personal information will not be shared publicly.
The answer varies. Some infestations may get taken care of in one treatment, while others may require two to four in a row, or even monthly or semi-monthly visits over the course of a year. The best way to get rid of bed bugs quickly is to investigate and treat at the first sign of bed bugs and not to let it wait.
Bed bugs do not always go away after one treatment. A small case may be a one-and-done deal, but many infestations need about two to four visits within about six weeks to fully eradicate the pests in your home. It’s critical to stick to your treatment plan to ensure any existing eggs don’t hatch and create a new infestation.
Most bed bug infestations require two to four treatments within a three- to six-week span to eliminate. For smaller infestations in a less-than-average-sized home, you may only need one inspection visit plus one treatment visit. For severe cases or large homes, you may need quarterly, monthly, or semi-monthly visits from an exterminator.
While you don’t have to fully evacuate your home after a bed bug treatment, you will have to stay out of the treated rooms (or the whole home) for at least four to five hours after treatment. In most cases, you can return to sleeping on your existing mattress and use your existing furniture, but it’s best to confirm this with a bed bug pro.
