The cost to bug bomb your house averages $100, but can cost from $50 to $75, depending on the size your home and the type of infestation.
Bug bombs, also known as insect foggers, can be highly effective in getting rid of a pest problem. They're great for killing pests that aren't responding to common insecticides and are a good choice for cluttered or hard-to-reach areas, like basements or attics. The average cost to bug bomb a house is $100. Most homeowners spend $50 to $75 for a 2,000-square-foot space. What you pay depends on how many rooms you plan to treat, the bug type, and which products you use. On average, you can save 25% to 40% by taking on the project yourself instead of hiring a pro.
As an average, the Environmental Protection Agency recommends using one 6-ounce bug bomb per room up to 25-by-25 feet. This can vary slightly depending on the type of bug infestation you have and the location of the infestation.
Most consumer-use foggers come in aerosol form and are available at big box stores for under $30, often ranging from $10 to $35 for a 6-ounce fogger. Buying a pack of multiple foggers will save you money, especially if you end up needing to fumigate a room more than once.
| Room Size (Square Feet) | Number of Bug Bombs Needed | Average Cost |
|---|---|---|
| 400 | 1 | $10 – $35 |
| 625 | 1 – 2 | $10 – $70 |
| 1,000 | 2 – 3 | $20 – $105 |
| 2,000 | 3 – 4 | $40 – $140 |
You can use different bug bombs for whatever insect is invading your space. Both the severity and the location of the infestation will determine which version you'll need for your house and, consequently, the cost. Although there’s no shortage of bugs in the world, here are the insects more likely to invade your home.
Few things make people cringe as much as spotting a cockroach scurrying across the floor. There are a few methods to get rid of cockroaches. When it comes to using bug bombs or foggers, it’s best to find ones that contain pyrethroids as the active ingredient, including Cypermethrin or Permethrin. These cost $10 to $35 per 6-ounce canister.
Ants are some of the most annoying pests—and often difficult to get rid of. While you usually spot ants inside your home in places like the kitchen, the central nest is almost always built outside. Using bug bombs where you see them will typically provide a temporary solution.
Using ant baits can be a more effective treatment. They’ll feed on the baits and then carry the poison back to the nest, helping to eliminate the colony. You can find ant baits at common retailers for $5 to $15 for a pack, bringing the total cost combined with a bug bomb to $15 to $50 for a small infestation.
While spiders are generally helpful creatures that are good for the environment, they can invade locations where they don’t belong—like your home. There are several spider-specific bug bombs and foggers on the market that can be effective in ridding an area of the creepy-crawlies. These may cost slightly more than a standard bug bomb, ranging from $20 to $50.
The cost to hire a pest control company is usually $200 to $600 per visit on average, with the final cost depending on how big of an infestation you have. Some pest removal services will require several visits to eradicate the problem completely, so be prepared to spend up to $1,200 in certain instances.
If you don't have the time or inclination to tackle a pest problem yourself or the infestation is too large, calling a professional exterminator near you will be your best bet. Pros have the experience and equipment to remedy most insect situations and can often use more potent products than what’s available to the average consumer.
Hiring an exterminator to bug bomb your home will cost anywhere from 25% to 40% more than trying to DIY the problem. But when we're talking about a severe infestation in your basement, a pro may be worth the extra cost.
Bug bombing and fumigation are both methods for dealing with pests, but they work quite differently. Bug bombs spray a pesticide mist into the air, settling on surfaces and killing bugs on contact. They’re a great solution for smaller pest problems and to target specific areas that may be hard to reach.
Meanwhile, fumigation is a thorough process that involves sealing off an entire building and filling it with a gas pesticide to get into every nook and cranny. It’s very effective for major pest problems and can wipe out peskier critters (see: termites and bedbugs). However, you’ll need to find a local fumigation company to do the job, and it requires you to leave your home for a while.
Also, fumigation is much costlier. While bug bombing costs around $100 on average, fumigation can cost $1,000 to $3,000 for an average home, which includes the cost of hiring a pro.
| Bug Bomb | Fumigation |
|---|---|
| Pesticide mist | Gas pesticide that fills entire home |
| Easy to DIY | Professional service required |
| Best for minor-to-moderate infestations | Ideal for severe infestations |
| Costs $50 – $75 | Costs $1,000 – $3,000 |
There are several steps you can take to help prevent pest infestations in the future. These include:
Fill in any cracks or holes in the foundation with compacting cement or mortar.
Apply outdoor silicone sealant in any gaps in wood or siding.
Remove any long grass or weeds near the foundation, as these can be a breeding ground for pests.
Take out trash regularly and use sealed garbage bins to minimize attractions for pests.
Spray a pesticide protectant generously around the perimeter of your home to create a barrier.
Consumer-brand foggers or bug bombs are considered safe overall. Still, it's essential to read the instructions carefully as the vacating time varies depending on the type of bug bomb you use. Most of the time, it's advised that all humans and pets are out of the area for at least two to four hours after initiating the fogger process. It's also a good idea to vent the space by cracking open some windows for several hours after you're back inside.
Foggers work best on insects out in the open, such as ants. Insects that tend to hide, including bed bugs, are less susceptible to the bombs and will likely need to be dealt with in another manner.
Your household members and pets should remain out of the house for at least two to four hours after using a bug bomb. However, you should adhere to the product’s safety guidelines, as well as any professional guidance from an exterminator.
Bug bombs do not typically eradicate a pest infestation completely. The bug bomb chemicals cannot reach into the small cracks and crevices that pests like to live in, so it may not reach every live bug. It’s much more effective to hire a professional pest control company to perform a home fumigation, removing the infestation fully.
Yes, you will need to scrub every surface in your home after using a bug bomb to remove the chemical residue. You’ll need to scrub everything with soapy water at least two times, better yet three times, to enhance the protection of your furniture and other home items.
