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How Much Does Fumigation Cost? [2025 Data]
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.
How we get this data
Photo: Photographee.eu / Adobe Stock
Photo: Photographee.eu / Adobe Stock
Cost Insights
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.
Fumigation Cost Factors
Photo: Pixel-Shot / Adobe Stock
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.
Scope of Infestation
Naturally, it costs more to fumigate a large infestation that has spread to multiple parts of the house than a small, contained infestation. A severe infestation is also more likely to necessitate multiple visits for fumigation, which increases the cost. Wood-boring insects like ants and termites tend to cause large infestations because they reproduce quickly and travel throughout the house. Fumigation pros will assess the scope of the infestation upon arrival.
Preparation Work
Photo: yanadjan / Adobe Stock
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.
Household Spaces Most Commonly Affected by Pests
Most pest infestations occur on or around your home’s exterior. Garages, sheds, and attics make up over 20% of total pest control visits, while siding, roofs, and other exterior nooks and crannies account for nearly 37%.
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
Photo: Pixel-Shot / Adobe Stock
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.
Why You Should Hire a Fumigation Pro
Fumigation is a costly project that can only be handled by licensed local exterminators. Professionals have the training, PPE, and equipment necessary to handle toxic gases, tenting materials, and post-treatment air testing, which are too dangerous to DIY.
Here’s why it’s ideal to hire a fumigation pro
Fumigation is a complex process that requires specialized knowledge, safety protocols, and professional-grade equipment. Here’s why hiring a pro is essential:
Only licensed professionals are legally allowed to perform fumigation services.
Pros ensure your home is properly tented, sealed, and ventilated before and after treatment.
Exterminators have access to fumigation and tenting materials that are not available on the DIY level.
Exterminators know how to target specific pest infestations, such as termites and bed bugs.
If you want to DIY fumigation
Fumigation isn’t something an untrained DIYer can complete, but here few DIY-friendly tasks to potentially save on labor costs:
Use caulk, foam sealant, or steel mesh to block potential points of pest entry and prevent future infestations (note that professionals will find spots that most DIYers overlook)
Use small-scale pest control methods like traps or sprays for minor infestations
Clean and declutter before fumigation to make the process more efficient
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.
Fumigation vs. Pest Control
Fumigation is often referred to as pest control, but there are differences between the two. Fumigation is a pest control method where gaseous pesticides called fumigates eliminate pests in cases of severe infestation. By contrast, pest control is a more general service that utilizes various methods to eliminate pests, including bait, traps, and physical removal. Pest control can be a short-term or long-term service, and it often aims to prevent infestations from occurring in the future.
The type and severity of your infestation indicate whether it’s best to call fumigation or pest control. Fumigation is a powerful, whole-house pest-control option that you should only consider for extreme infestations or particularly invasive pests, like termites, that could cause structural damage to your home or anything inside of it. For less severe issues, pest control is likely the way to go.
Next Steps: Finalize Your Project With a Pro
Ask your exterminator whether the estimate includes prep, tenting, ventilation, and air-quality testing.
Discuss your options for monthly or annual pest control visits to prevent future infestations.
Confirm safety procedures and post-fumigation cleanup recommendations before scheduling your service.
How Angi Gets Its Cost Data
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 [email protected]. Quotes and personal information will not be shared publicly.
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