Homeowners can expect to pay $394 for a visit from a rat exterminator. Depending on the size of the infestation and where it’s located in a home, you may spend between $176 and $614.
Professional rat extermination services will capture rats, seal up rodent entry points, and provide eradication treatment.
Rat extermination costs $80 for minor issues, but up to $1,500 for extreme options like fumigation.
Cost factors for removing a rodent infestation include the size and location of the rat problem, size of your home, and the method of extermination.
While minor rat problems can be handled with DIY traps, professionals have high-quality equipment to locate nests, pinpoint access points, and provide check-ups to ensure rats don’t return.
While the average cost of removing a rodent from your home is $394, prices can range from $176 and $614, depending on the infestation size and type, how difficult your rodent "hideouts" are to access, and where you live. Keep in mind that most pest control companies will deduct the cost of an inspection from your total bill.
Local rat exterminators typically offer several levels of service. Your price will increase as you select more thorough options that prevent rats from coming back, and include repairing any damage to your home.
The location of the rats affects extermination costs and overall labor. If rats have caused a lot of internal damage to insulation or ductwork, exclusion can quickly become very expensive.
Infestation Location | Cost Considerations |
---|---|
Shed or garage | Rats living in a shed or garage are the least expensive to remove because they’re easy to find, trap, and release. |
Attic and basement | If rats cause damage to your attic or basement, you’ll need to budget for the cost of repairs, such as replacing flooring or drywall. |
Walls | Wall infestations can require extra labor and additional fees for using thermal imaging equipment. |
Ductwork | Ductwork exterminations require extra work and specialized tools, adding to the cost, especially if parts of the ductwork need to be removed. |
Crawlspaces | Crawlspaces may lead to slightly higher costs since they require more labor to access than basements. |
The larger the rat problem, the longer inspections, exclusions and general extermination steps will take, which adds to the cost. A larger infestation requires more traps and bait stations, as well as more serious eradication methods, such as fumigation. Since rats can produce up to 6 litters each year, it’s important to catch an infestation early.
Square footage | Average Cost for Whole-House Options |
---|---|
1,000 square feet: | $1,000–$3,000 |
2,000 square feet: | $2,000–$6,000 |
3,000 square feet: | $3,000–$9,000 |
4,000 square feet: | $4,000–$12,000 |
The more rooms and spaces that a professional has to inspect for signs of rats, the more it will cost. If you choose exclusion services to seal and block any rodent-friendly entrances, bigger homes may also require more work. This is also why infestations limited to sheds, barns or other separate buildings will be significantly less expensive.If you choose an option like fumigation, you'll pay by square footage, usually between $1 and $3 per square foot.
Once you’ve confirmed signs of a rodent infestation, rat exterminators can approach your rodent infestation in several ways. Let’s look at common rat extermination methods, and how much exterminators charge for those services.
Pros of Live Removal | Cons of Live Removal |
---|---|
Minimal, quick labor | Charges per rat can be high, depending on infestation size |
Suitable for small infestations | Requires hands-on removal |
Saves money |
If you decide to use live traps, most exterminators will charge around $50 to transport each rat caught from your property. Exterminators charge for removal because they incur fuel and labor costs while traveling at least a mile from your home to send the rat to its new happily ever after.
Pros of Rat Exclusion | Cons of Rat Exclusion |
---|---|
Effective for in-home infestations | Significantly more expensive |
Sealing prevents rats from returning | Takes longer |
Exclusion can apply to other pests, too |
Many exterminators will seal off all entry points where rats can enter your home. The most common exclusion strategy is sealing holes. However, exclusion can also include screening crawl spaces, screening roof vents, repairing holes, and pruning back trees that serve as "stairs" into your home. The cost of exclusion is usually included in a rat removal service and ranges from $200 to $600.
Pros of Fumigation | Pros of Fumigation |
---|---|
Tackles large scale infestations throughout a building | Very expensive |
Eradicates rats that can’t be found otherwise | Use of toxic fumes in the home |
House must be vacated for a few days |
If your rat exterminator suggests fumigation, which is typically a last resort method for a severe and dangerous rat infestation, the typical cost is $1 to $3 per square foot. Similar to termite fumigation, your household members will likely need to leave the house for one to two days while the chemical fumigation does its job.
Most rat exterminators will arrange follow-up visits. They’ll want to check if there are any signs that more rats are on your property, such as new nests. If they laid bait or traps, pros examine the results and see if additional steps are needed. You can expect to pay around $50 to $150 for follow-up visits, which may be bundled in your estimate.
The above costs count for most rat extermination bills. But you may encounter other fees depending on the choices you make or what additional services you want to pay for. Let’s look at some common add-ons.
An inspection to confirm your suspicions regarding signs of mice and rats typically costs $100 to $200. During an inspection, the rat exterminator will determine the extent, location, and potential causes of your rat problem. Again, most exterminators will deduct your inspection costs if you sign on for extermination.
Preparation costs for rat extermination are minimal. The exterminator may ask you to clean up trash and seal away any food containers before an inspection. Otherwise, preparation won’t take much time and shouldn’t affect your expenses.
Rat extermination costs tend to be higher in cities, usually about $50 more because the rat exterminator will have to drive farther from the city to drop the rat off in its new home. Here are some average rodent removal costs from cities across the country:
City | Cost |
---|---|
Atlanta | $765 |
San Francisco | $516 |
Denver | $265 |
Portland, Oregon | $294 |
Pittsburgh | $192 |
New Orleans | $402 |
New York | $340 |
Rats make a big mess. They leave nests, gnawed materials, and large droppings even after they’ve been removed. That process takes significant cleanup, and usually requires protective equipment to avoid any potential bacteria or viruses, plus a thorough decontamination sweep afterward.
Rats can do a lot of damage. They can chew through wiring, destroy plumbing, and damage the structure of your home. These repairs can add a significant amount to the cost of dealing with an infestation. When rats cause damage, plumbing repair can cost $180 to $450; drywall repair can cost between $350 and $800; HVAC repair can cost between $75 and $1,200; and electrical repair can cost between $150 and $500. While rare, damage to your roof or water damage caused by leaks from rodent damage can cost tens of thousands.
While the cost of removing rats on your own isn't high, not everyone is successful with DIY rat extermination. But, if you have the stomach for it, it’s something you can attempt on your own. Keep in mind that you'll also need to purchase gloves and other protective gear for handling rats because they may harbor diseases. That’s also why it’s important to keep pets away from an infestation, even if they may want to “help.”
Live rat traps can cost between $5 and $20 each. Bait stations that use poison can cost between $5 and $15. DIY rat extermination means that you'll need to check the traps on your own. If you'd like to relocate the rats you collect, you'll need to fit this very unpleasant task into your schedule.
You can buy poison from home improvement stores and department stores. Rat poison packs or bait typically cost $20 to $30 each. Common brands include Tomcat™, Motomco™, Farnam™, and Neogen™.
However, we advise against using DIY poison for a few important reasons. First, rats aren’t like ants or termites that will return poison to a hive. They will die inside nests in your home.
Decomposing rat corpses create nasty odors and are notoriously difficult to find, plus they increase the risk of contamination from bacteria and other problems. Second, if a pet eats a dead poisoned rat, they may become very sick. Poison is best left to trained professionals while homeowners can look for ways to get rid of rats naturally.
Rat deterrents offer an environmentally-friendly alternative to poisons and are easier to manage than traps. However, there’s limited evidence that deterrents are effective, especially against determined rodents. You can spray ammonia, peppermint, or eucalyptus (among other scents) using homemade preparations for around $10.
Another rat-repellent option is an ultrasonic device, which is also largely unproven but may help protect small spaces like behind a stove. Ultrasonic noise emitters typically cost between $40 and $60.
Method | Average Cost |
---|---|
Live trap | $5–$20 |
Poison pack | $20–$30 |
Scent-based repellent | $10+ |
Ultrasonic noise emitter | $40–$60 |
Hire an exterminator if preventative measures and deterrents aren’t doing the job. We don’t recommend trying to handle a rat infestation yourself as you can put your safety and that of your family and pets at risk. If you see any signs of illness in the rats invading your home, call a professional right away.
If you need a professional rat exterminator but want to save as much money as you can, don’t skimp on service quality. Instead, keep these steps in mind:
Contact a professional early
Look for discounts
Seal 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’ve surveyed thousands of real Angi customers about their project costs to develop the pricing data you see, so you can make the best decisions for you and your home. We pair this data with research from 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.
Like any other animal, rats are attracted to food sources, water, and shelter. Clean up food messes right away, don’t leave pet food out, and secure your garbage to make your home less appealing. Fix leaky pipes and dripping faucets, and declutter spaces that rats might think to nest in.
The full process of using a rat exterminator can take several weeks. If you have a larger infestation, the exterminator may need to return several times to collect rats. The timeline of your rat eradication depends on the infestation size and type of treatment, so consult a rat exterminator to get an accurate estimate for your specific issue.
While you might want to cut corners by either borrowing or purchasing used live traps for catching rats, this can be dangerous because those traps could contain leftover viruses and bacteria that will enter your home. Always start fresh with new materials to avoid contamination.
The easiest way to determine whether you have rats or mice is to see the rodent. Mice are much smaller than any species of rats. It’s similar to comparing your thumb to your entire palm. As a result, rat nests are typically larger, too. But if you can’t see any pests or find their nests, telling them apart may be difficult without a professional inspection.
If you find droppings from the invading rodent, take a glance before you clean them up. Rat droppings are larger and rounder than mouse droppings (which are pointed).
If rats found a spot they liked to build a nest, then it’s possible more rats will show up or return to that same spot. That’s why it’s important to close off any access points rats may be using to get inside your home.