How Much Does a Rat Exterminator Cost in Washington, D.C.? [2025 Data]

Professional rat extermination in Washington, D.C, costs $342 on average. However, you might spend between $185 and $501, depending on the size of your home and the extent and location of the infestation.

Washington, D.C., is known for being one of the most rat-filled cities in the country. Increasingly mild winters, poor trash practices, and copious amounts of construction work are all helping to push rat populations up. Being proactive with your pest management practices and setting aside funds for professional pest control are solid precautions.

Rat Exterminator Cost Factors 

While the size of your home and the extent of the infestation play the biggest role in rat exterminator costs in Washington, D.C., other factors also influence your final bill. For example, if you have a poorly-sealed historic Washington home and rats are nesting in the wall cavities, this tricky-to-access location could bump up costs.

Local rat exterminators offer several levels of service. Your price will increase if you select options to rodent-proof your home (sensible if you live next to one of the city’s long-standing construction sites) or need to address any damage to your home.

Infestation Location

The rats’ location affects extermination costs, and an inaccessible infestation means higher labor costs. Exclusion can quickly become expensive if rats are inside the walls or have caused internal damage to insulation or ductwork.

Infestation Size

The larger the rat problem, the longer inspections, exclusions, and extermination steps will take, which adds to the cost. A large infestation requires more traps, bait stations, and more serious eradication methods, such as fumigation. Since rats are prolific disease spreaders and can produce up to six litters each year, catching an infestation early is important.

Home Size

The more space a professional has to inspect for signs of rats, the more it will cost. The average home size in Washington, D.C., is 2,000 square feet. If you choose exclusion services to seal and block rodent-friendly entrances, bigger homes may require more work. This is also why infestations limited to sheds, barns, or other separate buildings will be significantly less expensive. Costs depend on the extermination method, but they average between $0.25 and $3 per square foot.

Cost of Rat Extermination Methods 

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.

Live Rat Removal Cost

If you want to get rid of rats without poison, most exterminators charge $55 to transport live rats 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 rats to their new happily ever after. 

Rat Exclusion

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 and roof vents, repairing holes, and pruning back trees that rats use as stairs into your home. The cost of exclusion ranges from $230 to $690.

Fumigation Costs

If your rat exterminator suggests fumigation, a last resort method for a severe and dangerous rat infestation, expect to pay $1.15 to $3.45 per square foot. This works out as $2,300 to $6,900 for the average Washington, D.C., home. Similar to termite fumigation, everyone will likely need to leave the house for one to two days while the chemical does its job.

Follow-Up Visits

Most rat exterminators will arrange follow-up visits to check for signs that more rats are on your property, such as new nests. If they laid bait or traps, pros examine the results and determine whether additional steps are needed. You can expect to pay $55 to $170 for follow-up visits, which a pro may bundle in your estimate. 

Extermination Pro Costs

Despite the cost of living in Washington, D.C., being significantly higher than the national average, labor wages are slightly lower. This is likely why you shouldn’t have to pay too much over the national average to hire a local rat exterminator. 

Professionals often charge a flat fee per visit, making it easier to budget than if they quoted hourly rates. Flat rate labor costs could be as little as $90 to remove one rat trapped in your attic, compared to $1,100 for some whole-house exclusion services.

Expect professionals to offer discounted rates for quarterly or annual services. These can provide peace of mind if you live in an area of the city that’s overrun by rats.

Does Rat Extermination Increase Home Value?

The cost of rat extermination in Washington, D.C., won’t offer the direct return on investment (ROI) that major makeovers, like a bathroom renovation or new roof, will. However, this investment can prevent your home from depreciating in value.

No one wants to purchase a property overrun with rodents—or at least not without a hefty discount. Taking steps to eradicate these pests and prevent them from coming back can make your home more appealing to potential buyers and help it sell faster. This is especially true for older homes, which can be easy targets for the high number of rats in the city. Plus, rapid rat extermination can prevent these rodents from causing extensive—and expensive—structural or wiring damage, as well as other problems that can be red flags on home inspection reports.

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 survey 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.