How Much Does a Rat Exterminator Cost in Atlanta? [2025 Data]

Normal Range: $442 - $1,138

Homeowners in Atlanta, GA, can expect to pay $786 for a visit from a rat exterminator. Depending on the infestation size and location in the home, you may spend between $442 and $1,138.

How we get this data
The interior of an eclectic dining room on a sunny day
Photo: FollowTheFlow / Adobe Stock
The interior of an eclectic dining room on a sunny day
Photo: FollowTheFlow / Adobe Stock
Highlights
  • Rat exterminators will identify the location of the infestation, eliminate the rodents, and seal up entry points to prevent reinfestation.

  • At $2.10 to $6.40 per square foot, hiring a rat exterminator in Atlanta for fumigation services is pricier than the national average.

  • Repairs to rat-damaged areas of your home could cost between $160 and $2,540.

No one wants to find rats in their home. However, if you do find them, it’s essential to treat the problem immediately. Rat exterminator costs in Atlanta range from $442 to $1,138, with many homeowners paying an average of $786. The precise cost of eliminating rats from your home depends on the infestation size, location, and treatment method required. Learn more about these factors and how they can affect your costs.

Rat Exterminator Cost Factors 

Hiring a rat exterminator in Atlanta, GA, can vary in price due to several factors. To begin, local rat exterminators offer several levels of service. Your price will increase if you select options that prevent rats from coming back or 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 LocationCost Considerations
Attic or basementRat removal can cost more due to the potential repairs needed in these locations.
Crawl spaceCrawl spaces are difficult to access, which can drive up the cost of rat removal.
DuctworkRat infestations in ductwork are hard to tackle and require specialized tools; the exterminator may need to remove parts of the ductwork.
Shed or garageExpect to pay less to exterminate rats from a shed or garage due to easy access.
WallsExterminators may need to use thermal imaging equipment to locate an infestation in your walls, which can increase the cost.

Infestation Size

6 items that attract mice and rats compared visually
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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 can produce up to 6 litters each year, catching an infestation early is important.

Home Size

The average home size in Atlanta is 2,187 square feet, which is relatively large. The more space a professional has to inspect for signs of rats, the more it will cost.

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. For fumigation, you'll pay $2.10 to $6.40 per square foot. Here are some average costs for whole-house rat extermination in Atlanta based on home size.

Square FootageAverage Cost for Whole-House Options in Atlanta
1,000 square feet$2,120–$6,360
2,000 square feet$4,240–$12,720
3,000 square feet$6,360–$19,080
4,000 square feet$8,480–$25,440

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

Pros of Live RemovalCons of Live Removal
Minimal, quick laborCharges per rat can be high
Suitable for small infestationsRequires hands-on removal

Most exterminators charge around $110 to transport each live 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. 

Rat Exclusion

Pros of Rat ExclusionCons of Rat Exclusion
Effective for in-home infestationsSignificantly more expensive
Prevents rats from returningTakes longer
Can apply to other pests

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 $420 to $1,270.

Fumigation Costs

Pros of FumigationCons of Fumigation
Tackles large-scale infestations throughout a buildingVery expensive
Eradicates rats that can’t be found otherwiseUse of toxic fumes in the home
Must vacate the house

If your rat exterminator suggests fumigation, a last resort method for a severe and dangerous rat infestation, expect to pay $2.10 to $6.40 per square foot. 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 around $110 to $320 for follow-up visits, which a pro may bundle in your estimate. 

Extermination Pro Costs

Hiring a pest control pro in Atlanta can give you peace of mind that no rodents are left in your home. Although you might be tempted to set a few traps and hope for the best, you may be left with uncaught rats that will continue to cause issues in your home. The following factors will impact how much you’ll pay to hire a pro for rat extermination.

Labor

Although the cost of living in Atlanta is 4% lower than the national average, rat exterminator costs are significantly higher than the national average. The labor cost for this service will depend on whether it’s an emergency or whether it can be scheduled several days to a few weeks in advance. Different exterminators have varying ways of charging for labor, including per project, per rat, or per hour. Ask your pro about their labor costs before you sign a contract.

Inspection

A pest inspection allows your exterminator to determine the location and extent of the infestation, so you’ll get a realistic quote for completing the job. A rat inspection costs between $210 and $420, though your exterminator might waive this fee if you hire them to remove the critters.

Cleanup and Repairs

Rats can chew through drywall and electrical wiring, destroy pipes, and leave a huge mess in their wake. Once the rat problem has been eliminated, you must budget for cleanup and repairs.

A pro can thoroughly clean your home to remove any evidence of rats—and they can eliminate nasty bacteria or viruses left behind by the rodents. The following table lists the average costs to repair areas of your home that may have sustained rat damage.

Type of RepairAverage Cost in Atlanta
Drywall repair$740–$1,700
Electrical repair$320–$1,060
HVAC repair$160–$2,540
Plumbing repair$380–$950

Does Rat Extermination Increase Home Value?

Rat extermination isn’t the type of project that will add value to your home. However, failing to take care of a rat problem could decrease your home’s value. The longer you have a rat problem, the more issues you’ll have when you try to sell your home.

Contact an exterminator immediately if you notice any signs of a rat infestation, like droppings, gnaw marks, nests, or footprints. Ignoring these signs will let the rats multiply and cause expensive damage to your home. And if you don’t fix those problems before you list your home, you’ll have trouble securing an offer.

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. 

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