Pest control costs depend on your project and location. Check with a local pro for your specific job.
Rat exterminator costs in Boston, MA, are similar to the national averages.
Boston has always had a problem with rats, but populations have increased since the pandemic.
You're more likely to have to pay for a rat exterminator if you own an old Bostonian Brownstone or have poor trash practices.
Removal costs depend on your home’s size, the rats’ nest location, and ease of access.
Rat extermination in Boston, MA, costs $386 on average. That said, you’ll likely spend anywhere from $283 to $502, depending on factors like the severity of the infestation, ease of access to the nest, and the treatment type the pros use. While being proactive with your pest management practices can help to keep rodents at bay, putting aside funds for professional pest control is a smart strategy.
In Boston, MA, the size of your home and how deep the rat problem runs are the biggest factors when it comes to exterminator costs, but they’re far from the only ones. For example, do you have an old Beacon Hill Brownstone with rats burrowing into the 19th-century wall cavities? That kind of hard-to-reach infestation can drive your bill up fast.
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 in a rat-prone district, like Back Bay) that prevent rats from coming back or need to address any damage to your home.
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 Location | Cost Considerations |
|---|---|
| Shed or garage | Least expensive to remove, easy to find, trap, and release. |
| Attic and basement | Need to budget for repairs (replacing flooring or drywall) |
| Walls | Requires extra labor and additional fees for thermal imaging equipment |
| Ductwork | Requires extra work and specialized tools |
| Crawlspaces | Slightly higher costs, more labor to access than basements |
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.
| Infestation Size | Average Cost Range |
|---|---|
| Small | $100–$500 |
| Moderate | $250–$1,500 |
| Large | $1,000–$8,000 |
The more space a professional has to inspect for signs of rats, the more it will cost. The average home size in Boston, MA, is 1,800 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 average between $0.25 and $3 per square foot.
| Square Feet | Cost |
|---|---|
| 1,000 | $250–$3,000 |
| 2,000 | $500–$6,000 |
| 3,000 | $750–$9,000 |
| 4,000 | $1,000–$12,000 |
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 |
| Suitable for small infestations | Requires hands-on removal |
If you want to get rid of rats without poison, most exterminators charge around $50 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.
| Pros of Rat Exclusion | Cons of Rat Exclusion |
|---|---|
| Effective for in-home infestations | Significantly more expensive |
| Prevents rats from returning | Takes longer |
| Can apply to other pests | Not foolproof |
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 $200 to $600.
| Pros of Fumigation | Cons 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 |
| Fast-acting | Must vacate the house |
If your rat exterminator suggests fumigation, a last resort method for a severe and dangerous rat infestation, expect to pay $1 to $3 per square foot. This works out to $1,800 to $5,400 for the average Boston, MA, home. Similar to termite fumigation, everyone will likely need to leave the house for one to two days while the chemical does its job.
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 $50 to $150 for follow-up visits, which a pro may bundle in your estimate.
Even though Boston’s cost of living sits well above the national average, construction labor wages are 5% lower than median rates. That means hiring a rat exterminator in Boston shouldn’t completely drain your wallet—at least, not more than you’d expect in a city where rats run rampant.
Most pros in Boston charge a flat fee per visit, which makes budgeting a whole lot simpler than dealing with hourly rates. You might pay around $175 to get rid of a roof rat that has found its way into your attic, while a full-home exclusion job could run you closer to $800.
If you live near a long-standing construction site, consider investing in a quarterly or annual service plan. Many exterminators offer discounted rates for regular visits, which can be a smart choice if you’re in one of Boston’s more rat-prone neighborhoods.
Rat extermination in Boston might not deliver the same return on investment (ROI) as a new bathroom or a roof replacement, but don’t underestimate its value. Keeping your home rodent-free can protect its market appeal. This matters even more in Boston’s older homes, which are prime real estate for the city’s thriving rat population.
Plus, acting fast can save you from pricey damage. Rats love to chew through wires, insulation, and even structural wood—repairs that can tank your inspection report and drive up rat exterminator costs.
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.
Rodent Control Inc provided exceptional service when I had a persistent rodent problem in my attic. Their technicians were highly knowledgeable and thorough, conducting a comprehensive inspection and sealing entry points to prevent future infestations. They were professional and ensured I...
Rodent Control IncAs the Director of Facilities for a 500+ unit apartment complex, I annually reassess our expenditures to ensure efficiency. This year, we opted for Discreet Pest And Wildlife Services due to their competitive pricing structure. The technician provided a tailored plan, understanding our...
Discreet Pest and Wildlife Services, Inc.MandyK Solutions has helped me in a way I am very grateful for. Being a full time student and having a part time job makes it difficult to do any house chores and keep my place organized. I felt like I had lost control, and I was very stressed with the situation of not having a routine to...
Cats Cleaning SolutionsHad regular service setup paying NW Pest Control $50/visit to put down poison. Canceled service in March of 2016 to cut down costs and now they want $100/visit if I want to initiate service again.
NW Pest Control IncI have to say Home Advisor gave me top guys in their field. I talked with three of them and one was just as good as the other. I did hire Jose Landscaping and these guys came on time worked professional had all the latest equipment and as far as the tree stump they had a grinder that did...
I'm surprised to see so many positive reviews on here, perhaps we're an outlier in some way. Today, I cancelled the service and when asked why replied: "We've been underwhelmed by the thoroughness of the work, it seems that treatments involve someone showing up for 10 minutes to check one of...
Yankee Pest Control Inc.Expensive, ineffective and rude. Home office very difficult to deal with, act as if they are doing you a favor. They quit and left us in the lurch as soon as faced with a garden infestation they could not get under control. We replaced them within an hour with a fantastic alternative. There...
We pay this company $600 a year to protect, repair, and replace our home and appliances. The deal is that we report issues to them and they send local contractors to our home to assess the problem and issue a report so that American Home Shield can determine the best course to resolve issue....
American Home Shield – Home WarrantyBurning plastic smell came out from the air duct late one day, so we shut off the HVAC and called Falite the next morning. <br /> They send a technician out on the first day to assess the damage, gave me a run down on the potential cause of the burnt control board, and provided some rough...
Falite Bros., Inc.For a long time we have had an odor in our entire, historical building. We thought it could be a dead rodent in the heating system, because it was coming through the vent. We had several different companies come out, including a pest control and environmental company. It ended up being a...
BOSTON DRAIN COMPANYFrom average costs to expert advice, get all the answers you need to get your job done.
Whether bugs, bats, or rodents invade your home, you’ll want to contact an exterminator quickly. Find out how much pest control costs in Boston, MA.
Find out the average wildlife removal cost in Boston, MA. Learn what you can expect to pay for local animal removal services and keep your home safe.
Keep your home free of termites and the damage they do. Learn more about inspections, infestations, and the average cost of termite treatments in Boston, MA.
Adopting a holistic approach to getting rid of rats naturally is a safe, effective, humane, and environmentally friendly way to rid yourself of these pests.
If you’re wondering if rat poison can kill humans, the answer is yes (although it’s rare). Here’s how to keep your family safe while keeping rats in check.
Signs of rats include gnaw marks, scratching and scurrying noises, droppings, and more. Learn how to spot an infestation and when to hire an exterminator.
