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

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.

Rat Exterminator Cost Factors 

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.

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 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.

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 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. 

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 $200 to $600.

Fumigation Costs

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.

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 $50 to $150 for follow-up visits, which a pro may bundle in your estimate.

Extermination Pro Costs

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.

Does Rat Extermination Increase Home Value?

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.

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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