How Much Does a Rat Exterminator Cost in Baltimore, MD? [2025 Data]

In a city where steamed crabs and Berger cookies rule, Baltimore has never had a shortage of great food—or rats. From rowhouses with snug basements to alleyways lined with trash night after night, the city gives rodents ample space and sustenance to thrive. In Baltimore, MD, you can shell out around $311 for professional rat extermination, with most homeowners spending between $178 and $461 depending on the infestation’s size and location.

Rat Exterminator Cost Factors 

Extermination costs in Baltimore, MD, aren’t just about how many rats you’ve got; the city itself adds to the problem. Norway rats, the most common here, burrow through cracked sidewalks in Fells Point, lurk behind dumpsters in Hampden, and slip into Canton kitchens as if they own the place. 

Much of Baltimore’s housing stock consists of narrow rowhouses built long before modern codes, with crumbling brick foundations, shared walls, and tight alleyways that give rodents endless entry points. The environment doesn’t help either. With humid summers and relatively mild winters, rats don’t slow down for long. 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 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 can produce up to 6 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. 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 around $1 to $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

Most exterminators charge around $40 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 $158  to $473.

Fumigation Costs

If your rat exterminator suggests fumigation, a last resort method for a severe and dangerous rat infestation, expect to pay around $1 to $3 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 $40 to $120 for follow-up visits, which a pro may bundle in your estimate.

Extermination Pro Costs

Baltimore's cost of living runs about 1% higher than the national average; however, pest control services run roughly 21% below the national average. Then there's the state's 6% sales tax, which applies to pest control, meaning your rat-free rowhouse may cost a little more here than it would across the border in tax-free Delaware.

Additionally, most exterminators don't work by the hour; they charge flat fees or structured plans. A flat fee might cover one-time treatments for less severe pest infestations, but rats don’t fall into that category. Instead, Baltimore exterminators set up monthly or quarterly plans. The first visit carries the heaviest price tag, since it covers inspections, sealing entry points, and laying traps, while follow-ups keep the rat population under control.

Does Rat Extermination Increase Home Value?

Getting rid of rats protects your adobe's structure because they are known for nibbling on and clawing through walls and wires. Also, a rat-free inspection report carries real weight when it's time to sell. Buyers are more likely to make a higher offer on a Charles Village rowhouse if they know the basement isn't hiding a rat colony.

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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