If you need to get rid of bugs and pests making your home unsafe, it's time to decide if fumigation is necessary. Learn more about average fumigation costs.
How Much Does a Rat Exterminator Cost in Detroit? [2025 Data]
Normal Range: $151 - $410
Homeowners in Detroit, MI, can expect to pay $266 for a visit from a rat exterminator. Depending on the infestation size and location in the home, you may spend between $151 and $410.
How we get this data
FollowTheFlow / Adobe Stock Photography
FollowTheFlow / Adobe Stock Photography
Highlights
Expect to pay around $40 per rat to transport live rats from your Detroit home.
Fumigation services cost between $0.74 and $2.22 per square foot in Detroit.
Local pros will charge more for emergency services, though they may waive their inspection fees if you hire them for extermination.
No one wants to see rats in their home. Rat extermination in Detroit, MI, costs between $151 and $410, with local homeowners paying an average of $266. The exact cost of this service will hinge on your home’s square footage, the location and extent of the infestation, and the treatment method used. Learn about these and other factors impacting rat extermination costs to determine a realistic budget.
Rat Exterminator Cost Factors
Rat extermination in Detroit, MI, depends on several factors. To start, 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 Location | Cost Considerations |
|---|---|
| Attic or basement | Rat infestations in a finished attic or basement will cost more to remove than one in an unfinished space. |
| Crawl space | Your home’s crawl space is difficult to access, which means exterminating rats in this area will cost more in labor. |
| Ductwork | Rats can be difficult to find in ductwork. An exterminator may need specialized tools to locate the infestation, which will increase the cost. |
| Shed or garage | Sheds and garages are usually unfinished, which makes finding and exterminating rats easier (and cheaper). |
| Walls | Exterminators may need thermal imaging equipment to find rats hidden in your walls, which can add extra expense to the project. |
Infestation Size
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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
Detroit homes average 1,521 square feet of living space. You can expect to pay between $740 and $4,440 for whole-house rat extermination services. In general, 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 $0.74 to $2.22 per square foot.
| Home Size | Average Cost for Whole-House Options in Detroit |
|---|---|
| 1,000 square feet | $740–$2,220 |
| 2,000 square feet | $1,480–$4,440 |
| 3,000 square feet | $2,220–$6,660 |
| 4,000 square feet | $2,960–$8,880 |
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 Removal | Cons of Live Removal |
|---|---|
| Minimal, quick labor | Charges per rat can be high |
| Suitable for small infestations | Requires hands-on removal |
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
| 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 |
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 $150 to $440.
Fumigation Costs
| 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 |
| Must vacate the house |
If your rat exterminator suggests fumigation, a last resort method for a severe and dangerous rat infestation, expect to pay $0.70 to $2.22 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 $110 for follow-up visits, which a pro may bundle in your estimate.
Extermination Pro Costs
Hiring a local Detroit pest control company means you can be certain your rat problems are over. Pros will ensure every last rat is gone from your home and shore up your house to prevent future infestations. However, this expertise comes at a cost. Learn more about the main factors that affect extermination pro costs in Detroit, MI.
Labor
Detroit’s cost of living is around 3% higher than the national average, so your labor costs will likely be relatively reasonable. Ask your exterminator whether they charge per hour, per project, per day, or using a flat fee. And if you need emergency or immediate rat extermination, you’ll pay a premium for a rapid response.
Inspection
A rat inspection costs between $70 and $150 in the Detroit area. This should be the initial step a pro takes before recommending treatment. During the inspection, the exterminator will look for signs of rats in your home to confirm the extent of the infestation and its severity. The company may waive the inspection fees if you hire them for extermination services.
Cleanup and Repairs
Rats leave a mess, including nests, droppings, and gnawed objects in their wake. They can also carry leptospirosis, hantavirus, salmonellosis, and rat-bite fever. After the exterminator has removed all rats from your home, you’ll need to clean and sanitize the areas where the rats were to prevent illness. You can save money by doing this cleaning yourself, but you might have better peace of mind if you hire a professional cleaner.
Additionally, you may need to hire several pros to repair any damage caused by the rats to drywall, wiring, plumbing, and HVAC ducts. The following table shows the average costs of these repairs in Detroit.
| Type of Repair | Average Cost in Detroit |
|---|---|
| Drywall | $260–$590 |
| Electrical | $110–$370 |
| HVAC | $60–$890 |
| Plumbing | $130–$330 |
Does Rat Extermination Increase Home Value?
Rat extermination services won’t increase your home’s value, but they can prevent loss of value. An untreated rat problem will be incredibly off-putting for potential buyers. Even if the infestation isn’t obvious at first glance, a buyer’s home inspector will find it, and the infestation might be a deal-breaker. To prevent this, treat a rat problem as soon as you notice it. And if you plan to sell your home, consider getting a pest inspection to identify and treat any issues before potential buyers view your home.
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.
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