How Much Does Wasp Nest Removal Cost in Washington, D.C.? [2026 Data]

Normal Range: $327 - $762

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Cost Insights
  • Yellow jackets are common in Washington, D.C., and their underground nests often cost more to remove ($815 or more).

  • Nests that are hidden in rowhouse walls, attics, and chimneys can increase labor and repair costs.

  • Warm, humid summers in the Mid-Atlantic region help colonies grow quickly, making late-season removals more expensive.

  • Hiring a pest control service in Washington, D.C., ensures safe removal and compliance with D.C. regulations.

Many homeowners in Washington, D.C., pay an average of $572 for wasp nest removal, with most projects falling between $327 and $762. Around the District, it's not unusual for an outdoor happy hour to attract a few uninvited guests with wings and bad attitudes. Between humid summers, shaded yards, and historic rowhouses, the area offers plenty of appealing nesting spots for wasps.

Wasp Nest Removal Cost Factors 

Wasp removal costs in Washington, D.C., depend on more than just the number of insects involved. Nest accessibility, wasp species, colony size, and removal method can all affect the final price, especially when nests are tucked into older homes and tight urban spaces.

Nest Size 

While one or two wasps may seem scary, dealing with a hive with hundreds of workers can be even worse. The larger the hive, the more difficult and time-consuming the removal and cleanup will be.

For small hives of 10 to 50 worker wasps, you're looking at spending about $270 for extermination on average. Medium hives with 50 to a couple hundred wasps will be in the $545 range. Large nests can cost $1,090 or more.

Hive SizeAverage Cost
Small$270
Medium$545
Large$1,090

Nest Location

While most people associate our buzzing neighbors with hanging from a tree or off the side of the house, not all wasps or hornets prefer to make their homes here. Some wasps build inside your attic, in the walls, and even underground. If this happens to you, a pro will likely need to cut into different parts of the home, which could lead to additional repair costs.

LocationAverage Cost Range
Walls$270–$870
Attic$325–$545
Chimney$435–$655
Trees$220–$655
Angi Tip

Some types of hornets and wasps are more aggressive than others, so call a professional exterminator if you spot a nest in your yard that's bigger than a fist. Don't hesitate to take pest control action to prevent the infestation from growing.

Kaitlyn Pacheco
Content Editor, Angi

Removal Method

From sprays to full-on nest removal, you can choose between a few wasp nest removal methods.

Wasp Nest Removal MethodMinimum CostDescription
Aerosol$135Budget-friendly choice for hanging wasp nests
Dusting$220Targets wasps that build underground nests with a powdered pesticide
Vacuuming$270Ideal approach for wasps that have infiltrated your home
Extermination $380Best and quickest for aggressive wasps, very large hives, or wasps causing home damage

Type of Wasp

9 most common wasp types compared visually, including paper, bald-faced, sand, and digger
Photos: epantha / iStock / Getty Images Plus / Getty Images, epantha / iStock / Getty Images Plus / Getty Images, GlobalP / iStock / Getty Images Plus / Getty Images, yod67 / iStock / Getty Images Plus / Getty Images, epantha / iStock / Getty Images Plus / Getty Images, yod67 / iStock / Getty Images Plus / Getty Images, Chase D'animulls / iStock / Getty Images Plus / Getty Images, Chase D'animulls / iStock / Getty Images Plus / Getty Images, Chase D'animulls / iStock / Getty Images Plus / Getty Images

Not all wasps are the same. The three most common types of wasps include yellowjackets, hornets, and paper wasps, each with their preferred method of building nests. Bald-faced hornet and yellow jacket removal costs are the highest, and removing more docile species, like paper wasps, costs the least.

In Washington, D.C., yellow jackets are among the most common wasps homeowners encounter. These aggressive insects frequently build underground nests in lawns, parks, and landscaped areas throughout the District. Because they defend their colonies aggressively when disturbed, they are also one of the most common reasons residents call professional pest control services.

Here’s what you can expect to pay for wasp nest removal based on the type of wasp.

Wasp TypeDescriptionAverage Cost Range
Yellow jacketsHides hives underground; aggressive; moderate-sized nest$545–$815
HornetsNest is football-shaped and hangs from a tree; aggressive when nest is nearby$325–$435
Paper waspsNot aggressive; nest is papery and umbrella-shaped with a single comb of cells$110–$220
Mud dauberNests are made of mud and tube-shaped; not aggressive; construct nests in human-frequented areas$325–$435
Red waspsDon’t sting unprovoked; nest is umbrella-shaped and attached to a structure by a single strand$340–$435
Bald-faced hornetsNest is gray or brown and football-shaped; hangs from a tree branch or other vertical surface$680–$815

Pest Control Pro Costs

Wasp nest removal pros in Washington, D.C., often price by the project rather than by the hour. Homeowners should know that hiring a pro isn't just about avoiding stings. It's also about ensuring pesticides are applied safely and in accordance with local regulations.

Licensing and Insurance

In the District, anyone offering pest control services for a fee must be certified by the Department of Energy and Environment (DOEE) to apply pesticides. Pest control companies must also maintain a valid business license through the District's Department of Licensing and Consumer Protection (DLCP). These licensing requirements help ensure technicians understand proper pesticide handling, environmental regulations, and safety procedures.

Legitimate pest control businesses should also carry general liability insurance to protect homeowners in the event of accidental property damage during treatment or nest removal. Between licensing fees, continuing education requirements, insurance costs, and District business registration expenses, professional pest control companies have significant overhead that factors into service pricing.

Does Wasp Nest Removal Increase Home Value?

Wasp nest removal won't increase your home's appraised value like a top-to-bottom kitchen remodel would, but it can prevent a sale from getting derailed by an easy-to-fix issue. Home buyers pay close attention to the condition of historic rowhouses, townhomes, and outdoor living spaces. An active wasp nest can raise concerns about your property’s maintenance and safety.

Removing nests before listing a home can improve curb appeal, make patios and gardens more inviting, and eliminate a negative talking point during inspections. That's especially valuable in Washington, D.C., where outdoor entertaining spaces are highly sought after and buyers expect to enjoy them without sharing the space with a colony of stinging insects. 

How Angi Gets Its Local Cost Data 

To help homeowners plan their next project, Angi provides readers with carefully researched cost data and upholds strict editorial standards. We start with national average project costs, which we collect by analyzing competitor information, retailer material costs, and input from professional contractors. We then apply local price index data to calculate location-specific estimates that reflect what homeowners typically pay in their local area. To do that, we use data from the U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis (BEA), including its Regional Price Parities (RPPs), which measure price differences across cities. This helps us account for differences in labor, materials, and overall cost of living, so estimates in higher- or lower-cost areas better reflect real-world local pricing.

Every estimate undergoes a thorough editorial review to verify accuracy, consistency, and alignment with observed market conditions.

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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