Highlights
Professional flea extermination typically runs from $75 to $400.
Costs are higher when the pro needs to conduct a follow-up treatment.
DIY options aren’t typically as safe or effective.
During extermination, a pro will inspect your home, vacuum, and then apply interior and exterior treatments as needed.
After noticing your kitty itching obsessively, have you spotted what looks suspiciously like flea bites on your ankles? Fleas aren’t just an itchy annoyance; they carry diseases and spread like wildfire—an adult female flea produces approximately 2,000 eggs in her lifetime.
The good news is that by treating your pet and your home, you can prevent a flea infestation from spiraling out of control. Promptly bringing in a pro ensures safe, effective, and appropriate full life-cycle treatment of these prolific pests. The cost to hire a local flea exterminator ranges from $75 to $400, with a national average of $270. How much you spend varies depending on where you live, the severity of the infestation, and your home size.
| National Average cost | Minimum Cost | Maximum Cost |
|---|---|---|
| $270 | $75 | $400 |
What is the Cost to Hire a Professional Flea Exterminator?
The information below will help you better understand how much you can expect a pro to charge.
Initial Inspection
If the problem isn’t fleas, some companies won’t charge for the callout. Others may still charge a flat rate of around $75 to $100.
First, a professional will confirm if you have a flea infestation and where the problem is the worst. They’ll focus their search on carpets, bedding, upholstery, and areas where pets sleep.
If they need to treat your home, they’ll tackle it during your inspection. Your pro will typically include the inspection in the treatment price.
Main Treatment Method
The cost for the main flea treatment ranges from $150 to $400. Extermination includes an in-house topical treatment that kills adults and prevents developing fleas from reaching maturity. Below are examples of extras that might result in the costs being at the higher end of the range.
Vacuuming: This is a critical part of the process for successful extermination. Some professionals give you instructions for carrying this out pre and post-visit, and others do this as part of their treatment.
Steam cleaning: For some serious infestations, the heat used for steam cleaning will kill almost all adult fleas but may not kill all the eggs.
Exterior spraying: Pros often apply additional exterior treatment around windows, doors, porches, and yards.
Fumigation: While not as effective as spray products, fumigation gas for fleas can also help eradicate other pests in your home. The costs to fumigate are comparable to spray, so ask your exterminator their preferred method.
Follow-Up Treatments
Some companies offer a money-back guarantee or a follow-up treatment as part of their initial price if you find more pests within 30 days of the first application. Others charge an additional follow-up fee of up to $200.
Because of the flea life cycle, it isn’t always possible to eradicate them entirely in one visit. Frustratingly, flea pupae are hard to kill with pesticide treatments. If you haven’t caught all the pupae and eggs during the vacuuming and washing process, the pros might have to come back to apply a second treatment after these eggs hatch a couple of weeks later.
Factors That Affect Flea Extermination Costs
Many factors influence how much it costs to hire a flea exterminator. To get a handle on how much you could pay, consider the following.
Severity of Infestation
Severe infestations that go without treatment for months are typically much harder to get rid of than if your pet has only just brought a few into the home. These bustling breeding grounds are where you’ll likely need to get the exterminator out more than once.
Time of Year
During the warm, humid months, fleas are the biggest problem, and prices may be higher when pros are more in demand.
Size of Your Home
Some companies charge a standard rate, regardless of your house size, and some have tiered rates depending on your home’s square footage or the number of rooms.
Additional Sanitation Steps
If you don’t keep up with the vacuuming and washing of bedding and soft furnishings to get rid of unhatched eggs, a repeat visit down the line is a dead cert once they hatch. And if you don’t treat your pets, they’ll probably bring new fleas into the house.
Cost to Exterminate Fleas Yourself
When over-the-counter pesticides are so readily available, it's tempting to opt for these cheaper options to get rid of fleas without the help of the experts. Foggers, sprays, and organic products typically cost anywhere from $5 to $30 per bottle or package.
However, these treatments are not typically as effective as professional options, and they can be unsafe for your family and pets if you are not careful when applying the treatment. You may also have to buy multiple bottles to treat the whole house more than once. This adds up, especially if it doesn’t work and you have to pay to call in a pro anyway.
A pro knows where to focus their efforts, and foregoing their strategic approach may have you missing problem areas like attics, basements, or subfloors.
Typically, 95% of a flea infestation is in 5% of the house or yard, and if you miss that spot, your efforts will be futile.
Exterminating Fleas Questions and Answers
Is it cheaper to use preventative methods than exterminating a flea infestation?
Absolutely! Keeping up to date with regular flea treatments for pets, washing their bedding, and vacuuming regularly are all simple and inexpensive ways to help prevent a flea infestation from developing in the first place.
Annual flea control treatments for your pet typically cost between $40 and $200. Talk to your vet about safe and effective options.
Keeping up with garden maintenance also helps make your yard less inviting for fleas. Mow your lawn regularly, don’t overwater, and avoid attracting rodents by carefully storing food waste, removing clutter, and sealing holes.
How do I find a reputable flea exterminator?
Avoid pest control scams by selecting an experienced and insured professional. Licensing is usually required when applying flea-related pesticides, although exact requirements vary by state, and a good exterminator will be happy to show you copies of their certification.
Will fleas die off in the winter if I don’t want to pay for an exterminator?
Cold winter months won’t always kill off fleas completely. Your is still typically warm enough for fleas to survive, or, at least, for the eggs to lay dormant ready to hatch when warmer weather arrives again. Plus, waiting for the winter isn’t a good idea. The infestation will continue to grow, and fleas carry pathogens that can seriously harm humans and pets.
