How Much Does Bee Removal Cost? [2025 Data]

The average cost of removing a bee colony ranges from $150 to $500 on average, though this cost will vary depending on the type of hive. If removing the bees from a hard-to-access location, you may have to pay up to $2,000 with the additional carpentry costs. 

In some lucky cases, a beekeeper might remove your bees for free. That’s usually not the case, though, so here’s what you can expect to pay for bee removal or relocation and what factors into the cost.

Bee Removal Cost Factors

Though removing the hive itself can be a relatively quick and painless process, there are a number of other factors to consider when sourcing a pro to identify, relocate, or exterminate an active bee colony. Here’s a breakdown of how you can expect to spend your money. 

Size of Infestation

Bees live in colonies that can range from 20,000 to 80,000 critters in one hive. If you have a large hive or multiple hives, this will impact the price as a professional bee removal expert will have more work to do to get rid of them.

Expect to pay around $600 to $1,000 for a large nest removal—more if there are multiple, though each won't cost this much because the initial price likely includes labor, such as cutting into a wall, to gain access. A small, singular hive might only cost $180 or less depending on location.

Location in Home or Property

Where bees are located in your home can drive up the price you pay for removal.

For example, bees that have festered in a structural wall of your home will likely cost more to remove than a hive attached to a gutter outside. At that point, you also have to figure in repair costs, such as installing new drywall, repairing a deck, or fixing parts of your roof that must be removed to gain access to the bees.

There are no hard and fast rules, but here are some cost guidelines based on location:

Type of Bee

Bees come in a variety of species—some are no more than friendly garden buddies, while others can be quite dangerous. Consult with a professional beekeeper to identify the type of beehives on your property. The removal costs will differ depending on the type of bees, as each requires special considerations.

Though removing the hive itself can be a relatively quick and painless process, there are a number of other factors to consider when sourcing a pro to identify, relocate, or exterminate an active bee colony. Here’s a breakdown of how you can expect to spend your money. 

Additional Cost Factors

Bee removal costs can drastically vary, and there are other factors that affect the price, too. For example, identifying the type of bees and the location of the nest can add to the price of the removal. 

Identification

You’ll need to hire a professional beekeeper to identify the type of bees on your property. This typically costs $75 per hour, but could increase depending on the hive’s location and the infestation’s severity. Be on the lookout for companies that offer free inspections and quotes. 

Rebuilding

If the bee colony has made its home behind a wall or in your ceiling, a beekeeper will have to perform some demolition before removal. After the bees are gone, you may have to hire a local carpenter to rebuild the damage.

Here are some of the rebuilding costs you may encounter:

• Drywall: If a bee removal expert knocked out some drywall, you will pay $275–$750 to get it replaced. 

• Ceilings: Bees are occasionally attracted to ceilings. If a specialist had to destroy some portions of your ceiling to get at a hive, expect to pay $300–$1,000 for repairs. 

• Decks: Some types of bees like to make their home under or inside of a deck. Deck repairs will cost $250–$2,500 depending on size, type, and accrued damage. 

• Soffit: This is a board that is often located on the underside of a roof eave, helping to bridge the gap between siding and the outer edge of a roof. Unfortunately, the location of the soffit makes it a likely target for beehives. Repairing the soffit will cost $6–$20 per linear foot to repair.

Location

The cost of identifying and removing an active beehive varies depending on where you live, so talk to a local bee remover to get an accurate quote. Typically, removing a live bee colony will be slightly more expensive in heavily populated areas due to regional inflation. Local weather conditions, the number of professional beekeepers in the area, and other factors can also impact the overall cost.

Here are some price estimates for bee removal services in cities throughout the U.S.

Types of Bee Removal Services

If possible, the best way to remove bees is to relocate the hive and bees to another habitat. Bees play a crucial role in pollinating plants and supporting ecosystems, so preserving them helps maintain agriculture and biodiversity. It also prevents the release of harmful chemicals used in extermination.

However, in urgent cases, such as if you are highly allergic to bees, you may have to hire an exterminator. Here are the different types of bee removal services, along with their costs.

What Does Bee Relocation Involve?

Bee removal is the process of safely and humanely relocating bees from an unwanted location to a more suitable one. Bees are crucial pollinators, and harming them can have unintended consequences. When bees are disturbed or killed, they leave honey behind that may seep down and damage your home, leading to unexpected expenses. In a nutshell, protecting bees with proper and professional relocation is a wise ecological and financial move.

Here's a basic overview of the bee removal process.

Assessment

The first step is to assess the situation. A professional bee remover will identify the type of bee species, the size and location of the hive, and any potential risks involved.

Hive Relocation

The main goal is to remove the entire hive, including the queen bee and her colony. Depending on the location and accessibility of the hive, different methods may be used, such as vacuuming, smoking, or carefully cutting and extracting the hive.

Bee Transferral

After removing the hive, the next step is transporting the bees to a safer and more appropriate location, such as a beekeeping facility or another bee-friendly environment.

Repairs

When damage occurs during removal, such as cutting through walls or ceilings, the bee removal team may also be responsible for making necessary repairs. In some instances, you may need to hire a local carpenter.

Prevention

To prevent future bee infestations, experts may offer advice on sealing entry points, removing attractants, and taking other measures to deter bees from returning to the exact location.

It’s best for professionals with experience in handling bees to remove them for safety and to disrupt the environment as little as possible. Attempting to remove bees without proper knowledge and equipment can harm bees, people, and the ecosystem.

Do Beekeepers Ever Remove Bees for Free?

If the beehive is easy to get to (in other words, it doesn’t involve tearing down any walls), some beekeepers may offer to remove the bees for free or for a donation. It’s more likely that you’ll find free removal for honeybees, as those bees can then work on a honey farm. It’s also more likely to get free bee removal for swarms rather than established hives since they’re relatively easy to capture and relocate to a new hive.

Removal that requires more specialized equipment and expertise will most likely come with a cost, though. Expect to pay somewhere in the $150 to $500 range for established hives, especially if demolition or repairs are necessary. 

How Much Does It Cost to Remove Bees Yourself?

You may not have to hire a pro to remove bees, as some species rarely sting and are relatively docile. Carpenter bees, for instance, will sometimes leave an area if you play loud music. Be aware, though, that some bee species are simply too dangerous to handle on your own, such as Africanized honeybees.

If you do decide to remove pests yourself, you will save the $100 to $500 cost for labor but may still have to hire a contractor to repair anything you damaged to reach the hive.

Bee colonies are on the decline due to Colony Collapse Disorder, so it’s a great idea to opt for relocation. Bees are responsible for more than 80% of pollination worldwide, and one-third of the world’s crops depend on them.

DIY vs. Hiring a Pro

While it’s possible to remove certain species of bees on your own, other species are too dangerous to handle without the help of a professional. If you are allergic to bees or have the possibility of having a reaction then you should always hire a bee removal pro to tackle the task, as severe reactions can be deadly.

A professional bee removal specialist has the tools, skills, and knowledge to eradicate a bee infestation from your home safely and efficiently. Hiring this type of pro is essential if a bee colony is causing damage to your health or home.

How to Save on Bee Removal 

There are several ways you can save money on bee removal costs. 

• Contact a local beekeeping association: One of the best ways to cut costs and save the bees is to contact local beekeepers and beekeeping associations. They have the equipment and expertise to properly remove and relocate the bees to a new habitat and sometimes will do it for free or at a lower cost.

• Compare pricing: Another way to save money is to compare prices when hiring a bee removal specialist. Get at least three quotes to compare pricing. 

• Look for free consultations: Some bee removal services offer free consultations so you can gauge the scope of the problem before paying for a treatment.

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 extensively research project costs to develop the pricing data you see, so you can make the best decisions for you and your home. We rely on 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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