A Complete Cost Breakdown for Hiring a Roach Exterminator

When you have cockroaches in your home, exterminating them can be a challenge. These pests are known to procreate rapidly, with females producing hundreds of offspring during their two-year lifespan. Additionally, cockroaches tend to gather within walls and dark voids where they live and reproduce uninterrupted, sometimes making them only detectable after an infestation is large enough to leave tell-tale signs. 

For those reasons, roach extermination can be a lengthy process that requires a lot of work, depending on the type of treatment and the severity of the infestation. Controlling roach populations using DIY methods, like sprays, traps, gel, and powder, can be effective with diligence and patience. However, for severe cases, your best bet is to hire a professional roach exterminator, as they have access to more effective treatment options to really make sure you’re clearing out your pest problem. If you’re thinking about hiring a roach extermination service, read on for our full cost breakdown to avoid any financial surprises. 

Disclaimer About Roach Extermination Services

Pesticides and growth inhibitors used in roach treatments are toxic in varying degrees to humans, pets, and the surrounding environment. While some pest control companies often use pesticides labeled as being “natural,” in most cases, these products do still contain some level of toxicity. It’s just that, compared to synthetic pesticides, the main ingredients used in these treatments are naturally occurring rather than made man-made. 

Regardless of the labeling, all pest control products must be used according to the manufacturer’s instructions, and it’s generally advisable to keep pets and children away from the chemicals. Additionally, use caution when working with pesticides outdoors, as these can harm nearby wildlife, impacting the local environment.

Average Cost of Roach Extermination Treatments

The average cost of roach extermination treatments varies greatly depending on the infestation’s severity, the method used for elimination, and other factors. Customers can expect to spend anywhere from a little over $100 to several thousand dollars in extreme cases. Generally, though, roach extermination costs an average of $215 per treatment. 

Jorge Bedoya, an ACE-certified operations manager at New York Exterminating Inc., offered insight into specifics about what situations can drive the cost upward. Bedoya explains that “a 650-square-foot apartment in New York can cost as little as $120” to exterminate roaches successfully if the job is done correctly.

Professional exterminators have several treatment methods at their disposal, including insecticide and growth inhibitor sprays, glue traps, roach-toxic powder or gel, whole-house fumigation, and heat. Each of these treatments comes with its own price point, which can affect your total cost. Remember to talk with your pest control expert about various extermination methods and what you can expect to pay to help manage your budget.

Alternatively, the best DIY roach control products are significantly cheaper than hiring an exterminator, costing between $8 and $15. Some are designed to be quick-kill solutions that don’t provide long-term effects, while others are geared toward longer-term effectiveness and don’t kill on contact. However, you may need to purchase DIY products more than once for long-term control. If your roach situation persists after using these treatments, it might be time to bring in a professional exterminator.   

Cost per Method

Service Add-Ons

Roach extermination often requires more than one treatment session. Depending on the method and your agreement with the pest control company, return visits could be part of your plan and may incur no additional charges. However, the cost of additional unscheduled treatments that aren’t covered by a guarantee average between $75 and $125. 

Most pest control companies offer a monthly, quarterly, or annual treatment plan that protects your home from numerous pests, including cockroaches. These plans are typically backed up by money-back or return service guarantees that cost between $300 and $1,500 per year, depending on the treatment plan and the property size. 

Best Roach Exterminator Services

Orkin

Orkin is an industry-leading pest control company. Available in 47 states nationwide, Orkin has over 120 years of experience and prides itself on its technicians and experts, who must complete at least 160 hours of pest control training. Orkin offers cockroach control and other plans that can be as simple as a one-time visit, or several check-ins throughout the year to ensure the problem is resolved and prevent future infestations. The company offers a 30-day money-back guarantee on its pest control plans, giving clients peace of mind in the event a treatment isn’t effective.

Terminix

Terminix is available in 45 states and offers single cockroach treatments with a 30-day free return service guarantee. The company also has an in-depth, comprehensive plan that includes a free inspection, quarterly exterior treatments, and free additional treatments if roaches are spotted between appointments. Terminix’s website offers a large amount of roach control information, including tips for prevention and DIY pest control.   

Aptive

Founded in 2015, Aptive is a relative newcomer to the pest control industry that has grown to reach over 80 cities across 30 states. Aptive offers a single pest control plan that’s highly customizable based on your home and family’s needs, giving you more flexibility compared to other services. The plan also includes quarterly treatments backed by the company’s re-treatment guarantee. Aptive’s website also provides detailed information regarding roach infestations, extermination, ongoing control, and what you can expect to see during and after treatments. 

Signs You Have a Roach Problem

Bedoya states that “Roaches tend to be photophobic and will avoid contact,” meaning they’re sensitive to light and do their best to avoid it (and humans) as much as possible. This can make early detection of a roach infestation difficult, as oftentimes, roaches live undetected within walls, dark spaces, and clutter until the problem becomes large. Despite this, there are some early identifying signs that could indicate roach activity in your home. 

• Small dark cylinders on countertops, floors, and in cabinets that look like coffee grounds (these could be cockroach feces) 
• Strange smears that are difficult to clean up and resemble food stains
• A musty or damp smell permeating throughout your home (cockroaches secrete oils to attract mates)
• Brown or reddish cockroach eggs lying around
• Discarded exoskeletons in different places throughout your home
• Gnaw marks, feces, exoskeletons, and eggs on unsealed food  
• Seeing a living or dead roach in your home (it’s likely not alone) 
• If your neighbor has cockroaches, it’s possible you can have them or be at risk since they travel easily within walls

How to Keep Roaches From Coming Back

Depending on the treatment method, you may have to wait a few weeks until all of the roaches in your home are dead. However, even after a treatment session, there’s still a chance that roaches will come back. 

Bedoya explains that having cockroaches in your home isn’t a reflection of your sanitation skills—even the tidiest of homes are still susceptible to roach infestations. “[Roaches] could be migrating from a neighbor’s home,” he explains, while also touching on a few cockroach prevention tips that will help keep your home pest-free: 

• Keep Them Out: Roaches spend most of their lives in dark spaces. That means cracks and holes in your home’s perimeter are great for hiding but even better for getting into your house. Seal doors and wall penetrations, and caulk around windows and sills to prevent the critters from finding a way in. 
• Remove Food: General kitchen cleanup can go a long way toward discouraging roaches from stopping by. Clean up crumbs and spills, and avoid leaving food out, especially before heading to bed for the night. 
• Take Out the Trash: If your house is prone to roach infestation, taking the garbage out daily eliminates another roach food source. 
• Store Edibles: Cardboard and thin plastic do little to deter roaches from reaching the prize inside. Store foods like pasta, rice, flour, and sugar in rigid, sealable containers. 
• Eliminate Hiding Places: Because roaches live in the dark, they like out-of-sight nooks and crevices created by clutter. Organize cluttered closets and spaces to eliminate as many hiding places for roaches as possible. 
• Repair Water Leaks: Cockroaches love damp and humid locations like the ones created by a leaky water or drain pipe. Check under sinks, basements, and crawl spaces for any possible water leaks, and repair them immediately to dry out the affected area. 
• Check Incoming Items: Sheds and detached garages are excellent for harboring roaches, even if they’re not in your home. Keep your guard up when taking a box or item into the house from a damp shed or garage, and look for hitchhiking roaches to keep yourself from sneaking them inside.  
• Mind the Exterior: Your home’s exterior can play a role in whether or not roaches infest your home. Keep weeds and items away from the house perimeter to reduce hiding places, and secure garbage after taking it out to ensure it doesn’t end up as roach food outside your property.