A bed bug cost varies depending on the size of your home and several other factors. You can expect costs to range anywhere from a few hundred dollars to the thousands. Most standard treatments will cost you no more than $800 per room.
Bed bug extermination costs will vary depending on many different factors. These include the severity of an infestation, location of treatment, desired time frame for completion, and type of service needed. You must find out exactly what types of services to include for the pricing exterminator cost.
This article is going to provide you with much useful information about costs to get rid of bed bugs in general.
What Causes Bed Bugs?
Bed bugs are parasitic and tiny insects that feed on your blood and creatures. See them as oval-shaped, flat, and reddish-brown.
They are not only attracted to the warmth of their host. But they also prefer it when there is a person nearby. For this reason, you will find them hiding out during the day and waiting until night. This is before feeding on your blood otherwise known as “imeating.”
Bed bug bites are normally without pain or discomfort for infected people. What makes them so dangerous though is the anesthetic. It helps keep detection at bay while they feed on people unnoticed.
There are many different reasons why you might have a bed bug problem:
- Bringing home secondhand furniture with a possible infestation
- Traveling to another country because bed bugs are often common in other places throughout the world
- There was a recent bed bug outbreak in your area
- Living in an apartment complex with a possible infestation
- There has been a recent infestation opposite you. The bugs are passing through your property to get there.
Early Signs of Bed Bugs
The first sign of bed bugs is unusual dark brown or red stains on your white sheets. These are from their feces and leftovers after eating.
Other signs that you might have an infestation include the following:
- Itchy skin or unexplained rashes
- Bloodstains on your sheets
- Bugs crawling around in your mattress or box spring
How to Spot Bed Bugs
See the possibility that you have bed bugs in your home, apartment, or hotel room. It is important to locate them before calling an exterminator. They are on the move or under a deeper cover area. These pests show up in one of three general life stages:
Eggs – The female adult bed bug usually lays these on surfaces and glued there with secretions.
Nymphs – This stage mostly follows eggs and is very close in appearance to adults.
Adults – These are approximately 4-5 mm long and colored brownish-red after having eaten within the past 24 hours.
Where Are Bed Bugs Found?
Bed bugs tend to be most active at night when they feed on people in their sleep. They often hide near the bed or somewhere close by. This includes behind headboards, nightstands, and within furniture cracks or crevices.
Inspect your room carefully for these signs:
- Puffed up curtains
- Pushed nearby floor coverings
- Exposed mattress seams with fecal spots from bed bug droppings appear
- Insect bites occurring on ankles, shoulder blades, arms, or legs
- Dead bed bugs after a few days of treatment with severe infestation
What Attracts Bed Bugs?
The following are things that attract bed bugs:
- The carbon dioxide they breathe out after eating
- The heavy breathing of their host during sleep
- Temperature changes of your body
- The smell of your skin and hair
- Shimmering sources of light in the dark
Bed bugs only spread before you go to bed or when you least expect it. You may find them crawling along on floors, walls, and even ceilings at night. This is when they hunt for a new host. It is common for them to move on clothes or shoes during this time as well.
Bed Bug Damage
The best way to prevent bed bugs from multiplying is to get rid of them as soon as possible. Signs of infestation include the following:
- You see live or dead bed bugs
- Inspection reveals dark spots, stains, eggs, and shed skins on your mattress
- Bed bug bites start around a week after contact with the insect
Identify a bed bug problem in your home, apartment, or hotel room. Call an exterminator right away! The cost of getting rid of them is from $500-$1,500 on average. This cost excludes moving out of a rental home with an infestation. They consider it as damage by law.
Are Bed Bugs Dangerous?
No. However, you can experience allergic reactions to bed bugs and their bites. These symptoms may include:
- Rashes
- Itchy skin
- Bumps around the bite area
Effects of Bed Bugs
A severe infestation can cause bed bug bites with many effects. They include the following:
- Constant scratching
- Ongoing skin irritation
- Hives occurring around the bite area
It can cause secondary infections without antibiotics due to scratching. Take precautions when getting rid of them for your health and that of others.
Pet Safe Bed Bug Treatment
Pets are just as sensitive to the chemicals used in the treatment of bed bugs. There are some pet-safe methods of extermination available. They cost more than standard pest control due to special preparation and equipment needed.
For pet owners with dogs and cats, a chemical application to affected areas is the most common. This needs about four to six hours of keeping the animal away from your house. They do the treatment to not hinder your family life during this time frame.
But severe cases can require moving out with the need. They also stress that certain pets may have different sensitivities when exposed to environmental pesticides. Make sure you select wisely before treating any animals at home or elsewhere around town.
A Few Bed Bugs vs Infestation
The cost of getting rid of bed bugs depends on the severity and size of the infestation. It can go up to $5,000 for an apartment complex with dozens of units. This value is per unit whether they are flats or townhouses. On average, it is worth around $500-$1,500 to treat each affected room at home.
Common vs Tropical Bed Bugs
The common bed bug is Cimex lectularius and one of the most typical pests in the world. It lives on every continent and you can find it everywhere from Las Vegas hotels to Columbus, Indiana.
Preferring dark corners, this tiny blood-sucking insect grows up about an apple seed in size. This is after feeding off a human or animal’s fluids like urine and drool mixed. It goes near where they eat their meal for more nutrition.
Tropical bed bugs are resurging in numbers throughout the world. Their main difference lies in preferred climates. Most like warmer regions like America’s south. Some tropical varieties exist and enjoy cooler climates such as Indiana’s Northwoods region.
The cost of getting rid of bed bugs depends on whether you have a common or tropical type. Prices are from $500-$1,500 for each affected room at home with average treatments. It can cost significantly more for larger infestations or locations with higher temperatures such as warmer regions.
Bed Bug Bites vs Flea Bites
Although both insects bite, they are different in their looks. You cannot just look at bed bugs or fleas and tell what type you have around your home. The only way to identify them is through an expert entomologist. Their bites also vary by species.
Bed Bug Bites vs Mosquito Bites
Mosquitoes, like bed bugs and other pests, feed on animals and humans. However, they can carry and transmit diseases such as malaria and the West Nile virus. These insects also leave irritating bites that itch for days afterward.
When making comparisons between the cost to get rid of bed bugs versus mosquitoes, it boils down to the value than anything else. Bed bugs cost thousands of dollars compared to a mosquito’s few thousand dollars depending on the infestation size or severity. It also depends on when your area requires certain health regulations by law.
Bed Bug Bites vs Spider Bites
Spiders cost less than bed bugs to get rid of. However, each is a unique species. Some harm humans like the black widow and brown recluse types. These cost around $1,000-$5,000 depending on severity and treatment needs.
Tick vs Bed Bug
Ticks cost around $500 to get rid of through chemical treatment. They cost much less than bed bugs and mosquitoes. However, there are more tick types around the world than any other pest or insect. You can find an estimated 850 species compared to about 500 for bed bugs and 400 for fleas. There are more than 2,000 types of ticks around the world.
You can see at least 15 common tick species throughout the United States. Some cost less to get rid of compared to bed bug treatments. But it also depends on where you live and what type you have inside your home or business.
Most cost hundreds of dollars per treatment session. For example, it can rise to $500 each time for rural areas with hardwood forests or grassy fields. On the other hand, it is slightly over $100 near suburban regions instead of heavily wooded areas.
Chigger Bugs vs Bed Bug Bites
Chigger bugs cost slightly less than bed bug remedies. It is worth around $500-$1,500 in total to treat each room in a house and additional rooms. Yet it is significantly more expensive than removing adult chiggers from your body or canine’s fur after exposure to them in the wild.
Bat Bug vs Bed Bug
Bat bugs cost less than bed bug treatments. You can often mistake them for being a type of bed bug because of their similar looks. However, unlike the blood-feeding pest biting you in your sleep, they feed on bats.
Treatment costs are only around $500 per room with an average fee slightly more in rural areas near forests and fields. It is around $100 each in suburban areas instead. You cannot see them commonly in certain regions like New Jersey or California.
What to Do Before Bed Bug Extermination
Before receiving cost estimates and treatment plans, contact a pest control service for advice and information. Remember to ask about some factors like:
- cost to get rid of termites
- cost to get rid of bed bugs at home
- cost to kill roaches
- cost to kill ants
These insects all take out their frustration by biting people. Although some cause mild irritation like chigger bites, others lead to illnesses like the West Nile virus from mosquitoes. You should take action immediately, seek help from an entomologist, or exterminator before your situation gets worse.
To prevent further outbreaks, make sure your place is free of bed bugs. There is no chance of coming back through insecticide treatments.
Bed Bug Exterminator Cost
One cost to get rid of bed bugs is $1,000-$5,000 per room when you include the cost of insecticide treatments. It costs significantly more than mosquitoes or ticks because they are aggressive blood-feeding insects. They need no provocation to come after their next meal within your home.
Bed Bug Extermination Cost by Region
Various factors determine cost estimations for treatment areas in your house or business property. For example, rural areas cost around $500-$1,500 in total depending on how many rooms you have. Urban regions cost $100-$500 per room when it comes to getting rid of bed bugs.
Bed Bug Extermination Cost by Industry
The cost also depends on the region and industry depending on your business location. For example, in busy downtown areas such as New York City or San Francisco, you might spend around $500 for each room near major businesses. However, rural suburban areas cost less than half of it. The estimate is around $100-$200 in total depending on the affected rooms.
Cost to Exterminate Bed Bugs
The advanced cost to get rid of bed bugs all vary. To control a minor infestation, the cost is around $100-$200 per room in total with additional cost for other rooms. It rises to $500-$1,000 or even more per room when it becomes a major problem. Another reason is doing the service as soon as possible.
However, cost estimates rise significantly higher as an affected area grows larger. In some cases, it can rise to several thousand dollars. This depends on how serious your situation is. For instance, large commercial establishments such as motels and hotels spend over $10,000 for each property during one treatment session.
Bed Bug Extermination Cost Per Room
The cost per room varies to get rid of bed bugs. Yet it is significantly higher than other pests such as ants or roaches. They have a more serious impact on your health.
A major infestation estimated cost can rise above $1,000 each for multiple rooms without extermination services. This includes treatment and other factors like taking a break from work to evacuate or relocate while insecticides are working.
You should know those heat treatments are worth around $3,000-$4,000. A change in temperature needs to happen within the building’s system over time rather than all at once.
Average Cost of Bed Bug Extermination by Type
In Apartments
Low-income apartment units cost around $1,000-$5,000 for each unit. This depends on the size and infestation severity. That is when exterminators use certain chemicals such as pyrethroid insecticides. These kill adults and nymphs at different rates.
A high-income apartment costs more than $10,000 or even more during one treatment session. It relies on the size and type of building materials.
Bed Bug Pest Control Cost by Frequency
Cost estimates go up by $100 each time for additional treatments in a year. It takes at least two to three months to see an infestation reappear. This is even with yearly pest control services. Remember that cost estimation rises as your situation worsens or your home size grows larger within the city or region.
Professional Bed Bug Treatment Cost by Severity of Infestation
Cost estimations for moderate cases cost around $500-$1,000 per room in total with additional cost for other rooms. It rises to $1,000-$2,000 or even more per room when it becomes a major problem.
Emergency Bed Bug Extermination Cost
One-time bed bug extermination cost is between $1,500-$3,000 or even more per room. It depends on the severity of infestation in each room.
Bed Bug Inspection Cost
The cost to inspect bed bugs is around $50-$100 per room. It takes at least one hour to make an accurate cost estimation based on severity.
Enhancement and Improvement Costs
Few companies charge additional costs to enhance or improve pest management services in NYC, New Jersey, Connecticut, and Long Island. It goes up in top cities by $100 each time for additional treatments in a year.
Additional Considerations
When cost estimations go up, professional bed bug exterminators charge an additional fee. The cost will reach $100-$200 each time for extra treatments in a year.
FAQs
Satisfy your curiosity with responses to some frequently asked questions:
What kills bed bugs instantly?
Heat treatment cost is at $3,000-$4,000.
What do bed bugs look like on a mattress?
They look like small and brown eggs in their early stages.
What chemicals kill bed bugs?
Chemicals such as pyrethroid insecticide kill nymphs and adults at varying rates.
How do I get rid of bed bugs myself?
You can use sprays and other chemicals cost-effectively.
How do you prepare for bed bug extermination?
Prepare to evacuate and relocate.
The cost to get rid of bed bugs varies from case to case. Only a specialist can give you a definite value. The minimum cost is about $500 whereas the average is about $1,500 for each room. Each situation requires its own set of specific treatments with different amounts.
