Professional rodent extermination typically costs $180 to $610, with an average near $390. Mouse extermination generally costs $150 to $550, while rat extermination usually costs $150 to $600 for a standard residential infestation.
A small problem involving a few traps and one sealed entry point may cost less than $500. A large infestation requiring several visits, extensive exclusion, contaminated insulation removal, sanitation, and home repairs can cost $1,000 to $8,000 or more.
The most effective quote should address both the rodents already inside and the openings allowing new mice or rats to enter. Trapping alone may temporarily reduce activity, but the infestation can return unless food sources, nesting areas, and entry points are corrected.
Rodent Extermination Cost at a Glance
| Rodent-control service | Typical U.S. cost |
|---|---|
| Average rodent-control project | About $390 |
| Common rodent-control range | $180–$610 |
| Mouse extermination | $150–$550 |
| Rat extermination | $150–$600 |
| Mouse inspection | $75–$125 |
| Rat inspection | $90–$150 |
| Professional mouse trapping | $150–$475 |
| Professional rat trapping | $150–$600 |
| Mouse bait stations and monitoring | $300–$550 |
| Rat bait stations and monitoring | $200–$400 |
| Small mouse infestation | $100–$500 |
| Medium mouse infestation | $500–$1,000 |
| Large mouse infestation | $1,000–$7,000+ |
| Small rat infestation | $200–$500 |
| Medium rat infestation | $500–$1,500 |
| Large rat infestation | $1,500–$8,000 |
| Emergency or after-hours surcharge | $100–$200+ |
| Drywall repair after wall access | $300–$1,500+ |
| Attic insulation replacement | $2–$6 per sq. ft. |
| Electrical rewiring | $5–$17 per sq. ft. |
| Ductwork replacement | $25–$55 per linear foot |
These are national budgeting ranges. The final price depends on the species, infestation size, number of entry points, location of nests, home size, accessibility, sanitation needs, and whether structural repairs are included.
Mouse Extermination Cost
A professional mouse exterminator costs $150 to $550, with a national average near $350. This usually covers an inspection, trap or bait placement, and some level of monitoring. Extensive sealing, contaminated insulation removal, and damage repair may be quoted separately.
Mouse removal cost by infestation size
| Mouse infestation | Typical total cost | Common scope |
|---|---|---|
| Small | $100–$500 | One or two visits, one entry point, minimal cleaning |
| Medium | $500–$1,000 | Several traps, minor sealing, limited sanitation |
| Large | $1,000–$7,000+ | Extensive trapping, exclusion, cleanup, insulation or repairs |
A small mouse problem may involve one recently discovered entry point near a kitchen, garage, or utility line. Large infestations may extend through attics, wall cavities, basements, crawl spaces, and insulation.
Rat Extermination Cost
Professional rat extermination generally costs $150 to $600, with a national average near $375. Rat projects often cost more than comparable mouse jobs when the animals are nesting in attics, crawl spaces, walls, sewer-adjacent areas, or difficult exterior locations.
Rat removal cost by infestation size
| Rat infestation | Typical total cost | Common scope |
|---|---|---|
| Small | $200–$500 | Two or three visits, limited trapping, one sealed opening |
| Medium | $500–$1,500 | Three or four visits, several entry points, monitoring |
| Large | $1,500–$8,000 | Trapping, building exclusion, sanitation and repairs |
A larger colony can require weeks of monitoring, multiple trap locations, extensive exterior sealing, and cleaning of contaminated spaces.
Rodent Extermination Cost by Method
Professional trapping
Professional mouse trapping generally costs $150 to $475, while rat trapping costs approximately $150 to $600. The price commonly includes trap placement and at least one return visit to inspect traps and remove captured rodents.
Trapping is often suitable when:
- Rodents are active inside living spaces
- The infestation is relatively small
- Dead animals inside inaccessible walls are a concern
- Children or pets make bait use less desirable
- The company needs to confirm when activity has stopped
The number of traps, return visits, and difficult access to attics or crawl spaces affect the final cost.
Bait stations
Professional mouse baiting and monitoring costs approximately $300 to $550. Rat bait-station programs generally cost $200 to $400 for installation and monitoring.
EPA guidance states that poison baits should be secured in appropriate bait stations, placed where children and pets cannot reach them, and used strictly according to the product label. Dead rodents should be removed promptly to reduce accidental exposure to pets and wildlife.
Bait may be less attractive indoors when poisoned rodents could die inside walls or other inaccessible spaces and create odor problems.
Live trapping and removal
Professional live removal is commonly priced at $50 to $80 per captured mouse or rat, in addition to inspection, transportation, monitoring, and exclusion costs. Regulations on relocating captured rodents vary by location, and released animals may return unless entry points are sealed.
Fumigation
Whole-home rodent fumigation is rare and generally reserved for unusually severe or inaccessible infestations when other approaches have failed. Published national estimates place mouse fumigation at $2,000 to $5,000 and rat fumigation at $2,000 to $6,500.
Most residential rodent problems are handled with inspection, trapping or baiting, sanitation, and exclusion rather than tent fumigation.
Rodent Inspection Cost
A mouse inspection generally costs $75 to $125, while a rat inspection costs approximately $90 to $150. Some companies waive or credit the inspection charge when the homeowner approves a treatment program.
A professional inspection should identify:
- Whether mice, rats, or another animal are present
- Likely nesting areas
- Interior travel routes
- Exterior entry points
- Food and water sources
- Droppings, gnaw marks, rub marks, and damaged materials
- Required trapping or bait locations
- Areas needing sealing
- Contaminated insulation or ductwork
- Necessary follow-up visits
Ask for a written proposal that separates extermination, exclusion, sanitation, and repairs. A low treatment price may cover traps but exclude the work needed to prevent rodents from returning.
Rodent Exclusion and Entry-Point Sealing
Exclusion means closing the gaps, cracks, vents, and utility openings rodents use to enter the building. Professional rodent-control plans commonly combine inspection, trapping or baiting, exclusion, sanitation guidance, and follow-up monitoring.
Exclusion may involve:
- Sealing foundation gaps
- Screening vents
- Repairing damaged siding or soffits
- Closing plumbing and utility penetrations
- Installing door sweeps
- Repairing crawl-space openings
- Protecting roof and attic vents
- Trimming branches that provide roof access
The cost depends mainly on the number, size, height, and accessibility of the openings. Minor sealing may be included in a standard $200-to-$500 project, while extensive whole-home exclusion can move the total into the thousands.
The technician should avoid permanently sealing active rodents inside the structure. Trapping or one-way removal may need to occur before final closure.
Attic, Crawl-Space, and Wall Removal Costs
Rodents in open kitchens or garages are generally easier to treat than rodents nesting inside attics, crawl spaces, ceilings, and walls.
Costs increase when technicians must:
- Enter confined or contaminated spaces
- Remove insulation
- Cut drywall to reach a carcass
- Install traps across several levels
- Repair vents or roof openings
- Return repeatedly to check activity
- Deodorize inaccessible areas
Removing a dead rodent from a wall may require drywall access and odor control. Drywall repair after removal commonly costs $300 to $1,500 or more, depending on the size and location of the opening.
Rodent Cleanup and Sanitizing Cost
Basic cleanup may be included in a small extermination package. Large infestations requiring full sanitation, contaminated insulation removal, and repairs can push mouse-control totals above $1,000 to $7,000 and rat-control totals to $1,500 to $8,000.
Cleanup may include:
- Removal of droppings and nesting materials
- Disposal of dead rodents
- Surface disinfection
- Odor treatment
- Contaminated insulation removal
- Duct cleaning or replacement
- Air-sealing after cleanup
CDC guidance says not to sweep or vacuum dry rodent urine, droppings, or nesting material because this can put contaminated particles into the air. Droppings should be thoroughly wetted with disinfectant, left for the required contact time, and wiped up while wearing gloves. Dead rodents and nests should be disinfected and double-bagged before disposal.
Heavy infestations, confined spaces, and widespread insulation contamination are better handled by professionals with suitable protective equipment.
Cost to Repair Rodent Damage
Extermination does not automatically include repairs to materials damaged by chewing, nesting, urine, or droppings.
| Rodent-related repair | Typical cost |
|---|---|
| Drywall repair | $300–$1,500+ |
| Electrical rewiring | $5–$17 per sq. ft. |
| Attic insulation replacement | $2–$6 per sq. ft. |
| Ductwork replacement | $25–$55 per linear foot |
| Siding repair | $2–$14 per sq. ft. |
Rodents can damage wiring, insulation, drywall, ducts, siding, stored belongings, and food packaging. The repair cost may exceed the extermination bill when activity has continued unnoticed for a long time.
An electrician should inspect wiring that shows chew marks, exposed conductors, sparking, burning odors, or repeated breaker trips.
What Affects Rodent Extermination Cost?
Infestation size
More rodents require additional traps or bait stations, more technician visits, and a longer monitoring period.
Rodent type
Rats are larger and may use attics, roofs, crawl spaces, sewers, or exterior burrows. Mice can enter smaller openings and spread throughout walls and cabinets.
Nest location
Accessible activity in a garage costs less to address than a nest inside a wall, attic, roof cavity, or contaminated crawl space.
Home size and age
Large and older homes often contain more potential access points. Complex additions, attached garages, decks, rooflines, and utility penetrations increase inspection and sealing time.
Number of visits
A minor problem may be resolved in one or two follow-ups. A larger colony may require weeks or months of checking traps, replenishing stations, and confirming that activity has stopped.
Exclusion and repairs
A quote that includes only trapping will usually be lower than a comprehensive package that seals the building, sanitizes contaminated areas, and repairs damage.
Emergency service
Weekend, holiday, or after-hours mouse service can add approximately $100 to $200. Costs may be higher when an active electrical hazard, major contamination, or urgent commercial food-safety issue is involved.
Professional Rodent Control vs. DIY
DIY trapping may be reasonable when activity is limited, the entry point is obvious, and droppings are confined to a small accessible area. Professional service is more appropriate when:
- Rodents are active in several rooms
- Scratching comes from walls or ceilings
- Rats are present
- Droppings return after cleaning
- Children or pets could access traps or poison
- Wiring or insulation is damaged
- The infestation affects an attic or crawl space
- Previous DIY attempts failed
- Dead-animal odors are present
- The entry points cannot be identified
EPA lists lethal traps, live traps, and poison baits in tamper-resistant stations as available control options. Long-term success also requires preventing access and removing food, water, and shelter.
How to Save Money on Rodent Extermination
- Act when the first signs appear. Small infestations cost less than established colonies.
- Request an itemized quote. Separate inspection, trapping, baiting, exclusion, cleanup, and repairs.
- Compare the full program. A cheap trap-only quote may not prevent recurrence.
- Seal food and pet food.
- Repair plumbing leaks and remove standing water.
- Keep garbage containers closed.
- Clear clutter from garages, basements, and attics.
- Ask how many follow-up visits are included.
- Confirm the retreatment or exclusion warranty.
- Hire a properly licensed company. EPA recommends checking the company’s pest-control license and contacting the state pesticide regulator when necessary.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much does rodent extermination cost?
Professional rodent control generally costs $180 to $610, with an average near $390. Large infestations involving exclusion, sanitation, and repairs can cost several thousand dollars.
How much does it cost to get rid of mice?
Mouse extermination generally costs $150 to $550. Small infestations may cost $100 to $500, while major infestations can reach $1,000 to $7,000 or more.
How much does rat extermination cost?
Rat extermination usually costs $150 to $600. A medium infestation may cost $500 to $1,500, while a large colony requiring exclusion and cleanup can cost $1,500 to $8,000.
Are traps or poison cheaper?
Professional trapping costs approximately $150 to $475 for mice and $150 to $600 for rats. Bait-station programs cost about $300 to $550 for mice and $200 to $400 for rats. The best method depends on the infestation location, safety concerns, and risk of rodents dying in inaccessible areas.
Does rodent extermination include sealing holes?
Sometimes. Small sealing work may be included, but full exclusion is frequently quoted separately. Ask for a written list of every opening the company will seal.
How long does rodent extermination take?
A small infestation may be controlled within several days or a few visits. Large rat colonies can require more than a month of trapping, baiting, exclusion, and monitoring.
Does homeowners insurance cover rodent damage?
Standard policies often exclude damage caused by rodents or other pests, but coverage depends on the policy and the event. Homeowners should ask their insurer before assuming extermination, cleanup, wiring, or insulation replacement will be reimbursed.
Conclusion
Rodent extermination generally costs $180 to $610, with mouse treatment averaging about $150 to $550 and rat treatment costing approximately $150 to $600. Small infestations can often be handled for less than $500, while severe problems involving exclusion, sanitation, insulation replacement, and repairs may cost $1,000 to $8,000 or more.
The most effective treatment combines removal with prevention. Before hiring an exterminator, request an itemized plan that identifies the rodent species, number of visits, traps or bait stations, entry points, sealing work, sanitation, repair exclusions, and warranty.