How much does it cost to exterminate fleas?

Reviewed by Irene Pomares remodeling expert. Written by Fixr.com.

Fleas can be a serious problem if they get into your home. Their eggs or larvae can be found in cracks, crevices, carpeting, and furniture, so even when you get rid of the adults, a new infestation could be right around the corner. To treat and get rid of a flea infestation, you must determine how they got in and treat both the initial host and the rest of your home.

The national average cost for flea extermination is $200-$350, with the average homeowner paying around $270 for an initial and follow-up treatment. Pest control specialists charge a minimum of $135 for a single treatment. Most homeowners will spend on whole house flea treatment around $430 if infestations have spread. However, costs may include pet treatment, additional laundry service, and house cleaning. The additional services affect the final price.

Flea Exterminator Costs

Flea Treatment Cost by Method

Flea treatments vary based on the method used by professionals. Depending on the method used, flea treatments can range from $80 to $500. Most rely on pesticide sprays to get rid of fleas that have infested the home. Family members and pets need to vacate the home for several hours during the treatment. However, alternatives are available for those looking for all-natural methods. The following are the most common methods used to get rid of fleas at home.

Vacuuming for Fleas

Every part of your home must be vacuumed, including furnishings, carpeting, pet bedding, and any crevices where larvae might be found. The flea pest control cost for vacuuming is between $80 and $140. The chemicals that kill the adult fleas may not always kill the eggs. Vacuuming helps remove the eggs making the treatment more effective. After vacuuming, the exterminator chemically treats your home with a pesticide that kills fleas. Every part of your home must be treated, including subfloors and basements, to ensure no fleas or flea eggs are missed. Flea exterminators offer professional vacuuming services to target fleas.

Flea Bombs

The flea pest control cost for bombs is around $100 to $200 for application and clean-up. This method is used when the infestation is limited to a single room in the home. An aerosol can releases the pesticide into the area, and over several hours, the fleas and their eggs are killed. On average, flea bombs take between two to four hours to work, depending on room size.

Spray for Fleas

The full spray treatment takes four to six hours on average from start to finish and costs around $150 to $300 for treating the house with a pesticide. The pest control technician sprays corners, crevices, and other areas suspected of having live bugs or eggs. Spraying for fleas is usually ideal for localized treatment areas.

Flea Fumigation

Flea fumigation refers to using foggers or bombs in multiple rooms throughout the home. Flea fumigation and clean-up costs range around $175 to $350. Spray applications may also be included with the foggers to confirm all bugs are exterminated. Clean-up is needed following fumigation to remove any of the carcasses.

Heat Treatment for Fleas

Exposure to high heat kills fleas and their larvae and eggs. The cost of professional flea removal with heat averages around $300 to $500. This method can be used when the infestation is limited to areas such as the bedroom. The flea exterminator uses heating devices to increase the room temperature to at least 140 degrees Fahrenheit. Heat treatments typically take an hour and require clean-up.

Cost to Exterminate Fleas by Location

The location of the flea infestation impacts the overall cost of treating the home. Depending on whether the fleas are in your yard, outdoor area, bedroom, kitchen, or the whole house, extermination costs range from $75 to $400. Fleas are a nuisance and can be a challenge to get rid of if they spread throughout your property. Contact a pest control specialist at the first sign of fleas to avoid widespread treatment costs. The following are average prices you can expect to pay to get rid of fleas in your home.

Flea Removal for the Yard

Yard flea removal is usually low-cost for small to medium-sized properties. To remove fleas from a standard lawn, expect to pay around $75 to get rid of fleas in your yard. Fleas can damage the appearance of your lawn since they burrow in the ground and thin out grassy areas. If you need to treat acreage for fleas, the cost increases substantially because more products and labor hours are needed.

How to Get Rid of Fleas Outside

Fleas can damage multiple areas of your outdoor space. The approximate cost of treating fleas outside is $100 for standard-size properties measuring about 0.25 acres. Besides thinning the grass, the burrowing causes grass and plants to turn brown and wither. The cost to get rid of fleas outside is comparable to removing fleas from the lawn. However, you may treat areas such as patios, decks, or porches if you worry about a large-scale flea infestation.

How to Get Rid of Fleas in Bed

When you have fleas in the bed, these pests have access to anyone who sleeps in the room. Since bedrooms are usually a moderate size treatment area, pest control professionals charge around $150 for treatment. If the fleas are the type that bites humans, you could receive multiple bites from the pests. Fleas in the bed required multiple steps to be removed. First, all bedding is removed from the room, washed in hot water, and dried on high heat. Any carpeted areas near the bed must be vacuumed to remove live bugs or eggs. A pesticide application in the bedroom removes fleas that have infested any cracks and crevices.

How to Get Rid of Fleas in Kitchen

Getting rid of fleas in the kitchen must be addressed immediately. Flea treatment in the kitchen costs around $175 because pest control technicians must take extra precautions before treating the room. The thought of any kind of pest in the kitchen is unappetizing and makes homeowners worry about food contamination. Fleas may also bite any pets that come into the kitchen. Precautions include covering any surfaces that may come into contact with food.

Remove Fleas from Home

Fleas can invade a home and build up populations in areas such as the carpet, pet bedding, and furniture. The cost of removing fleas from a home is $400 and up. High infestations make pets and family members more susceptible to flea bites. Removing fleas involves targeting multiple areas where they have infested. One of the common areas is the carpet. Flea infestation in carpet can be targeted by using flea foggers. After using pesticides on the fleas, all furnishings and carpets should be vacuumed to remove any carcasses and potential live bugs or eggs that survived the treatments. Whole-house treatment and clean-up take six hours or longer.

Flea Extermination Cost by Level of Infestation

The cost to treat fleas depends on how severe the bug infestation is in the home. A small infestation can cost from $100 to $175. A severe infestation costs from $325 to $550. If you catch the flea problem early on, then you may only need a single treatment to eradicate the pests. Medium to severe flea infestations may require multiple treatment visits. The following is the average cost you can expect to pay to control fleas at home.

Small Flea Infestation

Small flea infestations cost between$100 and $175 to treat. The infestation may be limited to one room of the home or your lawn area. A single pesticide application and topical pet flea treatments could be adequate for removal. The professional assesses the home before treatment to confirm that fleas have not spread. This visit is usually included in the treatment cost and is not an extra fee.

Medium Flea Infestation

Medium flea infestations refer to an incidence when the fleas have invaded multiple areas of the home. The average range to treat a medium flea infestation is between $175 and $300. An initial visit costs at least $100, with subsequent visits $75 or more. Perhaps, pet hosts carried the fleas around your home and yard.

Severe Flea Infestation

Severe flea infestations cost an average of $325 to $550 to treat and require one large-scale treatment and at least two follow-up visits. When pets are not treated with topical ointments or fleas have bred throughout an entire home, a massive flea infestation may occur. If fleas have infested a large outdoor area, you are likely faced with a significant flea problem. If you have more than an acre of outdoor space to treat, costs increase.

Flea Extermination Price by Treatment Frequency

If fleas are present on your property, pests will likely return and attach to a pet host. Single flea treatments cost an average of $270 or more depending on the size of the area. To keep fleas out of the home for good, homeowners can consider a routine pest control contract. Contracts are year-round and typically involve the pest specialist spraying for fleas every three months. Fleas don’t hibernate, so treatment should be done in the winter months too. A flea exterminator’s monthly contract may cost as little as $75 per visit. If you have an annual contract and the flea exterminator comes quarterly, the cost will be $400 annually or $100 per visit.

Professional Flea Treatment Cost by Company

The cost of treating a flea infestation on your property or in your home varies depending on the company you choose. What’s vital is that you know and trust the company and have references from other clients. The two following companies are well-known flea treatment providers that offer their services all around the US.

Terminix Flea Treatment

On average, flea treatments from Terminix cost between $290 and $590. Of course, these costs vary depending on the severity of the flea infestation, the location, and if consecutive treatments are necessary. An initial treatment from Terminix costs $190, with quarterly follow-up treatments that cost $99 per visit. These follow-up treatments are meant to eradicate any residual flea eggs or breeding that may the initial treatment not have been removed. Total prices vary, as some infestations require more follow-up treatments than others.

Orkin Flea Treatment

An equally well-known flea treatment provider, Orkin, offers flea treatments ranging from $250 to $600. Orkin’s initial flea treatment price depends on the size of the infested location, whether it’s a studio apartment, a large home, a business, or another location. An initial spray ranges from $150 to $200, but it’s important to remember that follow-up sprays will almost certainly be necessary to ensure that the infestation is truly eradicated. These follow-up sprays start around $200, and prices go up in correlation with the size of the location. Orkin may also charge a consultation fee for expertise and recommendations

Fleas Exterminator Cost

Because a flea infestation can be so widespread, getting rid of them can be a multi-step process. First, a professional inspects the home to ensure that the problem is truly fleas and not another pest. These inspections are usually done at no additional cost.

Professional flea control treatment costs more than DIY methods, but it has a higher effectiveness level 3. Home improvement store treatments are not commercial-grade and require multiple applications to work. Licensed professionals are qualified to use commercial foggers, sprays, and heat treatments to quickly and efficiently get rid of fleas.

Initial flea exterminator prices start at $75 to $100 for a flat service fee. If a flat rate isn’t charged, expect to pay around $50 to $75 per hour for a professional pest control technician. Flea inspection cost is usually included with the price of treatment visits. The pest control technician checks the home to locate areas where the fleas have infested. Flea inspections and treatments are usually performed at a single visit. If you choose not to use the flea exterminator, the company may charge $50 or more for the inspection.

Most exterminators recommend a follow-up visit within four to six weeks. Because of the flea’s life cycle and hatching larvae, they could reinfest your home. This follow-up visit consists of an additional spray to kill the newly hatched fleas before they lay new eggs and costs around $75.

How Long Does It Take to Exterminate Fleas

Getting rid of fleas can take an extended period. If the fleas in the home are found soon enough, professional eradication can be completed in a few short weeks. Medium to severe flea infestations often take several treatment visits. According to the American Kennel Club, it takes around three to four months to get fleas out of the home as they go through their life cycle.

Types of Fleas

Most people aren’t aware that more than 2,500 types of fleas exist, 300 of which can be found in the United States. We will be addressing the most common versions that cause problems: cat fleas, dog fleas, rodent fleas, human fleas, and bird fleas.

Cat Fleas

Cat fleas are the most common type of domestic flea. They measure around 2mm as adults and have a reddish-brown color. They prefer the blood of cats but will also infest dogs and humans. Cat fleas rarely leave their hosts once they have access to a reliable blood source. On average, they live up to eight days on a host, with the potential to live longer on long-haired animals.

If you suspect that your cat has fleas, try combing your pet with a fine-toothed flea comb, looking for any small, reddish-brown, or black dots. Not only can cat fleas cause your pet discomfort by biting, but they can carry various diseases. These consequences, combined with the potential for a large-scale infestation in your home or property, make cat fleas a serious issue that should be addressed immediately if you suspect that your pet has them.

Dog Fleas

Dog fleas are the most common parasite that your furry friend is likely to encounter. Dog fleas have a very close physical resemblance to cat fleas with a reddish-brown body color and an adult size between 1mm and 2mm. The only difference is the shape of the head, which is more rounded. They prefer the blood of dogs but will infest other hosts, with rabbits being this parasite’s other preferred host.

Dog fleas can live for 7 to 14 days, with females laying up to 40 eggs per day. This prolific nature makes dog fleas a serious concern for your home and property, given that they can reproduce and spread so quickly. On top of the discomfort of dog flea bites, these parasites can cause severe cases of flea allergy dermatitis on your dog’s skin. While dog fleas cannot survive on human blood, they can create discomfort by biting human skin.

Rodent Fleas

Rodent fleas are also known as tropical rat fleas and oriental rat fleas. They have a tan body coloring, lighter than cat and dog fleas. Adult rodent fleas measure around 2mm to 3mm. They prefer rats, mice, and rabbits but will jump to cats, dogs, or people.

Rodent fleas are known to be the primary carrier of the bubonic plague, which is most widely known for killing masses of Europeans in the 14th century. A few cases of the bubonic plague persist today. Unfortunately, rat fleas can also transmit murine typhus, which can reach humans through infected rats. Like dog fleas, rodent fleas cause flea allergy dermatitis on animals’ skin. On top of that, rodent fleas serve as intermediate hosts for tapeworms. Proper outdoor landscaping can deter rodents that might carry rodent fleas.

Human Fleas

Human fleas are also known as house fleas. Despite their name, human fleas have a wide range of hosts beyond people. Human fleas have a dark brown body color with a flat shell. As adults, they measure between 2mm and 4mm. They are drawn to human hair because of its warmth. Unfortunately, once a human flea lodges itself into a head of hair, it can be quite difficult to remove. Humans should resort to using flea shampoo (usually made for dogs, as there are few made for humans) or dish soap to kill the fleas.

While most animal fleas can spread quickly undetected because they are “lost” in the animal’s fur, human fleas have adapted to survive under human skin. They can reproduce and multiply quickly, like other types of fleas, if not eradicated quickly. With its antimicrobial and antiparasitic properties, tea tree oil is an effective tool to keep fleas away once you have gotten rid of them.

Bird Fleas

Bird fleas have also been called hen or chicken fleas. Adult bird fleas have flattened body shapes with a medium brown coloring. As adults, the bugs measure between 2mm to 3mm. They mostly prefer poultry and other birds but will also inhabit a cat, dog, or human.

Like other types of fleas, bird fleas survive by consuming the blood of their host, which can be particularly harmful to young birds. Bird fleas are most common in the spring when birds are reproducing and nesting. The larvae feed on the materials found in birds’ nests and hatch in the spring around the same time as baby birds. Bird fleas move by jumping based on the shadows that they perceive. Facing the light, they jump if a shadow passes in front of them, hoping to land on a host. This pattern means that bird fleas can easily end up away from the nest where they began. This is how fleas enter homes or offices.

All About Fleas

Fleas are tiny, dark-colored, wingless parasites that feed on mammal blood. They have a backward bent spine that makes them extremely difficult to brush away once they grab on a host. Their incredibly strong legs enable them to jump from host to host. While they cannot fly, fleas can cover great distances. Fleas pass from host to host even if they only come within a few feet of one another.

An interesting fact about fleas is that they have an unusual life cycle. The life cycle of a flea includes four stages: egg, larva, pupa, and adult. The flea lays eggs on an animal host. The eggs fall off the host onto yards, bedding, furniture, and flooring. The eggs hatch into larvae and feed until they form a cocoon. From the pupa, the fleas hatch as adults and must consume blood to survive. The entire life cycle takes an average of 21 days.

Where Are Fleas Found?

Fleas are found in multiple locations inside and outside of the home. The biggest reason you don’t want fleas in your home is that it is challenging to get rid of them. Adults lay eggs in crevices and cracks around your home and in your pet’s bedding. Fleas multiply quickly. So, even if you get rid of the initial adults, you may find your home reinfested within a few weeks. Since fleas travel by animal hosts, they can access any area that a pet can. Fleas will infest a lawn or garden outside the home. Inside your house, fleas are most often found in pet beds and carpets. If you have carpets, the fleas may reside inside the fibers.

On a pet, fleas hide inside the fur in select regions of the body. A flea will infest a pet’s neck, back, and belly. If a pet starts to scratch these regions, it could indicate the animal is carrying around fleas.

Are Fleas Harmful to Humans?

Fleas may cause the host to become anemic due to blood loss. Fleas may cause allergic reactions, itching, and secondary infections due to scratching. According to the vet-curated website Pet Med, fleas can bite a human and transmit diseases such as cat scratch fever and plague. The fleas don’t live on humans but can repeatedly bite if you come into contact with them. Not all fleas carry diseases, but there is no way to know for sure that the fleas in your home are clean. It’s best to eradicate them as soon as you notice a problem to be safe.

Signs of a Flea Infestation

Because fleas are so small, their bites mimic the bites of other insects. You may not realize your house has fleas until the infestation has grown beyond your ability to easily get rid of it. The most common sign of a flea infestation is the presence of flea dirt. Flea dirt looks like black pepper sprinkled over your pets, their bedding, and other areas where your pets lay. These flakes are not made of dirt, however, but are the flea feces. Flea dirt is dried blood that the fleas excrete after eating. If you are unsure whether or not what you are seeing is flea dirt, wet a paper towel and sprinkle the flakes on top. Flea dirt will spread out, dissolving into a red color in the water.

You may also see signs of the fleas themselves. Fleas are very tiny--less than ⅛-inch in size--and may show up best on light-colored fabrics or hair. You may see them jumping or moving through your pet’s hair or bedding.

Finally, you may notice signs of a flea infestation if you and your family are experiencing frequent bites around the ankles. If your pets are scratching excessively, seem depressed, or are losing hair, fleas may be the cause.

How to Spot Fleas

The first step for spotting fleas is to check for parasites on pets in the home. Run a comb through the pet’s coat and then check the bristles for small black dots. You may find flea droppings or live bugs in the comb. Another method is to place a white towel under your pet and rub their coat vigorously. Check the paper for any fleas or flea droppings. Kill any live bugs by drowning them in soapy water.

If your pet has fleas, the home is likely to have an infestation too. Areas to check for the bugs include pet beds, carpeting, and furniture pieces. Perform a visual inspection to look for black flea droppings or live bugs. All areas, especially pet bedding, should be searched for flea eggs. Flea eggs appear as small, white oval sacs. If you have trouble spotting the fleas or eggs, use a magnifying glass. Another method to spot fleas on carpets and other types of flooring is to wear white socks. Walk around the home to see if any fleas or droppings are found on the bottom of the socks.

What Attracts Fleas?

Fleas can be attracted to their hosts, or a particular location, for a multitude of reasons. Chief among these enticing factors are warm areas, the potential for feeding, sudden movement, dark spaces, and exhaled breath. When it comes to warm areas, fleas seek areas that are at or above 65 degrees Fahrenheit. This is why fleas are drawn to pets’ or humans’ warm skin, hair, or fur. Even during colder seasons, fleas can settle into homes kept at or above 65 degrees, reemerging during the summer months.

As previously mentioned, female fleas can produce 40 to 50 eggs per day. When these eggs fall off the flea’s host, they typically settle into dark spaces or corners where they can develop and grow safely. While this development process may be completed in ten days, the flea will generally stay dormant until they sense a host, up to one year after hatching. If they emerge without feeding, the flea will automatically die.

Fleas find their hosts by sensing movement or the carbon dioxide that is leaving a host’s breath. Upon sensing movement, a flea can jump as much as one foot to attach to a new host to start consuming its blood. These factors and more attract fleas to infest a home, outdoor area, building, or other location.

How to Prevent Fleas

Homeowners often wonder what to do after flea extermination. Focus on preventing recurring infestations. If you just spent several months going through pest control treatment, you don’t likely want to go through the process again. Since fleas attach to pets outdoors, start by taking care of your lawn. Fleas are less likely to reside in short, neatly trimmed grassy areas. Lawn pesticides can be applied seasonally in the fall and spring.

Protecting your dog or cat against fleas is another preventative strategy. Talk to your vet about using a topical treatment. Liquid or powder topical treatments may be applied to the pet’s coat. A flea bath could also be given to prevent your pet from playing host to fleas.

Keeping your home clean, especially rooms where any pets reside helps control fleas. Wash pet beds and pet blankets routinely using hot water and soap. Vacuum furnishings and carpets to get rid of any potential live bugs or eggs.

Pet Flea Treatment

The first part of the treatment involves treating the animal or animals that brought fleas into your home. You may give the pet a flea bath using a chemical shampoo to kill the fleas and larvae on your pet. Also, an oral or topical medication administered by your veterinarian helps rid your pet of fleas.

Speak to your vet to determine the most suitable treatment for your pet. Many flea medications are administered by weight, so be sure to get a current weight for your pet before applying.

After your pet is treated, it’s important to keep them away from the house while the rest of the treatment is administered to avoid reinfestation. Flea treatments for pets cost around $10 for a bottle of flea shampoo and around $40 to $50 for oral and topical treatments per year. If your vet administers the treatment, there may be an additional $50 visit fee.

Flea Cleaning Service

Talk to a pest control specialist about whether services like carpet cleaning after flea treatment are offered. The flea exterminator may refer you to a cleaning agency to perform a deep clean following a pest control treatment. Carpet cleaning after an exterminator visit costs an average of $50 to $75 per room. Whole house cleaning averages $219 per visit. The clean-up rids the home of any dead fleas, eggs, larvae, and pupa. Keep the home clean as a preventative method for pest control.

Human Fleas vs Dog Fleas

Several differences may be noted between human fleas and dog fleas. The most noticeable being that human fleas can grow up to 4 mm large, while dog fleas typically only grow to be 2.5 mm long. As their names suggest, human fleas are adapted to survive and reproduce on humans, whereas dog fleas live on various animal hosts, including dogs and rabbits. Unlike dog fleas, human fleas have adapted to survive on and below human skin. Fog fleas lodge themselves into the fur of animals, biting the skin to consume blood.

Cat Fleas vs Dog Fleas

As the most common type of flea today, cat fleas prey on cats, dogs, and even humans. Cat fleas live for an average of eight days, whereas dog fleas can survive between 7 and 14 days. Both types of fleas reach around 2 mm in length and reproduce and spread at a rapid speed. Moreover, both the cat and dog flea can cause allergy dermatitis to develop on their host animal’s skin. While technically a different species, the differences between cat fleas and dog fleas can only be distinguished under a microscope. These tiny creatures can carry tapeworms, which can be extremely dangerous to both cats and dogs.

Additional Considerations and Costs

• If your pets are continuously picking up fleas, you may want to treat your yard. This can be done by keeping it dry, spreading cedar wood chips, using diatomaceous earth, or spraying pesticide every two weeks.
• Most pest control services only guarantee or warranty that your home remains free from fleas if you have a follow-up visit and use preventatives on your pets.
• Small biting insects in your home may not be fleas, but bedbugs. Bedbugs are most commonly found in sleeping areas, while fleas are more likely to be found near or on pets and pet bedding. Most pest control services offer a free inspection to determine which pest is in your home.
• Natural flea treatment options are available. For example, heat treatments rely on no chemical applications. On the DIY side, essential oils, such as tea tree, peppermint, and eucalyptus, are used as a holistic flea repellent. However, the recommended option is hiring a professional, since that’s the only thing that can guarantee getting rid of fleas.