How Much Does Bee Removal Cost in 2025?
Bee removal costs an average of $280
On average, it costs $280 to remove bees, but it can cost as little as $75 or up to $2,000 for complex infestations.
Factors that impact your total bee removal cost include bee type, infestation type and size, removal method, location, and potential repairs after removal.
Hiring a professional to remove bees is critical to maintaining your safety and effectively getting rid of the infestation.
This article was updated using automation technology and thoroughly reviewed for accuracy by HomeAdvisor Editor Ryan Noonan.
Bee removal costs an average of $280, with most homeowners spending between $150 and $500. Costs can be as low as $75 but may reach up to $2,000 for structural infestations requiring wall removal. Additional carpentry work can increase the total expense. In most cases, hiring a beekeeper is the best way to remove a beehive or swarm, and they often collaborate with local and national pest control companies.
Because bees play a vital role in our ecosystem, many states, such as Florida, Maine, and Arizona, regulate their extermination and removal. Check with your state's agriculture department and local city government for any special bee extermination provisions. Always call a beekeeper or licensed professional for identification and removal. Bees pollinate at least 30% of our food supply and 90% of wild plants.
Bee Removal Cost Factors
A number of factors influence the cost of bee removal, from the size and location of the nest or swarm to the cost of repairing any damage the colony caused during its stay.
Size of the Infestation
The number of bees in the hive determines the cost because the larger the hive, the more time-consuming and difficult the removal. Smaller infestations can cost as little as $180, while a severe one can cost up to $1,000.
Location
Bees nesting in your yard cost less to remove than those that nest close to or in your home. Additionally, when nests are behind walls, which is common with honey bees, the nests can be large and particularly difficult to get rid of. Carpenter bees, too, can be costly to remove, as they nest deep in wood, like your deck or your attic, and the damage they do can be expensive to repair.
Repairs
Because some bees cause damage to your property with their nest locations, you'll need to budget for the cost of repairs.
| Repair Type | Average Cost Range | Average Cost |
|---|---|---|
| Drywall repair | $275–$750 | $510 |
| Ceiling repair | $300–$1,000 | $650 |
| Deck repair | $250–$2,500 | $1,375 |
| Soffit replacement | $6–$20 per linear foot | $13 per linear foot |
| Trim repair | $310–$1,130 | $720 |
Removal Cost by Type of Bee
Different types of bees come with special considerations. A typical honey bee hive removal costs between $75 and $2,000, while other types may require less work. If you have a sting allergy or suspect you might, do not attempt removal yourself. The first step in addressing any infestation is proper identification. A local beekeeper or bee removal specialist is best equipped to handle this.
| Type of Bee | Cost Range per Treatment |
|---|---|
| Carpenter | $75–$500 |
| Honey | $75–$2,000 |
| Bumble | $75–$500 |
| Africanized (killer) | $100–$1,000 |
Carpenter
Carpenter bee removal costs between $75 and $500, with higher costs associated with necessary carpentry repairs. Carpenter bees are not particularly aggressive, and only the females sting. However, they can cause extensive damage to wood.
As their name suggests, carpenter bees burrow into wood to make their homes. They are commonly found in decks and attics and can cause significant structural damage if not removed promptly.
Honey
Honey bee removal costs range from $75 to $ 2,000. The broad cost range is due to the nesting location, which dictates the difficulty of removal and the associated costs. Additionally, honey bee nests can hold up to 50,000 bees and cover a large area. You may find a local beekeeper willing to remove and rehome the honey bees free of charge, as they acquire new bees for their hives. If no one is willing to take them, you will need to pay for professional removal.
Bumble
Bumble bee removal costs between $75 and $500. The cost of removing bumble bees is comparatively low because they don't damage property, their nests are small, and they're calm and non-aggressive unless threatened.
Bumble bees nest in or close to the ground, and they don't tend to nest close to properties. Because the nests are small, holding only up to 50 bees, many people don't bother having them removed unless they become a significant problem.
Africanized or "Killer Bee"
Africanized honey bees, also known as “killer bees” cost between $100 and $1,000 to remove. These aggressive bees don't cause structural damage to your home, but they are quick to attack and tend to attack and sting in large numbers. Their aggressive nature and tendency to swarm make them very dangerous, as large numbers of stings can cause significant illness or even prove fatal to anyone, even those not allergic to bee stings.
Cost by Bee Infestation Type
Removing an established nest is generally more challenging than removing a swarm, and the costs reflect that. Whether you are dealing with a swarm or a hive, it is best to call a professional to address the problem to avoid the risk of getting stung.
Hive Removal
Honey beehive removal can cost between $75 and $2,000, with higher costs applicable if the hive is in a hard-to-access location requiring additional carpentry costs. However, a local beekeeper may come and take a swarm of honey bees for free to add to their existing colonies.
Swarm Removal
Bee swarms cost between $125 and $200 to remove. A swarm is a group of bees, usually with a queen, looking for a new home. Since they have no hive to defend, they are very docile and easy to control. They are generally located in the open and require minimal equipment and removal time.
Cost by Removal Method
Extermination always comes with a fee, anywhere from $150 to $1,000. Relocation is sometimes free when a hive is healthy and done by a beekeeper. However, you can still expect to pay a removal specialist between $100 and $800. It all depends on hive accessibility, type, and location.
Always relocate a healthy hive rather than exterminate it. Hive numbers are on the decline due to Colony Collapse Disorder. Their impact on agriculture and ecosystems means keeping these creatures alive is a top priority.
Most large extermination companies recommend calling a local beekeeper and working alongside them to facilitate live relocation when possible. But live removal isn't always an option. Only a licensed professional, expert, or experienced beekeeper can determine if live removal is possible or if extermination is warranted.
Live Bee Relocation
A beekeeper or bee removal specialist carries out live removal. They first inspect the hive, determine if live relocation is possible, and then attempt to remove them using various methods.
Most specialists leave a swarm collection box to collect scout bees in the evening. Scouts hunt the surrounding area for food, returning in the evening. With no queen present, they often form a queenless swarm. Uncollected hiveless bees eventually die.
Beehive Extermination Considerations
Not all hives are savable. Safety issues due to the Africanized honey bee have resulted in states regulating extermination and relocation. Pesticides sprayed by untrained homeowners result in an unhealthy and unusable colony. Always consult a professional pest removal specialist or beekeeper for nest relocation or extermination. Never attempt removal yourself.
Tip: Ask your specialist if removal of the honey and honeycombs is part of the fee. If left behind, it can rot and attract other insects, pests, and other swarms looking for a home.
Free Bee Removal
Most of the time, you will pay for removal. It is a highly specialized process requiring specific tools and equipment. Removing a hive can also be time-consuming, especially when attempting live hive relocation. In some cases, a local beekeeper may remove easy-to-access hives free of charge if they are healthy; they gain a hive and honey, and you receive a bee-free home.
DIY vs. Hiring an Exterminator or Local Beekeeper
Most hives are not a DIY project and if you have an allergy, do not attempt to remove bees yourself. It may also not be clear whether you've got a bee or a wasp infestation. Wasps can be more challenging; don’t attempt removing them by yourself. If you suspect wasps, pay for the cost of wasp removal by hiring an exterminator.
Whenever possible, opt to relocate live swarms away from your property rather than exterminating them. However, do not attempt to remove a hive yourself. It can be dangerous, as you may misidentify bees as hornets or risk a confrontation with the aggressive Africanized honey bee.
Bees are beneficial and don't always need removal. The first step is to know when to call in bee experts to identify and assess the situation.
When you hear a thrumming buzz coming from overhead or inside a wall, it's always best to hire a pest control specialist or local beekeeper to identify and deal with the problem.
Questions to Ask Your Beekeeper
Not all beekeepers are the same. Similar to finding any professional, ensure your beekeeper has the knowledge, tools, and experience to handle your infestation. Some states, such as Florida, require beekeepers to have a pest removal license for infestations. Ask these questions when speaking with your local beekeeper:
Are you licensed for bee removal?
How much experience do you have in relocating hives?
Do you relocate the bees alive?
Do you remove the honeycomb and honey?
Do you have references?
What professional associations do you belong to?
How HomeAdvisor Gets Its Cost Data
No place is more important than your home, which is why HomeAdvisor connects homeowners with local pros to transform their houses into homes they love. To help homeowners prepare for their next project, HomeAdvisor provides readers with accurate cost data and follows strict editorial guidelines. After a project is complete, we survey real customers about the costs to develop the pricing data you see, so you can make the best decisions for you and your home. We pair this data with research from 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.
Frequently Asked Questions
Swarms of bees stay for just a few hours, but can remain for two or three days. Under the right conditions, beehives can last indefinitely, as bee colonies are self-sustaining. The queen is the heart of the hive and can live for up to five years. As she ages and her egg production declines, the worker bees replace her by raising a new queen.
Worker bees live up to six months if born in the fall, but only about 40 days when born in the spring or summer. Drones live between three weeks and three months. The queen continuously lays eggs that quickly mature to replace bees that die. Ask your beekeeper or pest control specialist for further details based on the type of bees you have.
Ideally, you should remove a bee's nest very early in the morning or late in the evening when all of the bees are in the hive.
Bees do not fly at night, so although they may buzz and show some activity, they will not fly or swarm. This allows you to remove the entire colony safely in one attempt. While bees may be slightly more active in the early morning or late evening, most will be in the hive, minimizing the number of stragglers left behind.
After complete bee removal, stray workers will not regroup if all traces of honey, comb, and pheromones are thoroughly eliminated. Professional removal procedures seal access points and remove every residue that could attract bees, ensuring the area remains bee‐free. Follow-up inspections confirm that prevention measures are effective, so your home remains secure against any re-infestation.
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