How Much Does Carpet Beetle Extermination Cost?

Average Cost to Exterminate Carpet Beetles

Cost to Kill Carpet Beetles per Square Foot

Because carpet beetles are so small and because many people don't have any allergic reaction to their presence, it's easy to have a severe carpet beetle infestation without the homeowner being aware of the problem. So, if you suspect you have a carpet beetle problem, hire a professional exterminator right away. The sooner you get a handle on the problem, the less it'll cost you to fix.

Carpet beetle infestations spread rapidly and are destructive, so you'll need to get your whole home treated. Typically, your local bug exterminator has a minimum service charge, which is based on an average 1,500-square-foot property. Even if your property is smaller than this, you'll pay the same minimum price. 

For homes over this size, contractors charge an additional $25 to $55 per 1,000 square feet. 

Price of Carpet Beetle Extermination by Treatment Frequency

If your home is attractive to carpet beetles and you don't take preventative action after the initial treatment, or sometimes even if you do, carpet beetles can come back. In which case, you'll need additional treatments. 

Many pros advise repeated preventative treatments after the initial one-time treatment to stave off bigger infestations and more damage to your home long-term. Many also offer annual packages that reduce the overall cost of each treatment. Take a look at typical costs of treatment from one-time to monthly applications.

Cost to Get Rid of Carpet Beetles by Infestation Severity

The severity of the infestation has a direct impact on how much you'll pay to kill these destructive little critters. A small, contained infestation can cost as little as $150 while a large-scale severe infestation throughout your home can cost up to $4,000. This includes the cost of any repeat treatments, as, in severe cases, a single visit from the exterminator may not be enough to eradicate the problem.

Small Infestation

A small infestation of carpet beetles costs around $160 to exterminate. An infestation of this size is a small number of beetles confined to one area, such as a closet or pantry floor. In this case, only a mild, concentrated one-off treatment is necessary. However, to ward off future problems, the exterminator may recommend a light application of insecticide throughout the rest of the property as a precaution and an optional quarterly visit to be on the safe side.

Moderate Infestation

To eradicate a moderate infestation of carpet beetles, expect an exterminator to charge around $220. A medium infestation is one where the majority of the problem is contained to a single area, but with signs of the pests spreading to other areas. With this level of infestation, the damage from the beetles starts to be more noticeable and the contractor will likely find a few bugs outside of the concentration zone, with some questing beetles making their way outside the room to other areas of the home. 

The pro you choose will likely spray your whole home with insecticide and use a stronger pesticide at the site of the highest bug concentration. They'll also recommend ongoing preventative treatment for a few months to make sure they stay on top of the problem.

Large Infestation

A large carpet beetle infestation typically costs $470 to eliminate. With large infestations, the damage is more serious and obvious, and you'll likely see adult beetles in carpets, on the floors, and anywhere with natural fibers in your home.

You'll need a hardcore, widespread pesticide application to kill the current bug population, with multiple follow-up treatments to kill any remaining larvae that hatch after the first round of treatment. Once the pro has the initial infestation under control, they'll strongly recommend follow-up preventative insecticide applications monthly or quarterly and will likely recommend an annual service package. 

Also note that you'll likely need to factor in the cost of replacing carpets throughout your home into your budget.

Severe Carpet Beetle Infestation

Severe carpet beetle infestations cost an average of $3,000 to exterminate. In older homes, those with extended periods without habitation, and properties suffering from neglect and lack of housekeeping, extreme infestations of carpet beetles and other pests are commonplace. And standard insecticide or pesticide applications probably won't cut it. Instead, if the contractor identifies an extreme infestation, they'll recommend whole home heat treatment to eradicate the problem. 

Follow-up insecticide preventative treatments are also advisable in this situation, and the most cost-effective option is an annual, monthly, or quarterly service plan. Remember, too, that you'll need to replace all the carpets after a severe infestation.

Cost of Carpet Beetle Extermination by Method

There are three different treatment options for carpet beetles, with insecticide being the least expensive and heat treatment the most costly. Insecticide is the choice for mild infestations, pesticide for large infestations, and heat treatment for the most severe cases.

Insecticide

The average cost to exterminate carpet beetles with insecticide is $170. Insecticides are often the product of choice for small infestations and where the only incursion is insects or specifically carpet beetles. They're also a good choice if you have other insect problems in the home. 

These are potentially harmful chemicals, so your family and your pets need to vacate the home for at least a few hours until the chemicals are dry and deemed safe.

Pesticide

Pesticide treatments cost an average of $220. These products use different chemical combinations that can rid your home of insects and other pests like rodents. Some pests, like rats and mice, are the root cause of the carpet beetle problem, providing them with a constant food source. Therefore, if you have pests and insects, your pro will likely recommend pesticide application with follow-up preventative treatments. 

As with insecticide, pesticide uses harsh and potentially dangerous chemicals, so you and your pets need to vacate the property for at least several hours to allow the chemicals to dissipate.

Heat Treatment

Heat treatment to kill carpet beetles costs an average of $3,000. This is the most expensive option, but also the most effective and the most environmentally friendly. Heat treatment uses no chemicals, so there's no health risk to you or your pets once the temperature reaches a safe level again. 

The contractor places a device inside your home that raises the temperature to 130 degrees Fahrenheit, which is hot enough to kill carpet beetles at all stages of their life cycle, from eggs to adults. Once the temperature goes back to normal, it's safe for you to return.

Because the treatment is so effective, if you can get on top of what attracted carpet beetles to your home in the first place, you shouldn't need follow-up treatments. 

DIY vs. Professional Carpet Beetle Extermination

While there are products available to homeowners, they're not as effective as professional-grade solutions. Plus, mishandling pesticides and insecticides can have serious health consequences. 

You may be able to eliminate a small infestation yourself using natural methods, such as boric acid, diatomaceous earth, or carpet beetle traps. However, anything other than a mild, localized infestation really requires professional intervention. 

If you want to limit the amount you spend on carpet beetle control, you're better off taking preventative action yourself, including keeping all areas of the home clean and sanitized. You can hire a local cleaning service for regular cleaning or for a one-off or less frequent deep clean to make your home inhospitable to these pests.

FAQs About Carpet Beetle Infestation

Is carpet beetle extermination safe for pets?

Yes, there are carpet beetle treatments that are safe for pets. While most products are deemed safe once they're dry and a certain amount of time has passed since their application, others are safe from the get-go, including natural options such as DE. 

Talk to your contractor. They may already use a pet-safe product as standard, but if they don't you can request an eco-friendly, pet-safe product that leaves no potentially harmful residue. One common pet- and child-safe option is a product with pyrethrin as its active ingredient. This is a plant-based natural insecticide found in chrysanthemums that kills almost any insect that ingests it. In some instances, a derivative of pyrethrin is used, called deltamethrin. 

Does cedar oil repel carpet beetles?

Yes, cedar oil repels carpet beetles and many other bugs because of its strong scent. Additionally, cedar oil can dissolve larvae and eggs and suffocates and dehydrates mature carpet beetles. So this is a solid option for controlling small infestations and deterring them from entering your home.

How can I prevent carpet beetles?

Prevent carpet beetles by making your home less attractive to them: 

• Clean and sanitize floors and carpets regularly

• Vacuum carpets frequently

• Steam clean carpets regularly

• Keep food sealed in airtight containers

• Use bug screens on windows and doors

• Seal gaps and cracks around doors and windows

• Keep on top of rodent populations

How long does it take to get rid of carpet beetles?

It can take as little as 30 minutes or up to 4 hours to get rid of carpet beetles, depending on the type of treatment, the severity of the infestation, and the size of your home.

Are carpet beetles dangerous?

Carpet beetles aren't dangerous. They don't feed on live humans but instead eat dead animal products like the hair and skin we shed. However, some people are allergic to carpet beetles and can develop a nasty, itchy rash, red itchy eyes, digestive issues, an unexplained runny nose, and widespread itching skin. 

Once you exterminate the carpet beetles, clean, vacuum, and sanitize, the symptoms should quickly go away.