How Much Does It Cost to Exterminate Spiders?
The average cost to exterminate spiders is $300, with a typical range between $150 and $500. However, a small treatment could cost as little as $50, whereas a major infestation in a large home could be $1,000 or more. This guide breaks down the cost to exterminate spiders and the factors that affect it.
Average Cost to Exterminate Spiders
| Average Cost | High Cost | Low Cost |
|---|---|---|
| $300 | $500 | $150 |
Spider Extermination Costs by Square Foot
Because a spider extermination treatment can vary greatly depending on the size of the area, it’s often best to understand the standard cost per square foot for getting rid of spiders around your house.
Keep in mind that you’re not necessarily talking about the overall square footage of your home. If the problem is confined to the basement, you would just calculate the cost based on the square footage of just the basement.
Typical cost range per square foot: $0.15 to $0.20
2,000 square feet typical cost range: $300 to $400
4,000 square feet typical cost range: $600 to $800
Spider Extermination Cost by Frequency of Treatments
The yearly cost of spider extermination treatments can vary based on how many times per year you request them. This is especially true for regular preventative treatments, as some extermination companies will offer a discount for regular ongoing treatment plans. You may need to request a few more frequent treatments during peak spider season in your area.
Here is a breakdown of the cost by frequency of treatments:
| Frequency of Treatment | Average Cost |
|---|---|
| One-time | $100 – $350 |
| Monthly | $600 – $1,250 (per year) |
| Quarterly | $350 – $750 (per year) |
| Annually | $300 – $550 |
Preventive vs. Reactive Spider Treatments
When it comes to spiders, you can either wait until they become an infestation or get your home treated for spiders proactively so the problem never gets that bad. However, in the long run, a proactive approach could be more expensive.
Preventative Spider Treatments
Regular monthly or quarterly treatments cost between $100 to $500, depending on the size of the home and frequency of visits, and will likely keep spider infestations at bay. If spiders are not common in your area year-round, this could be more expensive than waiting until you see spiders in your home.
However, if you wait and end up with a large infestation spanning multiple rooms, the solution to exterminate them could end up costing more than regular preventative treatments might be. Many homeowners choose preventative treatments for the peace of mind knowing your home is arachnid-free.
Reactive Spider Treatments
Reactive treatments get rid of spiders once you already have an infestation. These treatments range in cost from $100 to $500 depending on the severity of the infestation, size of the home, and frequency of visits from a professional spider exterminator.
Cost to Exterminate Spiders Yourself
Whether you’re dealing with brown recluses, black widows, or any other type of spider, you’ll want to get the problem taken care of right away.
The cost to exterminate spiders yourself is low. At most, you'll spend $50 on traps and sprays, and you may spend less than $10 total.
Spider traps: A spider trap like a glue board is an affordable way to deal with these pests, and you can buy them for less than $10 online. However, it may not be enough to deal with a large infestation.
Spider sprays: Because they kill on contact, a spray is best for dealing with an infestation head-on by applying it to the area where you see them. Like the traps, they often cost less than $10. But it still may not be enough and can leave a toxic residue.
The costs could go up if you buy extra equipment, such as a vacuum cleaner, to suck them up. You can buy specialized vacuums for bugs online for between $40 to $80.
If you want to go beyond bug spray and vacuums and get more professional tools, you can purchase your own sprayer and chemicals, although this is unadvisable if you’re inexperienced, as it may be unsafe.
However, if you’re curious, here are some of the prices you can expect to pay for the materials needed to do the job yourself:
Pesticide sprayer: $75–$350
Pesticide: $30–$350 per gallon
Respirator: $30
Chemical-resistant gloves: $15–$30
DIY vs. Hire a Spider Exterminator
If you see a spider here and there, keeping some spray handy and laying down traps might be enough. But when sprays and traps just aren’t controlling your spider population, it’s time to hire a professional. At that point, your infestation is deep and will take an exterminator to get rid of them.
Contact a spider exterminator near you for a consultation. A professional can give a homeowner peace of mind that their home is spider-free. Also, you can often find exterminators who use organic pest control methods to deal with spiders, keeping your home safe from toxic chemicals.
Frequently Asked Questions
The surest sign of a spider infestation is, of course, seeing lots of spiders, particularly in one area. However, there are other telltale signs, such as webs and lots of flying insects, which tend to attract spiders. And if you see hundreds of spiderlings, that's a sign that eggs are hatching.
How long an extermination takes depends on the treatment and size of the area requiring treatment. If it's a localized one, you should let your house air out for several hours before returning inside to be safe. Fumigation can take days. Talk to your extermination professional, who can tell you exactly.
A spider extermination treatment can last a few months, but it’s best to get recurring routine treatments about four times per year (once every quarter) to ensure your home stays spider-free. An extermination professional can recommend an exact amount of time to go between treatments based on your geographical location and the season.
