Mice extermination costs $150–$550 in most cases, with the total price depending on infestation size, home layout, local labor rates, and treatment method. While it’s possible to handle a small, isolated problem on your own, do-it-yourself (DIY) methods often miss the root cause and can allow mice to return.
This guide explains mice extermination costs, outlines the key factors that influence pricing, and helps you choose between DIY solutions and professional pest control services. We also included tips from Dave Walters, a pest control technician featured in This Old House’s magazine.
Key Takeaways
- Professional mice extermination costs between $150 and $550, with most homeowners paying around $350 on average for a typical infestation.
- Extermination costs vary based on the severity of the infestation, home size, and treatment method, with whole-home fumigation costing $2,000 or more.
- You can use DIY methods to remove one or two mice, but full infestations require professional help.
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What Is the Average Cost of a Mouse Exterminator?
Our research shows that hiring a mouse exterminator costs an average of $350, with some professional exterminators charging between $75 and $125 per visit. Promptly dealing with a mouse infestation is crucial to maintaining a safe and healthy home. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), rodents carry harmful bacterial and viral diseases, like as salmonellosis and Lassa fever.
In addition to posing a health risk to you and your loved ones, mice can damage your home by tunneling through your walls, chewing electrical wires, and gnawing on your furniture. To reduce the risk of structural or electrical damage to your home, we recommend removing your mice infestation sooner rather than later.
Expert Insights
- Eliminating mice requires more than just setting traps, according to a pest control expert featured in a past This Old House magazine issue. “It means enacting a three-point plan: Cut off the food supply, seal mice out of the house, and kill or remove any mice left inside,” they added.
Note: The cost data in this guide was sourced from HomeGuide, unless otherwise specified.
What Factors Affect Mice Extermination Pricing?
Several factors can affect the cost of mice extermination for your home. Every situation is different, so we suggest requesting a consultation with a trained professional to learn about your options. Below is a breakdown of the main factors that influence mice exterminator costs.
Infestation Severity
The more mice in your home, the more work it takes to get rid of them. A small infestation in one room will cost less to handle than a large infestation spread across multiple areas of your house. However, severe infestations, like removing mice from your walls, may require multiple visits and additional treatments, which can increase the overall cost.
Home Size
Treatment of larger homes requires more time, labor, and materials. If mice have spread throughout your entire home, an exterminator will need to inspect and treat more areas, which increases the cost compared to treating a single room.
Treatment Type
Exterminators use various pest control methods to address mice, including traps and baits. The cost will depend on the type of treatment and the extent of the work required. Eco-friendly or humane options, for example, may cost more than standard traps or chemicals. Additionally, many exterminators offer exclusion services to prevent mice from coming back. This process includes sealing cracks and holes around your home to stop future infestations. While this adds to the upfront cost, it can save you money and stress in the long run.
Home Location
Where you live can impact pricing. If you live in a rural area, an exterminator may charge more due to travel expenses. In urban areas, prices might also run higher because of increased demand or cost of living.
Emergency or After-Hours Service
If you need an exterminator to handle a pest issue urgently, including over a weekend or late at night, expect to pay more for the convenience of immediate service. You may pay an additional $100–$200 for emergency services during the week or outside regular hours.
Signs You Need a Mice Exterminator
A small infestation of fewer than five mice is typically something most homeowners can handle with traps and retail pest control products. However, mice infestations with more than five rodents are much more difficult to eliminate without professional help.
Consider calling a pest control professional if you see any of the following signs of a mouse infestation around your home:
- Bad odors
- Damaged cardboard boxes, insulation, or paper products
- Damaged food or food containers
- Dark streaks along floorboards and walls (called rodent runways)
- Gnaw marks on floorboards, wooden furniture, or wires
- Small, foul-smelling mounds along rodent runways
- Tiny, pellet-like droppings
- Unusual scratching, thumping, or rustling sounds within walls
Pro Tip
- Walters recommends placing unset traps with bait to determine whether or not you have a mouse problem. After a few days, check to see if the traps still have the bait. If the bait is gone, you now know the general vicinity where the mice reside.
DIY vs. Professional Mice Extermination
The choice between removing your mouse problem yourself and hiring an exterminator depends on the size of your infestation. If you are comfortable using common pest control products, like as poison baits and snap traps, we recommend the DIY route. However, if your extermination efforts aren’t effective, consider hiring a pest control professional.
DIY Mice Extermination
The DIY route offers several options, including traps, poisons, and natural repellents. Below is a breakdown of popular DIY mouse removal methods:
- Snap traps: These traps use a small metal bar and a trigger that closes on a mouse when it moves. It is a more humane option for eliminating mice because it kills them quickly.
- Glue traps: Glue traps consist of a board coated with a strong adhesive that immobilizes mice when they step on it. While effective, glue traps are inhumane because they kill the trapped rodent slowly via dehydration.
- Live traps: Also called “no-kill” traps, these traps capture mice alive with a one-way door. Once caught, you can transport the mice and release them away from your home. These traps are reusable and humane, provided you check them frequently to prevent dehydration.
- Bait stations: These traps use poison to kill multiple mice within a short period. The mice consume the bait, go back to their nest, and die. These traps require homeowners to locate and dispose of the rodents after they die. They’re inhumane as the poison is not fast-acting. In addition, bait stations can seriously harm pets and small children who accidentally consume the bait, so you’ll need to be extra careful when using this product.
- Electronic traps: These traps use electric shocks to kill the mice. Like snap traps, electronic traps are more humane than other mouse-removal products because they kill mice quickly.
The table below shows pricing information for each type of mouse trap, sourced from retail sites Lowe’s and Home Depot.
| Type of Trap | Price Range |
|---|---|
| Snap traps | $3–$6 |
| Glue traps | $5–$15 |
| Bait stations | $8–$20 |
| Live traps | $10–$30 |
| Electronic traps | $20–$50 |
Pro Tip
- An effective and inexpensive bait that lures mice onto a trap is peanut butter, says Walters. Make sure you add a small amount of bait so the trap can trigger properly, as too much allows the mice to nibble without setting off the trap.
Professional Mice Extermination
While DIY mouse removal can be effective for small, localized infestations, larger ones can be difficult to successfully complete without professional assistance. Professional exterminators have the knowledge, tools, and products to eliminate your mouse problem efficiently. However, this expertise comes at a higher pest control cost than over-the-counter products available in retail stores.
Do Mice Come Back After Extermination?
Mice can return after extermination, whether you handle it yourself or hire a professional. The most common cause is a nearby untreated infestation or proximity to a mouse-prone location. For example, if you live in an apartment and the building next door has an infestation, mice can migrate from one location to another. Homes next to open fields, forests, or other mouse-prone areas must maintain consistent pest prevention to keep mice out.
Other major reasons mice may return to a home include the presence of attractants and inadequate prevention. Mice will continuously return if you don’t properly reduce food waste, trash, standing debris, overgrown grass, or other attractants.
However, our research found that mice are less likely to return when exterminators are used than with DIY methods. For instance, professionals have access to higher-potency baits and pesticides that can eliminate mice more quickly and effectively. In addition, a professional will know which prevention techniques to implement to reduce the likelihood of mice reentering your home.
Questions To Ask an Exterminator Before Hiring Them
When performed correctly by a trained technician, pest extermination can protect your home and give you peace of mind. However, some pesticides and removal methods can pose risks to your health and home. To minimize these risks, we recommend hiring a reputable professional who can apply pesticides properly. Below are some questions to ask when vetting a mouse extermination service provider.
How much experience do your technicians have with removing mice?
A technician’s training and experience with specific pests indicate their ability to handle the job effectively. Always ask about the company’s experience with mice extermination before committing to their service.
Will you provide a written estimate?
A written estimate outlines the expected charges for your service. Review the estimate carefully and ask about any unclear terms or potential changes to ensure there are no surprises on service day.
Can you identify the location of the mouse infestation?
Reputable providers have extensive experience identifying common—and uncommon—locations where mice nest around a home. A thorough rodent control service includes locating the infestation and implementing effective sealing measures to prevent mice from re-entering your home. Ensure the provider includes this in their plan.
Are the products or traps that you use safe for pets and/or children?
Reputable pest control providers prioritize customer safety. Ask about the potential risks of their methods and the precautions they’ll take to protect you, your family, and your pets.
Do you offer a service guarantee? If so, how long does it last?
Many reputable companies offer satisfaction guarantees, including refunds for unsatisfactory work or free follow-up treatments for infestations they couldn’t eliminate. Confirm that they offer a service guarantee and what it covers.
Is your company licensed and insured?
Pest control professionals must meet strict certification requirements set by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and, in many cases, additional state regulations. Verify that the company is properly licensed and insured. Avoid exterminators who can’t show you the proper licensing.
Is Mice Extermination Worth the Cost?
Our research shows that hiring a professional mouse exterminator is worth the cost for multiple reasons. Mice can cause significant damage to your home by chewing through wires, insulation, and even wood, leading to costly repairs. They also pose serious health risks, as their droppings and urine can spread diseases.
Professional exterminators have the tools, expertise, and knowledge to eliminate the mice infestation and prevent future issues. While DIY methods might seem affordable, they often address only part of the problem, leaving you at risk of reinfestation and potentially higher costs over time.
However, if your infestation is small and localized and you are confident in identifying and sealing entry points, you can handle mouse extermination with store-bought traps and repellents. While this approach can save you money, it requires time, effort, and vigilance.
Weighing the severity of your problem and your comfort level with DIY solutions can help you decide if professional services are the best option. If you want to hire professional help, we recommend Terminix and Orkin for their extensive industry experience, rigorous training, and comprehensive pest control plans.
FAQs About Mice Extermination Cost
How do I know if I have a mouse infestation in my home?
There are several signs you have a mouse infestation in your home. You will likely find small droppings throughout your home, especially in areas with potential food sources, such as your kitchen. These droppings are dark brown and typically measure around one-quarter inch. Mice also scratch at walls, and you may hear them scurrying at night.
Can a mouse infestation make you sick?
Yes, a mouse infestation can potentially harbor contagious diseases, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Mice transmit these diseases through their saliva, urine, and feces.
What is integrated pest management?
An integrated pest management (IPM) plan combines several strategies for residential and commercial pest control. IPM may include the use of pesticides, but it will also incorporate environmental strategies based on the pest’s behavior, habitat, and life cycle. For example, exterminators may use pheromones to discourage reproduction.
How long does it take to get rid of mice?
It typically takes a few days to a week to eliminate a small infestation using traps or bait. Larger infestations may take several weeks and multiple professional visits. Sealing entry points and removing food sources can help speed up the process.
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