7 Best Pest Control Companies of 2023
Yes
31 states
A-
Yes
47 states
A+
Yes
45 states
A-
Yes
16 states
B
Pests can wreak havoc on your property, from destroying its structural integrity to damaging your belongings. When pest infestations get overwhelming, your best option is to look for a professional pest control company. But how do you know which company offers the best pest control?
We've curated a list of the best pest control companies in 2022. Read on to learn more about each company's pest control options, availability and pros and cons.
Our Top Picks for Best Pest Control
- Orkin – Best All-Around Service
- Terminix – Best for Termite Infestations
- Aptive Environmental – Most Eco-Friendly Pest Control Company
- Critter Control – Best For Wildlife Control
- Ehrlich By Rentokil – Best For Comprehensive Coverage
- Truly Nolen – Most Affordable Pest Control Service
- TruGreen – Best For Lawn Pest Control
Best Pest Control Reviews
- Best-trained technicians
- 30-day money-back guarantee
- Free revisits if pests return between treatments
- No online booking options
- Not available in Alaska, Wyoming and South Dakota
Orkin has been in the pest control business for over 120 years, and during that time, the company has created an extensive training program that sets it apart from other pest control services. In fact, for over 13 years, Orkin has won a spot in the Training Magazine's Top 125 list.
Orkin's technicians get trained in specialty facilities with over 400 locations in the country. They have to practice for over 160 hours in their first year and engage in multiple learning and personal development activities at different points in their career.
The company is highly reliable and dedicated to customer satisfaction. All customers get a 30-day money-back guarantee, which grants a refund for those unsatisfied with Orkin's service. If re-infestation occurs between treatments, technicians will pay you a second visit free of charge.
Orkin holds an A+ rating from the Better Business Bureau.
Availability and types of pests covered
Orkin is available in 47 states. It doesn't operate in Alaska, South Dakota and Wyoming.
As for pest coverage, the company will help you combat bed bugs, crickets, termites, fleas, ticks, hornets, roaches, mice, centipedes, scorpions, moths, spiders, wheel bugs, rodents, springtail, earwigs, carpenter ants and beetles.
- Free re-treatment for pests that return between services
- Dedicated account representatives for pest control services
- Innovative termite control solutions
- Comprehensive warranty options
- Not available in Vermont, South Dakota, Montana and North Dakota
Terminix has been offering commercial and residential pest control services for over 95 years. This long history of service has made it a household name in the termite control field. In 1927, Terminix was among the first pest control companies to receive a termite control patent.
The company offers three termite control plans, including annual termite inspection and treatment of Formosan termites, dry wood termites and subterranean termites. The methods it uses for treatment vary depending on the severity of the infestation. The most common ones include home fumigation, baiting systems and the use of subterranean liquid to deal with termites.
Aside from its innovative solutions, Terminix offers some high-quality guarantees for termites in the pest control industry. For instance, it guarantees the coverage of treatments or repairs from new termite damage for clients who keep a plan with them. However, this guarantee isn't available in Mississippi, Alabama, Louisiana and Florida.
Availability and types of pests covered
Terminix is available in 45 states, excluding Alaska, South Dakota, North Dakota, Vermont and Montana.
Besides termites, Terminix covers common pests like moths, mosquitoes, spiders, house ants, cockroaches, rats, mice, earwigs, paper wasps, crickets, centipedes, silverfish, scorpions, millipedes and bed bugs. It also covers rodents like possums, raccoons, skunks and squirrels.
- Environmentally friendly pest control solutions for homeowners
- Customizable pest control solutions
- Free, unlimited revisits for re-infestations in between treatments
- Only available in 32 states
- Termites and bed bugs not covered
Aptive Environmental has been on the scene only since 2015, but it has been building its brand slowly as the most eco-friendly pest control company. If you're looking for the Integrated Pest Management (IPM) approach, Aptive may be the best choice.
Aptive Environmental uses environmentally friendly pest control solutions that protect the environment and humans from harm. It's a member of the Environmental Protection Agency's (EPA) Pesticide Environmental Stewardship program, which aims to reduce the risks of pesticides in both agricultural and non-agricultural settings. The company also donates part of its profits to the United Nation's "Nothing But Nets" program, which looks to prevent the spread of malaria mosquitoes in at-risk countries.
Offering household and garden pest control services, Aptive Environmental ensures customers get highly comprehensive and customizable plans. With the Four Seasons Protection Plan, you first get technicians to visit your property and identify areas with a high risk of pest infestation. Once they make an estimation, you get a treatment plan that will keep your home pest-free throughout the year.
Aptive Environmental also has free unlimited re-services if pests return between treatments.
Availability and types of pest covered
Since Aptive is a fairly new company, it only operates in 32 U.S. states. You won't get coverage in Arkansas, Alabama, Alaska, Hawaii, Connecticut, Delaware, Louisiana, Maine, Mississippi, Montana, New Hampshire, New Mexico, North Dakota, South Dakota, South Carolina, Vermont, West Virginia and Wyoming.
The company covers millipedes, snails, pillbugs, cockroaches, spiders, ants, aphids, earwigs, mites, rodents and pantry pests.
- Safe and humane wildlife control solutions
- A team composed of wildlife control professionals
- Eco-friendly solutions prevent animal re-entry
- Animal-damage repairs
- Only available in 37 states
- Common household pests not covered, except for bedbugs
Critter Control provides humane solutions for handling wildlife by using species-specific solutions and eco-friendly repellents that discourage the return of animals. The company offers residential and commercial pest control services for vertebrate pests, including raccoons, opossums, squirrels, rats, and birds.
Critter Control upholds safe and humane rodent control standards by working with professionals like biologists, animal control officers, zoologists and anti-cruelty personnel.
Through its CritterSafe program, the company helps eliminate an animal infestation, prevent re-infestation and repair any damages caused by the animals. Critter Control will also help clean up animal feces and sanitize and disinfect the previously infested areas.
Availability and types of pests covered
Critter Control is available in 37 U.S. states. It doesn't operate in Alaska, Arkansas, Connecticut, Hawaii, Idaho, Minnesota, Montana, North Dakota, South Dakota, Rhode Island, Vermont, West Virginia and Wyoming.
The company doesn't treat common household pests except for bed bugs. It covers animals like squirrels, bats, raccoons, armadillos, moles, badgers, opossums, weasels, skunks, rabbits, otters, mountain beavers, gophers, chipmunks, iguanas, snakes and many more.
It's good to note that Critter Control clarifies that it doesn't cover cats and dogs.
- Treatments for over 40 pests
- Annual maintenance, including bed bug treatment and termite inspection
- East Coast regional expertise
- Services limited to the East Coast
If you're dealing with multiple unwanted pests in your home, Ehrlich by Rentokil may be an excellent choice for resolving the problem. Ehrlich is a subsidiary of Rentokil, a well-known commercial pest control provider, and has been in service since 1928.
Ehrlich's annual maintenance plan, Pestfree365, offers coverage for over 40 pests and even includes bedbug treatment, which often comes separately from other pest control businesses. You'll also benefit from periodic termite inspection and monitoring. However, you'll need to pay for termite treatment separately if you need it.
During the initial assessment, Ehrlich will send an exterminator to survey and treat your home. This plan includes treatments after every four months. However, you can always call the technicians if your home needs re-treatments between scheduled treatments.
Availability and types of pest covered
Ehrlich operates in only 18 East Coast states. These include New York, New Jersey, Connecticut, Delaware, Florida, Georgia, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, North Carolina, Ohio, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, Tennessee, Vermont, Virginia and West Virginia. However, with its sister companies like Presto X and Oliver Exterminating, Ehrlich covers the entire U.S. mainland and Puerto Rico.
The company offers protection against over 40 pests, including cockroaches, birds, termites, bed bugs, mosquitoes, ants, wasps, spiders, flies and many more.
- Environmentally friendly pest control solutions
- Commendable money-back guarantee
- Three pricing tiers
- Only available in 16 states
Truly Nolen is a family-owned company founded in 1938 that uses environmentally responsible, natural products for pest control, such as botanical aerosols derived from plants.
The company offers standard pest control services and specialized treatment for termites and bed bugs. Its Four Seasons Pest Control plan includes an immediate home survey and quarterly treatments. During the initial survey, a technician will visit your home to assess and determine the best treatment.
Truly Nolen's satisfaction guarantee sets it apart from the competition. It includes unlimited service calls for those unsatisfied with a technician's work. The company will reapply the treatment for free. You also have the option to receive a 100% refund if you're unsatisfied.
New users can enjoy a free initial inspection, and you aren't obligated to sign an annual contract with the company, which means you can use the services only when needed. However, a long-term agreement is beneficial for those looking for regular services. Truly Nolen also has flexible buying options. Clients can choose 'Value,' 'Preferred' or 'Premium' plans depending on the situation and needs.
Availability and types of pest covered
Truly Nolen only operates in 16 U.S. states. These include Arizona, Nevada, Georgia, Kentucky, Florida, California, New York, New Mexico, North Carolina, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, Tennessee, Ohio, Utah and Texas.
The company caters to common household pests, including caterpillars, beetles, ants, wasps, bees, rodents, earwigs, fleas, lice, grubs, millipedes, mosquitoes, moths, gnats, cockroaches, spiders, silverfish, weevils and ticks.
- Available in all U.S. states except Alaska
- Quality lawn pest control
- A free inspection
- Some household pest control solutions are limited to specific states
TruGreen is a specialist in lawn care with multiple packages for dealing with specific pests. For instance, its TruShield Tick and Flea Control Treatment will help protect your pets and kids from pests like ticks, fleas, earwigs and chiggers.
Additionally, TruGreen's grub prevention package will keep your lawn grub-free and healthy and reduce the chances of rodents like moles tearing it up to eat the grubs.
Considering how easily lawn pests can find their way indoors and attract rodents, having an expert at lawn pest control to rely on can be very helpful. With TruGreen, however, it's good to mention that indoor pest control services are only available in specific states. On the positive side, the company's services include a free initial inspection.
Availability and pests covered
TruGreen is available in all U.S. states except Alaska. It covers indoor and outdoor pests like fleas, chiggers, earwigs, spiders, ticks, cockroaches, ants and rodents.
Other pest control companies we considered
While our list comprises companies with the best pest control services, you may also want to consider a few runners-up. The companies that have not made the final cut but are worthy of attention include:
Pest Control Guide
The sooner you respond to a pest problem, the faster you can prevent potential damage. It's also possible to conduct preventative maintenance to reduce the chances of infestation.
This short guide looks to give you insights into the types of pests you can expect in and around your home and how to manage them.
We also dive deeper into how to choose a reputable pest control company and provide DIY pest control tips.
Common household pests
You can divide most pests into three categories: flying insects, crawling insects and rodents.
Crawling insects
Most crawling insects will carry harmful bacteria into your home. You will likely get sick if these harmful bacteria come into contact with your food or utensils.
Some examples of crawling insects are:
- Fleas
- Bed bugs
- Worker ants
- Silverfish
- Moth larvae
- Carpet beetles
Some crawling insects are harmless, such as ants, but they can still contaminate surfaces. Other crawling insects are inherently destructive. For instance, bed bugs will draw blood while you sleep, and carpet beetles will destroy your valuable rugs.
Crawling insects can harm your family and household by:
- Damaging the wood structure, furnishing and soft fabric
- Filling your home with allergens
- Biting and stinging your family
- Transmitting bacteria and diseases
Flying insects
While most flying insects have wings for most of their lives, some have wings for a limited period, such as moths and ants. Others, like cockroaches, have wings, but they can't fly.
Some examples of flying insects include:
- Flies
- Fruit flies
- Wasps
- Adult moths
- Flying ants
- Mosquitoes
- Wood-boring beetles
- Carpet beetles
The biggest issue with flying insects is that they can access almost every part of your home, hiding in corners and hard-to-reach areas.
Flying insects will mainly damage your home and cause harm to your family by:
- Contaminating food and food surfaces
- Introducing allergens into your home
- Damaging wood, soft fabric and furnishings
- Spreading diseases and bacteria through general contact, stings and bites
Rodents
Unlike inherently small insects, rodents are big. Their size means that they're likely to cause structural damage to your home.
Some examples of rodents include:
- Rats
- Mice
- Opossums
- Squirrels
Rodents will mainly hide in poorly lit areas, so you can usually find them in your attic or pantry. Since most rodents, like rats, will eat your food, they're very likely to spread diseases.
Rodents will damage your home and cause harm to your family by:
- Spreading diseases and contaminants through their urine and fecal matter
- Causing fires by chewing on electrical wiring
- Causing damage to parts of your property like attic insulation as they try to get into your home
- Introducing other pests like fleas into your home
- Ruining your clothes
Pest control costs
Pest control costs vary depending on many factors, from location to the type of pest infestation. Based on what pest control companies on our list charge, we came up with the following estimated figures.
For a one-time pest control visit, you can expect to pay an average cost of $300 to $550. Single visits generally cost more than regular visits because technicians must diagnose the pest problem and provide treatment simultaneously.
During the first visit, technicians will identify the pest infestation site, design a pest management plan, and conduct the initial trap-laying or spraying. Unfortunately, not all pest issues are easy to resolve in one visit. Sometimes, the technician will need to conduct repeat treatments to eliminate the pests. If your home needs multiple treatments, the company will most likely charge you the initial visit between $250 and $300.
The periodic visits will typically range between $40 and $70. They can be done quarterly, bi-monthly or weekly, depending on your specific pest control needs.
Annual pest control packages typically cost around $300 to $500. Almost at the same price as single visits, these are the most cost-efficient and effective long-term.
Finally, full-house fumigation tends to be among the most expensive pest control treatments. This is due to the labor and equipment needed to perform the service. Such a service will cost between $2,000 and $8,000.
How to choose a good pest control company
While there are many pest control companies out there, not all will be perfect for your home or business. Your goal should be to find a pest control company that ticks all the right boxes.
Consider the following characteristics when looking for a pest control company:
- Environmental friendliness: Some companies use pest control solutions that could ruin your home's environment and introduce contaminants. Protect your family and pets from contaminants by working with an environmentally responsible company.
- Responsiveness: Pests will wreak havoc in your home, from causing discomfort to being a health hazard. Look for pest control companies that respond quickly to your calls to minimize the impacts of pest infestation. You can learn about a company's responsiveness through online customer reviews.
- Certified entomologists: Work with companies that have certified entomologists in their teams to ensure they understand how pests behave and can offer quality services.
- Availability of pest prevention solutions: It's wise to be proactive in pest infestations, especially considering the damage that pests can cause to your home and the health risks they pose. Work with companies that will help you prevent pest infestations through efficient solutions.
- Guaranteed solutions: Most reputable pest control companies will offer some guarantee for their services. While some will offer 100% refunds, others will provide free revisits if re-infestation occurs between treatments. Consider which option works best for you depending on the severity of the pest problem.
DIY pest infestation prevention tips
The risks involved with pests make being proactive in pest control essential. Instead of waiting for cockroaches and rats to contaminate your food or ruin your clothes, you should look for ways to prevent their existence.
You can use these DIY tips to get rid of infestations:
- Clean hallways, basements, outdoor areas, attics, countertops and sinks: The trick here is to remove anything that could attract pests. For instance, you should wipe your pantry regularly, store trash in cans with lids and hose down outdoor trash cans.
- Deal with leaks and pools of water: Water attracts pests, so you should limit leaks whenever possible. Ensure that your pipes don't leak below your sink or dishwashers and that there aren't any pools of water around garbage disposals. Deal with any leaking pipes quickly and ensure that gutters extend away from your building's foundation.
- Fix holes in your doors, windows and walls: Rodents and insects will seek shelter in your home. Most pests will enter your home through the tiniest cracks, which is why you should seal them.
- Inspect your home regularly: Check your home for signs of pest infestation or anything that could attract pests. For instance, inspect your attic and ensure it's clean enough to deter pests.
- Maintain your yard: Pests often appear in the yard before they get indoors. Therefore, cut your grass short and maintain your lawn regularly. Get rid of piles of debris, leaves and branches that could act as shelter for rodents.
- Use plants as natural repellents: Some plants do a great job of naturally repelling insects. Therefore, try planting rosemary, spearmint, lavender catnip, lemongrass and basil around your property to keep pests away from your home.
Pest Control FAQ
How much does pest control cost?
How often should pest control be done?
The frequency of pest control treatments will depend on how severe your pest infestation problem is. For essential pest control, you should conduct quarterly treatment. However, if you have a serious infestation problem, your home or business building may need monthly treatments over three to six months.
You should always conduct an inspection and preventative treatment when moving into a new home.
Are pest control companies worth it?
How to do your own pest control
The trick to performing pest control at home is mostly in prevention. You should remove anything that could attract pests, which means keeping surfaces clean, eliminating water leaks and pools, maintaining your yard and regularly inspecting your home.
If you already have a pest infestation that isn't big enough to contact a pest control company, search pest control tips for that specific pest type online. Buy all the necessary pest control gear and initiate treatment. However, it is advisable that you also seek professional help for small to medium infestations to nip the infestation issue in the bud early.
How We Found The Best Pest Control Companies
We carefully composed our list of the seven best pest control companies based on several important factors:
- Availability: Since we wanted readers to know whether pest control companies are available in their state, we classified companies based on the states they operate.
- Pest covered: Another criterion we used to classify companies is the type of pest coverage, so you can know whether they'll help you with your specific infestation challenge.
- Pros and cons: We compared the pros and cons of all companies to give you an idea of whether they're a perfect fit for you. We didn't include any company with more cons than pros.
- Best for (category): You'll also find we rated the companies based on the "best category" to help you determine which one you should approach for your specific problems, from rodents to termite infestation.
Summary of the Best Pest Control Companies of 2023
All pest control companies on our list are knowledgeable and will provide you with the professional support you need to protect your home and family. They can efficiently get your home pest-free and prevent re-infestation.
- Orkin – Best All-Around Service
- Terminix – Best for Termite Infestations
- Aptive Environmental – Most Eco-Friendly Pest Control Company
- Critter Control – Best For Wildlife Control
- Ehrlich By Rentokil – Best For Comprehensive Coverage
- Truly Nolen – Most Affordable Pest Control Service
- TruGreen – Best For Lawn Pest Control
