The Short Answer
On our estimates, a private pest controller charges about £120 to £240 to deal with rats or mice over two visits, £120 to £260 for cockroaches and £80 to £220 for fleas. Bed bugs and big infestations cost more.
Check your council first. Many run their own pest service, and when we checked in October 2026 Manchester City Council charged £58 for rats, including up to three visits.
Pest control prices by pest
| Pest | Private pest controller |
|---|---|
| Rats or mice (usually two visits) | £120 to £240 |
| Cockroaches | £120 to £260 |
| Fleas | £80 to £220 |
| Ants | £80 to £230 |
| Squirrels | £100 to £300 |
| Wasps (one nest) | £70 to £200 |
| Bed bugs (insecticide treatment) | £150 to £400 |
| Item | Typical cost |
|---|---|
| Pest control specialist, per day | £200 to £260 |
Prices depend on the pest, how big the infestation is, the treatment, the size of the property, how many visits it needs, and whether entry points are blocked up (proofing), which is often charged separately.
Council pest control
Councils set their own charges, and not every council offers a service, so look up yours first. As an example, Manchester City Council's charges for a standard home when we checked in October 2026, including VAT:
| Pest | Manchester City Council |
|---|---|
| Rats (up to 3 visits) | £58 |
| Mice (up to 3 visits) | £101 |
| Cockroaches (up to 3 visits) | £120 |
| Fleas | £109 |
| Ants (one visit) | £82 |
| Wasps (per nest) | £84 |
| Squirrels (up to 3 visits) | £185 |
| Bed bugs (after a free survey) | from £148 |
Manchester points out that if you book and pay for the wrong pest, the visit won't go ahead, so be sure what you've got. It treats houses in multiple occupation as commercial, arranged through the landlord. Its charges were well below the private prices we found, so I'd ring the council before anyone else for rats, mice or wasps.
What the quote should say
A written pest control quote should make clear:
- what the treatment is;
- whether repeat visits are included (some pests need one treatment, others several);
- whether proofing, blocking the way in, is in the price.
Proofing blocks the way in, so I'd want it priced even if you decide to do it yourself.
Business premises
Business premises are a separate category of work. Manchester's council service, for one, handles houses in multiple occupation as commercial. Tell the pest controller up front that it's a business; our quote form sends business enquiries to commercial pest controllers.
Specific pests
We have more detail on the most common jobs: rats and mice, wasp nests and bed bugs. Rats getting in from the drains need the drain looked at too: see drains.
Get pest control quotes
Pest controllers price by the pest, how bad it is and how many visits it needs.
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Frequently asked questions
How much does pest control cost?
On our estimates, £120 to £240 for rats or mice over two visits, £120 to £260 for cockroaches and £80 to £220 for fleas, from a private firm. Council services are often cheaper.
Is it worth getting a pest controller?
For an infestation, I'd say yes: you get the treatment, repeat visits where needed, and advice or work on proofing. Check your council's prices first.
Does the council do pest control?
Many councils do, at their own prices; some don't offer it. Look up your council's website.
How many visits does pest control need?
Some pests need one treatment, others repeat visits. Rodents usually take at least two.
How we priced thisView sources (2, 2 official)
Rules come from the legislation and official guidance, read at source. Prices are our estimates: we check them against trade price data, retailer shelf prices and specialists' price lists, then build them up from their parts so the totals add up. Below are the sources behind the page; the trade price guides we only compare against aren’t listed. Where sources disagreed, we've said so. More on our method.
- OfficialPest control: our treatment charges, Manchester City Council. Checked 16 Oct 2026.
- OfficialHow we treat wasps and hornets (prices 1 April 2026 to 31 March 2027), Chelmsford City Council. Checked 16 Oct 2026.
