Bat removal costs an average of $477
Average bat removal costs span $228 to $726, with an average of $477.
Small jobs can cost as little as $100 to remove, with expenses potentially rising to $1,500 for bigger or inaccessible infestations.
Various factors, such as colony size, location, and cleanup requirements, can affect overall costs.
Prompt bat removal helps protect your home, reduces health risks, and preserves structural integrity.
This article was updated using automation technology and thoroughly reviewed for accuracy by HomeAdvisor Editor Ryan Noonan.
Bat removal is an urgent—but completely manageable—project for anyone living where bats are common. Most homeowners spend $228 to $726 on bat removal costs, with an average bill of $477. Removing larger colonies can push costs to $1,500 or more. Other cost factors include the removal method and accessibility.
Because bats can carry rabies and damage insulation and wiring, it’s best to call a bat-removal pro as soon as you spot them. Use the guide below to start budgeting with confidence.
Bat exclusion is the humane way to evict bats—installing one-way doors so they can leave and then sealing every gap so they can’t return. Prices run $400 to $8,000, depending on colony size, state rules, and how tricky the site is to reach. DIY kits cost $25 to $150, but because this job calls for ladders, respirators, and a solid grasp of bat behavior, most homeowners ultimately save time and stress by hiring an animal control pro.
Bat exclusion involves four steps:
Inspection: Inspect the location for entry points, colony size, and bat species. The pro uses this information to determine the best way to go about the process.
Exclusion installation: Pros use tubes, netting, and other tools to allow the pests to leave but not get back in. They include the materials in your project price.
Promoting the colony to leave: Your pro might use harmless chemicals, light, or sound to encourage the colony to leave. Most simply wait for your furry flying pests to leave since they eat nightly.
Sealing the entries: The final step involves removing the exclusion tools and traps and sealing the entry points so they can’t get back in.
How much you spend on bat removal costs depends on the number of bats and entry points, how much cleanup you need, and the location and accessibility of the infestation. Here’s a closer look at how your total breaks down.
Bat removal is just one step in the exclusion process. Each step has associated costs, depending on the size and complexity of the infestation.
Step | Average Cost | What It Entails |
---|---|---|
Inspection | Up to $300 | Initial survey of the site. Most pros charge for an inspection and deduct it from the removal cost. |
Exclusion | $230–$8,000 | The actual removal. The price depends on colony size and accessibility. This cost often includes sealing entries for smaller cases but can increase for larger colonies. |
Sealing | $100–$1,500 | Sealing up any entryways to prevent future bats. The cost can vary if multiple holes or difficult-to-access areas exist. |
Cleanup | $500–$8,000 | Removal of excrement (guano). Hazardous work is often necessary if the colony is large or droppings have accumulated. |
Repairs | $2,500–$5,000 | Any needed repairs, such as replacing insulation saturated by guano or fixing drywall damage. |
Bat removal costs vary based on the size of the infestation. You can expect to pay up to $300 for the initial inspection, which is often credited back if you sign on for removal. The inspection will reveal how large the infestation is, with average prices including:
Number of Bats | Average Cost |
---|---|
<50 | $230–$1,500 |
50–200 | $1,500–$5,000 |
200+ | $5,000+ |
Where the colony hides will nudge your price up or down. Bats love dark, protected spots—think attics, walls, crawl spaces, barns, and other outbuildings. In almost all cases, bats prefer warm and safe locations, which makes accessibility an ongoing issue.
Expect to pay less for easily accessible areas. If they’re in chimneys or walls, expect to pay more than you would for attics and barns, since they are hard to access and clean.
The size of your infestation plays the most significant role in the final price. The larger the colony, the more entry points they make. The number of bat entry points increases the time it takes to do a complete exclusion. Since each point requires sealing or an exclusion device to keep them from returning, finding and setting each one up takes time.
Costs for colony sizes and entry points include:
One bat with a single entry point: $430
Two to 50 bats with multiple entry points: $400 to $1,500
50 to 200 bats and multiple entries: $2,000 to $8,000
Restoring your attic costs anywhere from $2,500 to $5,000 or more after you’ve excluded the pests and cleaned any guano. Depending on the extent of damage, you’ll need to consider insulation repairs or possibly a complete insulation replacement, as well as repairing drywall and floor coverings.
Bat houses cost $100 to $2,700, with labor adding another $100 to $500. Placing one of these human-made structures on your property, away from your home, gives these vital creatures an alternative nesting space. You can hire a handyperson to hang a bat house, with hourly rates averaging $50 to $150 per hour.
Where you find bats, you might also run into other issues like raccoons, rats, and termites, which make holes that bats use to get into your home. Because these creatures attract pests, you might also deal with a flea infestation.
Common pest control services you may require include:
Bat guano is another term for bat excrement or feces. It’ll cost anywhere from $500 to $8,000 to remove guano from your home, depending on how much is present. The larger the colony and the longer it’s been there, the more it’ll cost.
There are a few things to note about guano cleanup:
Determine if you need removal. Talk to your professional to see if the location and quantity are worth removing.
Wait to clean it up until the bats have left. A few weeks is enough time to make sure the exclusion repairs work.
To avoid histoplasmosis (a fungal lung infection), hire a professional. If you do it yourself, use an approved respirator and protective clothing.
When bats move in, exclusion—not extermination—is almost always the right call. Some key points to consider include:
It’s often illegal to exterminate them. Depending on the state and the type of bat, you might not have a choice.
There are no approved bat pesticides. Harmless bat deterrents are the only chemicals available.
Because of white noise syndrome, some species are endangered. You cannot kill them and must remove them safely and alive.
They provide excellent flying insect control. One bat eats between 6,000 and 8,000 insects in one night—about 1,200 mosquito-sized insects.
Extermination poisons harm humans and pets. There are no chemicals licensed in the United States for use on bats.
To remove bats from your home, it’s best to use exclusion, followed by sealing entry points and providing an alternate roosting location. This is the most effective, safe, and humane way to deal with a colony.
Here are some common signs that you might have a bat infestation:
Sounds in the walls or attic: You may hear scratching or squeaking noises, especially near dusk and dawn.
Bat guano: Bat droppings around your home, on eaves, or on walls indicate activity. If you notice guano, consider scheduling an inspection.
Stains at entry points: Bats often leave oily residue at their entry and exit points, similar to marks left by mice or rats.
If you find a bat in your home, here are the steps to take:
Call a professional for an inspection: They can determine if you have a single bat or a larger colony. Inspection costs up to $300 but are often credited toward removal.
Seek medical attention if necessary: If anyone has been bitten or scratched, consult a doctor about potential rabies exposure.
Avoid disturbing guano: Bat droppings can pose health risks. Leave any cleanup to the professionals to prevent exposure to histoplasmosis.
Consider these cost-saving strategies to make your bat removal more wallet-friendly:
Install exterior lights around your home to deter bats.
Seal holes and gaps around your home, particularly in your attic, garage, shed, and walls.
Get detailed estimates from multiple local bat removal pros to ensure competitive pricing.
DIY bat removal can be risky, and it rarely works for long. Bats may carry rabies or fleas, and handling them without the right gear puts you, your family, and your pets at risk. Hire a local bat removal professional to inspect your home and perform exclusion and cleanup services to ensure safe and effective removal. Take action by contacting a professional bat removal service if you feel uncertain or your situation presents significant risks.
No place is more important than your home, which is why HomeAdvisor connects homeowners with local pros to transform their houses into homes they love. To help homeowners prepare for their next project, HomeAdvisor provides readers with accurate cost data and follows strict editorial guidelines. After a project is complete, we survey real customers about the costs to develop the pricing data you see, so you can make the best decisions for you and your home. We pair this data with research from reputable sources, including the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, academic journals, market studies, and interviews with industry experts—all to ensure our prices reflect real-world projects.
Bats slip through gaps as small as 1/4 inch, so your best defense is a thorough seal-up and a few simple habit tweaks. Start by caulking or screening every crack around chimneys, eaves, and vents. Swap dim porch bulbs for brighter LEDs or motion lights (bats dislike the glare), and consider an ultrasonic deterrent if they keep circling.
Finally, remove easy snacks—cover standing water and skip the nighttime bird-feeder refills. These steps go a long way toward keeping your home bat-free.
Standard homeowners’ insurance rarely pays for bat removal because insurers view it as routine maintenance. You might get partial help for guano cleanup or related repairs, but that varies by policy. Review your insurance policy carefully and contact your provider for a definitive explanation. Securing all entry points remains the homeowner’s responsibility to prevent future incursions.
The sweet spot for bat exclusion is late summer through spring. That window keeps you inside most state rules and protects baby bats that haven’t learned to fly yet. Removal activities are conducted when bats are less active, with some states permitting work from August through May and others ceasing removal in March. Consult a qualified bat removal specialist to confirm the valid timeframe for your area.
Spotting a dead bat can be unsettling, but a calm, careful approach keeps everyone safe. First, call your state wildlife office to report the find and ask about local rules. Snap a quick photo from a distance, then—wearing disposable gloves—place the bat in a sealed plastic bag for disposal as directed.
Wipe down nearby surfaces with disinfectant, wash your hands thoroughly, and schedule a pest-control pro to make sure no live bats (or harmful guano) remain hidden in the house.