How Much Does it Cost for Bee Removal?
Typical Range:
$1 - $1,500
Cost data is based on research by HomeAdvisor.
Updated June 11, 2021
Written by HomeAdvisor.Bee Removal Cost
Bee removal costs an average of $450 though it can range anywhere from $0 to $1,500 or more. Structural infestations - with needed wall removal - are the most expensive type. The resulting carpentry costs can push the total price towards $2,000 or above. In most cases, a beekeeper is the best way to remove a beehive or swarm and often work in concert with local and national pest control companies.
Many states, such as Florida, Maine and Arizona, regulate extermination and removal since bees are a vital part of our ecosystem. Check with your state government's agriculture division and your local city government for any special bee extermination provisions. Always call a beekeeper or licensed professional for identification and removal. Bees pollinate at least 30% of our food supply and 90% of wild plants.
Whenever possible, relocate live swarms away from your property rather than exterminate. However, do not attempt to remove a hive yourself. It's dangerous due to misidentifying bees as hornets or risking a confrontation with the aggressive Africanized Honey Bee.
Average Cost to Remove Bees
| Average Cost | $450 |
| High Cost | $1,500 |
| Low Cost | $0 |
Bee and Beehive Removal Prices
Beehive removal averages $75 to $1,000. Sometimes beekeepers will remove healthy honeybee hives for free, keeping the hive and the honey. However, most beekeepers and removal specialists will charge as much as or more than an exterminator. Hives located in walls and ceilings are hard to access while causing structural damage. Ceiling and wall repairs are not included in extermination fees. Wall repair costs will average $650 after the hive is gone.
Bee Hive and Nest Removal Cost Estimates
It'll average $75 to $1,000 to remove a colony. Most nests average 50,000 inhabitants including the queen, scouts, workers and guards.
Getting Rid of Swarms
Swarms are the cheapest type of infestation to remove costing anywhere from $0 to $150. A swarm is a group of bees, usually with a queen, looking for a new home. Since they have no hive to defend, they are very docile and easy to control. They are generally located out in the open and require minimal equipment and time to remove.
Bee Removal Cost Considerations
The largest cost factor for removal is in the placement of the hive. They can take up residence in your walls and ceilings, under decks, in crawlspaces and often in soffits. The price for rebuilding these areas vary. Removal fees doesn't usually include these costs.
| Drywall Repair Costs | $275 - $750 |
| Ceiling Repair Prices | $300 - $1,000 |
| Deck Repair Costs | $250 - $2,500 |
| Soffit Replacement Fees | $6 - $20 per linear foot |
| Crawlspace Pest Removal Fees | $150 - $500 |
Consult with a Beekeeper To Get Rid of Bees
Bee Extermination vs Relocation Costs
Extermination always comes with a fee, anywhere from $150 to $500 or more. Relocation is sometimes free when a hive is healthy and done by a Beekeeper. However, you can still expect to pay a removal specialist between $100 and $1,000. It all depends on hive accessibility, type and your location.
Always relocate a healthy hive rather than exterminate it. Hive numbers are on the decline due to Colony Collapse Disorder. Their impact on agriculture and ecosystem means keeping these creatures alive is a top priority.
Most large extermination companies recommend calling a local beekeeper and work alongside them to facilitate live relocation when possible. But live removal isn't always an option. Only a licensed professional expert or an experienced beekeeper can determine if live removal is possible or if extermination is warranted.
Live Bee Relocation
A beekeeper or bee removal specialist carries out live removal. They first inspect the hive, determine if live relocation is possible, and then attempt to remove them using various methods.
Most specialists leave a swarm collection box to collect scout bees in the evening. Scouts hunt the surrounding area for food, returning in the evening. With no queen present they often form a queen-less swarm. Uncollected hiveless bees eventually die.
Beehive Extermination Considerations
Not all hives are savable. Safety issues due to the Africanized Honey Bee have resulted in states regulating extermination and relocation. Pesticides sprayed by untrained homeowners result in an unhealthy and unusable colony. Always consult a professional pest removal specialist or beekeeper for nest relocation or extermination. Never attempt removal yourself without at least first identifying the type.
Tip: Ask your specialist if removal of the honey and honeycombs is part of the fee. If left behind, it can rot and attract other insects, pests and other swarms looking for a home.
Hire a Pro to Remove a Bee Hive
Average Cost of Bee Treatment by Type
Different types come with special considerations. While it costs anywhere from $75 to $2,000 for a typical honey bee hive, other types may require less work, and some are even suitable for DIY projects. If you have an allergy to stings or suspect you might, do not attempt removal yourself.
The first step in determining how to deal with any type of infestation is identification. A local beekeeper or bee removal specialist is the best equipped to do this.
Carpenter Bee Extermination Costs
Cost to remove carpenter bees ranges from $75 to $500 or more. Carpenter bees aren't social, meaning they don't live in a large hive. They burrow into untreated wood, causing damage to homes. Though the damage is small initially, the offspring create their own burrows nearby. Over time, you end up with dozens of wooden burrows damaging the structure of your home.
They are docile and rarely sting, making this an excellent DIY project. Removing them is often a simple DIY job. Using either a residual insect spray or Drione dust and a duster, you or a professional should treat the burrows. When done correctly, the chemicals kill both the parent and the offspring when they hatch.
Want to skip the chemicals? Try playing loud music. The theory, reported by many homeowners, states that continuous loud noise disturbs the bees who eventually find a quieter neighborhood to reside in. Clue your neighbors in on the plan to avoid any embarrassing noise complaints.
Honey Bee Removal Costs
They live in large colonies of 50,000 or more and cost anywhere from $75 to $1,000 or more to remove. Due to the size of the nests, they can cause considerable damage to your home's walls, decks and ceilings, incurring further construction costs.
Bumble Bees
Bumble bees rarely require removal. They don't cause damage to homes, are very docile, rarely sting and hives only have 50 to 150 total. One species is protected, recently making the endangered species list. If you are considering removal, always consult a professional.
Africanized Honey Bees or "Killer Bees"
Costs to remove an Africanized Honey Bee hive, also known as the "killer bee", vary greatly by location, though it will usually remain within the $100 to $1,000 range. They look the same as any other honey bee but display very aggressive behavior. In some places, like Arizona, this type is the only species left for mass pollination. This means relocation rather than termination when possible. In other places, state regulation may mandate termination.
NOTE: Never try to remove Africanized honey bees by yourself. This type is highly aggressive with a larger territorial radius that they defend. They have been known to chase people up to a mile from their nest. If you suspect a nest, call a pest control and removal specialist immediately.
Consult with a pro to identify the bees on your property
Hiring Terminix & Orkin Bee Exterminators vs. Local Beekeepers
Orkin, Terminix and both large and small companies don't advertise their fees though you can expect it to range anywhere within $100 to $500. Both Orkin and Terminix will give you a free inspection and quote. Smaller, local companies often offer free inspections as well, though prices will vary by location.
Free Bee Removal
Most of the time, you'll pay for removal. It's a highly specialized process requiring specific tools and equipment. It also takes a lot of time to remove a hive, especially if you’re attempting live hive relocation. In some cases, a local beekeeper will remove easy to access hives for free, if they are healthy. They get a hive and buckets of honey and you get a home free of bees.
Preventing Future Infestation
Though it's not possible to prevent infestations 100%, here are some tips to follow to reduce the risk.
Be alert for swarms from March to July. This is when most are looking for a new home.
Keep clutter and junk out of your yard. Don't give them a suitable home.
Seal up the outside of your home. Cracks in soffits and siding give access to a dry, warm place to build a hive.
Remove all honey and honeycombs from previous infestations. They can attract swarms looking for a home.
Hire a Bee Removal Expert
DIY vs. Hiring an Exterminator or Local Beekeeper
Most hives are not a DIY project with the exception of carpenter bees. If you have an allergy, it's not a DIY project. Bees are beneficial and don't always need removal. Knowing when to call in bee experts to identify and assess the situation is the first step. Or, become an expert yourself - raise backyard bees for honey and pollination.
When you hear a thrumming buzz coming from overhead or inside a wall, it's always best to hire a local beekeeper or professional exterminator to identify and deal with the problem.
Questions to Ask Your Beekeeper
Not all beekeepers are the same. Much like finding any professional, make sure yours has the knowledge, tools and experience to deal with your infestation. Some places, like Florida, require beekeepers to have a pest removal license to deal with infestations.
Are you licensed for bee removal?
How much experience do you have in relocating hives?
Do you relocate them alive?
Do you remove the honeycomb and honey? (It's also a good idea to ask if you can keep some of the honey - some give it all to the homeowner).
Do you have references?
What professional associations do you belong to?
