If you have a big pest problem, you may be looking for a big pest company to come to your rescue. Terminix is one of the largest pest control companies out there with more than 300 locations nationwide. But how do you know if Terminix is the right pest control company for you?
We researched Terminix – its history, pests and states covered, treatment plan options and frequency, customer reviews, pros and cons, and even price. We also have reviewed other top pest control companies to help you make the right choice to get rid of whatever is bugging you.
Recommended Alternative: Orkin
After comparing results, customer service, online reputation and pricing, we have determined that Orkin is the best option if looking for pest control. Call before noon for same-day service.
Or call (866) 905-3631 to get a free consult.
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Terminix at a Glance
| Pests treated | |
| Ants | ✔ |
| Bed bugs | ✔ |
| Beetles | ✘ |
| Carpenter ants | ✘ |
| Centipedes and millipedes | ✔ |
| Cockroaches | ✔ |
| Crickets | ✔ |
| Earwigs | ✔ |
| Fleas | ✔ |
| Flies | ✘ |
| Mites | ✘ |
| Mosquitoes | ✔ |
| Moths | ✔ |
| Pantry pests | ✘ |
| Rodents (mice, rats, etc) | ✔ |
| Scorpions | ✔ |
| Silverfish | ✔ |
| Spiders | ✔ |
| Stinging pests (hornets, yellow jackets, wasps, etc) | Paper wasps only |
| Stink bugs | ✘ |
| Termites | ✔ |
| Ticks | ✔ |
| Wildlife (raccoons, opossums, etc) | ✔ |
| How many states do they serve? | 45 (not including AK, MT, ND, SD, and VT) |
| Do they serve commercial properties? | ✔ |
| Service plans offered | |
| One-time service | ✔ |
| Monthly service | ✔ |
| Quarterly service | ✔ |
| Do they have eco-friendly options? | Only in some cases |
| Customer service | |
| Better Business Bureau or BBB rating | A- |
| Do they give instant quotes online? | ✔ |
| Do they have an online portal for scheduling, billing, etc? | ✔ |
| 24/7 customer support? | ✔ |
| Additional services offered | |
| Attic insulation | ✔ |
| Crawl space services | ✔ |
| Moisture control | ✔ |
| Sanitation | ✘ |
| Gutter guards | ✘ |
| Lawn treatments for pests, weeds, and diseases | ✘ |
Terminix Highlights
As you can guess from the name, Terminix specializes in termites. In the 1920s, E.L. Bruce, the owner of a hardwood flooring company in Memphis, was searching for a way to protect floors from termite damage. He opened Terminix in 1927 after his chemist, Frank Lyons, developed the first termiticide. Since then, Terminix has grown to cover many common – and not so common – pests.
Many Locations Around the Country
By 1990, Terminix became the biggest pest control company in the world. In order to reach its current size with more than 300 locations, Terminix has acquired many other brands over the years, such as Sears Termite and Pest Control Inc. At the end of 2021, Rentokil announced they were buying Terminix, which could lead to changes in the near future.
Multiple Treatment Plans
Terminix offers flexible treatment plans. If you have a rare infestation, Terminix’s one-time pest control service will most likely do the trick. If your home and property are more prone to pests, Terminix offers monthly and quarterly pest control plans.
Year-Round Protection
Terminix will inspect and service your home year-round. If pests return between scheduled treatments or 30 days after a one-time treatment, Terminix will schedule a follow-up visit at no additional charge.
Services Beyond Pest Control
Terminix stands out from smaller companies because it offers attic insulation and crawl space services. Attic insulation, which is used to lower energy costs, also blocks pests from entering your home. Terminix attic insulation is made from 85% recycled materials and is ENERGY STAR certified. Terminix crawl space services are designed to protect against moisture, water damage, fungi, mildew, odor, and pests.
24/7 Service
If you have a hectic schedule but want to be present during treatments, Terminix provides 24/7 technician and customer service to accommodate your needs.
Terminix Lowlights
Limited Eco-Friendly Treatments
While there are companies that treat with eco-friendly products, Terminix is not one of them. That isn’t to say they have no natural options, but their eco-friendly treatments are limited to specific cases. Their Terminix All Clear Mosquito Bait and Kill Spray uses natural ingredients to reduce mosquito populations, and the Terminix Commercial® EcoControl program uses Integrated Pest Management (IMP) practices to reduce the use of pesticides.
Terminix Pricing
Terminix’s basic quarterly pest control can be about $119 a month, while a one-time treatment can cost about $299. They also offer free termite inspections.
Pest control pricing depends on your location, size of home and property, the type of pest you want to exterminate, and severity of the infestation. Call or click for pricing in your city based on the service you need.
How to Get an Instant Quote and Order Service Online
The cost of pest control will depend on the area you’re in, the size of your home, the type of pest, the treatment plan selected, and the frequency of your treatment plan. Luckily, the Terminix online estimator will take out some of the guesswork. Here’s how to find it:
- On the Terminix home page, select the service you’re looking for from the “Prevent a Problem” or “Treat a Problem” dropdown menu.
- Once you’re on the right page, scroll down until you see the service plan you want.
- Click “See Pricing”
- Enter the street address of the property that needs inspection or treatment. It will give address suggestions as you type, which you can select. If you’d prefer, you can click “Enter your address in a form” to input the street address, city, ZIP code, and state.
- Once you press “Continue,” it will redirect you back to the page you were on before with the prices displayed under every plan. It also will fill in the prices for other services on the website in case you want to check out the cost of treating a different pest.
- Ready to check out? Click “Add to Cart” and “View Cart” to reach the payment screen.
For some services (such as termite treatment and control), you will need to contact them or schedule an inspection to find out the cost for your specific situation.
Tips for Selecting a Plan: If you know your property or home is prone to infestations of any kind, a quarterly plan may be cheaper in the long run and will cost less per treatment. However, if you think this is a one-time thing or don’t want to budget for quarterly plans, then you can start with their one-time service. Keep in mind that any pests not covered under your plan will cost extra, so select one that covers the pests you expect to deal with the most.
States Covered: 45 states (excluding AK, MT, ND, SD, and VT)
Pests Covered: Termites (subterranean and drywood), bed bugs, mosquitoes, cockroaches, silverfish, house ants (excluding carpenter ants, pharaoh ants, and tawny crazy ants), clothes moths, spiders (excluding black widow and brown recluse spiders), scorpions, centipedes, millipedes, earwigs, house crickets, paper wasps, mice, rats, bats, tree squirrels, flying squirrels, raccoons, opossums, skunks, groundhogs, armadillos, pigeons, starlings, and sparrows.
If you’re dealing with mites, beetles, fleas, flies, stinging pests, and stink bugs, contact them and they may be able to remove them for an additional fee.
Pros
- Instant online quotes
- 24/7 support
- Covers many locations and pests
- Variety of treatment plans and frequencies
Cons
- Does not treat carpenter ants, pharaoh ants, fire ants, tawny crazy ants, black widows, and brown recluse spiders
- Limited eco-friendly options
- Doesn’t serve Alaska, Montana, North Dakota, South Dakota, or Vermont
Customer Reviews
5-star service: “We had some ants and spiders in our home and needed treatment. [Service technician] came out and his service was 5-star – on time, knowledgeable, explained everything, considerate, and did a thorough job. I’m a happy customer and signed up for routine quarterly service.” – James M., Yelp
Great mosquito service: “We really enjoy the monthly mosquito service that Terminix provides. I am allergic to mosquitoes and my life has been improved with the monthly treatment we receive. Our technician is professional, reliable, and always gives us a few days notice before arriving. I would definitely recommend getting Terminix to service your home.” – Sarah S., Google
Technicians show up whenever: “While the work the techs do is effective, we consistently have issues with techs either not showing up at the expected time, and most often, I will get a notification that a tech is on their way when I was never made aware of a visit (obviously, because they show up unannounced, and I’m not home). I finally decided I had enough and called to close my account. I was then informed I have a balance of $149 for “general pest control.” – Erin D., Better Business Bureau
Buyers Guide to Choosing a Pest Control Company
When considering Terminix or any other pest control company, here are the things you should consider.
Location
Terminix serves more than 50,000 homes and businesses in 45 states. It does not have locations in Alaska, Montana, North Dakota, South Dakota, or Vermont. Even though Terminix may serve your state, always check to see if they serve your specific city by entering your ZIP code on their website. While some states have dozens of locations, others may only have one, such as Idaho and Nebraska.
Pest Specialties
Terminix exterminates many pests other companies will not touch, such as bed bugs, termites, mosquitoes, and wildlife. Since Terminix offers different services for different areas, check with your local office. For example, it’s easier to find exterminators for scorpions in Arizona than it is in Oregon.
If you already know what pest is on your property, then start your search there. Search for companies that explicitly say they exterminate those pests. Some companies will charge an extra fee for specific pests, while others may include it as part of their regular service.
Customer Reputation
Check out local review pages on Google and Yelp to give you the best information on Terminix’s services and customer satisfaction in your area. Also, ask trusted family, friends, and neighbors who use their service.
When you read reviews, keep in mind the number of reviews, how long the business has been open, and how many locations it has across the country. Large national companies like Terminix have thousands of reviews, but new local businesses may only have a few.
Cost
For general pest control treatment on a 2,000-square-foot house, Terminix charges between $475 to $800 per year. Follow the instructions under “How to Get an Instant Quote and Order Services Online” to receive a local estimate. Be a savvy shopper and call other companies in your area to compare prices.
The average cost for a one-time exterminator visit for homeowners is between $250 and $525. Costs will vary depending on the pest, severity of the problem, location, size of the property, and frequency of treatment.
FAQ about Terminix
Yes, though it depends on the pest and service you want. They’ll provide free crawl space, attic insulation, wildlife, rodent, and termite inspections.
You can contact their customer service through their website or by calling their phone number at 877-561-1358. Check your local branch’s website to get their specific contact information.
Common complaints against Terminix include unexpected recurring charges, difficulty in canceling plans, and no-shows. Each Terminix location has a different team, so check your local reviews for a better idea of what to expect.
Yes. If you aren’t satisfied within 30 days after inspection or treatment, they will refund the treatment or coverage charges, reimburse prepaid services, and cancel your plan. Terminix Commercial offers a refund for your previous 90 days of service if you are not satisfied.
If you’re asking this because you’re worried about pests coming back after treatment, their Nix Pest Guarantee states that they’ll get rid of the problem, and if pests come back between treatments, their technicians will return at no additional cost.
You will need to contact your local Terminix location, but some do offer payment plans. Quarterly pest control plans can be paid for once a quarter or once a month.
DIY Pest Control
Want to take a crack at it yourself? You can read a variety of guides on how to get rid of common household pests on LawnStarter’s blog. Here are some examples:
- How to Get Rid of Spiders
- How to Get Rid of Bed Bugs
- How to Get Rid of Mosquitoes
- How to Get Rid of Bees
- How to Get Rid of Crane Flies
- How to Get Rid of Cicadas
- How to Eliminate Conditions that Attract Rodents
Other Pest Control Companies to Consider
Terminix is one of the leading pest control companies, but if you want to see how they compare to others, check out these LawnStarter articles:
- Terminix vs. Aptive Environmental: Pest Control Companies Compared
- Orkin vs. Terminix: Pest Control Companies Compared
When to Call a Pest Control Pro
Some pests are more difficult to get rid of than others. If you have tried but can’t get rid of the army of ants marching through your home, contact a pest control professional.
Main photo credit: buchse12 / Pexels
