Terminix
Terminix is a household name in pest control in the United States. With nearly 100 years of experience and just under 3 million residential and commercial customers, it offers treatment for and protection against a range of household pests, including termites, ants, roaches and bed bugs.
Our rating: 3.7 out of 5
Best for: Convenience
No. of pests treated: 20+
Terminix at a glance
Terminix is one of CNN Underscored’s top pest control companies. This nationwide company specializes in termite treatment and prevention and treats many other insects, rodents and wildlife.
Fast facts
- Part of the pest control industry since 1927
- Credited with inventing the first termiticide to kill termites
- First company to offer contracts for termite control and a guarantee of results
- A+ rating with the Better Business Bureau (BBB)*
What we like
Terminix offers comprehensive services to cover your pest control needs, including challenging pests such as termites and bedbugs. With nearly 100 years of experience and just under 3 million customers, Terminix’s expertise provides peace of mind that your pest issue will be taken care of for good.
What we don’t like
Terminix has received an unfortunate amount of poor reviews. For example, it has a customer review score on the BBB of just 1.1 stars out of 5 and has received over 3,500 complaints in the past three years. However, a company of this size is bound to see a lot of negative attention, so keep that in mind. Terminix is also more expensive than many competitors, especially for its more comprehensive services, like termite and bedbug extermination.
* BBB ratings are accurate as of June 2024.
Terminix pros and cons
Terminix has nearly a century of experience getting rid of termites and other bugs, but the company’s size sometimes hinders good service. We recommend Terminix if you’re looking for convenient pest control, but you should expect to pay above-average prices for specialty services like termite treatment.
Pros
- Availability in 45 states
- Treats over 20 common household pests
- 30-day money-back guarantee
Cons
- Up to $1,500 annual termite coverage as opposed to the $585 national average
- Many BBB complaints related to poor communication
- Online quotes only available for general pest control (excludes termites)
How much does Terminix cost?
The prices of Terminix’s pest control options depend on what pests you’re dealing with and the number of treatments you need. Some examples:
- Termite control: $400 to $1,500 annually
- Bedbug treatment: Call for pricing
- General pest control (quarterly): $160 per quarter or $640 annually
- General pest control (one-time): $250 - $320
- Mosquito control: $160 one-time treatment (or $69 per month for natural treatment in New York or Vermont)
- Tick control: $85 per month
- Wildlife removal: Call for pricing
* Note: The prices for general pest control and mosquito treatments are from online quotes for a 1,500-square-foot home in Nassau County, N.Y.
Terminix’s cost for basic pest control is about average. Most top pest management companies we’ve evaluated have an average price between $600 and $700 a year for general pest control. However, Terminix’s termite treatment is more expensive than the industry average, pushing up to $1,500 a year — well above the national average termite treatment cost of $585.
When it comes to pricing for termite, bedbug treatment or wildlife removal, you’ll first need a free pest inspection to get a customized quote from Terminix.
Savings and discounts
Terminix has a few options available to save you money on pest control.
First, it typically offers a reduced-cost initial treatment for service in the spring to kick off the start of pest control. The standard cost for an initial inspection is between $200 and $300, but you can get up to $50 off when you sign up for quarterly or annual treatments.
Terminix also offers a price discount when you combine a termite control package with general pest control services. You can save an average of $175, Terminix says.
Although it’s technically not a discount, the satisfaction guarantee you get from Terminix can save you money in the long run. If the company treats pests covered in the service contract and the bugs return, technicians will return for free retreatment. That saves customers an average of $250 to $320.
What plans and services does Terminix offer?
Terminix handles a myriad of pests using five primary tiers of pest control plans and services:
- General pests (ants, spiders, etc.)
- Bedbugs
- Mosquitoes
- Rodents and wildlife
- Termites
Terminix services
|
Pests treated
|
Treatment frequency
|
Guarantee period
|
|
|---|---|---|---|
| Ongoing pest protection | Ants, centipedes, cockroaches, crickets, earwigs, mice, millipedes, moths, rats, scorpions, silverfish, spiders and paper wasps |
Quarterly |
Between treatments |
| One-time pest control | Ants, centipedes, cockroaches, crickets, earwigs, mice, millipedes, moths, rats, scorpions, silverfish, spiders and paper wasps. |
Once |
30 days |
| Termite protection | Termites |
Annual inspection plus OnGuard Termite Protection System for active control |
Between treatments |
| Bedbug treatment | Bedbugs |
Fully customized based on infestation |
90 days |
| Wildlife removal | Armadillos, bats, birds, groundhogs, mice, opossums, raccoons, rats, skunks, squirrels and more |
Initial removal plus plan to prevent future issues |
Full contract length |
| Mosquito treatment | Mosquitoes |
Ongoing through mosquito season or one-time |
Between treatments |
Terminix add-ons and optional features
Unlike many other pest control companies, Terminix provides a handful of home services to reduce the risk of pest infestation. They aren’t aimed at extermination, but you can add the following options to other ongoing or one-time treatment plans.
Attic insulation
Terminix can blow insulation into your attic or install batting. Attic insulation helps prevent rodents from getting into the home through an attic. It also boosts your home efficiency and interior comfort levels in extreme temperatures.
Crawl space services
Terminix can also seal and condition your crawl space or unfinished basement using the following services:
- Encapsulation
- Floor support system
- Vapor barrier installation
- Vent installation
These customized solutions reduce moisture under your home. Because moisture attracts insects and rodents, these services can prevent repeat infestations.
Gutter protection
Terminix can also address your gutters, which often fill with tree debris that attracts pests. Gutters give critters a place of refuge before they enter your home. Technicians can install gutter guards to prevent the clogs that attract insects and birds.
What pests does Terminix not treat?
There are almost no pests Terminix does not treat. It protects you against most pests, including ants, spiders, bees, roaches, termites, bedbugs, raccoons, squirrels, snakes, stinging insects and poisonous spiders.
Terminix customer experience
If you choose Terminix to solve your pest problems, the process should be simple. You can request service and pay online, connect with the company by phone or online chat, and find a wealth of information on common household pests on the company’s website.
We contacted Terminix via online chat and experienced a several-minute delay after providing our ZIP code. Before this, we conversed with a chatbot in an automated system, and the company took a few minutes to put us in contact with a local employee. We also called a local office and got through to a customer service representative following a 20-second hold. The representative was friendly.
Despite our experience, Terminix doesn’t have the best reputation for customer service. Its customer rating with the BBB is 1.1 out of 5, and the company has received more than 1,000 complaints over the past year alone. Despite the company’s overall A+ rating, many reviewers mention a lack of communication from Terminix. Some said company technicians said they showed up to treat a problem when customers said they didn’t.
Below are two reviews we found online that seem to provide a good snapshot of the quality of service you can expect from Terminix:
The fine print: Terms and conditions you should know
During our Terminix review, we couldn’t find a sample contract online. However, the company has its terms and conditions available so that you know what you’re looking at when you get your contract. Below are some things to keep in mind before signing:
- Number of services: This section details how many services you’re getting, excluding a free reinspection or retreatment. Most contracts for general pest control include six or seven treatments to be completed once every other month.
- Payment information: Make sure you understand how and when you’ll be billed. Common options with Terminix are monthly, quarterly or per treatment.
- Pests not covered: Premium pests (like poisonous spiders, termites and bedbugs) might require additional payment, so read about what pests your contract doesn’t cover.
- Standard pests covered: Your contract should spell out clearly which pests the company includes in your service and guarantee.
How does Terminix compare to competitors?
Terminix operates in most areas and can handle just about any pest in your home. It covers more pests than many of its competitors and has a larger service area than most. It services 45 states, Washington, D.C., and Puerto Rico. (It does not serve Alaska, Montana, North Dakota, South Dakota or Vermont.)
So, Terminix is our primary recommendation for convenience. We think Arrow Exterminators is the best overall because of its pricing and outstanding customer reviews. Orkin has highly trained technicians and 120 years of experience, so we recommend it for unparalleled expertise. For customer service alone, we’d recommend Viking Pest Control, which has 5-star ratings across several review sites.
Terminix vs. competitors
|
Our score
|
Best for
|
State availability
|
|
|---|---|---|---|
| Terminix | 3.7 |
Convenience |
45 |
| Arrow Exterminators | 4.1 |
Wildlife control |
12 |
| Ehrlich Pest Control | 3.9 |
Comprehensive plans |
19 |
| Truly Nolen | 3.9 |
Rodent control |
16 |
| Orkin | 3.8 |
Experienced technicians |
48 |
| Viking Pest Control | 3.8 |
Customer satisfaction |
4 |
| Aptive | 3.6 |
Eco-friendly solutions |
31 |
| Bulwark | 3.6 |
Customizability |
15 |
Methodology
To help you find the best pest control company for your needs, the CNN Underscored team compared Terminix with 16 other top pest control providers in the country using over 20 data points for each company. These data points include treatment options to determine how likely Terminix is to meet your pest control needs, customer review scores, customer care and convenience, pricing and our own editorial judgement.
Our editorial score is based on personal experience with the providers whenever possible, secret shopper calls to providers to gauge customer service and the hours we’ve spent reading through customer reviews to see why companies are rated as they are by customers.
The author also worked hands-on with numerous pest control companies as a property manager in New York, so he has a firm grasp of what to look for in a provider and what kind of services to expect.
