What ant control costs

What guides charge

PestMatch, 2026, gives a typical £60 to £150. PestPro Index (March 2026) gives £60 to £120 for one or two visits. howmuchshoulditcost, 2026, gives £80 to £250, with an average of £130. The range is wide because the species and the number of nests change the job. Our identification guide helps you work out which ant you have before you ask for a quote.

What changes the price

A straightforward garden-ant treatment, with one or two visits, sits at the bottom of the range. Pharaoh ants, several nests or a large building cost more because they need baiting, monitoring and return visits. Ask how many visits are included and whether a return is free if the ants reappear. Sealing gaps may be quoted separately.

London and the South East

Prices run 20 to 30% above the national average in London and the South East, according to PestMatch and PestPro Index. howmuchshoulditcost puts London about 24% higher.

Questions to ask a firm

Before you agree a quote, ask:

• how many visits the price includes
• whether a free return is included if ants reappear within a set period
• whether it will treat the nest and the entry points
• whether sealing gaps costs extra

Compare two or three quotes. The cheapest may cover a single visit only, and a quote for a pharaoh ant problem should mention monitoring, since those jobs often run longer than one visit.

The council option

Some councils treat ants, but not flying ants. Solihull treats ants within a £77 to £266 range of insect charges, and Hounslow treats garden and pharaoh ants. Check what your council covers and its fee before you book a private firm. Our council pest control page shows what yours offers.

Paying less

Garden ants often clear with bait stations in one to two weeks, so try the DIY guide first for a small problem. Call a professional if trails continue after two to three weeks, or if you suspect pharaoh ants. See ant control for what a visit involves.

Renting

Occasional garden ants are not a housing hazard, so the tenant usually pays. Pharaoh ants in a block are a shared-structure issue, usually for the landlord or managing agent. Report it in writing.