Stinging Insect Removal
Wasp and Hornet Nest Removal Cost in Columbus
Wasp nest removal cost in Columbus depends on what built the nest, how high it sits and whether anyone can reach it safely. Boydes Exterminating Co quotes each job after hearing what you have, and a photo from across the yard often helps.
- Serving Columbus since 1990
- 4.5★ from 55 Google reviews
- Owner-run, based on Dunning Rd
- One-time or recurring service
We do not post a flat rate, because a paper wasp nest under a low porch eave and a hornet colony forty feet up a maple are two different jobs. This guide covers what moves the price, what outside sources say about pest visits in Columbus, and the questions that keep surprises off the invoice.
What decides the price of wasp or hornet nest removal?
Six things do most of the work in any quote. Knowing them lets you compare one quote against another without guessing.
- The insect. Paper wasps, bald faced hornets and yellow jackets defend their nests differently, so each needs a different approach.
- Height. A nest at shoulder level is a short job. One above the roofline needs a ladder, an extended applicator or a plan to leave it alone.
- Location. An open nest on an eave is simple. A nest in a wall void, an attic or a ground burrow is harder because the entrance is the only thing we can see.
- Size and count. One nest the size of a golf ball and a cluster of five along a garage soffit do not take the same time.
- Access. Locked gates, dogs in the yard, steep slopes and thick shrubs slow the work.
- Follow-up. Some colonies need a second visit. We say so up front when a return visit is part of the plan.
What should a nest removal quote spell out?
Two quotes with the same number can cover different work. Before you compare, check that each one states these points:
- How many nests are included, and where each one sits.
- Whether the nest itself is taken down or only treated.
- Whether a return visit is part of the price.
- What happens if the nest is in a wall void or bigger than it looked.
- The visit date the quote assumes.
Have a nest and want a number?
Tell us the height, the shape and where it sits. We quote each job and you hear the price before work starts.
- Serving Columbus since 1990
- 4.5★ from 55 Google reviews
- Owner-run, based on Dunning Rd
- One-time or recurring service
How does the type of nest change the job?
| Nest type | What keeps it simple | What adds time |
|---|---|---|
| Paper wasp comb under an eave | Visible, usually small, often within ladder reach | Several nests spread around one house |
| Bald faced hornet nest in a tree | Hangs in the open, so we can see the entrance | Height, branches in the way, a nest over a driveway |
| Yellow jacket ground nest | Single entrance in open lawn | Hidden entrances, steps or roots around the hole |
| Nest inside a wall or soffit | A clear exterior entry point | The colony cannot be seen, and dead nest material stays behind |
If you are not sure which row you fall in, read our guide on telling a wasp, hornet or yellow jacket nest apart before you call. It makes the conversation shorter.
What do outside sources say about pest visit prices in Columbus?
No public price list exists for nest removal in Columbus, and we do not pretend otherwise. Outside sources give a rough ceiling and floor for general pest visits. One 2026 aggregator shows $90 to $550 for a one-time Columbus visit, and CityCostData (December 2025) shows $99 to $605 per visit.
Treat those as estimates for general pest work, not as our quotes and not as nest-specific figures. A hard-to-reach hornet nest can sit outside the range, and a simple low nest can land well inside it. The only number that matters is the one you hear before work starts.
Why do the published ranges run so wide?
General pest visits bundle very different work. One price might cover an ant treatment around a foundation, another a rodent follow-up, another a nest. A range of $90 to $605 across sources tells you that Columbus quotes vary, not what a particular nest costs. Height, access and the insect still decide your number.
Honey bees follow a different plan, since a hive is often relocated rather than treated. If you are comparing bee work, our page on bee swarm and hive help explains how that call goes.
Does the season change what a nest costs or how urgent it is?
It changes both. A queen starts a nest alone in spring, so an early nest is small, open and quick to deal with. By late summer the colony has hundreds of workers in the largest nests and defends them hard, which is when heights, access and the risk to people matter most.
| Time of year | What the nest looks like | What it means for the job |
|---|---|---|
| Spring | Small starter nest, few insects | Short job when found early, so check eaves and sheds in May |
| Midsummer | Growing nest, rising traffic | Quotes depend more on height and access |
| Late summer and early fall | Largest nests, irritable colonies | Nests by doors move up the list |
| After a hard freeze | Empty paper, colony gone | No treatment needed; taking it down is optional |
If anyone is stung and has trouble breathing or swelling of the face, call 911 before anything else, and call us about the nest afterward.
Does same-day service change what a nest removal costs?
It can, so ask. Same-day visits happen when the schedule allows, and customers mention them in reviews, but a rush slot does not exist on a full day. Tell us on the call that the nest is by a door or a play area, and we will say whether we can fit it in and whether timing changes the number.
A nest on the far side of a fence line you never use can wait for a normal opening. A nest beside the front door cannot. Calling honestly about which one you have saves you from paying for urgency you do not need.
How do you avoid surprise charges on a nest job?
- Describe the nest: shape, size, height and exactly where it sits.
- Send or hold a photo taken from a distance, never from under it.
- Ask what the price covers, including whether a return visit is part of it.
- Ask what happens if the nest turns out to be inside the wall or bigger than it looked.
- Get the number before anyone starts, and ask for written documentation if you need it for a landlord or an association.
Reviewers describe our pricing as fair and say there were no surprise charges. That comes from agreeing the price first, not from a promise on the website.
Who pays: you, your landlord or your insurer?
Renters should start with the landlord. Under the Columbus Health Code, as Columbus Public Health describes it, the owner of a dwelling with two or more units is responsible for eliminating pests. Single-family owners usually pay for nest work themselves.
Many homeowners policies treat pest control as routine maintenance rather than a covered loss, but wording varies. Call your agent before assuming either way. Our hornet nest removal and yellow jacket removal pages show what a visit includes, which helps if you need to explain the work to a claims adjuster.
How we talk about price with customers
Price depends on the type and extent of the infestation, and we say that on the first call. The nest does most of the talking. A good photo, a height estimate and a description of the entrance tell us more than any price list would.
We also tell people when a nest does not need treatment at all. Once a hard freeze kills a hornet colony, the empty paper is no threat, and paying to remove it is a choice, not a necessity. If a nest is in a spot we cannot reach without taking a risk, we say that too and explain what we can do instead.
Be wary of a quote that arrives with no questions asked. A real price needs to know the height, the species and the access.
Some jobs are not worth the money, and we say so. One small paper wasp nest on a shed wall nobody walks near will die at the first hard freeze. Leaving it costs nothing. The calculation flips when the nest is near a door, a play area or someone with a sting allergy.
The cheapest number is not always the cheapest job. A quote that leaves out a return visit or assumes an open eave can grow once the technician sees a wall void. Ask what the price covers and compare on that, not on the headline figure.
Related questions
Is hornet nest removal more expensive than wasp nest removal?
Often, yes, because hornet nests tend to be larger and hang higher. A bald faced hornet nest in a tall tree needs more planning than a small paper wasp nest under a porch eave. Height and access matter more than the insect's name, and we quote each job after hearing the details.
How is yellow jacket removal priced?
It depends on where the nest is. A single ground nest in open lawn is a simpler job than a colony spread through a wall cavity. We price by the type and extent of the nest, and we give you the number before work begins.
Do I still have to pay if the nest is already empty?
An empty nest does not need treatment, because a colony dies after the first hard freeze and does not return to the same nest. Taking it down is your choice. Nests inside walls are different, since leftover material can draw other insects, so describe where it is when you call.
Can I get a price over the phone?
Often we can talk through the nest and narrow things down, and a photo helps. The final number follows the details, so we may ask about height, access and whether more than one nest is around. You agree to the price before work starts, with no surprise charges added later.
Do I need to be home for a nest removal visit?
Often not, for an open nest on the outside of a house, as long as we can reach it. Locked gates, dogs in the yard and thick shrubs are the usual snags in Columbus backyards. Call to arrange it, and tell us about pets, children and allergies so the plan accounts for them.
If you have a nest and want a straight number, describe it and send a photo. Read our stinging insect removal overview, or call (209) 563-1650. We serve all of Columbus, and if you are weighing a do-it-yourself fix first, our post on DIY versus professional wasp nest removal is worth a read.
Sources
- Columbus Public Health, Columbus Health Code on pest responsibility in multi-unit dwellings
- CityCostData, pest control cost estimates (December 2025)
- U.S. EPA, pesticide use and label directions
Questions about this? Call the shop.
Tell us what you are seeing and we will tell you what happens next.
- Serving Columbus since 1990
- 4.5★ from 55 Google reviews
- Owner-run, based on Dunning Rd
- One-time or recurring service
Boydes Exterminating Co, 1967 Dunning Rd, Columbus, OH 43219