Orkin Review (2024)
Get a quote from exterminators near you
Clicking “Get Your Estimate” submits your data to Home Service Quotes, which will process your data in accordance with the Home Service Quotes Privacy Policy.
Ad Disclaimer
Written by
Not all pest control companies offer the same services, pricing models, or customer experience. Our team researched the premier pest control companies nationwide and identified Orkin as a top provider, and a member of our team tested its targeted treatments for an ant and spider problem. In this review, we’ll share our analysis of its plans and services to help you determine whether this provider is right for you.
How We Rated Orkin
Orkin offers industry-leading technology and decades of experience dealing with all different types of pests. The company has been tackling termites for more than 70 years and has 100-plus years of bed bug treatment under its belt. Its pest control specialists must complete 160 hours of targeted training, and the company serves more than 1.7 million residential and commercial customers worldwide.
We awarded Orkin 4.7 out of 5 stars in our detailed review standards. Here’s a breakdown of how it performed in each category:
- Plans and services: Orkin received a high score due to the number of pests it covers in its general plan and for its variety of targeted pest plans.
- Reputation and customer responses: Orkin earned points in this category thanks to its strong customer review scores on the BBB and Trustpilot.
- Customer service: Orkin’s communicative sales reps and technicians earned the company a high score in this category. When one of our team members hired Orkin, its representative was helpful throughout the entire process.
- Workmanship guarantee: Orkin’s satisfaction guarantee and money-back policy earned it full points in this category.
- Financing: Orkin earned the majority of available points in this category thanks to its financing and discount options.
- Availability: We awarded Orkin full points due to its nationwide availability and presence in 49 states.
How Much Does Orkin Pest Control Cost?
A member of our team signed up for Orkin’s services to test its general pest inspection and targeted treatments. He chose to address common household pests: ants and spiders.
Our team member reached out to Orkin over the phone. During this call, the representative provided a free estimate and scheduled an appointment for a full inspection. Our team member’s home is a 2,000-square-foot, two-story house with an average-sized lot. Once the walkthrough and treatment were complete, the technician charged a price of just over $350.
Treatment prices can vary significantly depending on several factors:
- Severity of infestation: Severe infestations often require more expensive treatments.
- Home size and location: A larger home will cost more to treat, and some ZIP codes are more expensive than others.
- Pest type and treatment: Certain pests require a more targeted treatment approach and may cost more to exterminate.
- Number of treatments: Infestations that require follow-up treatments will cost you more.
Our team also obtained a sample quote for general renewal treatments for a 2,000-square-foot home in Houston. According to this estimate, a standard annual pest control plan for a home this size would cost $700 per year.
What Plan and Services Does Orkin Offer?
Orkin offers both a general pest control plan and targeted extermination and prevention services for specific pests.
General Pest Control
Under its general pest control plan, Orkin protects your home from up to 20 common household pests, including ants, moths, crickets, fleas, hornets, scorpions, silverfish, roaches, mice, spiders, centipedes, and earwigs.
You can choose whether you want to include interior and exterior mosquito control as part of this plan. Orkin bills monthly and also charges an initial service fee. Its technicians schedule visits to your home approximately every 60 days.
During scheduled visits, Orkin addresses household and environmental conditions that attract pests, eliminates current infestations, and stops the pests’ life cycles to prevent future infestations. The pest control company follows a six-step plan called Points of Service. The steps are as follows:
- Investigate: Orkin inspects your entire home—inside and out—for any current or potential pest issues.
- Protect: Orkin treats the perimeter of your property and removes all accessible wasp nests and spiderwebs.
- Fortify: Orkin seals, caulks, plugs, and secures gaps and cracks to keep pests out.
- Keep Watch: Orkin treats your home’s interior and installs pest monitors in key places, such as your garage, utility rooms, bathrooms, and kitchen.
- Report: Orkin writes a detailed report of services and future recommendations to keep your home pest-free.
- Follow Up: Orkin maintains communication between scheduled visits so a specialist can return for any immediate request.
Termite Control
Orkin offers continuous, tailored treatment for termites using three methods: Termidor Liquid Termite Treatments, Dry Foam and Orkinfoam, and Sentricon Bait and Monitoring.
- Termidor Liquid Termite: Safe for both indoor and outdoor application, Orkin applies Termidor liquid treatments to your foundation to provide a protective barrier around your home. This method is dual-action, providing immediate protection and preventive maintenance.
- Dry Foam and Orkinfoam: The proprietary Orkinfoam treats voids around heating ducts and water pipes, under slabs, in interior and exterior walls, and in other spaces. The foam expands to reach key areas, providing extensive protection from termites. Orkinfoam’s low moisture content prevents it from causing household damage.
- Sentricon Bait and Monitoring: This treatment inhibits the termite growth period by disrupting the molting process. Orkin applies this treatment to the most at-risk areas of your home, such as mulch, most soil, old tree stumps, sprinkler heads, and downspouts.
Bed Bug Services
Orkin offers bed bug inspection, treatment for active infestations, and ongoing monitoring. As with termites, Orkin uses its Points of Service system to treat bed bugs. Control strategies may include pesticides and heat treatments.
Mosquito Service
Orkin combines several treatments to interrupt the mosquitoes’ life cycle through monthly, seasonal, or one-time applications. The treatments help protect against Zika, West Nile, Chikungunya, and other mosquito-borne illnesses. Treatment methods include microbial insecticides, traditional insecticides, and insect growth regulators.
Extra Services
Orkin also tackles carpenter ants and ticks with inspections, treatments, and year-round solutions. If you find stinging insects, Orkin will treat your home’s exterior and remove the source. You can select a one-time or seasonal visit for these specialized services, or you can enroll in an annual plan that includes treatment for general pests.
How Does Orkin Compare to Other Pest Control Companies?
| Provider | BBB Rating | Best For | Star Rating | Visit Site |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| A | Best for Termite Control | GET ESTIMATE | ||
| A+ | Best General Pest Control | GET ESTIMATE | ||
| A+ | Best Supplementary Services | GET ESTIMATE | ||
| B+ | Best for Custom Plans | GET ESTIMATE | ||
| B | Best for Mosquito Control | GET ESTIMATE |
*BBB ratings accurate as of August 2023
What Should You Expect From Orkin?
Our team member who tested Orkin’s services noted the process is as follows, from initial contact to receiving treatment:
- Phone call: Our team member reached out to an Orkin representative who provided a free, over-the-phone estimate. The representative was helpful and polite. They scheduled the initial inspection only after our team member provided his credit card information.
- Arrival: Our team member received a two-hour window for the technician’s arrival. The technician texted him 15 minutes before their arrival. Upon arriving, the technician immediately asked if there were any pets or small children in the home. The technician explained that the treatments were pet- and kid-safe, answered questions, and provided peace of mind.
- Inspection and customer service: The technician inspected the inside and outside of our team member’s home, checking major entry points such as doors, windows, pipes, and other common problem areas. The technician explained everything they were doing and how the process worked.
- Treatment: The technician applied two primary treatment methods: a sealing spray and pellets. The spray was a kill-on-contact solution, and the pellets were bait balls.
- Wrap-up and departure: The technician answered final questions before leaving. From arrival to departure, the process took roughly 45 minutes.
Our team member praised Orkin’s process, treatments, and the technician’s professionalism.
Does Orkin Offer a Guarantee?
Orkin offers a 30-day money-back guarantee. If pests return to your home between treatments, an Orkin pro will return for a touch-up at no extra cost. If they can’t resolve your issue, they will refund your last service payment.
What Are Orkin’s Customer Reviews?
Orkin has a solid reputation with customers, holding an A+* rating from the Better Business Bureau (BBB). During our research process, we analyzed more than 100 customer reviews and listened to customer service call recordings to get a sense of homeowners’ satisfaction.
While most reviews are positive, highlighting satisfying experiences with knowledgeable exterminators, some reviews mention scheduling issues and inconsistent service from local branches. Here are some reviews from the BBB:
“We have been pleased with our Orkin pest services. We have not had any pressure to buy unneeded services. We have a bimonthly contract and getting appointments to work with our schedule has not been a problem. We have not had ******** issues to date. Our field service agent is respectful of property and professional as well as friendly. Seems knowledgeable in response to my questions. We have had Orkin services at our previous homes and had excellent service at each”
Chris S, January 20, 2023, on BBB
“The Orkin man showed up right on time, located the source of the problem and sprayed the area. He then told me how to prevent future problems.I would definitely use them again.”
Robert H, October 22, 2021, on BBB
“Started service and paid $348 to initiate. Then scheduled second follow up – had techs show up on wrong days/times. 3 no shows. I asked to cancel my membership today as I was charged monthly rate of $46 when the initial stuff hadn’t been completed. I will take my business elsewhere. Also, calling Orkin is a total nightmare – on hold for at least 30 minutes. Left 2 messages for Orkin and never received a return call. I requested a refund for all money spent – thankfully they granted this.”
Andrea S, October 13, 2022, on BBB
“We had an annual contract to check the bait traps at our place in the country. According to the reports, they only checked 3 out of 18 traps in December of 2021 and 6 of the 18 traps in April of 2022. I made 3 calls to Orkin; the local office did not return the 1st call, and the home office did not return the 2nd call. With the 3rd, an appointment was set up. The tech was a no-show! We won’t waste another $300 per year but purchase bait traps from Lowes or Amazon.”
Gail B, July 28, 2022, on BBB
*BBB information accurate as of August 2023
Where is Orkin Pest Control Available?
Orkin is available in 49 states, excluding Alaska, South Dakota, and Wyoming.
Is Orkin Pest Control Worth It?
Our team awarded Orkin an overall score of 4.7 out of 5. Orkin offers comprehensive general pest control service and targeted treatment for specific pests, such as ticks and carpenter ants. Our team member tested its targeted services for ants and spiders and was impressed with the process and the technician’s professionalism. Orkin breaks down its specific treatment processes and products on its website; its site also includes multiple videos and resources to help educate customers on pest life cycles, behaviors, control methods, and more.
Orkin rated highly on our metrics, but we recommend requesting quotes from three pest control companies before making a final decision.
FAQ About Orkin Pest Control
Is Orkin worth it?
Hiring Orkin for pest control is worth it, whether you’re dealing with a general pest like ants or specialty invaders like termites and bed bugs. Orkin has over a century of experience, and its specialists must undergo 160 hours of training—teaching them the ins and outs of how to eliminate pests at all different stages.
How much does Orkin cost?
The prices for services will vary based on the type of pest you’re dealing with, the degree of the pest infestation, the type of treatment you need, the number of treatments you need, and the size of your property. General pest control for a 2,000-square-foot home in Houston, Texas, costs $575 annually.
Does Orkin offer free inspections?
Orkin offers free home termite inspections.
What does Orkin treat?
Orkin protects against nearly 20 common household pests, including ants, moths, crickets, fleas, hornets, scorpions, silverfish, roaches, mice, spiders, centipedes, and earwigs. The company also offers plans for termites, bed bugs, ticks, and mosquitoes.
Our Rating Methodology
We back up our pest control recommendations with a detailed rating methodology that we use to objectively score each provider. We review pest control plans, navigate the provider website, speak with customer service representatives by phone and online chat (if available), request quotes, and analyze customer reviews for each provider. We then score the provider against our review standards for plans and services, reputation and customer responses, customer service offerings, workmanship guarantees, financing, and availability to arrive at a final score on a 5-point rating scale.
To share feedback or ask a question about this article, send a note to our Reviews Team at reviews@thisoldhousereviews.com.
