Moth Exterminator Cost (2026 Pricing)

Last updated: March 29, 2026

By James — Founder of Pest Control Pricing

A moth exterminator costs $100 to $350 depending on the type of moth and the severity of the infestation. Clothes moth treatment runs $150 to $350 for professional inspection and treatment. Pantry moth treatment is usually a $20 to $40 DIY job that rarely requires professional service. The average homeowner pays around $200 when professional treatment is needed.

This guide covers moth exterminator costs by type (clothes moths vs. pantry moths), when professional treatment is worth it versus DIY, and how to prevent both types from returning. The two types require completely different treatment approaches, so correct identification is the essential first step. For general pest treatment pricing, see our pest control cost guide.

What Types of Moths Infest Homes?

Two types of moths cause problems inside homes: clothes moths and pantry moths. Despite both being called "moths," they are different species with different food sources, different behaviors, and different treatment methods. Treating one type with methods designed for the other wastes time and money.

Clothes moths

Two species of clothes moths are common in homes. The webbing clothes moth (Tineola bisselliella) is the more common of the two. Adults are small, about 1/2 inch long, golden-tan in color, with no distinctive markings. They avoid light and are rarely seen flying. When disturbed, they tend to run or hop rather than fly. They prefer dark, undisturbed spaces: the backs of closets, inside storage boxes, behind furniture, and inside drawers.

The casemaking clothes moth (Tinea pellionella) is similar in size but its larvae create a small portable case made of silk and fibers that they carry as they feed. Both species are found in the same types of environments and cause the same type of damage.

Clothes moth larvae are the damaging stage, not the adults. The larvae feed on animal-based fibers: wool, silk, cashmere, mohair, fur, feathers, and leather. They do not eat cotton, polyester, nylon, or other synthetic or plant-based fabrics. However, they will eat through synthetic fabric to reach animal fiber underneath, and they are attracted to blended fabrics that contain even a small percentage of wool or silk. Items soiled with body oils, sweat, food stains, or beverage spills are especially attractive because the organic material provides additional nutrients.

Clothes moth larvae feed for 2 to 3 months before pupating. During that time, they create irregular holes and surface grazing damage on fabrics. A severe infestation can destroy a wool sweater, silk scarf, or cashmere coat. Damage often goes unnoticed until the item is pulled out for seasonal use, at which point the larvae may have been feeding for months.

Pantry moths

The Indian meal moth (Plodia interpunctella) is the most common pantry moth. Adults are slightly larger than clothes moths, about 5/8 inch long, with distinctive coloring: the front third of the wing is pale gray or tan, and the outer two-thirds is copper or reddish-brown. Unlike clothes moths, pantry moths are attracted to light and are frequently seen flying around kitchens, especially in the evening.

Pantry moth larvae are small, whitish caterpillars that infest stored dry goods. They feed on flour, rice, cereal, pasta, oats, nuts, dried fruit, chocolate, spices, tea, pet food, birdseed, and virtually any dried food product. Larvae spin silk webbing in infested food, creating clumps and threads that are often the first visible sign of infestation. Adult moths seen flying in the kitchen have already reproduced; the larvae are in the food.

Pantry moth infestations originate in food purchased at the store. Eggs and larvae are present inside the packaging before it reaches your home. They do not fly in from outside. A single contaminated box of cereal or bag of flour can introduce a population that spreads to every unsealed food product in the pantry.

Moths that are NOT pest problems

Miller moths, gypsy moths, and other outdoor moths that are attracted to porch lights and occasionally enter homes through open doors are not pest control issues. These moths do not feed on anything inside the home, do not reproduce indoors, and die on their own within a few days. They are seasonal migrants that accumulate near exterior lighting. Turning off porch lights or switching to yellow "bug lights" reduces their presence. No treatment is needed or effective for these moths. If you are unsure which type of moth you have, our pest identifier tool can help with visual identification.

How Much Does Clothes Moth Treatment Cost?

Clothes moth treatment costs $150 to $350 for professional inspection and treatment. The cost depends on the size of the infested area, the number of closets and storage spaces involved, and whether specialized fumigation of individual items is needed.

What professional treatment includes

A professional clothes moth treatment begins with a thorough inspection of all closets, wardrobes, dressers, storage areas, and any location where animal-based fibers are stored. The technician identifies the extent of the infestation, locates active feeding sites, and determines how long the infestation has been established based on damage patterns and larval stage.

Treatment typically involves a residual insecticide applied to closet baseboards, carpet edges, and cracks where larvae pupate. The technician may apply a light dust formulation in closet corners and along shelf edges. Pheromone traps designed specifically for webbing clothes moths are placed in affected closets to monitor adult male activity and assess treatment effectiveness over the following months.

The technician also provides specific recommendations for the homeowner: which items to dry clean or wash, which items to freeze (72 hours at 0 degrees Fahrenheit kills all life stages), and how to store vulnerable items to prevent reinfestation.

When professional treatment is worth it

Professional treatment is recommended when clothes moth damage has been found in multiple locations throughout the home, indicating a widespread infestation that has been established for several months. If damage is limited to a single closet and you can identify and treat the affected items yourself, DIY is often sufficient. But if you are finding damaged items in different rooms, a professional inspection ensures that all harborage areas are identified and treated.

Professional treatment is also appropriate for homes with large collections of valuable textiles: wool rugs, antique tapestries, fur coats, or extensive cashmere wardrobes. The cost of professional treatment ($150 to $350) is minor compared to the replacement cost of the items at risk. For severe infestations involving high-value items, professional fumigation may be warranted. See our fumigation cost guide for details on that process.

Mothballs: effective but toxic

Mothballs contain either naphthalene or paradichlorobenzene, both of which produce fumes toxic to moth larvae. They are effective when used in sealed, airtight containers such as garment bags, storage bins with tight lids, or cedar chests sealed with tape. The fumes must reach lethal concentration, which only happens in an enclosed space.

Mothballs should never be used in open closets, dresser drawers, or any space where fumes can escape into living areas. Naphthalene is a suspected carcinogen, and prolonged inhalation of either chemical can cause headaches, nausea, and respiratory irritation. Children and pets are at higher risk. For open closets, cedar products are a safer deterrent, though they repel rather than kill moths and must be sanded periodically to refresh the volatile oils.

How Much Does Pantry Moth Treatment Cost?

Pantry moth treatment costs $100 to $200 for professional service, but professional treatment is rarely needed. The real cost is the food you discard. Most pantry moth problems are resolved with DIY methods costing $20 to $40 for traps and airtight storage containers.

Why professional treatment is rarely needed

Pantry moths are a food-source problem, not a structural pest problem. The larvae live in food. Remove the food, and the population collapses. There is no hidden nest in the walls, no colony behind baseboards, and no reason to spray chemicals in a kitchen where food is prepared.

A professional exterminator treating for pantry moths does essentially the same thing a homeowner does: inspects all food products, identifies infested items, recommends discarding them, cleans shelves, and places pheromone traps. The $100 to $200 professional fee is for the inspection expertise, not for a specialized treatment. If you are willing to systematically inspect your pantry, the DIY approach is equally effective.

The DIY pantry moth treatment process

Step 1: Remove everything from the pantry. Every item. Check all dry goods for signs of infestation: webbing, small larvae (whitish caterpillars), clumped or webbed grains, and adult moths inside packaging. Even items that appear clean may contain eggs.

Step 2: Discard all infested items. When in doubt, discard. Unopened items in factory-sealed packaging with no visible damage are usually safe to keep. Anything open, even if you do not see obvious signs, should be discarded if it has been stored near infested items.

Step 3: Vacuum and clean all shelves, corners, and crevices with hot soapy water or a vinegar-water solution. Larvae can pupate in shelf cracks, corner crevices, and along shelf edges. Thorough cleaning removes eggs and pupae that would otherwise produce a new generation of adults.

Step 4: Place pheromone traps in the pantry. These sticky traps use a pheromone lure specific to Indian meal moths. They attract and capture adult males, which helps monitor whether the infestation has been fully resolved. If traps continue catching moths after 4 to 6 weeks, there is still an active food source that was missed.

Step 5: Store all dry goods in airtight, hard-sided containers. Glass mason jars, rigid plastic containers with snap lids, and metal tins prevent both infestation and re-contamination. Standard zip-top bags and thin plastic packaging are not moth-proof because larvae can chew through them.

When Do You Need a Professional?

Professional moth treatment makes sense in specific situations. For the majority of homeowners dealing with moths, DIY is effective and far less expensive. Understanding when to call a professional saves you money and gets you the right solution.

Clothes moths: call a professional when

• Damage has been found in multiple rooms or closets, not just one location
• The infestation has been present for several months (extensive damage, multiple life stages visible)
• You have a large collection of high-value textiles (wool rugs, furs, cashmere, antique fabrics)
• DIY treatment (washing, freezing, vacuuming, traps) has not stopped new damage after 2 to 3 months
• The infested home has wall-to-wall wool carpet, which provides a large-area food source that is difficult to treat without professional help

Pantry moths: almost never need a professional

Pantry moth infestations are resolved by finding and removing the food source. A professional does not have access to tools or chemicals that make this process faster or more effective. The only scenario where professional help makes sense is if you have thoroughly cleaned and inspected your pantry multiple times and moths keep returning, which usually means there is an overlooked food source in an adjacent room, a seldom-used cabinet, or an item you did not think to check (spices, tea bags, dried flower arrangements, pet treats stored in a closet, birdseed in the garage).

Outdoor/miller moths: no treatment needed

Large moths attracted to porch lights that occasionally enter through open doors are not a pest control issue. These are outdoor moths that do not feed or reproduce inside homes. They die within a few days. Switching to yellow bug lights reduces their accumulation near doors. No pest control treatment is effective or necessary for these moths. For help deciding whether your pest problem warrants professional help, see our when to call an exterminator guide. Our DIY vs. professional pest control comparison provides additional context.

How Do Clothes Moths Get in Your Home?

Clothes moths do not fly in from outside through open windows or doors. They are poor fliers, avoid light, and are not attracted to homes from the exterior. Almost every clothes moth infestation begins with an infested item brought into the home.

Common sources of introduction

Thrift store and vintage clothing. Secondhand wool, silk, and cashmere garments from thrift stores, estate sales, and vintage shops are a primary source of clothes moth introduction. The previous owner may not have known the item was infested, and moth eggs and larvae are small enough to be invisible during a casual inspection. Any secondhand natural-fiber garment should be washed, dry cleaned, or frozen before being stored in your closet.

Antique rugs and tapestries. Wool area rugs, especially antique or handmade rugs, are high-risk items. Moths can feed on the underside of a rug for months before the damage becomes visible on the surface. Purchased or inherited rugs should be professionally cleaned before being placed in the home.

Inherited blankets and textiles. Wool blankets, quilts with wool batting, and other textiles received from family members or estate settlements may have been stored in conditions favorable to moth activity. Items stored in attics, basements, or garages for extended periods are especially high-risk.

Used furniture with upholstery. Upholstered furniture with wool, silk, or horsehair padding can harbor clothes moth populations. Antique furniture is particularly susceptible because older upholstery materials are more likely to contain animal fibers. Inspect any used upholstered furniture carefully before bringing it into your home, paying attention to the underside and inside the cushions.

Moving from an infested location. If your previous home had a clothes moth infestation, moth eggs and larvae can travel with your clothing, linens, and textiles to the new location. Washing or dry cleaning all natural-fiber items before packing prevents this transfer.

How Do Pantry Moths Get in Your Home?

Pantry moths enter homes inside food packaging purchased at grocery stores, warehouse clubs, health food stores, and online retailers. The moths do not fly in from outside. The infestation begins at the food production, packaging, or storage facility and reaches your home inside the product.

How food becomes infested

Indian meal moth eggs are microscopic. A single female lays 100 to 400 eggs directly on or near food surfaces. Eggs can be present in food at the processing facility, in warehouse storage, during transportation, or on store shelves. Bulk bins at grocery stores are especially high-risk because the bins are continuously refilled without thorough cleaning, and a single infested product contaminates the entire bin.

Common food sources for pantry moths

• Flour and baking mixes: All types of flour, pancake mix, cake mix, cornmeal
• Grains and rice: White rice, brown rice, oats, quinoa, barley
• Cereal and granola: Boxed cereal, granola, muesli, oatmeal
• Pasta: All types, especially if stored in original cardboard packaging
• Nuts and dried fruit: Almonds, walnuts, pecans, raisins, dried cranberries, dates
• Pet food: Dry dog food, dry cat food, and pet treats, especially large bags stored in the garage or laundry room
• Birdseed: A very common and frequently overlooked source, especially bags stored in the garage
• Spices and tea: Dried herbs, ground spices, and loose-leaf tea can harbor larvae
• Chocolate and candy: Chocolate bars, cocoa powder, and dried confections

The first sign of a pantry moth infestation is usually an adult moth flying in the kitchen. By the time you see an adult, larvae have been feeding in a food source for weeks. Finding the source is the treatment. Check every item on the list above, including items pushed to the back of shelves that have been there for months. For more detailed removal instructions, see our how to get rid of pantry moths guide. Our general how to get rid of moths page covers both types.

How Do You Prevent Clothes Moths?

Clothes moth prevention focuses on two strategies: making your textiles inaccessible to moths and monitoring for early detection. Once a clothes moth infestation is eliminated, consistent prevention habits keep them from returning.

Store vulnerable items in sealed containers

Wool, silk, cashmere, and other animal-fiber garments that are not in regular rotation should be stored in sealed garment bags (zippered, not open-ended) or airtight plastic bins. Cedar-lined closets and cedar chests help deter moths but are not fully protective on their own. The physical barrier of a sealed container is more reliable than any deterrent.

Wash or dry-clean before storing

Clothes moth larvae are attracted to soiled items. Body oils, sweat, food stains, and beverage spills all provide nutrients that attract egg-laying females and sustain larvae. Before storing any wool, silk, or cashmere item for the season, wash it or have it dry cleaned. Clean items in sealed storage are far less likely to attract clothes moths than unwashed items in an open closet.

Vacuum closets regularly

Vacuum closet floors, baseboards, corners, and carpet edges monthly. Clothes moth larvae often pupate along carpet edges, in closet corners, and in the cracks between baseboard and floor. Regular vacuuming removes eggs, larvae, and pupae before they can develop into adults. Pay attention to areas under shoe racks, behind stored boxes, and along the back wall of the closet where lint and fiber accumulate.

Use pheromone traps as monitors

Clothes moth pheromone traps ($10 to $20 for a pack of 2 to 4) attract and capture adult male webbing clothes moths. They are not a treatment method because they only catch males, but they are an excellent early warning system. Place one trap in each closet that contains animal-fiber garments. Check them monthly. If a trap starts catching moths, you have early detection of a new introduction before significant damage occurs. Early detection saves money: a small, early infestation is a DIY fix, while a months-old infestation spread across multiple closets may require professional treatment.

Inspect secondhand purchases

Every thrift store find, vintage purchase, estate sale acquisition, and inherited textile is a potential clothes moth introduction vector. Develop the habit of washing, dry cleaning, or freezing (72 hours at 0 degrees Fahrenheit) any secondhand animal-fiber item before placing it in your closet. This single habit prevents the majority of new clothes moth introductions.

How Do You Prevent Pantry Moths?

Pantry moth prevention is straightforward: remove the food source and make stored food inaccessible. Unlike clothes moths, which require monitoring and careful textile management, pantry moth prevention is largely about food storage habits.

Transfer food to airtight containers immediately

When you bring dry goods home from the store, transfer them from their original packaging into hard-sided airtight containers. Glass mason jars, rigid plastic containers with snap-on or screw-on lids, and metal canisters all work. The key is that the container must be hard-sided (larvae can chew through thin plastic) and truly airtight (not just "closed" but sealed). This single habit prevents nearly all pantry moth infestations. Even if you bring home a product with moth eggs already inside, the infestation is contained within that one jar and cannot spread to other foods.

Inspect grocery packaging

Before purchasing dry goods, inspect the packaging for signs of damage: holes, tears, webbing visible through clear packaging, or clumped contents. Bulk bin purchases are higher risk than sealed packages. If you buy from bulk bins, transfer the product to an airtight container as soon as you get home and monitor for signs of infestation over the next 2 to 3 weeks.

Freeze flour and grains for 72 hours

Placing flour, grains, rice, and similar products in the freezer for 72 hours after purchase kills any eggs or larvae that may be present. After freezing, transfer the product to an airtight container for pantry storage. This is especially worthwhile for bulk purchases, organic products (which are less likely to have been treated with pesticides during storage), and products from health food stores with bulk bins.

Clean pantry shelves regularly

Wipe down pantry shelves monthly with a damp cloth or vinegar solution. Clean up spills, crumbs, and food residue promptly. Pay attention to shelf edges, corners, and the area behind items pushed to the back of the shelf. Larvae can pupate in shelf cracks, so keeping shelves clean removes potential pupation sites.

Practice FIFO rotation

First in, first out. Place new purchases behind existing stock so older items are used first. Products that sit for months at the back of the pantry are higher risk because any infestation present has more time to develop. Regular rotation ensures that food does not remain undisturbed long enough for a moth lifecycle to complete unnoticed.

Use pheromone traps as monitors

Indian meal moth pheromone traps ($8 to $15 for a pack of 2 to 4) placed in the pantry catch adult male moths and serve as an early warning system. If you start catching moths on the trap, an infested food source is nearby. Check traps weekly and replace them every 2 to 3 months. The traps are not a treatment, but they alert you to a problem before the population becomes large enough to spread to multiple food items.

What Is the Difference Between Pantry Moths and Clothes Moths?

Pantry moths and clothes moths are frequently confused because they are both small moths found inside homes. However, they are different species with different behaviors, different food sources, and different treatment approaches. Treating one type with methods designed for the other will not resolve the problem.

How to identify which type you have

The simplest identification method is location and behavior. If you see a moth flying toward a light in the kitchen, it is almost certainly a pantry moth. If you find a small moth running (not flying) in a dark closet or see one flutter briefly when you disturb stored clothing, it is likely a clothes moth.

Color is also diagnostic. Pantry moths have clearly two-toned wings (pale front, copper-brown rear). Clothes moths are a uniform golden-tan with no distinctive markings. If you are still uncertain, check for damage: irregular holes in wool or silk garments indicate clothes moths. Webbing or larvae in stored food indicate pantry moths.

Pheromone traps are species-specific. Clothes moth traps will not catch pantry moths, and pantry moth traps will not catch clothes moths. Using the correct trap confirms the identification. If you are seeing moths but cannot determine the type, placing both types of traps resolves the question within a week or two.

Can you have both types at the same time?

Yes, but it is uncommon. A home with old wool garments in a closet and open food in the pantry could theoretically support both species. If you identify both types, treat each independently with the appropriate methods. The treatments do not overlap. For more on general exterminator pricing and when professional help is justified, see our how much does an exterminator cost guide.

Frequently Asked Questions

Get Moth Treatment Quotes

Most moth problems can be resolved without professional treatment. Pantry moths are almost always a DIY fix. Clothes moths may need professional service if the infestation has spread across multiple closets or involves high-value textiles. If you need professional moth treatment, getting quotes from two to three companies ensures fair pricing.

Call (866) 821-0263 or fill out the form below to connect with licensed pest control professionals in your area. For general pest control pricing, see our pest control cost guide. Use our pest control cost calculator for location-adjusted estimates.