The short version
Most wasp nests in Memphis cost about $100–$400 to treat and remove. Nests inside walls or high up cost more.
- Most wasp nests in Memphis cost about $100–$400.
- Wall, ground and high nests cost more.
- Ask whether nest removal is included.
- Small spring nests are cheap to deal with.
- Compare what each quote covers.
Anyone in Memphis dealing with wasps, hornets or yellowjackets at home.
What to look for
Wasps defend the area around their nest. Near a door or deck, stings will happen. Around Memphis, queens start nests in April, and colonies peak in late summer. Late-summer colonies are big and quick to sting.
- 1Wasps flying straight lines to and from one spot.
- 2Open umbrella-shaped comb under a porch ceiling or railing.
- 3Dead wasps collecting on interior windowsills in late summer.
- 4Wasps appearing indoors near light fixtures or windows.
- 5Sudden wasp interest in overripe fruit under a tree.
- 6Wasps hovering at a mulch bed or retaining wall gap.
Why it’s worth acting soon
- Nests grow all summer.
- Ground nests get disturbed by mowing.
- Wall nests can chew through into rooms.
- Stings are dangerous for anyone allergic.
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Estimate wasp removal cost in Memphis
Adjust for your situation to see a ballpark range.
Estimated range
A rough guide only. Wall, ground and high nests cost more.
Treatment options and typical costs
Inspection and Nest Identification
$75–$200
Nest location drives everything else in Memphis: height, whether it sits in a void, and how close it is to doors or play areas. The inspection should end with a plan and a price.
- Time
- 45–75 minutes
- Best for
- Every job; species and nest location decide the method
Preventive Spring Treatment and Follow-Up
$150–$400
Follow-up matters after any treatment around a property. Checking again two weeks later catches anything the first visit missed.
- Time
- 45–90 minutes
- Best for
- Sting allergies or repeat nest spots
Sealing Up After the Nest Is Dead
$150–$450
Once the nest is dead, the gap gets sealed. Caulk, copper mesh or a soffit patch works. Old nests are not reused, but the gap invites new queens.
- Time
- 1–2 hours
- Best for
- Sealing the gap once the nest is dead
Ground and Wall-Void Nest Treatment
$150–$500
Wall-void nests behind siding get the same dust treatment. In Memphis, the pro should leave the opening unsealed until all traffic stops, since trapped wasps chew inward toward living space.
- Time
- 30–60 minutes plus a return visit
- Best for
- Yellowjackets in lawns, retaining walls, soffits and wall voids
Prices are typical published ranges. Ask what’s included before you compare quotes.
Yellowjackets often nest in old rodent holes and gaps in garden walls. Watch for wasps flying low and steady into one spot.What wasp removal costs in Memphis.
- A typical home in Memphis is worth around $170k, and most wasp jobs are a one-time cost. Late-summer nests are bigger, so book early if you can. - Inspection and Nest Identification: $75–$200 - Preventive Spring Treatment and Follow-Up: $150–$400 - Sealing Up After the Nest Is Dead: $150–$450 - Ground and Wall-Void Nest Treatment: $150–$500
Local wasps conditions in Memphis.
Memphis sits in a humid subtropical climate, and that sets the pace for wasp activity here: mid-summer through fall (July-October). In Memphis, the area is mostly urban, so wasps pressure can differ from one block to the next depending on how tight the entry points are and how much food, water, or shelter is close by. An inspection in Memphis usually starts outside and works inward, checking the foundation, gaps around doors and windows, and any moisture or clutter near the structure first. Knowing Memphis's seasonal timing lets you schedule treatment before the busy stretch rather than after it, which usually means faster service and a more accurate quote. A provider who works Memphis and Tennessee every day can point out the specific conditions that matter most here, and getting the scope, price, and follow-up terms in writing makes it easier to compare options.
Yellowjackets sometimes nest in attics and wall voids, getting in through a torn vent screen or a gap in the soffit. Buzzing in a ceiling is worth a look.Which wasps live around Memphis.
Paper wasps are the most common around Memphis. They build open, umbrella-shaped combs under eaves and railings. Eastern yellowjackets nest in the ground and in wall voids. They cause most stings. Bald-faced hornets build big gray nests in trees and eaves. European hornets live in Tennessee too. They're large, fly at night, and nest in hollow trees. Mud daubers build tube-shaped mud nests. They rarely sting.
When they’re most active.
Nests die back with the first hard freeze, around November. Early spring is the easiest time to remove small starts.
Where they nest around houses here.
Many houses around Memphis have crawl spaces, and vents and access doors invite nests. Check eaves, porch ceilings and the crawl vents. Watch for traffic in and out of gaps. A ground nest looks like wasps streaming from one hole. Homes from Memphis out to Bartlett and Germantown share the same favorite nest spots.
A year of wasps in Memphis.
- Spring: queens start new nests around April. Knock down small starts. - Summer: highs near 91°F in Memphis help colonies grow fast. - Late summer: peak season. Workers hunt sweets near people. - Winter: lows near 32°F in Memphis. Nests die; only queens survive.
Wasp, hornet or bee?
- Paper wasp: slim, long legs, open comb. - Yellowjacket: bright yellow and black, nests in the ground. - Hornet: larger, with a big closed paper nest. - Mud dauber: thin waist, mud tube nests. Rarely stings. - Honey bee: fuzzy and golden. about relocation.
If you get stung.
Move away from the nest first. Wash the sting and use a cold pack. An antihistamine can ease itching and swelling. 911 for trouble breathing or a swollen face or throat. If someone carries an epinephrine pen, use it.
Keeping wasps away from the patio.
- Food: cover plates and drinks outdoors. - Trash: keep lids tight and bins away from doors. - Fruit: pick up fallen fruit. - Spring checks: knock down small nests early. - Gaps: seal gaps after a nest is gone.
Ground nests: what to do.
Mark the hole with a flag. Keep kids and pets away. Don't mow over it. Don't pour gasoline or water in. Pros treat ground nests at night, when the colony is home.
A nest, or just visitors?
Wasps on flowers or trash cans may come from far away. A nest shows steady traffic to one spot. Watch at dusk, when they fly home. Follow the line back to an eave, vent, shrub or hole.
Treating a small nest yourself, safely.
- Only if it’s small, low and out in the open. - Never if anyone in the house is allergic. - Wait until dusk, when wasps are home and slow. - Wear long sleeves, pants and gloves. - Use a jet wasp spray from several feet away. - Never spray from a ladder. - Leave it overnight, then bag the nest.
Wasps and pets.
Dogs often snap at wasps and get stung on the face. Most stings just swell a little. your vet if the throat swells or breathing changes. Keep pet food and water bowls indoors in late summer.
Kids and wasps.
Teach kids to walk away calmly. Swatting makes a sting more likely. Check play sets, slides and playhouses for nests each spring. Use cups with lids for sweet drinks outside.
After the nest is gone.
Wasps don't reuse old nests. Seal the gap a wall nest used once it's quiet. Check nearby eaves for new starts. Knock down small new nests early next spring.
Wasps at picnics and barbecues.
- Drinks: use cups with lids or straws. - Food: keep it covered until you eat. - Trash: bag scraps and close the bin. - Calm: don’t swat; slowly move away. - Kids: teach them to walk away calmly.
Ground nests in the lawn.
Yellowjackets often nest in old rodent holes. Watch for wasps flying in and out of the grass. Mark it, and keep mowers and kids away until it's treated.
Questions to ask before you sign.
- What kind of wasp is it? - How will you treat a nest inside the wall? - Is removal of the dead nest included? - Is a return visit included?
Ways to keep the cost down.
- Knock down small nests in spring. - Call early, before nests get big. - Ask if removal is included. - Seal gaps once a nest is gone.
What affects the price
- After-hours, weekend or emergency scheduling.
- Roof pitch and safe access to the nest location.
- Sealing gaps after the nest is dead.
- Colony size, which climbs sharply from June to September.
- Dense siding, brick or stone that limits dust access.
- Distance from the company's base and travel time.
- Local labor rates and seasonal demand.
- Return visit to confirm a void nest is dead.
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What's your biggest concern about wasp control costs?
When to call for help
Call for nests in walls, attics, the ground, or anywhere high. right away if anyone in the house is allergic. Don't seal a hole wasps are using. They'll find another way in.
What you can do yourself
Knock it down the next day. Big, high or hidden nests are a job for a pro. A small, reachable paper wasp nest is a fair DIY job. Spray it at dusk with a wasp aerosol.
Wasps in Memphis
With summer highs near 91°F in Memphis, colonies grow fast and are biggest by August. Winter lows near 32°F in Memphis end the season; only new queens survive, tucked into sheltered spots. In denser parts of Memphis, nests turn up in eaves, balconies, signs and wall gaps.
Local research
Wasps in Memphis, TN: what the public record shows
Before you compare quotes, it helps to know which wasps actually live in Tennessee, when they are busiest around Memphis, and what the state figures look like. Everything below links to the agency or university page it came from.
Wasp species recorded in Tennessee
- Eastern yellowjacket (Vespula maculifrons) — UF/IFAS lists it with the southern yellowjacket as Florida's two yellowjackets; OSU lists it for Ohio; Texas A&M notes it is 'generally found in eastern Texas'. Ground nests 9.5…
- Bald-faced hornet (Dolichovespula maculata) — Penn State: 'found in most of the 48 contiguous states and D.C., throughout Canada and in Alaska'; actually an aerial yellowjacket that builds the football-shaped gray paper nes…
- European hornet (Vespa crabro) — Penn State: 'first detected in the 1840s', 'well established in the eastern United States', 'first reported from Arkansas in 1999'; workers 'up to an inch (25 mm) long', nests '…
- Native paper wasps (Polistes spp. (e.g., P. fuscatus, P. apachus, P. exclamans)) — Open umbrella-shaped nests under eaves, porch ceilings and railings. UC IPM: paper wasp colonies 'vary between 15 to 200 individuals'; Penn State: queens 'establish nests in May…
When wasps are busiest around Memphis
Colonies start in April–May and peak from late summer into fall; in the Gulf South some southern yellowjacket colonies survive winter and grow into multi-year 'super nests' (Clemson, Texas A&M).
Bald-faced hornet range per Penn State covers most of the 48 contiguous states and D.C. European hornet is established across the eastern United States (Penn State). European paper wasp is reported less common in the Southeast and Great Plains (Penn State).
Rules that apply in Tennessee
For context, nationally
- 788 — Deaths from hornet, wasp, and bee stings, 2011–2021 (US). CDC MMWR
- 72 deaths per year — Average annual sting deaths, 2011–2021 (US). CDC MMWR
Sources: CDC MMWR; Yellowjackets and Hornets, Vespula and Dolichovespula spp. (Insecta: Hymenoptera: Vespidae); Baldfaced Hornet; European Hornet; Yellowjackets and Other Social Wasps (Pest Notes). Figures are quoted as the source prints them. How we check our sources
Simple ways to keep wasps away
- Clean outdoor eating areas right after meals.
- Seal soffit seams and fascia gaps before spring.
- Fill old rodent burrows and mulch-bed holes in spring.
- Fill gaps in retaining walls and stacked stone.
- Walk the eaves in April and knock down starter nests.
For a nest in the ground or a wall, a pro treats the entrance and checks back to make sure the traffic has stopped before anything is sealed.Did you know?
A bald-faced hornet is actually a yellowjacket, not a true hornet
Only newly mated queens survive the winter
Questions people ask
Are there cheaper options than hiring a professional?
For a small, low paper wasp nest, yes. Spray it at dusk with wasp spray.
Is a preventive spring treatment worth the cost?
If you get nests every year, it can be. Otherwise, check eaves in spring and knock down small starts.
Is nest removal included in the price?
Not always. Ask whether they'll remove the dead nest, or just treat it.
Does homeowners insurance cover wasp removal?
Usually not. Insurers treat it as routine maintenance.
Why are there suddenly so many wasps in late summer?
Colonies are at their biggest by late summer. Food gets scarce, so workers hunt sweets and protein near people.
Should I be worried about a nest in the ground?
Yes, if it's near a path or play area. Ground nests are usually yellowjackets. Mowing over them sets them off.
How do I find a good wasp control company?
Check that they're licensed in Tennessee. Ask how they treat hidden nests and whether removal is included.
How often should you check your property for wasp nests?
Every week or two from spring through late summer. In Memphis, look under eaves, decks, sheds and play equipment, where small nests are easy to deal with.
What's the usual way to get rid of a nest?
In Memphis, a dust or spray into the nest opening at dusk, then removal once activity stops.
Are hornets common in Memphis?
Bald-faced hornets are, in trees and on eaves.
Nearby cities
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Sources (8)
The facts in this article come from the public sources listed above. Every home is different, so ask the company you talk to about pricing and what’s included. Published by Wasp Exterminator · Updated September 11, 2026 · How we write these guides