Cockroach Control in Memphis
Small, light brown roaches in the kitchen or bathroom at night are almost always German cockroaches, and they breed indoors, so they need a treatment plan. The big dark roaches that show up after a rain usually live outside and wander in, which calls for sealing and a perimeter treatment.
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On this page
Tell the company which kind you are seeing, or text a photo. The treatment is different for each.
Which roach is it
German cockroaches
Small, tan, with two dark stripes behind the head. They live indoors near food and water: behind the fridge, under the sink and inside cabinets. The University of Kentucky notes they are often brought in with grocery bags and used furniture, and that a single egg case can hatch up to 40 nymphs. If you see them in daylight, the population is large.
American and other large roaches
Big, reddish brown to dark. They live in drains and sewers, and outside in mulch and leaf litter. They come in through gaps around doors and pipes, often after heavy rain or a hot spell. Seeing one now and then is common in Memphis; finding several a week means there is a way in to seal.
Why Memphis has so many
Roaches like warm and wet, and Memphis summers are both. About 92 nights a year stay at 70°F or warmer at the airport, nearly all from June through September, and the city averages 56 inches of rain (NOAA, 1996 to 2025). In apartment buildings and townhomes with shared walls, German roaches also move between units through plumbing and wiring.
Average nights per month that stay at 70°F or warmer, Memphis
What treatment works
For German roaches, the methods that work are gel baits in cracks where they hide, insect growth regulators that stop them from breeding, and follow-up visits two to three weeks apart until activity stops. Cleaning matters as much as the product. Grease and pet food left out overnight keep them fed. I would not set off a store-bought fogger. It spreads roaches into the walls and does little to the ones already hidden.
For large outdoor roaches, the fix is sealing gaps under doors and around pipes. Pull mulch and leaf litter back from the foundation, and add a perimeter treatment outside.
What it costs
This Old House lists cockroach treatment at $100 to $600 (March 2026, national). A German roach job usually needs more than one visit, so ask whether follow-ups are included in the price. See the cost guide.
Renters and apartments
If you rent, tell your landlord or property manager in writing and ask who is arranging treatment. A German roach problem in one unit usually means neighboring units need to be inspected too. Downtown and Cordova have a lot of apartments, and so does Hickory Hill; see the area pages for Downtown, Cordova and Hickory Hill.
Kids and pets
Gel baits go into cracks and behind appliances, out of reach. Ask the company where they will place bait and what to keep pets away from. You can ask for the product label and safety data sheet (Tennessee Department of Agriculture).
Questions homeowners ask
Why do I have roaches in a clean house in Memphis?
The large roaches live outside and come in through gaps after rain or heat, even in clean houses. German roaches often arrive in grocery bags or used furniture.
How much does a roach exterminator cost in Memphis?
This Old House lists cockroach treatment at $100 to $600 nationally. German roach jobs often need follow-up visits, so ask what is included.
How long does it take to get rid of German roaches?
Usually several weeks of bait and follow-up visits until activity stops. Cleaning up food and grease speeds it up.
Do roach foggers work?
I would not use one. Foggers do little to roaches hidden in cracks and can push them deeper into walls.