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What changes the cost of bees nest removal?
In Cheshire, the cost of dealing with a bees nest depends on the type of bee, where the nest is, whether it can safely be left to die out, moved or has to be removed from a wall or roof, and the access needed. This guide prints no price, so first find out which bees you have.
Last reviewed:First, which insect do you have?
Before thinking about cost, find out what is nesting. Bees and wasps are often confused, and the right approach for each is very different.
- Bumblebees. Large, round and furry, often with yellow or orange bands and a white or buff tail. They nest in holes in the ground, compost heaps, bird boxes, under sheds and in gaps in walls.
- Honeybees. Smaller and slimmer than bumblebees, brownish and less furry. A swarm can hang in a cluster on a branch or fence. A colony can move into a chimney, wall cavity or roof space and build wax comb there.
- Solitary bees. Many species, such as mining bees and mason bees. They make small individual nests in soil, walls or hollow stems, with no queen and workers.
- Wasps. Smooth, shiny, bright yellow and black, with a thin waist. Their nests are made of a papery material. A wasp nest is a pest control job, not a bee job.
A clear photo of the insects, taken from a safe distance, helps anyone you contact tell you what they are.
QuoteZila is starting in Cheshire, with Crewe, Nantwich and Sandbach among the first towns. This guide prints no price. It explains the options for each kind of bee, what makes the job bigger, and what to ask.
Bumblebee nests: often left in place
Bumblebee colonies are small and short-lived. The RHS says that at peak strength in summer a bumblebee nest will have between 50 and 400 worker bees [S1]. It says that by late summer bumblebee nests are in decline, with the old queen, workers and males all dying [S1]. Wherever possible, the RHS says, these nests should be left to die out naturally in the late summer or autumn [S1].
If a bumblebee nest is not in a doorway, a path or a spot children use, leaving it is usually the simplest choice. Mark the area off, ask people to keep away from the entrance, and wait. Once the nest has died out, the space can be cleared and the gap blocked so a new queen does not move in next year.
If the nest really is in the way, ask a pest controller or a local beekeeper for advice on whether it can be moved. Moving a nest is a skilled job and is not always possible.
Honeybee swarms and colonies
A swarm is a mass of honeybees that has left its old hive and is resting while scouts look for a new home. It can look alarming, and it may move on by itself. Do not spray it or try to knock it down.
The RHS says most honeybee colonies are maintained by beekeepers, although feral colonies can occur in hollow trees and cavities in buildings [S1]. A local beekeeper may be able to collect a swarm that is low down and easy to reach.
A colony that has moved into a wall, chimney or roof is a different job. The bees will have built wax comb, possibly full of honey, inside the structure. Removing it can mean opening up brickwork, tiles, soffits or a ceiling, taking out the comb, and making good afterwards. Ask what will happen to any comb and honey left inside after the bees have gone. Opening up and making good is usually the biggest part of this kind of job.
Solitary bees
Solitary bees rarely cause a problem. The RHS says soil-nesting bees produce small heaps of soil above their nest tunnels, which can be inconvenient in lawns but is usually for only a few days or weeks each year and could be tolerated [S1]. Mason bees using gaps in old mortar may be a sign that the wall needs repointing, which is a job for a builder rather than pest control.
Stings, allergies and safety
The RHS says getting stung by bees in your garden is unlikely, as long as you treat bees with respect [S1]. It says bumblebees and honeybees are unlikely to sting while they are going about their business of collecting nectar [S1]. Disturbing a nest is different, so keep away from the entrance and do not block it while bees are active.
Anyone with a known allergy should take extra care. The NHS says to call 999 if, after a sting, your lips, mouth, throat or tongue suddenly become swollen, you are breathing very fast or struggling to breathe, or your throat feels tight or you are struggling to swallow [S2].
Do not spray a nest with a product you have bought unless you are sure it is suitable, legal for you to use and the insect is a pest. HSE says members of the general public should never use biocidal products that are only intended for professional users [S3].
Nests high up and in roofs
Nests in chimneys, roof spaces, under tiles or behind soffits are often out of reach from the ground. Getting to them is work at height. HSE says working at height remains one of the biggest causes of fatalities and major injuries, with common cases including falls from ladders and through fragile surfaces [S4]. Do not climb onto a roof or lean out from a ladder near an active nest. Ask how the business will reach the nest safely. HSE: work at height. QuoteZila is not affiliated with this organisation.
If tiles, flashing or brickwork have to come off to reach comb, a roofer or builder may be needed as well as the bee specialist. Ask who does the making good, and whether that is in the quote.
What changes the cost of dealing with a bees nest
| What is being priced | What makes it bigger or smaller | What to ask |
|---|---|---|
| Type of bee | Bumblebee, honeybee, solitary bee, or wasp | What they think the insect is from your photo |
| Option | Leave, relocate, collect a swarm, or remove | Which option they suggest and why |
| Location | Garden, shed, wall cavity, chimney, roof | How they will get to it |
| Access | Ground level, ladder, scaffold or tower | Whether access equipment is included |
| Opening up | Bricks, tiles, soffits or ceiling removed | Who opens up and who makes good |
| Comb and honey | Comb left in a wall or roof | Whether all comb is removed |
| Proofing | Blocking the entry gap afterwards | Whether proofing is included |
| Visits | One visit or a follow-up | Whether a return visit is in the price |
| VAT | Whether the business is VAT registered | Whether the total includes VAT |
A business must register for VAT when its taxable turnover for the last 12 months goes over £90,000 [S6]. Ask whether each total includes VAT.
Bees nests in Cheshire
A pest controller or beekeeper covering Crewe, Nantwich, Sandbach and the villages nearby will want a photo of the insects, a photo of where they are going in and out, and to know how high up the nest is. Say how long the bees have been there and whether anyone in the house has an allergy.
Anyone in the UK can post a job or register a business on QuoteZila.
What to have ready before you ask for quotes
- a clear photo of the insects, taken from a safe distance
- a photo of the entrance to the nest
- where the nest is and how high up
- how long the bees have been there
- whether the nest is in a path, doorway or play area
- whether anyone in the house has a sting allergy
- your postcode
How to compare quotes for a bees nest
Check each quote for:
- What they think the insect is, and the option they suggest.
- How they will reach the nest.
- Whether comb is removed, and who makes good.
- Whether the entry gap will be blocked afterwards.
- Whether a return visit is included.
- Whether VAT is included.
Citizens Advice says a quote is a fixed price, while an estimate is a rough guess, so you might end up paying more [S5]. It also says some traders charge for quotes, so ask about this first [S5].
Jobs you might post
These are examples, not taken from real job posts. "Bumblebees going in and out under the shed. Please advise whether they can stay or need moving." Or: "Honeybees going into a gap in the brickwork by the chimney. Please quote to remove the colony and comb." Or: "Not sure if these are bees or wasps, nest in the roof eaves. Photo attached."
Get help with a bees nest
Describe the insects, where they are and how high up, and add photos. Up to five matched local businesses can reply [QZ2]. QuoteZila is free for customers and local businesses [QZ1].
Honest status: QuoteZila is new. We're starting in Cheshire, beginning with Crewe, Nantwich and Sandbach, and growing area by area. Anyone in the UK can still post a job or register a business. How fast you get quotes depends on how many local businesses have joined near you. Businesses can register and receive jobs straight away. We don't check insurance, qualifications or registrations, so please check these yourself before you hire.
Posting a job is not open yet
See the pest control page, the roofers page or the builders page. For wasps and other pests, see the pest control cost guide.
Official and public sources
QuoteZila is not affiliated with these organisations.
- Bees in gardens: RHS: bees in your garden [S1].
- Stings: NHS: insect bites and stings [S2].
- Biocidal products: HSE: using biocides [S3].
- Work at height: HSE: introduction to working at height safely [S4].
- Quotes: Citizens Advice [S5].
- VAT: GOV.UK on when to register [S6].
Questions about bees nest removal costs
How much does bees nest removal cost?
This guide does not print a price. The type of bee, where the nest is, whether it can be left, moved or removed, access at height, and any opening up and repair of a wall or roof all change the total. Find out which bees you have before you ask for quotes.
Do I need to remove a bumblebee nest?
Often not. The RHS says that wherever possible bumblebee nests should be left to die out naturally in the late summer or autumn. It says that by late summer the nests are in decline. If the nest is not in the way, leaving it costs nothing.
What should I do about a honeybee swarm?
Keep people and pets away and do not spray it. A swarm is a cluster of bees looking for a new home and may move on by itself. The RHS says most honeybee colonies are kept by beekeepers, so a local beekeeper may be able to collect a swarm. A colony that has moved into a wall is a bigger job.
Are bees likely to sting?
The RHS says getting stung by bees in your garden is unlikely as long as you treat bees with respect. It says bumblebees and honeybees are unlikely to sting while they are collecting nectar. Disturbing a nest raises the risk, so keep away from the entrance.
When is a bee sting an emergency?
The NHS says to call 999 if lips, mouth, throat or tongue suddenly become swollen, if you are breathing very fast or struggling to breathe, or if your throat feels tight or you are struggling to swallow. Anyone who has had a serious reaction before should take extra care near a nest.
Can I spray a bees nest myself?
It is not a good idea. Many bees are pollinators, sprays can harm other wildlife, and some products are for professional use only. HSE says members of the public should never use biocidal products that are only intended for professional users. Ask for advice first.
Does QuoteZila check the businesses who quote?
No. We don't check insurance, qualifications or registrations, so please check these yourself before you hire. You can report a quote or a business from your job page.
Related guides
- Pest control: wasps, rodents and insects
- Roofers: tiles, soffits and making good
- Builders: brickwork and repointing
- Roof repair cost guide
- All cost guides
Part of Cost guides. All services
Related trades
Cost guides
Related pages
- Pest control visits: what to ask. A pest visit in Cheshire depends on the pest, the rooms and whether the council charges a fee. This guide prints no treatment figure and no method.
- Rat visits: what to put in writing. A rat visit in Cheshire should name where you saw them and how many call-backs are included. This guide prints no treatment figure and no bait method.
Sources
- QZ1: QuoteZila product fact. QuoteZila home and jobs-for-tradesmen copy.
- QZ2: QuoteZila product fact. QuoteZila terms and matching notes.
- S1: Bees in your garden, Royal Horticultural Society (RHS). Accessed 2026-10-30. https://www.rhs.org.uk/wildlife/garden-bees
- S2: Insect bites and stings, NHS. Accessed 2026-10-30. https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/insect-bites-and-stings/
- S3: Using biocides: overview, HSE. Accessed 2026-10-30. https://www.hse.gov.uk/Biocides/using/overview.htm
- S4: Introduction to working at height safely, HSE. Accessed 2026-10-30. https://www.hse.gov.uk/work-at-height/introduction.htm
- S5: Before you get work done on your home, Citizens Advice. Accessed 2026-10-30. https://www.citizensadvice.org.uk/consumer/getting-home-improvements-done/before-you-get-building-work-done/
- S6: Register for VAT, GOV.UK. Accessed 2026-10-30. https://www.gov.uk/register-for-vat