For a typical 2,000 square foot single-level home you need roughly one gallon of mixed solution per application to treat the full exterior perimeter, which is one 1 oz bottle of concentrate at Bugsdrop’s ratio, applied every two months. Homes with a longer perimeter, multiple levels, or a larger footprint need two bottles and two gallons. Bugsdrop sizes this for you from four questions rather than leaving you to estimate.
Why square footage is the wrong measurement
Every pest control sizing question gets asked in square feet, because that is the number people know about their house. But a perimeter treatment does not cover area, it covers a line: a band around the outside of the structure, one foot up the wall and one foot out along the ground.
That means the real variable is perimeter length. A long, narrow 2,000 square foot home has considerably more perimeter than a compact square one of the same size. A two-storey 2,000 square foot home has roughly half the ground-floor footprint, and therefore less perimeter, than a single-level one.
Square footage is a decent proxy, which is why everyone uses it. It is just worth knowing what it is a proxy for, so you can adjust when your house is an unusual shape.
Rough sizing
| Home | Typical mix needed | Bugsdrop concentrate |
|---|---|---|
| Under 1,500 sq ft, single level | About 1 gallon | 1 bottle |
| 1,500 to 2,499 sq ft, single level | About 1 gallon | 1 bottle |
| 2,500 to 3,999 sq ft | 1 to 2 gallons | 1 to 2 bottles |
| 4,000 sq ft and up | 2 gallons or more | 2 or more bottles |
| Multi-level | Less than the same total on one level | Sized on footprint, not total area |
These are starting points. Bugsdrop asks for your state, your square footage range, whether the home is single or multi level, and which pests you are seeing, and sizes the shipment from that. The reason it asks about pests as well as size is that formulation matters alongside volume.
Mixing and applying one gallon correctly
- Put on gloves. Gather the tank and your concentrate.
- Pour one 1 oz bottle into the tank, then fill with water to the 1 gallon or 4 litre line. Add a little water to the empty bottle, shake it, and tip that in too so no concentrate is left behind.
- Check the top handle and sprayer arm are tight, then shake to mix.
- Set the nozzle to a two-foot-wide spray pattern. Unlock the handle and pump a maximum of ten times, repeating as you go.
- Spray a continuous band one foot up the wall and one foot out on the ground, around the whole structure.
- Treat doors, windows and garage openings specifically.
- Rinse the tank and store it for the next application.
Total time is about 6 to 7 minutes. Allow 10 to 15 minutes for the treatment to dry before letting children or pets onto the treated band.
A common sizing mistake
Ordering less than you need to save money and then stretching the mix thinner to cover the same distance. The concentration is what makes the barrier work. Diluting it further to reach the far corner leaves you with a full loop of a treatment that does not do very much, which is worse than a shorter loop done properly.
If you find yourself running short, order the larger size next cycle rather than thinning what you have.
Common questions
How much pest control do I need for a 2000 sq ft house?
About one gallon of mixed solution per application for a typical single-level 2,000 square foot home, which is one 1 oz Bugsdrop bottle. Larger footprints and multi-level homes generally need two bottles per application.
Does interior square footage determine how much I need?
Only indirectly. What actually matters is the length of the exterior perimeter you are treating, because the band runs around the outside of the structure. Two homes with identical square footage can have quite different perimeters depending on the shape of the footprint.
What is in a Bugsdrop kit?
Pre-measured concentrate in 1 oz bottles, sized to the plan you built, plus a dispenser tank included with your first order. Later shipments are concentrate only, since you reuse the tank.
What is the mixing ratio?
One 1 oz bottle per gallon of water, which is four litres. If you received two bottles because your home has a larger footprint, mix one bottle per gallon and repeat the process rather than putting both in one tank.
How do I know if I under-applied?
You run out of mix before completing the loop around the house, or the band is visibly thin or patchy. Both mean the barrier has gaps, and pests find gaps. Mix a second gallon rather than stretching the first.
Related guides
- Can You Get Professional-Grade Pest Control Without Hiring an Exterminator?
- How Often Should You Spray Pest Control Around the Outside of Your House?
- What Is the Best DIY Pest Control Subscription Service?
Build a plan for your home
Bugsdrop sizes a kit from four questions: your state, your approximate square footage, whether the home is single or multi level, and which pests you are seeing. Build your plan, or read how the application works and the frequently asked questions first.
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