Termites cause over $5 billion worth of damage to homes across the United States every single year. The scary part? Most homeowner’s insurance policies won’t cover a dime of termite damage. That makes understanding termite treatment costs super important for anyone who owns a home.
Getting rid of termites isn’t cheap, but it’s way less expensive than fixing the damage they can cause. Most homeowners spend between $238 and $996 on termite treatment, with the average cost coming in around $617. However, prices can vary quite a bit based on your home size, the type of termites you’re dealing with, and how bad the problem has gotten.
This guide breaks down everything you need to know about the price of termite treatment, from the cheapest spot treatments to expensive whole-house fumigation. You’ll learn what affects costs, when to call professionals, and how to save money while protecting your biggest investment.
What Does Termite Treatment Cost?
Understanding the basic price ranges helps you budget for this important home maintenance expense.
Average Treatment Costs Across the Country
Termite control costs $225 to $2,500 per treatment for chemical or bait station methods. That’s a pretty wide range, and where you fall depends on several factors we’ll cover later.
For most homeowners, the termite treatment cost falls somewhere in the middle of that range. Treating a home for termites costs about $617, with most projects costing between $238 and $996. If you’re dealing with a really bad infestation, costs can go much higher.
Severe infestations requiring whole-home termite tenting cost $2,000 to $8,000, depending on the home’s size. That might sound like a lot, but consider that fixing major termite damage can cost tens of thousands of dollars.
Cost Breakdown by Treatment Type
Different treatment methods come with different price tags. Here’s what you can expect to pay for each approach:
Chemical Soil Treatments Chemical soil treatments cost $3 to $20 per linear foot and are the most common termite treatment. These create a barrier around your home’s foundation that kills termites when they try to enter.
Bait Station Systems Termite bait systems cost $7 to $12 per linear foot or $1,000 to $2,500 on average to treat the entire home. Expect to pay another $200 to $400 each year to monitor the area for termite re-infestation.
Spot Treatments Micro treatments cost $6 to $8 per square foot for small infestations of termites caught before they spread or grow a colony. These work great if you catch the problem early.
Fumigation and Tenting Termite tenting with gas fumigation costs $1 to $4 per square foot or $2,000 to $8,000 for an average-sized home. This is the most expensive option but sometimes necessary for severe drywood termite problems.
Heat Treatments Thermal heat treatments cost $1 to $3 per square foot or $2,000 to $6,000 for an average 2,000 SF home. Heat treatments involve tenting and then heating the tent to 120° to 140° F for 35 to 60 minutes.
What Affects Your Termite Treatment Cost
Several key factors determine how much you’ll pay to get rid of these wood-eating pests.
Home Size and Layout
Bigger homes cost more to treat, plain and simple. Larger homes take longer to inspect and treat than smaller homes. Most companies charge by linear foot for perimeter treatments or by square foot for whole-house treatments.
The cost ranges from $1.05 to $3.10 per square foot in many areas. So a 1,000 square foot house might cost around $1,050 to treat, while a 3,000 square foot house could cost up to $3,100.
Your home’s construction also matters. Slab foundations require less attention than homes with basements or crawlspaces that are susceptible to subterranean termite infestations. Multi-story homes, complex layouts, and hard-to-reach areas can bump up the price.
How Bad the Infestation Is
The severity of your termite problem has a huge impact on the price of termite treatment. Catching termites early can save you thousands of dollars.
Small Infestations Minor infestations typically affect a small area and show subtle signs like faint clicking sounds, minor wood damage, and termite droppings. At this stage, exterminators can treat the problem with localized termiticide or bait systems, which usually cost between $250 and $1,000.
Medium Infestations Moderate infestations involve multiple parts of the home and have more noticeable signs such as hollow-sounding wood, visible mud tubes, and frequent swarmers. Treatment costs jump to $1,000 to $3,000 for these situations.
Severe Infestations Severe infestations cause extensive damage to a home’s structure, leading to sagging floors, buckling walls, or rotting wood. Fumigation or heat treatments become necessary, often costing $2,000–$8,000, depending on your home size.
Termite colonies can range greatly in size, from just a few dozen insects to thousands or even millions in mature colonies. The bigger the colony, the more expensive it gets to eliminate them completely.
Type of Termites
Not all termites are created equal, and different species require different treatment approaches that affect cost.
Subterranean Termites This is the most common type of termite in the United States. These aggressive insects live underground, making them next to impossible to exterminate yourself. Treatment typically costs $225 to $900 because you can’t use fumigation on underground colonies.
Drywood Termites These termites live directly in wood rather than underground. Drywood termites: As the name suggests, drywood termites are most attracted to dead, dry wood, unlike other termites that prefer damp and rotten wood. To eradicate drywood termites, your exterminator will likely use bait or special chemical gels. These treatments usually cost between $225 and $2,500, depending on the severity of the infestation.
Dampwood Termites These insects are most attracted to wet or damp wood, especially on properties with standing water and uncleared, dead brush. Eradicating dampwood termites usually costs about the same as drywood termite treatment—from $250 to $2,500.
Where You Live
Your location affects both the types of termites you’re likely to encounter and what you’ll pay to get rid of them.
Your location has a direct effect on the cost of termite treatment. In some states or regions, the price may be lower than in others. For example, termite control is sometimes easier to manage in the northeast than in the southern part of the country, where Formosan termites are more prevalent.
Southern states deal with more aggressive species and year-round termite activity, which can drive up costs. Areas with high humidity and warm climates tend to have higher termite treatment costs because the bugs are more active and harder to control.
Types of Termite Treatment and Costs
Each treatment method works differently and comes with its own price range and effectiveness level.
Liquid Barrier Treatments
This is the most popular termite treatment method. Liquid barrier treatments involve applying liquid termiticides around a structure’s foundation to create a barrier that repels or kills termites on contact, to effectively prevent and treat termite infestations.
Liquid treatment costs $3–$15 per linear foot. For a typical home with 160 linear feet around the perimeter, you’re looking at $480 to $2,400. Liquid termite treatment lasts five to twelve years, making it a good long-term investment.
The treatment involves digging a shallow trench around your home’s foundation and filling it with liquid termiticide. The soil gets put back, and you have an invisible barrier that kills termites when they try to cross it.
Bait Station Systems
Bait stations work differently than liquid treatments. Termites are baited with their favorite food source, cellulose, which is laced with an insecticide that disrupts their normal growth process. Within weeks of ingesting the bait, the termites die while trying to molt.
Bait treatment costs $8–$12 per linear foot for installation. Bait termite treatment lasts several months and requires monthly or quarterly monitoring to ensure the bait is still in place and attracting termites.
The main advantage of bait systems is that they can eliminate entire colonies, not just the termites near your house. The delayed action allows termites to share the lethal ingredient with nest mates and prevents dead termites from piling up around the stations, which could cause other termites to avoid the area.
Fumigation and Tenting
Fumigation is the most expensive treatment option, but sometimes it’s the only way to handle severe infestations. Tenting is also called fumigation. Fumigation costs $1 to $4 per sq.ft. This method is used for drywood, which are interior termites, and treats the entire home at once.
Your home is essentially placed inside a large, plastic tent. Chemicals are then released inside the tent, which kills the termites inside. This method requires that you vacate your home for several days.
Tent preparation, treatment, and aeration can take up to 72 hours, during which no people, pets, or plants are allowed in the home. You’ll need to plan for hotel costs and pet boarding on top of the treatment price.
Heat Treatments
Heat treatment is an alternative to fumigation that doesn’t use toxic gases. The high heat suffocates the entire termite colony without toxic gases. Thermal heat treatments are ideal for severe drywood termite infestations since the heat treatment kills the termites hiding in wood support joists, floors, and furniture.
Heat-based treatments cost $10 per linear foot, and heat-based, non-chemical termite treatments (thermal remediation) exterminate termites and their eggs by exposing them to temperatures of 120 to 150℉ (40 to 65℃) for 35 minutes.
The downside is that heat-based termite treatments provide no ongoing protection. You get rid of current termites, but there’s no barrier to prevent new ones from moving in.
Extra Costs to Consider
The termite treatment cost isn’t the only expense you might face when dealing with these pests.
Inspection Fees
A termite inspection costs $75 to $150, with some termite control companies providing a free inspection when not tied to a real estate transaction. Many companies will waive the inspection fee if you hire them for treatment.
Professional inspections are worth the money even if you don’t see obvious signs of termites. These bugs can cause serious damage before you notice them, and early detection saves money in the long run.
Damage Repair Costs
Termites don’t just eat wood; they can seriously damage your home’s structure. Termite damage repair costs range from $600 to $3,000, depending on the type of repairs needed and the extent of damage. Severe termite damage, like replacing structural components such as load-bearing beams and walls, can cost up to $6,000 to replace or fix.
The damage repairs from termite infestations can average around $2,600. Some common repairs include:
- Replace damaged wood boards: $250 to $1,000
- Fix flooring damage: $500 to $2,000
- Structural beam replacement: $1,000 to $6,000
Remember, homeowner’s insurance typically doesn’t cover termite damage, so these repair costs come out of your pocket.
Ongoing Protection Plans
Many companies sell annual contracts for ongoing termite protection. Terminix termite treatment costs $400 to $1,500 per year. Orkin termite treatment costs $500 to $1,600 per year.
Here’s a look at what homeowners can expect to pay by treatment frequency: Yearly: $185-$420. Quarterly: $255-$585. Monthly: $690-$940.
These plans usually include annual inspections and free retreatment if termites come back. For many homeowners, the peace of mind is worth the extra cost.
Termite Warranties and Protection Plans
Long-term protection plans can save money and provide peace of mind for homeowners in termite-prone areas.
What Termite Bonds Cover
A termite bond is essentially a warranty between you and a termite extermination company, a little like a maintenance contract. It typically includes three important parts: An agreement for termite inspections as long as the contract lasts (typically a couple of years). These inspections can happen annually, quarterly, or on an agreed-upon schedule. An agreement to provide treatment and control if termites are discovered. A bond usually covers these services, so the homeowner doesn’t have to pay any extra.
There are two main types of coverage:
Treatment-Only Bonds Retreatment-only warranties: As with retreatment and repair warranties, this provides termite treatments at no additional cost if you have an infestation, but it does not include any repair coverage.
Treatment and Repair Bonds Retreatment and repair warranties: In the event of a termite infestation, this type of contract provides termite treatments at no additional cost, plus coverage for any damage done by termites as long as the warranty is in effect.
How Much Termite Bonds Cost
Termite bond costs typically range from $500-$2,500, with an average price of $1,500. A termite bond costs $500 to $2,000 for annual inspections and termite treatments if an infestation is detected.
The price depends on your home size, location, and what’s included in the contract. Other factors include termite warranty cost, prevention coverage, and whether the bond is transferrable.
Transferable bonds are great for homeowners who are considering selling their home. If you sell your house, the new owner can take over the contract, which can be a selling point.
DIY vs Professional Treatment
Some homeowners consider treating termites themselves to save money, but this approach comes with serious risks.
DIY Treatment Options and Costs
Termite Powder/Spray/Foam can be purchased from multiple retailers. Depending on which one you get, the prices can go from low to high. The variation in price affects even the branded choices, so don’t get confused with the options. $7-$30.
Termite Bait Kits and Systems are more expensive if you want the best of the bunch. A good kit will run you a lot but provides an extra layer of defense when paired with liquid treatment solutions.
You should plan to check your bait stations every 120 days while the monitoring discs are inside and every 60 days when they contain active bait. That’s a lot of ongoing work for homeowners.
Why DIY Often Fails
DIY termite treatment could actually make the infestation worse. Someone not trained to identify and treat termites would likely handle the termite infestation incorrectly.
Most homeowners are not able to properly identify different species of termites, their behaviors, and areas of high termite activity. DIY termite treatments often fail to eradicate termite colonies, leading to potential resurgence and additional costs.
Following the DIY guide could make the problem worse than it actually is. This means making the termites resistant to specific treatment methods used by professionals. Missing out on key nesting areas of termites will give you headaches by offering a temporary solution.
When to Call Professionals
For most termite treatments, we recommend hiring a professional termite control specialist in your area. Pest control pros can safely handle chemical treatments, such as liquid termiticide, liquid nitrogen, and fumigation.
Professional treatments prevent costly home damage. Hiring a trained termite control professional ensures that termites are effectively eradicated, saving money on termite damage and future treatments.
Chances are by the time the termites are noticeable, they’ve already done severe damage to the home. Many pest control companies will guarantee elimination of these pests and add peace of mind that a professional is in charge of the problem.
Money-Saving Tips
You can reduce termite treatment costs without compromising on quality with smart planning and prevention.
Early Detection Saves Money
Identify and address infestation signs early: Eliminate active infestations as soon as you detect them. Delays allow termites to spread and cause more damage, which drives up treatment and repair costs.
Routinely inspect your home: Schedule regular inspections with a licensed pest control professional. Early detection keeps infestations small and treatments affordable.
Look for warning signs like mud tubes along your foundation, hollow-sounding wood when you tap it, discarded wings near windows and doors, and small holes in wood surfaces.
Prevention Measures
There are some things you can do in and around your home to help mitigate the risk of a termite infestation. Termite prevention methods include: Keeping shrubbery trimmed at least one foot away from your home’s structure. Pointing all sprinkler heads and downspouts away from your home’s foundation. Keeping your crawl space as dry and free of debris as possible.
Other prevention tips include using concrete or steel supports instead of wood where possible, fixing water leaks quickly, and storing firewood away from your house.
Getting Multiple Quotes
Get multiple estimates: Gather several quotes from providers in your area. Termite control is a specialized field, so we recommend avoiding providers that include termite treatments as part of a package deal, such as with general home repair.
Compare not just prices but also what’s included in each quote. Some companies include follow-up inspections, warranties, or retreatment guarantees that add value even if their initial price is higher.
Regional Cost Differences
Where you live has a big impact on both termite activity and treatment costs.
High-Cost Areas
Treating a termite infestation generally ranges from $420 to $2,000 in California. The average cost of termite treatment in California is $650, which would equal a full liquid treatment around a 2,500 sq.ft. home.
Nationwide, tenting a house costs between $3 and $15 per linear foot. In California, the average cost increases to $3.36 to $18.40 per linear foot.
California’s higher costs come from strict regulations, higher labor costs, and year-round termite activity in many areas.
Moderate-Cost Areas
Termite treatment in Arizona costs an average of $750. Prices will typically range between $1,000-$1,500 for a 2,500 sq. ft. home.
The average range in Arizona is $1.05-$3.10 per sq foot, which is pretty typical for many parts of the country.
Factors Behind Regional Differences
Climate plays a huge role in termite treatment costs. termite control is sometimes easier to manage in the northeast than in the southern part of the country, where Formosan termites are more prevalent. The Formosan is a species of aggressive subterranean termite that is generally more difficult to control.
Warmer areas with high humidity create perfect conditions for termites, leading to more aggressive species and higher treatment costs. Areas with freezing winters have natural breaks in termite activity that can make control easier and cheaper.
When You Need Termite Treatment
Knowing when to get treatment can save thousands in damage and keep costs manageable.
Signs That Require Immediate Action
If you notice signs of a termite infestation, such as mud tunnels, holes in your wood, and bubbling or buckling floors or walls, your best bet is to call a professional pest control company immediately.
Other urgent warning signs include:
- Swarms of winged insects around your home
- Sagging floors or ceilings
- Wood that sounds hollow when tapped
- Visible damage to wooden structures
The key is acting fast. Minor infestations are generally cheaper to treat than severe ones, which may necessitate multiple treatments.
Real Estate Situations
If you are applying for a Federal Housing Administration (FHA) loan or a Veteran’s Assistance (VA) loan, a wood-destroying insect inspection is required for approval.
If you are a homeowner attempting to sell a home, acquiring a WDIR or having an established termite contract prior to the sale of a home can help save time and expedite the sale.
Getting a termite inspection and treatment (if needed) before listing your home can prevent last-minute surprises that could derail a sale.
Preventive Treatment
Even if you don’t see termites, preventive treatment might make sense in high-risk areas. Those living in high-risk states or in particularly moist, humid environments can benefit greatly from investing in termite service agreements.
New construction is a great time for preventive treatment since the chemicals can be applied before the foundation is finished.
Making the Right Choice for Your Home
Understanding termite treatment costs helps you make smart decisions about protecting your biggest investment.
The price of termite treatment varies widely based on your situation, but the cost of doing nothing is almost always higher. Each year, termites cause an estimated $5 billion worth of damage in the United States alone, according to the National Pest Management Association. Since insurance doesn’t cover this damage, prevention and early treatment are your best protection.
Termite treatment is absolutely worth the money you will pay. Your home is probably the largest investment you will ever make. Termite inspections and termite prevention measures are just part of responsible homeownership and can save on costly repairs in the long run.
Whether you’re dealing with an active infestation or thinking about prevention, getting professional advice is always smart. Most companies provide free inspections, so you can get expert advice about your specific situation without spending money upfront.
Remember that the cheapest option isn’t always the best value. Look for companies that guarantee their work, have good local reputations, and can explain their treatment methods clearly. The right termite treatment cost is whatever it takes to protect your home from these destructive pests.
