This project can cost anywhere from $73 to $1,730, so take a look at what could affect this price and get a quote from a pro.
Termite treatment costs about $617, with most treatments costing between $238 and $995.
The size of the infestation, type of termite, and extent of damage caused by the infestation can all impact the cost of treating your home against these pests.
Labor is a major cost factor for termite treatment, costing between $3 and $20 per linear foot.
The best way to deal with termites is to prevent colonies from infesting your home at all—sealing foundation cracks, applying termiticide, setting up bait traps, and getting regular inspections to help prevent termites.
For more extreme infestations, you may have to pay for gas fumigation or heat treatment.
This article was updated using automation technology and thoroughly reviewed for accuracy by HomeAdvisor Editor Ryan Noonan.
Treating a home for termites costs about $617, with most projects costing between $238 and $995. Left unchecked, these destructive insects will quickly colonize your home’s structure, eating away at the wood and causing major damage over time. Several factors can increase or decrease termite treatment costs, such as the size of the infestation area, the type of termites you’re dealing with, the treatment you use, and the prevention methods you choose to stop future infestations. In this guide, we’ll cover everything you need to know about the cost of termite treatment.
Several cost factors will impact the final price of termite treatment in your home. The main price drivers to consider are the size of the infested area, the type of termites you’re dealing with, and the extent of the damage to your home.
Termite colonies can range greatly in size, from just a few dozen insects to thousands or even millions in mature colonies. The larger the infested area, the more treatments and labor hours it will take to eradicate them, greatly driving up the price of home termite treatment.
There are three types of termites in the U.S., each requiring specific eradication and prevention methods. The type of termite infesting your home will influence the treatment approach and associated costs.
Type of Termite | Removal Methods | Average Cost |
---|---|---|
Subterranean | Bait and chemical treatments | $225–$900 |
Drywood | Bait and chemical treatments | $225–$2,500 |
Dampwood | Borate and termiticide | $250–$2,500 |
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. Because they live in the soil, extermination methods like fumigation tents don’t work well. Instead, your local termite control pro will have to use bait and/or chemical treatments. This costs between $225 and $900.
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.
The costs don’t end once the termite infestation is gone. You’ll still have to pay to repair any areas that have been damaged by termites, especially if the infestation was near any structural parts of your home.
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.
Beyond the type of termites you have and the extent of the infestation and damage caused, there are a few other cost factors to consider when budgeting for termite treatment.
Labor is the main cost factor for the cost of termite treatment, since the chemicals and insecticides used are relatively inexpensive. Termite control pros don’t typically charge per hour, and instead charge by the linear foot or, more commonly, by the job. Depending on the extent of the infestation and the treatment needed, you can expect to pay between $3 and $20 per linear foot of infested area.
Termite control experts won’t take on a job until the property has been inspected. Many pros will include the cost of a termite inspection for free with their quote if you pay for a treatment plan in return. Your average pest control cost for a bundle will run between $200 and $600. You may have to pay for additional inspections in the future to check that the treatment worked and prevent new colonies from reinfesting the house.
A termite bond is essentially a warranty agreement between you and a termite control company. It means the company will provide regular, ongoing termite inspection, treatment, and prevention services in exchange for a fixed fee. For homes that are prone to termite infestations, termite bonds usually make more sense than starting from square one every time you notice termite activity.
Prevention is the best way to deal with termites. Often, there is already extensive damage by the time you notice termites, meaning it’s always preferable to prevent infestations from taking hold in the first place. Here are a few prevention methods and the costs associated with them:
Sealing foundation: Sealing cracks around your foundation ensures termites can’t find their way in and establish a colony, saving you a lot of time and money on structural repairs. It also has the added benefit of keeping out other pests, such as rats and mice. Sealing a cracked foundation costs $250 to $800 per crack.
Clearing wood: Clearing your yard of deadfall and any other dead wood will greatly reduce the risk of termites. You can tackle this task yourself for free or pay a landscaper about $350 to do it for you.
Termite repellent and traps: Your termite control pro will suggest chemical preventive options to stop termites from reestablishing a colony in your home. These include special chemical repellents as well as bait traps to stop potential infestations. This preventive treatment costs about $4 to $12 per linear foot.
Depending on the type of termites, the size of the infestation, and the type of space the infestation is in, your termite professional will recommend one or more of the most common treatment types.
Treatment Type | Description | Cost per Linear Foot |
---|---|---|
Chemical Termiticide | A chemical pesticide agent that specifically targets termites | $3–$16 |
Termite Bait | Application of termite bait | $8–$12 |
Termite Tenting (Fumigation) | A tenting and fumigation method | $5–$20 |
Termite Tenting (Heat) | A tenting and high heat method | $10 |
This chemical treatment is designed to be applied to the soil or wood around a termite infestation. When termites come into contact with termiticide, the chemical builds up in their systems. The termites become slow and sluggish and transmit the termiticide to other termites in the colony when they return. Eventually, termiticide will kill any termite that comes into contact with it. Chemical termiticide treatment costs $3 to $16 per linear foot.
Bait stations make use of the same termiticide chemicals, but include some kind of food that attracts termites. This means termites are much more likely to ingest the termiticide and bring it back to their colony. This makes bait stations more suitable for treating active infestations, though the stations will have to be monitored to make sure they still have bait. Termite bait treatment costs $8 to $12 per linear foot.
For severe infestations in a home or other structure, the best method might be to completely enclose it in an airtight tent and pump it full of toxic gas. This is an expensive treatment, but it’s the best way to quickly kill an entire termite colony. Termite tenting (fumigation) usually costs between $5 to $20 per linear foot.
Heat treatment is similar to fumigation: Your home will be enclosed in a special airtight tent and heated until the structural wood reaches 120 degrees Fahrenheit. This temperature will kill any termites within, making it suitable for extreme infestations. Heat treatment costs about $10 per linear foot.
Although termite treatment can be costly, there are effective ways to reduce expenses:
For minor infestations, opt for less expensive treatments like liquid termiticides or bait stations instead of gas fumigation or heat treatment.
Purchase a termite bond to lower the cost of future treatments and prevention, especially in termite-prone areas.
Pre-treat structural wood with liquid termiticide during renovations to prevent future infestations.
Seal foundation cracks and remove dead wood from your property to minimize the risk of termite infestations.
No place is more important than your home, which is why HomeAdvisor connects homeowners with local pros to transform their houses into homes they love. To help homeowners prepare for their next project, HomeAdvisor provides readers with accurate cost data and follows strict editorial guidelines. We surveyed thousands of real customers about their project costs to develop the pricing data you see, so you can make the best decisions for you and your home. We pair this data with research from reputable sources, including the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, academic journals, market studies, and interviews with industry experts—all to ensure our prices reflect real-world projects.
Termite treatment for your home will last one to two years. After this period, termiticides stop being effective, and you will need another treatment to prevent another infestation. Exterminators often recommend signing up for an ongoing treatment plan during the initial treatment. However, it is prudent to wait a few months to ensure the initial treatment was effective before committing to future plans. If your home is prone to termites, a termite bond is a good way to save money on repeated treatments.
Drilling into the concrete foundation around your home is not always necessary for termite treatment. While drilling can be highly effective in exterminating subterranean termite colonies, there are alternative methods that work well for termite control. Drilling is safer than applying ground-level chemicals, which can be hazardous for children and pets, but a thorough termite treatment plan can be achieved without drilling. Consult with a termite professional to determine the best treatment method for your situation.
While DIY termite treatments may address very minor infestations, they often lack the effectiveness of professional services. It's recommended to obtain a professional termite inspection to assess the infestation's extent before attempting any DIY methods.
The optimal termite treatment depends on the termite type, infestation size, and budget. Liquid termiticide applied to soil is a common and effective method. Bait stations are also effective in certain situations. For severe infestations, gas fumigation or heat treatment may be the most effective options.