How Much Does a Termite Inspection Cost in 2025?

Average Termite Inspection Cost

Termite Inspection Cost Factors

How much does a termite inspection cost? While the cost of an annual termite inspection is often free, and buyers or sellers can plan to spend between $75 and $325 as part of a home sale, additional termite inspection cost factors can drive up the final price.

Treatment Type

The termite inspection is only part of the cost of remediating these pests. If the inspector finds a termite infestation in your home, plan to spend between $70 and $1,530 in termite treatment costs. Termite treatment costs vary greatly depending on the severity of the infestation and the way it’s addressed, with more intensive methods like heat treatment and gas fumigation costing the most.

Property Size

The larger and more complex your home is, the more you’ll need to pay for a termite inspection. This is simply because it will take longer for your termite control pro to complete their inspection. On the other hand, if you live in a small home with fewer floors, you can expect to pay lower costs for a professional termite inspection.

Infestation Severity

Larger infestations take more time to completely inspect, leading to increased costs for homeowners. An inspection of a very small infestation in one isolated area could cost as little as $50, while extensive infestations spread throughout the entire home could cost as much as $325, not including exterminator costs.

One-Time vs. Annual Inspection Fees

Most local pest inspectors charge nothing for annual termite inspections. If they don’t find anything, you won’t have any costs. If they do find an infestation, you’ll have to pay for treatment and may also need to pay to repair the damage they’ve done. For example, you might need to budget up to $2,350 for the cost of repairing carpentry framing or even $2,625 for the cost of wood siding repair.

While annual termite inspections are typically free, you’ll pay a fee for a one-time inspection when it’s roped in with a house sale, especially if your lender requires a termite letter.

Residential vs. Commercial Spaces

While termite inspections for homes are often free, businesses will usually need to pay for an inspection of a commercial space. Costs will vary greatly with the type and size of your business but could go as high as $650. Pest control services may offer a free consultation during which they will determine the costs for commercial properties.

Location

Location can also impact overall costs. Areas known for high termite activity, like South Carolina, might be more expensive because termite exterminator services are in higher demand. In addition, location can affect local labor rates; if you live in an area with a higher cost of living, expect your termite inspection cost to match.

Ongoing Preventative Costs

How much is termite inspection if you aren’t buying or selling a home? Most local pest control companies will waive their termite inspection cost for annual inspections, meaning you’ll pay $0. Such contractors are hoping that, if they find signs of termite damage, you’ll hire them to handle the treatment.

You should get a free termite inspection at least once every two years. In areas with a high probability of infestation, get one annually.

Inspection Costs for Home Purchases

The average cost of a pest inspection is an extra $50 to $100 when paying for one as part of a home inspection. Most home inspection service companies offer them as part of a home purchase service. This amount is in addition to regular home inspection costs, which range from $250 to $400.

Termite Letter or Report Cost

Some lenders might require a termite clearance letter or official report that confirms a professional conducted a termite inspection and that no termites were found (or that, if found, they were taken care of). If you need such a letter for the sale or insurance purposes, you’ll spend $100 to $200 on top of the cost of insect treatment.

Termite Bond Agreement

Some lenders go a step beyond the termite letter. If the inspector discovers termites during a home inspection before the sale of a home, your lender may require you (as the buyer) to purchase a termite bond agreement. This agreement spells out how you’ll treat the termites and keep them from returning. These agreements can cost anywhere from $500 to $2,000.

Average CL-100 Prices

South Carolina requires a CL-100 South Carolina Wood Infestation Report with all real estate transactions. It's the official name of a termite report and will cost about the same as a letter in other states, or about $70 to $225. However, unlike in other states, these letters are only valid for 30 days after the inspection date. CL-100 expenses can either be part of the closing costs or paid for by the homeowner.

Wood-Destroying Organisms (WDOs) & Other Insect Types

There are about 45 distinct species of wood-destroying organisms in the United States. They all fall into one of three categories: Subterranean, drywood, or dampwood.

• Subterraneans need to have contact with the soil and build mud tunnels onto the wood from underground nests.

• Drywoods live in wood with a low moisture content and don't require contact with the soil. They live in dry climates or areas with older homes where the wood has completely cured.

• Dampwoods do not require soil contact but need wood with higher moisture content. They love humid areas or new construction.

In addition to termites, a CL-100 report—and other new home purchase WDO inspections—look for old house borers, powder post beetles, and damage caused by other insects, such as carpenter ants. Ant exterminators cost between $80 and $500, should you need to hire one.

VA Loan Inspections

It costs about $50 to $150 for Veterans Administration inspections. The VA requires one in areas with a “very heavy” or “moderate-to-heavy” infestation probability according to the Termite Infestation Probability Map. For condominiums, they only require a pest inspection if the property appraiser spots a potential issue. Property appraisers cost between $325 and $425.

Other Home Inspector Services

Home inspections cost most homeowners between $250 and $400, but inspectors don't automatically check for pests. However, most companies do offer certified pest inspections with the home inspection, often at a discount when bundled together. Most require a trained and licensed service professional.

Budgeting for Termite Inspection and Treatment

There’s no substitute for termite remediation if you end up having an infestation, but there are a few ways to reduce the cost of both the inspection and the treatment itself. These include:

• Make sure all areas to be inspected are clear of debris, furniture, outdoor plants, etc., to cut down on labor costs.

• See if you can negotiate free or low-cost termite inspections with annual inspection and treatment plans.

• If you’re getting a termite inspection as a homebuyer, negotiate with your seller or lender to have them pay for it.

• If you’re a veteran, look into state regulations to see if you qualify for free termite inspections.

• If you have an infestation, opt for lower-cost treatments when possible—many infestations can be addressed with inexpensive termiticide or bait stations rather than fumigation or heat treatment.

How HomeAdvisor Gets Its Cost Data

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. After a project is complete, we survey real customers about the 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.