Termite treatment can vary from several hundred to several thousand dollars.
In general, small localized infestation will cost you between $500 and $1200.
Subterranean termites treatments such as liquid soil treatments and baiting can cost between anywhere between $1,000 to $3,000.
Drywood termites treatments such as fumigation and heat treatmen will cost you somewhere around $2,000 to $4,000.
| Treatment Type | Avg. Cost (2,000 Sqft) | Low Range | High Range |
|---|---|---|---|
| Fumigation | $2,500 | $2,000 | $6,000 |
| Heat (whole Structure) | $4,000 | $2,500 | $10,000 |
| Chemical Soil Treatment | $1,250 | $900 | $2,200 |
| Baiting | $2,000 | $1,000 | $3,000 |
| Wood Injection (Localized) | $400 | $300 | $500 |
| Wood Replacement (Localized) | $500 | $100 | $3,000 |
| Heat (Localized) | $900 | $800 | $1,250 |
| Termite Bond | $1,250 | $500 | $2,500 |
| Termite Inspection | $100 | $50 | $250 |
Types of Termite Treatment
There are two types of treatment you can take for termite infestation: Whole Structure and Localized treatment.
Whole Structure treatments are best for houses with larger infestations.
It implements the simultaneous treatment of all infestation in a structure.
Localized or spot treatment is more restrictive.
It’s applied to targeted areas and is best for smaller infestations.
Localized Treatment
Localized or spot treatment involves identifying and treating specific areas of infestation.
Once the infestation is located, the treatment is applied directly onto it.
Because you’ll need to detect precisely where the termites are, this type of treatment works best for smaller infestations.
The most common type of localized treatment services offered are heat treatment, dust and foam treatment and wood replacement.
Whole Structure
Whole Structure treatment is best if you suspect you have a significant infestation.
The most common type of whole structure treatment offered is fumigation, heat, baiting, and soil treatment.
Termite Fumigation Cost
Fumigation costs vary depending on the size of the structure and the region it’s in.
On average, fumigation costs between $1 and $3 per square foot.
This means that the will cost between $2,000 and $6,000 for a 2,000 square foot home.
What is fumigation?
Fumigation is the process of releasing a fumigant in your home to kill termites.
To do this, professionals place a tent over your home and activate gasses that are fatal to termites.
Fumigation requires that you do not enter the building before the gas has had sufficient time to dissipate.
Dissipation time can take between 24 and 72 hours.
Once the gas dissipates, the pesticide residue declines to nearly undetectable levels. You should not experience any side effects from the gas.
Resource: Termite Tenting: Does It Really Work?
Termite Heat Treatment Cost
Heat treatment cost varies per square foot.
Two-story houses are also more expensive because they require more time and equipment.
On average, heat treatments cost between $2 and $5 per square foot.
A 2,000 ft one-story home typically costs around $4,000.
What is Heat Treatment?
Heat treatment uses propane heaters to raise temperature to levels that are deadly to termites.
It’s one of the most effective ways to eradicate termite infestation.
The California Department of Consumer Affairs has even gone on to say that heat is the only sufficient, full-structure treatment for eliminating termite.
And in this study, the heat method was also proven to kill 99% of termites consistently.
Heat treatment is an excellent option if you’re looking to treat your home without using chemicals.
Termite Chemical Soil Treatment Cost
Soil treatment will typically cost around $5 – $12 per linear foot.
As a reference, a 2,000 sqft home will typically have a perimeter of 180 ft.
The price for a soil treatment will be between $900 and $2,160 on a slab foundation.
Soil treatment cost varies depending on:
- Linear Feet being treated
- Quality of Termiticide Being Used
- Type of Foundation
Your home’s perimeter (the area being treated) will have the largest impact on soil treatment’s price.
Another important price factor is the type of foundation in your home.
Slab foundations are the easiest and least expensive to treat.
Basements are the hardest to treat and are the most expensive.
Another price factor is the quality of termiticide that’s going to be used.
The most effective and highly recommended termiticides are Termidor.
While there are other less expensive options, they are not as effective.
What is Soil Treatment?
Similar to baiting, soil treatment is a method used to eliminate Subterranean termites.
Subterranean termites live in soil, which makes them less vulnerable to fumigation and heat treatments.
But, as the name suggests, soil treatment is designed to reach termites deep inside the soil.
It involves digging a trench around the foundation of the home and applying liquid chemicals into the earth.
Termite Baiting System Cost
Baiting systems typically come with two costs:
- Initial Set-up Cost
- Recurring Inspection Cost
The initial set up of the bait station is typically charged on a linear foot basis.
On average this costs between $5 and $10 per linear foot.
For a 2,000 sqft home with 200 linear feet, you can expect to pay around $1,000 and $2,000.
Recurring Inspections generally costs between $150-$250.
This includes checking for termite activity, replacing bait, and cleaning or repairing any bait stations.
Sentricon is considered as the best bait system by 60 scientific studies, with termites prefering the bait ten times more than wood.
The average cost of a Sentricon baiting system is $1,200–$3,000 for initial installation and $250 for yearly monitoring.
What is Termite Baiting Treatment?
Baiting is a treatment used against Subterranean termites.
Termite traps, a.k.a Termite Stakes, are bait stations designed to eliminate termites.
These stations do not trap termites. Instead, they entice termites to ingest deadly chemicals using bait.
The bait can be anything with cellulose, such as wood and paper.
Termite traps are effective because they are slow-acting.
When worker termites eat them, they don’t die right away.
Instead, they return the food to the nest and spread the bait to the entire colony.
Since other members rely on worker termites for food, you only need a few soldiers to feed on the bait to kill a significant amount of the population.
These stations are placed around the perimeter of your home.
Resource: What Are Termite Traps and Do They Work?
Localized Heat Treatment Cost
For localized heat treatment, you can expect to pay between $800 and $1,000 for areas around 10-15 ft.
What is Localized Heat Treatment
Localized head treatment is similar to whole structure heat treatment except the heat is only applied to a portion of the house.
Depending on how large the area being treated is this could still involve using tents to help heat up the structure.
If the infested locations are smaller, heat will be directed towards those areas and the rest of the house will remain untreated.
Wood Replacement Cost
Replacing wood that is easy to access, such as door seals, outdoor eves, or side panels, can cost between $100 and $300.
Repairs that require removal of existing material to reach the infested wood can cost anywhere between $500 and $1,000. This is common when wood behind or inside a wall is infested.
Damage to joists, support beams, subfloor, sills, and beams can cost between $1,000 and $3,000.
What is Localized Wood Replacement?
Wood replacement involves replacing the infested wood.
It is ideal if the infestation is only on a few pieces of wood that’s easy to access.
Dust and Foam Treatment Cost
For chemical or oil injection, you can expect to pay between $300 and $500 for every 10 and 15 feet.
This method tends to be much less expensive than other types of treatment.
What is Dust and Foam Treatment?
Localized Dust or Foam Treatment involves injecting pesticides into the infested wood.
These pesticides can come in the form of liquid, dust, or foam formulations.
Using dust is more effective than foam unless there’s moisture in the wood.
Moisture can render dust ineffective. If you suspect that the wood inside has moisture, you’re better off with foam.
Foam is also a better option for larger wall voids.
Termite Inspection or Testing Cost
In most cases, termite inspections costs are fixed.
They generally cost around $50 to $150
Some companies may charge you based on the size of your home. The cost of larger homes can reach up to $250.
In some cases, termite companies will offer you free inspections to earn your business.
Termite Protection Plan Cost
A termite protection plan or termite bond is typically about $500 to $2,500.
The price varies depending on your region, the size of your home, frequency of inspections, and your coverage.
Termite bonds with more frequent inspections cost more than traditional termite bonds.
Also, those that cover damage repairs are more expensive.
In general, the simpler the arrangements, the cheaper the bond.
Termite bonds are also the most expensive in the first year after the treatment.
After the first year, the price drops significantly. The second-year termite bonds can be as low $200.
That’s because the first year has the highest risk of the termites coming back. The following years are more preventative.
What is a Termite Bond?
Termite protection plan or termite bond is a service agreement with a pest control company.
The services typically involve inspections, treatments, and in some instances, damage repairs.
But the ultimate goal is to protect your home from being infested or re-infested.
If your house has been treated by a contractor, a termite bond guarantees that they will treat your home if the termites come back, for free.
Some will also obligate the pest control company to treat and repair any termite damage after the initial treatment.
Resource: What are Termite Bonds and Should You Buy One?
Termite Repair Cost
Fixing termite damage is a separate cost than termite treatments.
The average cost homeowners pay to repair termite damage is $3,300.
But termite damage can be as high as $8000+ in extreme situations.
Termite Treatment Cost Considerations
Foundation Types
For soil treatments, slab foundations are the easiest and least expensive to treat.
Crawlspaces are more labor-intensive and thus more expensive to treat than slabs.
Basements are the hardest to treat and are the most expensive. That’s because they require more drilling and labor.
Two Stories
Two-story houses are more expensive for heat treatments.
That’s because they require more time and equipment.
Concrete
More concrete will make chemical soil treatment and baiting much more expensive.
It will require more labor and specialized equipment to get into the soil.
Concrete is common if you have a patio, garden beds near your home, and long extended driveways.
Construction Types
Treatment for houses with wood frames is generally more expensive because they are at the highest risk for termite infestation.
Concrete blocks are at a lower risk for termites than a wood-frame structure. But because the attic and interior walls for this type of framing are made of wood frame, they can still be costly.
Steel construction is at low risk for termites infestation. That said, if infested, they are typically difficult to treat, which would drive up the cost of treatment.
Poured concrete is at low risk for termites infestation and is generally cheaper to treat.
Signs You have Termites
Unfortunately, there are no standard devices that make it easy to detect termites.
The most common way to inspect for termites is to look for visual signs.
Here are some that you should watch out for:
- Flying Termites Or Swarmers
Flying termites, also known as Alates, are typically the first sign of termite infestation.
That’s because most termites hide inside the wood or soil. But flying termites will go out in the open to mate.
Termite colonies don’t begin producing flying termites until the colony has matured.
If you see flying termites inside your home, you know that there’s an established colony nearby.
- Discarded Wings
Swarms don’t last long.
In some cases, discarded wings are one of the only signs that a swarm happened.
If you see discarded wings, it means there’s a mature colony nearby, expanding.
- Dead Alates
Seeing dead flying termites, a.k.a alates, inside your home is not a sign that a termite population is dying.
It’s the opposite.
Flying termites swarm to leave the nest, reproduce and start a new colony.
But most are expected not to survive, especially unsuccessful when swarming indoors.
- Mud Tubes
A mud tube is made of subterranean termite droppings, soil, saliva, and wood.
They are typically the first indication of Subterranean termites infestation.
- Pallets/ Frass
Pellets or frass are a sign of Drywood termite infestation.
They are Drywood droppings that look a lot like sand or sawdust.
Drywood termites use “kick-out” holes to remove pellets from their tunnels.
If you have an infestation, you may find small piles of pellets near these kick-out holes.
- Patches
Dampwood termites use their droppings to protect their nest.
In particular, they use it to seal entry points from the outside world.
Dampwood patches look like damaged holes covered with dried mud.
- Hollow Wood
Termites devour wood from the inside out, leaving a weak shell.
As such, when you knock on an area that has termite damage, it will sound hollow.
- Noises In Your Walls
Sometimes you’ll be able to hear them eating if you place your ear against your walls.
- Bubbling Paint
Termites seal cracks in wood to create the ideal high humidity environment.
This moisture causes paint to form a bubble.
- Damaged Wood
When termites feed on wood, they leave it looking hollow or caved in.
Sometimes, the damage will be so extensive that you’ll see the termite tunnels inside.
You may also notice rotting wood on termite-infested areas.
- Hard To Open Doors And Windows
Termites love humid environments. To make sure they have it, they seal cracks and holes on the wood with their droppings.
But the trapped heat and moisture cause wood to warp. This warping makes it challenging to open termite-infested doors and windows.
- Termite Cement
Termites seal cracks with their droppings to create the perfect moist environment.
To do this, they turn their droppings into a mud-like cement.
Resource: Top 13 Signs You Have Termites
How To Prevent Termites?
- Properly Store your Firewood
Termites thrive on firewood, so make sure to keep them at least 20 feet from your home.
It’s also a good idea to keep firewood a few inches off the ground.
- Bug Screens
Install bug screens over attic vents to prevent entry.
- Ventilate Properly
Termites need a water source to survive. And they flourish in damp and moist areas.
Ventilate your home to prevent them from becoming too humid.
- Replace All Damaged or Rotting Wood.
Remove all damaged wood. Make sure to replace it with wood that’s treated with pesticides.
- Maintain Landscape
Remove all plants and mulch away from the foundation of your home.
- Apply fresh Paint
Chipped paint and small holes allow termites to penetrate wood easily, so make sure to seal them.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
Does insurance cover termite treatment?
No. Termite damage and treatment is generally not covered by your home insurance.
That is why termites bonds are beneficial for homeowners who have a prior termite infestation and those located in high-risk areas.
A termite bond is a service agreement that acts as insurance.
It obligates pest control companies to do regular inspections and catch the first signs of termite infestations.
The contract may also require companies to repair any termite damage that may occur after the initial treatment.
This guarantee protects you from losing money because of an ineffective treatment.
How long does termite treatment take?
Termite treatments can be done anywhere between several hours to several days.
The specific length will depend on the type of treatment you’re having.
Fumigation, for example, can take anywhere from six hours to one week.
The time will depend on the type of infestation you have, the size of the structure, and the chemical concentration.
On average, fumigation lasts for up to three days.
How long does a termite treatment last?
It depends on the type of treatment.
Soil Treatments last between 5 and 7 years.
Bait Stations last a lifetime, but bait should be monitored once or twice per year.
If a Whole Structure treatment eliminates all termites in your home, your results should last forever.
But, termites can return if there’s a nest outside your home.
Unfortunately, Whole Structure does not prevent outside termites from entering your home.
Dust treatments typically last as long as the dust is dry and present.
And Foam treatments typically last for about eight weeks.
If termites return to your property during these times, it’s not because the chemical has lost its efficacy.
A more probable reason is that the termites have found an area around your home without a chemical barrier.
How often should I treat for termites?
Treatment schedules vary per situation. I recommend checking your service agreement with your contractor.
How much does Terminix termite treatment cost?
Terminix treatment range generally costs between $800 and $3,000.
This price may vary depending on the extent of your infestation, the size of your home, and the type of termites you have and the treatment needed.
Can you treat termites yourself?
Yes. But only if you have a minor infestation and can accurately spot termite infested areas.
Large termite infestations should always hire a professional.
Are termites hard to get rid of?
Termites are some of the hardest infestations to identify and treat. But eliminating them is not impossible if you take the right steps.
What is a linear foot?
Pest control companies base their treatment and post-treatment prices using linear feet (Ln. Ft.).
A linear foot is a distance measured in feet around the perimeter of your home.