How much does termite treatment cost?
On average, termite treatment costs $300, and prices typically range from $250-$390. However, the cost you’ll pay depends on where you live, how large (or small) your infestation is and the type of termite treatment (sprays, chemicals, fumigation, etc.) you opt for. Because of these factors, termite control costs can range drastically — from $75-$1,495.
Termite treatment cost:
|
National average cost |
$300 |
|
Average cost range |
$250-$390 |
|
Low-end cost range |
$75-$179 |
|
High-end cost range |
$450-$1,495 |
If you suspect you have a termite problem, it’s time to take control. Keep reading to learn how much termite inspections and control services cost. Then, reach out to pros to get personalized termite treatment costs near you.
What’s in this cost guide?
When combating an existing termite colony, pest control companies typically charge per linear foot, as opposed to the per-square-foot cost used for preventive treatments. Companies use different methods depending on the type of termite, the severity of the infestation and other factors. Popular methods include fumigation, pesticides and the use of natural substances — such as orange oil — that are toxic to the pests.
Here are some examples of average termite treatment costs for existing colonies:
Termite chemical treatment cost
Liquid treatments cost $3-$4 per linear foot, according to Optimus Pest Solutions in Nolensville, Tennessee. The company also offers customers a maintenance plan for $75 per year. The plan includes inspection of the property and renewal of the warranty.
Similarly, On the Fly Pest Solutions in Apopka, Florida charges approximately $400 for a 2,000-square-foot home at $3-$5 per linear foot. The linear price per foot may be higher for foaming and drilling inside of concrete slabs.
Termite fumigation cost
Termite fumigation costs $1,200-$1,500 for a 30,000- to 35,000-cubic-foot home, according to On the Fly Pest. Unlike pesticides or repellents, which are measured by the linear foot, the cost of fumigation is measured by cubic feet. This is because the gas fills the airspace of the home to penetrate the wood where the termites are colonizing. The number of levels and square footage of your home will determine the cost of fumigation.
Termite prevention treatment plan costs
Some termite control companies charge by the square foot for pre-construction preventive treatment plans. The cost per square foot usually covers labor, pesticide and the company's business overhead.
For example, Mauney's Termite Control in Monroe, North Carolina, works primarily with eastern subterranean termites, which enter homes from underground. The company charges $0.45-$0.60 per square foot to treat a home for termites. The exact price depends on whether the home has a slab foundation or a crawl space. The company specializes in a liquid treatment called Termidor, which is applied around the home's perimeter and drilled into the slab or concrete foundation areas.
To treat a 2,000-square-foot ranch-style house with a crawl space, Mauney's Termite Control charges an average of $950. Many termite treatments come with a one-year renewable and transferable warranty that averages $100-$125 per year.
A thorough home inspection to assess the extent of the damage and the type of termite treatment needed is an excellent first step toward a termite treatment plan. The cost of an official termite inspection varies by region and may cost around $85-$300. However, some companies may offer a free inspection if you agree to use their termite removal services.
If you're considering buying a new home or are putting your property on the market, a wood-destroying organism (WDO) report or termite inspection can give you key information about the true state of your home. You may also be required to have this special termite inspection done for insurance purposes or as terms of your mortgage. Your state's Department of Agriculture is typically the governing body that regulates the terms of the WDO inspection.
This type of termite inspection is different from a pest inspection, which is done by a pest control company to assess whether you have pests and to recommend a course of treatment. A WDO inspection must follow specific guidelines and can be used for formal purposes to prove the presence (or lack) of wood-destroying organisms. These reports are particularly important for real estate transactions due to the high cost of damage that termites can do if they proceed undetected. The true value of a home may be less than it appears to be if it has been structurally compromised by termites.
Getting rid of termites is no easy task. If you have a serious termite infestation, it’s recommended that you seek the help of a trained pest control professional or exterminator who's qualified to use termite-killing chemicals and equipment.
What exterminators use to kill termites
Professionals use a variety of different termite treatments, including:
- Termiticides, which are pesticides used for termite prevention and treatment. In most cases, only a trained professional can utilize this type of pesticide, according to the Environmental Protection Agency.
- Termidor is a type of termiticide that’s used to get rid of termites and prevent future termite infestations. Some pest control companies, like Orkin, use this termite solution to create a barrier around your home.
- Termite baits are another approved treatment by the EPA, and they can help limit the usage of insecticides when combating termites.
- Fumigation is when your entire house is enclosed in a tent and gassed.
The more deeply the termites have infiltrated the home, the higher the cost for treatment. Heavy infestations may also call for multiple treatments, which will also increase costs.
The earlier you notice these warning signs of a termite infestation, the better your chances of stopping them before they do major damage to your home:
- Frass (also known as termite feces or termite droppings): This looks like sawdust-like piles near wood surfaces or elongated, pellet-shaped droppings, according to the Structural Pest Control Board of California.
- Bubble-like texture on your interior or exterior paint: If these bubbles are soft to the touch and contain frass, it's a sign that termites are eating away at the wood inside.
- Mud-like tubes or trails: Subterranean termites build these soil highways between their underground home and your house. They can be found on foundation walls, basements and crawl spaces. The Structural Pest Board of California explains that these tubes are typically about the diameter of a pencil, although they can be larger. These mud tubes under or along the side of your house or foundation are a sure sign of a termite infestation.
- Swarming termites or shed wings: During spring as temperatures warm, swarmers — winged termites — swarm in search of new colony locations. If an exposed piece of wood provides a suitable location, the termites can shed their wings and burrow into the wood.
If you're not sure you have termites, don't panic — you can hire a termite exterminator.
Some simple preventive measures can save you a lot of money compared with damage control after termites have entered your home. Here are some tips for keeping termites out:
- Don't have peeling paint or cracks where they can sneak in. Termites generally won't eat through paint.
- Check your foundation for gaps. Keep foundation gaps caulked and sealed.
- Don't let leaking water lead to soggy wood, which may draw dampwood termites in.
- Keep your crawl space dry with proper ventilation to deter moisture-loving subterranean termites.
- Proper grading and drainage (such as downspouts and gutters) help keep the soil around the foundation dry, deterring subterranean termites.
- Check your home for leaks, and deal with all home leaks immediately.
- Trim back trees or shrubs so they don't grow against exposed wood surfaces.
- Plant trees and shrubs away from the side of your home so you don't provide an easy bridge for termites.
- Store firewood away from the house so it doesn't draw termites toward your structure.
- Schedule regular termite inspections. It's often recommended that you inspect your home for termites once a year.
It's easy to panic when you find out you have termites, but knowing is half the battle. Instead of rushing to hire the first person you find for the cheapest price, take time to do the following steps:
- Research termite control companies to make sure they hold the proper licenses. In fact, ask to see the company's credentials. "Each company must have at least one certified, licensed commercial pesticide applicator in the proper service category," states the EPA. "Other company applicators must be certified applicators or licensed technicians under the direct supervision of a certified applicator."
- Ask what type of pesticide will be used and how it will be applied.
- Ask for references — and call those references.
- Read online reviews. This will help you learn about a company's integrity.
- Ask for bids from two or three companies. Be specific about what you need in your request for a bid: a wood-destroying insect report for a loan closing, an estimate for termite treatment or a yearly inspection to make sure everything is going well. A clear request helps the pros provide you with better service.
- Make sure costs are spelled out clearly and that details of the warranty are included before signing a contract. The EPA states that termite treatment warranties often last between one and five years.
Be wary of any pest control company that pressures you to act immediately with claims your house might collapse. Finding the right termite control company will give you lasting results and save you money in the long term. For more hiring tips, check out our tips for smart hiring.
It's important to take action at the first sign of termites. If you suspect there's an infestation in your home, start searching for termite treatment and control services near you, and request free cost estimates.
Termite treatment FAQs
Still have questions about the types of termites, termite control, inspections and prevention? Here are the answers to frequently asked questions about termites.
What are termites?
Termites are insects that typically range from 1/4 inch to 1/2 inch in length and have a broad waist and four wings of equal size. They’re an important part of the natural environment, breaking down decaying trees and other plant fibers. However, they can be murder on your house, thanks to the unique protozoa and bacteria in their gut that allow them to digest on cellulose — aka wood. So, naturally, they’re very attracted to the framing and structural elements of your home.
Termites colonize, meaning they set up camp in one place for the long haul, reproducing and growing over days, months, years and decades. Because millions of termites can live in a single colony, the insects are eating the wood of your home 24 hours a day, seven days a week. They will even eat books, carpet backing, furniture and drywall.
What are the different types of termites?
The three most common types of termites are subterranean, drywood and dampwood. Subterranean termites are the most prevalent and can be found in almost every part of the U.S. Subterranean termites enter a home from the ground up, building mud tubes to safely travel between the wood and their underground home. Subterranean colonies can become massive, teeming with millions of termites in one colony.
Generally, the type of termite in your area depends on the environment. Dampwood termites are drawn to moisture-rich wood in the Pacific coastal area, the Southwest and Florida. Drywood termites are typically found in the Southern and coastal states, and a particularly aggressive type of subterranean termite -- the Formosan termite -- is found in the Southern states, the Gulf Coast, California and Hawaii.
All termites feed on wood. True to their names, dampwood termites like moisture-rich wood and drywood termites like dried-out wood.
How do you get termites?
Drywood termites swarm in spring as the weather warms, looking for new wood to colonize. The swarmers, which look like flying ants, fly in search of openings to enter the wood in your building. These openings include peeling or cracked exterior paint that leaves untreated wood exposed, nail holes, holes from hanging Christmas lights, gaps around windows or door frames, and other minuscule openings.
As the name implies, subterranean termites creep up into your house from the soil below. They can build mud tunnels along basement or foundation walls, or sometimes just through the air, from the ground up to your home.
Are termites harmful to humans?
Although termites typically pose no health risk to humans, they pose a serious financial risk.
The EPA reports that each year homeowners spend over $2 billion treating termites, and the National Pest Management Association says that termites cause over $5 billion in property damage annually. Most homeowners insurance policies don't cover termite damage because inspecting for and preventing termite infestations is considered part of the homeowner's standard maintenance.
This is why if you notice signs of termite activity, you need to act fast. The longer you wait to control a termite problem, the more costly the damage becomes. An untreated termite infestation in your home can cost tens of thousands of dollars as the house gets eaten from the inside out by these wood-consuming pests.
Will fumigation kill termites?
Yes, fumigation can kill termites. In extreme cases, when termites have made their way into all areas of your home, fumigation can be called for. The most costly solution, fumigation entails enclosing your entire home in a giant, circus-like tent and filling the tent with gas to permeate all parts of your house, killing all hatched termites within.
Fumigation doesn't work on subterranean termites, however. To eliminate these pests, the entire footprint of the home must be treated by drilling and inserting liquid treatments into the slab or foundation of your home. Many pest management companies also offer maintenance plans with regular inspections and warranties that can be renewed annually.
Do warranties cover termite treatments?
Warranties generally protect homeowners if termites return within a stated time period. Some termite control companies include a warranty on the cost of their services, and others offer a warranty for an additional fee.
A professional contract should spell out exactly what is included in the total cost of treatment. Mauney's Termite Control charges an average of $100-$125 for a one-year, renewable and transferable warranty.
Can you treat your own house for termites?
There are some products you can buy in-store that can help you treat your house for termites. For example, you can buy termite bait stakes or a termite killing foam — such as Spectracide Terminate —that kills exposed dampwood, subterranean and drywood termites.
However, if you're dealing with a severe or large termite infestation, hiring an exterminator might be your best chance in getting rid of termites.
Although it might be difficult — if not impossible — to rid your home completely of termites on your own without the help of a trained professional, there are steps you can take to prevent termites from entering your home.
