Professional termite treatment averages about $600 nationally (Angi), with small jobs from $250, and roughly $1,000 to $2,500 to treat a whole average-size home with liquid termiticide or bait stations. Tenting (fumigation) for drywood termites usually runs $2,000 to $8,000. Price depends on the termite type, the method, the size of your home and how far the damage has spread. Published 2026 cost guides from Angi and HomeGuide put most jobs in these ranges.
Table of Contents
Termite Treatment Cost by Method
| Method | Typical price | Whole home (approx.) | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|
| Liquid soil termiticide | $3 to $20 per linear foot | $500 to $2,000 | Subterranean and Formosan termites |
| Bait stations | $7 to $12 per linear foot | $1,000 to $2,500, plus $200 to $400/yr monitoring | Subterranean termites; homes where drilling is hard |
| Fumigation (tenting) | $1 to $4 per sq ft | $2,000 to $8,000 | Widespread drywood termites |
| Heat treatment | $1 to $3 per sq ft | $2,000 to $6,000 | Drywood termites, no chemicals |
| Spot / local treatment | $6 to $8 per sq ft treated | $250 to $1,200 | Small, contained drywood infestations |
Ranges from HomeGuide and Angi 2026 cost guides. Local prices vary; get written quotes.
Cost by Termite Type
| Termite | Typical treatment | Typical cost |
|---|---|---|
| Subterranean | Liquid barrier or bait stations | $250 to $2,000 |
| Drywood | Spot treatment, heat or tenting | $225 to $2,500+; tenting more |
| Dampwood | Fix moisture, replace wood, spot treat | $225 to $2,500+ |
| Formosan | Liquid barrier, baits, carton nest removal | $800 to $5,000+ |
Other Termite Costs
- Inspection: often free when you buy treatment; $0 to $250 otherwise, more for real estate reports. See termite inspection cost.
- Termite bond or warranty: about $500 to $2,000 in the first year including treatment, then commonly $200 to $400 a year to renew. See termite bond cost.
- Damage repair: $600 to $3,000 for typical repairs, and more for structural work. See termite damage repair cost.
- Tenting prep: hotel nights, food bagging and plant removal. See termite tenting cost and preparation.
What Affects the Price
- Home size and foundation: liquid and bait treatments are priced by the linear foot around the house; fumigation and heat by square foot. Slab foundations, basements and crawl spaces need different drilling and access.
- Termite species: Formosan colonies are huge and need more product and follow-up.
- How widespread the infestation is: a single window frame is a spot job; termites in several walls or the attic may need tenting.
- Warranty length: longer, renewable warranties cost more upfront but cover retreatment.
- Where you live: prices run higher in the Southeast, Gulf Coast, Hawaii and California, where termite pressure is highest.
How to Get Rid of Termites: Professional Methods
Liquid termiticide barrier
Technicians trench around the foundation and drill through slabs to create a continuous treated zone in the soil. Modern non-repellent products are picked up by termites and spread through the colony. A proper barrier typically protects a home for several years.
Bait stations
Stations placed in the soil every 10 to 20 feet around the house hold cellulose laced with a slow-acting growth regulator. Foraging termites carry it back and the colony dies over weeks to months. Baits need regular monitoring, which is where the annual fee comes from. See termite bait stations.
Fumigation (tenting)
The whole house is sealed under tarps and filled with a fumigant gas that reaches every piece of wood. It kills all drywood termites inside in one treatment but offers no protection against new ones. You leave the home for two to three days.
Heat treatment
Heaters raise wood temperature to a lethal level for drywood termites. It’s chemical-free and faster than tenting, but heat may not reach deep into thick timbers, and heat-sensitive items must be removed.
Spot treatment
For small drywood colonies, technicians drill into the infested wood and inject a termiticide, foam or borate. It’s cheapest but only works when every infested spot has been found.
DIY Termite Treatment: What Works and What Doesn’t
| DIY option | Does it work? |
|---|---|
| Over-the-counter bait stations | Good for early warning around a house. Unlikely to eliminate an established colony on their own. |
| Borate wood treatments | Protect bare, unfinished wood you can reach, such as crawl space framing and new lumber. |
| Termite foam | Kills termites in a small wall void or piece of furniture you can inject directly. |
| Orange oil | Kills drywood termites on contact in small, reachable areas only. |
| Retail liquid termiticides | Available in some areas, but a gap-free barrier needs trenching, drilling and large volumes of product. |
| Vinegar, boric acid sprays, cardboard traps | Kill a few termites you can see. They don’t reach the colony. |
The University of Kentucky’s entomology department advises that termite treatment is a job for professionals. DIY makes sense for monitoring, prevention and small, confirmed spots. Compare products in best termite sprays.
DIY termite products
- Termite bait stations for monitoring around the house
- Borate wood treatment for bare wood in crawl spaces and attics
- Termite foam for small spots in wall voids
- Orange oil treatment for small drywood spots
For an active infestation in your house, compare professional quotes first.
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How to Get a Fair Termite Quote
- Get three written quotes from licensed, insured companies. Many inspect for free.
- Ask what species they found and where, and ask to see the evidence.
- Compare the same method: product name, linear feet treated, number of bait stations.
- Read the warranty: retreatment only, or repairs too? Annual renewal price? Transferable if you sell?
- Don’t sign under pressure. Termites work slowly; a few days to compare quotes won’t change the damage.
How Long Termite Treatment Takes
- Liquid barrier: one day for most homes; results within weeks.
- Bait stations: installed in a day; colony elimination over several weeks to months.
- Tenting: two to three days out of the home.
- Heat: one day.
Termite Treatment Cost FAQs
Most termite treatments cost $250 to $2,500. Liquid or bait treatment for a whole average home usually costs $1,000 to $2,500, while tenting for drywood termites runs about $2,000 to $8,000.
Tenting is worth it for widespread drywood termite infestations because it reaches every piece of wood in one treatment. For small, contained colonies, spot or heat treatment usually costs less.
Bait stations often cost about the same or more upfront, $1,000 to $2,500 for a home, plus $200 to $400 a year for monitoring. Liquid barriers have little yearly cost but may need drilling through slabs.
You can use bait stations for monitoring, borates on bare wood and foam or orange oil on small spots. An established colony in a house usually needs professional treatment.
Standard homeowners insurance generally doesn’t cover termite damage, because insurers treat it as preventable with maintenance. A termite bond or warranty is the usual way to cover retreatment and sometimes repairs.
Sources
- Angi: Termite treatment cost (2026)
- HomeGuide: Termite treatment cost (2026)
- University of Kentucky Entomology: Termites
Facts in this guide are checked against the sources above and reviewed when they change. See how we research in our editorial policy.