How Much Does Termite Treatment Cost? (2026)
Updated October 2026
Termite treatment typically runs $263–$1,033 (average $621) on HomeAdvisor, corroborated by Thumbtack at $380–$1,268 (most pay ~$694). The method decides the price: a liquid barrier at $3–$16 per linear foot, a baiting system at $8–$12 per linear foot plus monitoring, or whole-home fumigation at $1,500–$8,000. Inspection is a separate $75–$150.
Termite treatment cost
The method and the treated perimeter drive the number — not a single flat price. Termite work is quoted per linear foot of treated foundation, as a whole-structure treatment band, or as a per-year monitoring contract (baiting). Scope differs sharply by method, so the bands are kept per-source below.
| Method | Basis | Typical cost |
|---|---|---|
| Liquid barrier | per linear foot | $3–$16/LF (HA) · $7–$14/LF (Fixr) |
| Baiting system | per linear foot + monitoring | $8–$12/LF (HA) · $7–$14/LF (Fixr) |
| Fumigation (tenting) | per linear foot / whole home | $5–$20/LF (heat $10) · whole-home $1,500–$8,000 |
| Overall treatment | per treatment | $263–$1,033 / avg $621 (HA) · $380–$1,268 / avg $694 (Thumbtack) |
| Inspection / WDIR | per inspection (flat) | $75–$150 (single-publisher) |
Liquid barrier treatment
The common baseline: a liquid termiticide trenched into the soil around the foundation, forming a treated zone termites cross.
- Per linear foot: $3–$16 (HomeAdvisor, chemical termiticide) · $7–$14 (Fixr, subterranean).
- Per treatment: subterranean bait-and-chemical $225–$900 (HA); exterior treatment $225–$2,500 (Today's Homeowner).
- By species (HA): subterranean $225–$900 · drywood $225–$2,500 · dampwood $250–$2,500 · Formosan $250–$1,500.
Basis label: per linear foot = treated perimeter; the per-treatment band is separate and often quoted alongside it.
Baiting systems
In-ground bait stations with ongoing monitoring. This is a per-year-cost method, not a one-and-done treatment:
- Install: $8–$12 per linear foot (HomeAdvisor, termite bait) · $7–$12/LF (Fixr, subterranean bait/chemical).
- Monitoring: an ongoing cost — bait depletes and must be refreshed; above-ground stations and periodic checks recur.
- The honest framing: baiting is a monitoring system — price the install and the per-year monitoring, not just the initial visit.
Fumigation (tenting)
Whole-structure fumigation or heat — the high-end method for severe (often drywood) infestations:
- Per linear foot: $5–$20 (tenting/fumigation, HA); heat treatment $10/LF.
- Whole-home: $1,500–$8,000 (HA) · drywood fumigation $1,570–$2,857 (Fixr) · whole-home $2,000–$8,000 (Today's Homeowner).
- When it's the option: typically reserved for infestations that soil treatments can't reach — [GATED on a pest context-facts card] for the species/severity determination.
Inspection & WDIR reports
- Initial termite inspection: $75–$150 (Today's Homeowner). Single-publisher row — many pros include the inspection free with a treatment (HomeAdvisor).
- Real-estate WDIR / VA report: a distinct transaction-scope fee at the same $75–$150 band — a required line item in many home sales.
Treatment vs contract: what you're paying for
The scope distinction that trips up most quotes:
- Per-treatment (one-time) work — liquid barrier, bait install, or fumigation — solves the current infestation and is quoted per linear foot or as a whole-structure band.
- Per-year service — baiting monitoring, annual inspection, and bond/warranty agreements — is a recurring cost model. A termite bond is an annual inspection/treatment/prevention agreement, not a treatment in itself.
- The rule: a one-time application and an annual monitoring contract are different scopes — never blend a per-linear-foot install figure with a per-year monitoring figure into one number.
Which treatment do you need?
[GATED on a pest context-facts card] — the species/severity decision frame (subterranean vs drywood vs dampwood vs Formosan; spot vs whole-structure) requires the context-facts card. The dataset prices the methods; it does not make the species/severity call.
DIY vs professional for termites
The honest boundary [GATED on a pest context-facts card] for method specifics:
- Professional scope: whole-structure treatment, soil barriers, and fumigation — these need licensing, equipment, and (for fumigation) permits/clearance.
- DIY-adjacent: Fixr records a DIY heat-machine rental at $249–$299, but heat treatment of a structure is not a typical DIY job and any chemical application is regulated.
- The line: spot fixes and prevention (moisture control, wood-to-soil contact) are homeowner tasks; whole-structure termite treatment is professional work — method detail beyond this gates on the facts card.
FAQ
How much does termite treatment cost?
Typically $263–$1,033 (avg $621) on HomeAdvisor, or $380–$1,268 (avg $694) on Thumbtack — method-dependent (liquid, bait, or fumigation).
How much is liquid barrier treatment?
$3–$16 per linear foot (HomeAdvisor; Fixr $7–$14), or $225–$900 per subterranean treatment (HA).
How much is a baiting system?
$8–$12 per linear foot (HA; Fixr $7–$14) plus ongoing monitoring — baiting is a per-year-cost method, not a one-and-done.
How much is fumigation?
$5–$20 per linear foot (heat $10); whole-home $1,500–$8,000 (Fixr drywood $1,570–$2,857).
How much is a termite inspection?
$75–$150 (Today's Homeowner — single-source row); often free when bundled with treatment.
How often should termites be re-treated or monitored?
[GATED on a pest context-facts card] — monitoring cadence is convention, not a dataset figure.
Add-ons and structural repair (separate line items)
Structural wood repair $600–$3,000 (severe up to $6,000) · Post-treatment cleaning $100–$400 · Routine cleanup $100–$200 · Deep cleanup $200–$400 · Physical removal (wildlife / hives) $100–$600 · Chemical treatment $100–$3,000 · Wildlife removal $250–$1,000. Repair is never folded into the treatment number.
Sources
Every figure comes from the pest-control cost dataset (10 products / 132 price points / 6 sources / 7 flags). Provenance: HomeAdvisor termites (live, updated Jun-19-2026) · HomeAdvisor insect control (live) · Thumbtack termite (live 2026-10-01) · Fixr exterminator (live, Jan-31-2025 edition) · Today's Homeowner (live) + Category #26 scoring seed. Angi not cited (Cloudflare-walled, no Wayback snapshot). Termite overall bands per-source: HomeAdvisor $263–$1,033 (avg $621) · Thumbtack $380–$1,268 (avg $694).
Estimate only — get local written quotes. Bands per-source and per-basis, never averaged; every figure carries its basis (per linear foot / per treatment / per year). [GATED] claims need the pest context-facts card. Hub: pest control costs · calculator: pest & termite cost calculator.