Termite Inspection Cost (and When It’s Free)

A termite inspection is often free when a pest control company offers it to a homeowner who suspects termites or wants a treatment quote, because the company hopes to sell treatment or a protection plan. A wood-destroying insect (WDI) inspection for a home sale is different: it produces a formal report for the buyer, seller or lender and typically costs about $75 to $200, sometimes $300 or more for large homes, crawl spaces or rush scheduling. Annual re-inspections under a termite bond are usually included in the bond fee, while specialty inspections using infrared cameras or detection dogs cost more. Here is what each type costs, what you get and how to choose.

Part of our Pest Control guide →

In this guide

1. Termite Inspection Cost by Type
2. Free Termite Inspections: What You Get
3. Real Estate WDI and WDO Inspections
4. What a Termite Inspection Covers
5. How to Read a Termite Inspection Report
6. Termite Inspection vs General Home Inspection
7. Termite Bonds and Annual Inspections
8. When to Get a Termite Inspection
9. How to Save on Termite Inspections
10. Frequently Asked Questions

Termite Inspection Cost by Type

Inspection type	Typical cost	Who usually orders it	What you get
Free company inspection	$0	Homeowner with suspected activity or wanting prevention	Verbal or written findings and a treatment proposal
Real estate WDI / WDO inspection	$75 to $200, up to $300+ for large homes	Buyer, seller or lender during a sale	Formal report on a standard state or industry form
Termite bond annual inspection	Included in bond renewal	Homeowner with an active warranty	Yearly inspection, treatment of new activity per bond terms
Infrared or moisture-meter inspection	$200 to $400+	Homeowner wanting a detailed, non-invasive check	Thermal and moisture scans of walls and ceilings
Termite detection dog	$200 to $400+	Hard-to-inspect homes, second opinions	Canine search with handler; may be paired with a standard inspection
Add-on to a general home inspection	$50 to $150 added	Homebuyer	Depends on whether the home inspector is licensed for WDI work

These are typical ranges, not quotes. Prices vary by region, home size, foundation type and how quickly you need the report.

Free Termite Inspections: What You Get

Most national and local pest control companies will inspect a home for termites at no charge. A technician walks the exterior foundation, checks the garage, basement or crawl space, looks at baseboards, door and window frames and areas around plumbing, and probes suspect wood. You typically receive a findings summary and, if termites or conducive conditions are found, a proposal for treatment or a monitoring program.

Free inspections are genuinely useful, especially if you have seen swarmers, mud tubes or damaged wood. Just remember the inspector works for a company that sells treatment. That does not make the findings wrong, but it is a reason to:

• Ask to see the evidence: live termites, active mud tubes or damage.
• Ask whether activity is current or old, and how they can tell.
• Get at least one more inspection and quote before agreeing to a large treatment.
• Be wary of pressure to sign the same day.

Our guide on how to choose a termite company lists the questions to ask, and if you want to know what you are looking at first, see the signs of termites.

Real Estate WDI and WDO Inspections

When a home is bought or sold, the termite inspection becomes a formal document. It is usually called a WDI (wood-destroying insect) or WDO (wood-destroying organism) inspection, and it covers termites as well as other wood destroyers such as carpenter ants, wood-boring beetles and, in some states, wood decay fungi.

Standard forms

Many states use the industry NPMA-33 Wood Destroying Insect Infestation Inspection Report. Some states have their own forms: Florida, for example, uses a state WDO inspection report, and California’s structural pest control reports separate active infestation and damage (Section 1) from conditions likely to lead to infestation (Section 2). The inspector must be licensed by the state to issue these reports.

When it is required

• VA loans: the VA requires a WDI inspection in many states and areas with moderate to heavy termite risk.
• Other loans: FHA and conventional lenders may require one if the appraiser notes evidence of termites or damage, or depending on local practice.
• Purchase contracts: in many markets, a termite inspection contingency is standard even when the lender does not require one.
• Buyer choice: even when nothing requires it, a WDI inspection is inexpensive protection in termite-prone regions.

Who pays depends on local custom, the loan type and what the purchase contract says. Your real estate agent or lender will know the local norm.

What affects the price

• Home size: larger homes take longer to inspect.
• Foundation type: crawl spaces take more time and effort than slabs; basements fall in between.
• Outbuildings: detached garages, sheds and decks may cost extra.
• Timing: rush appointments to meet closing deadlines can carry a surcharge.
• Region: prices tend to be higher in high-cost metro areas.
• Bundling: some home inspectors licensed for WDI work offer a discount when bundled with the general home inspection.

What a Termite Inspection Covers

Whether free or paid, a thorough inspection usually takes 30 minutes to a couple of hours and covers all accessible areas:

• Exterior: foundation walls, slab edges, siding near grade, wood-to-soil contact, decks, porches, fences touching the house and mulch against the foundation.
• Crawl space or basement: sill plates, joists, piers, mud tubes on foundation walls and moisture problems.
• Interior: baseboards, door and window frames, areas around plumbing penetrations, bathrooms and kitchens.
• Garage and attic: accessible framing, especially where it meets the foundation.
• Conducive conditions: leaks, poor drainage, wood debris, firewood against the house and excessive moisture.

Inspectors note inaccessible areas, such as finished basements, covered crawl spaces or areas blocked by stored items. A report that says an area was inaccessible is not a clean bill of health for that area. Clearing access before the inspector arrives gets you a more complete result.

How to Read a Termite Inspection Report

A real estate WDI report usually lands in one of a few categories, and the wording matters for negotiations:

• No visible evidence observed: the inspector found no signs in accessible areas. It is not a guarantee that no termites exist in hidden spaces.
• Visible evidence of a previous infestation: damage, old tubes or wings were found but no live insects. Ask whether the home was treated and request treatment records or an existing bond.
• Live infestation observed: active termites or other wood destroyers were found. Treatment is typically recommended, and a buyer may negotiate for the seller to pay for it.
• Visible damage: the report notes damage but usually does not assess structural soundness. For significant damage, a contractor or structural engineer should evaluate repairs.
• Conducive conditions: moisture, wood-to-soil contact or debris that invite termites. These are maintenance items rather than infestations.

Read the list of inaccessible or obstructed areas as carefully as the findings. If an important area such as a crawl space could not be entered, ask whether a follow-up inspection is possible before closing.

Termite Inspection vs General Home Inspection

A general home inspection looks at the roof, structure, plumbing, electrical and HVAC systems, and a good inspector will mention obvious signs of termites or rot. But unless the inspector also holds a state pest control or WDI license, they cannot issue the formal termite report a lender or contract may require, and they will not search as thoroughly for wood-destroying insects. In termite-prone regions, plan on both: the home inspection for the house as a whole and a licensed WDI inspection for termites and other wood destroyers. Booking them in the same week keeps your option period or contingency deadline on track and lets you negotiate repairs and treatment together.

Termite Bonds and Annual Inspections

A termite bond is a service contract. After an initial treatment or the installation of a bait system, the company inspects the home every year and treats new activity under the terms of the contract. Some bonds also cover repair of new damage; others cover re-treatment only. The annual inspection is normally part of the yearly renewal fee rather than charged separately.

If you are buying a home with an existing bond, ask whether it is transferable, what it covers and when it expires. A transferable repair bond can be valuable in high-risk areas. To compare bond and treatment prices, see our breakdown of termite treatment cost.

When to Get a Termite Inspection

• Before buying a home, especially in the South, Southeast, Gulf Coast, California and other termite-prone regions.
• Every year if you live in a moderate to heavy termite area, even without signs.
• When you see swarmers indoors in spring, discarded wings on windowsills, mud tubes on foundations or hollow-sounding wood.
• After major renovations, additions or new landscaping that changes soil grade against the house.
• When a bond or warranty is about to lapse.

How to Save on Termite Inspections

• For homeowner checks, use free inspections from two or more companies and compare findings.
• For a home purchase, ask your home inspector whether they are licensed to do WDI reports and offer a bundle.
• Schedule early in the buying process to avoid rush fees.
• Keep an existing bond active if it is good value; lapsed bonds may require a new initial treatment to reinstate.
• Reduce conducive conditions yourself, such as moving mulch and firewood away from the foundation and fixing leaks, so inspections stay clean. Our guide on how to prevent termites covers the details.

If an inspection does find termites, our guide on how to get rid of termites explains treatment options, and the pest control guide covers other common household pests.