Termite Treatment Cost: Liquid, Bait and Spot

Most US homeowners pay roughly $1,000 to $3,000 for a professional whole-house termite treatment, but the method changes the number a lot. A liquid soil barrier for subterranean termites typically runs a few dollars to the mid-teens per linear foot of foundation. A bait station system usually costs about the same or a bit more to install, plus an annual monitoring fee. Spot treatments for a small, localized problem can be a few hundred dollars, while tent fumigation for drywood termites often lands in the low thousands for an average house. Below are typical ranges by method and home size, the factors that move the price, and how to compare quotes.

Part of our Pest Control guide →

In this guide

1. Termite Treatment Cost by Method
2. Liquid Barrier Treatment Cost
3. Bait System Cost
4. Spot Treatment Cost
5. Fumigation and Heat Treatment Cost
6. Estimated Cost by Home Size
7. What Affects Termite Treatment Prices
8. Understanding Termite Warranties and Renewal Fees
9. Don’t Forget Damage Repair
10. DIY Termite Treatment vs Hiring a Pro
11. How to Compare Termite Quotes
12. Frequently Asked Questions

Termite Treatment Cost by Method

These are typical ranges seen across the US for professional treatment of a single-family home. Your local market, termite species and house details can push the price outside them in either direction.

Method	Typical pricing	Typical whole-home range	Used for
Inspection	Often free with a treatment quote; real estate inspections are a flat fee	$0–$200	All termites
Liquid soil barrier (trench and rod)	About $3–$16 per linear ft	$1,000–$3,000	Subterranean
Bait station system	Installation plus yearly monitoring	$1,000–$3,500 to install; $250–$500 per year	Subterranean
Spot or localized treatment	Per area treated	$200–$900	Small subterranean or drywood infestations
Borate wood treatment	Per area or sq ft of exposed wood	$300–$2,500	Prevention, attics, crawlspaces, new construction
Tent fumigation	About $1–$4 per sq ft of home	$1,500–$5,000+	Widespread drywood termites
Whole-structure heat treatment	About $1–$3 per sq ft	$1,000–$3,000+	Drywood termites, smaller homes
Annual renewal or warranty	Yearly fee	$200–$500 per year	Ongoing protection

Liquid Barrier Treatment Cost

Liquid termiticide is the most common treatment for subterranean termites, the type found in nearly every state. A technician digs a narrow trench along the foundation, applies termiticide into the trench and soil, and rods or drills to reach deeper soil. On slab homes, they also drill small holes through patios, garage slabs, porches and interior slab areas near plumbing to inject the product underneath, then patch the holes.

Because the work follows the foundation, it is priced by the linear foot. A typical single-story home has roughly 150 to 250 linear feet of foundation. Non-repellent termiticides, which termites cannot detect and carry back to the colony, generally cost more than older repellent products but are what most companies now use. A properly applied liquid barrier usually carries protection for several years, often five or more depending on the product label, and many companies pair it with an annual inspection plan.

Bait System Cost

Bait systems place in-ground stations around the house every 10 to 20 feet. Termites feed on the bait, which contains a slow-acting growth inhibitor, and share it with the colony. Installation is less invasive than liquid treatment, with no trenching along the foundation or drilling through slabs, which makes baits popular for homes with wells, finished landscaping, or concerns about soil applications.

The trade-off is ongoing cost. Stations need regular monitoring and bait replacement, so most companies require an annual service agreement. Over five to ten years, a bait system can cost more in total than a single liquid treatment, but it provides continuous monitoring. Some homeowners use both: a liquid barrier to knock out an active colony quickly, then baits for long-term protection.

Spot Treatment Cost

When termites are confined to one area, such as a single door frame, a porch post or a section of a deck, a spot treatment using foam, liquid injected into the galleries or a localized product can solve the problem for a few hundred dollars. Spot treatments are common for drywood termites in small areas and for very limited subterranean activity. The catch is that they treat only what is visible. If there is a larger colony elsewhere, you will see activity again. Most reputable companies will tell you honestly when spot treatment is not enough.

Fumigation and Heat Treatment Cost

Drywood termites live inside the wood they eat, without soil contact, so soil barriers and baits do not reach them. They are most common along the Southern and Gulf coasts, Florida, the Southwest and California. For widespread infestations, the standard solution is tent fumigation: the house is sealed under tarps and filled with a gas fumigant that penetrates all the wood, then aerated. You will need to leave home for typically two to three days, remove or bag food and medicines, and remove plants and pets. Our guide to preparing for termite tenting covers the checklist. Price is driven mainly by the cubic volume of the house.

Heat treatment raises the temperature of the structure or a section of it until wood cores reach a lethal temperature. It avoids chemicals and you are usually out for only a day, but it can be harder to heat large homes evenly and may not suit homes with heat-sensitive contents.

Estimated Cost by Home Size

Home size	Approx. foundation perimeter	Liquid barrier	Bait system install	Tent fumigation
1,000 sq ft	130–150 linear ft	$700–$2,000	$1,000–$2,000	$1,200–$3,000
2,000 sq ft	180–220 linear ft	$1,000–$2,800	$1,500–$2,800	$2,000–$5,000
3,000 sq ft	220–280 linear ft	$1,400–$3,500	$2,000–$3,500	$3,000–$7,000
4,000+ sq ft	280+ linear ft	$2,000–$4,500+	$2,500–$4,500+	$4,000–$10,000+

Perimeter, not square footage, drives liquid and bait pricing. A two-story 2,000 sq ft house has a smaller footprint and less foundation than a sprawling single-story home of the same size, so it often costs less to treat with soil-applied methods.

What Affects Termite Treatment Prices

• Termite species: subterranean, drywood and Formosan termites need different treatments. Formosan termites, found mainly in the Southeast and Hawaii, form huge colonies and often require more intensive work.
• Foundation type: crawlspaces are usually the cheapest to treat, basements moderate, and slabs the most expensive because of drilling and patching.
• Linear footage and access: long perimeters, attached decks, patios, garages and porches over soil all add footage and drilling.
• Severity: an active, widespread infestation may need more product, more drilling and follow-up visits.
• Region: labor costs and termite pressure are highest in the South and along the coasts, where termite plans are also more common.
• Product: premium non-repellent termiticides and name-brand bait systems carry higher prices than older generics.
• Warranty type: a retreatment-only warranty is cheaper than one that also covers repair of new damage.

Understanding Termite Warranties and Renewal Fees

Most professional treatments come with a one-year warranty that can be renewed annually. Renewal plans usually include an annual inspection and free retreatment if termites return. There are two broad types:

• Retreatment warranty: the company comes back and retreats at no charge if termites return. It does not pay for damage.
• Repair warranty: covers both retreatment and repair of new termite damage, up to a stated limit. It costs more per year.

Read the fine print: many plans exclude existing damage, drywood termites, or damage caused by moisture problems you were told to fix. If you sell the house, a transferable warranty can be a selling point.

Don’t Forget Damage Repair

Treatment stops termites; it does not fix what they have already eaten. Repair costs are separate and vary far more than treatment costs, from a few hundred dollars to replace a section of trim or a door frame to many thousands when sill plates, floor joists or wall studs have been hollowed out. Ask the inspector to note any structural damage on the report, and have a carpenter or contractor assess anything load-bearing before you close up walls. Fixing the conditions that attracted termites, such as wood touching soil, leaking gutters, mulch piled against siding and damp crawlspaces, is the cheapest way to protect both the repair and the treatment.

DIY Termite Treatment vs Hiring a Pro

Retail termiticides and consumer bait stakes are available, and they can cost a fraction of professional work. They make sense for small, accessible preventive jobs, such as treating soil around a new shed, or borate on exposed lumber. For an active infestation in a house, professional treatment is usually the better value. Professionals have access to products and equipment, such as high-volume injectors and slab drills, that are not sold to homeowners, and they know how much product a given soil type and footing depth needs. Missed gaps in a DIY barrier are a common reason termites keep coming back. For an overview of methods, see how to get rid of termites, and for treating exposed wood yourself, see borate wood treatment.

How to Compare Termite Quotes

1. Confirm the problem first. Learn the signs of termites, such as mud tubes, discarded wings and hollow-sounding wood, so you can discuss findings knowledgeably.
2. Get at least three inspections. Each company should identify the termite species, show you evidence and draw a treatment diagram.
3. Compare like with like. Note the method, product name, linear footage, number of bait stations and whether drilling is included.
4. Compare warranties. Retreatment vs repair coverage, annual renewal price and what is excluded.
5. Check licensing and insurance. Pest control operators must be licensed by the state; ask for the license number. Our guide to choosing a termite company lists more questions to ask.
6. Be wary of pressure. Termites cause damage slowly. You almost always have time to get competing quotes.

For a broader look at protecting your home and yard, see our pest control guide.