Termite treatment runs $275 to $1,600 for most homes according to 2026 cost data from HomeGuide and Angi, with a national average around $750. The species sets the path: subterranean termites, the soil-dwelling type behind mud tubes, are treated with liquid barriers at $3 to $20 per linear foot or bait systems at $8 to $12 per linear foot. Drywood termites, which live inside the wood itself, get spot treatment when localized or whole-house fumigation at $2,000 to $8,000 when widespread.
Subterranean treatment overall spans $250 to $2,000 and drywood $225 to $2,500 or more before fumigation enters the picture. Two scopes always price separately: treatment kills the colony, and repair of damaged wood is its own project afterward. Homeowners insurance almost never covers either, because insurers classify termite damage as preventable maintenance.
The decision sequence that protects your money: get the species identified with evidence, match the method to the species and extent, and be skeptical of whole-house fumigation pitches without proof of widespread drywood activity. After treatment, an annual inspection plan or bond keeps protection current for a small fraction of what retreatment or structural repair costs.
Measure your home's perimeter before getting quotes. Liquid and bait treatments price per linear foot, so a 180 foot perimeter at the quoted rate should roughly reconcile with the total. A quote that will not break down to footage and method is a quote you cannot compare or negotiate.
Termite treatment cost by method
The species and extent pick the method, and the method sets the budget. Use these ranges to identify which scenario fits before comparing quotes.
| Treatment method | Typical cost | When it applies |
|---|---|---|
| Spot or localized treatment | $275 to $900 | Confirmed, contained activity: localized drywood galleries or limited subterranean entry |
| Liquid soil barrier | $3 to $20 per linear foot | The standard subterranean treatment; complete perimeter barriers typically total $500 to $1,500 |
| Bait station system | $8 to $12 per linear foot | Subterranean colonies where less invasive treatment and ongoing monitoring are preferred |
| Whole-house tenting and fumigation | $1 to $4 per square foot | Widespread drywood infestations; $2,000 to $8,000 for an average home with several days out |
| Preventive treatment | Below active-treatment pricing | High-pressure regions with no current activity; locks in monitoring before damage starts |
| Annual plan or bond | Recurring annual cost | Inspection plus warranty coverage after initial treatment; terms vary widely by company |
Subterranean treatments overall run $250 to $2,000 and drywood $225 to $2,500 or more. Damage repair is always a separate scope from treatment.
Signs of termite activity
Termites work hidden, so the visible signs deserve attention. Species matters: tubes point to subterranean colonies, pellets to drywood.
Flying ants are the common false alarm: termite swarmers have straight antennae, equal-length wings, and thick waists, while ants have elbowed antennae, unequal wings, and pinched waists. A licensed inspection settles both the identification and the extent, and reputable companies put the evidence in a written report.
What drives termite treatment cost
Species, method, footage, extent, and the protection plan afterward set the real cost of solving termites.
Species and what it dictates
Subterranean termites live in soil and attack from below, so treatment targets the ground: liquid barriers and bait stations around the perimeter. Drywood termites live entirely inside wood, so treatment targets the wood itself: localized injection or whole-structure fumigation. The species identification on the inspection report is the single fact that determines which price list you are on.
Perimeter footage and home size
Liquid treatments at $3 to $20 per linear foot and bait systems at $8 to $12 per linear foot scale directly with your foundation perimeter, so a sprawling ranch costs more to barrier than a two-story home with the same floor area. Fumigation prices by volume at $1 to $4 per square foot, which is why large homes land at the top of the $2,000 to $8,000 tenting range.
Extent and timing
Localized activity caught early gets spot treatment in the hundreds. Colonies established through a structure require full barriers or fumigation in the thousands, plus whatever the damage repair costs afterward. Termites do not pause, so the gap between noticing a sign and acting is the most expensive variable you control.
Treatment quality variables
Liquid barriers are only as good as their continuity: slabs, porches, and attached structures require drilling and careful application to avoid gaps termites find. Bait systems depend on station maintenance. Ask what product is used, how obstacles are handled, and what the retreatment terms are if activity returns inside the warranty window.
Ongoing protection economics
Liquid barriers degrade over 5 to 10 years and bait stations stop working without service. Annual inspection plans and bonds cost a small recurring fee, keep the warranty alive, and transfer credibly when you sell, which matters in states where transactions require termite letters. Compare what the plan actually covers: a retreatment-only bond and a repair bond are very different promises.
When termite treatment is usually worth completing
Treatment is cheap insurance against structural repair budgets. Act on evidence, scaled to the evidence.
- Any confirmed active infestation, because colonies only grow and damage compounds.
- A failed inspection during a sale, where clearance has a deadline.
- Mud tubes or frass found early, when spot and barrier pricing still applies.
- Prevention in high-pressure regions, especially after a neighbor treats.
- Lapsed protection on a previously treated home in termite country.
When to pause before signing a termite contract
Termite sales has a scare-tactic problem. These situations warrant a second look.
- Whole-house fumigation is being pitched without species identification or evidence of widespread drywood activity.
- The quote has no method, product name, footage, or written inspection report behind it.
- Same-day signing pressure is doing the work the evidence should do.
- The insects might be ants; the identification was never actually confirmed.
- An annual plan renewal is priced far above market without explaining what it covers.
Estimate your termite treatment cost
Use the calculator as a planning range before requesting quotes. The estimate scales with treatment method, home size, and how widespread the activity is.