How Much Does Termite Fumigation Cost?

Cost Range for a Termite Exterminator

The cost to hire a termite exterminator starts at around $475, but the total cost can be much higher based on the size of the affected area and whether or not you have termite damages to repair. Cost to exterminate termites is often above $1,000 when the bugs have been present and multiplying for a long time. Termite fumigation cost, when tenting and fumigation is required for large-scale termite extermination, cost is $1,600 to $3,100.

Average Cost

The average cost to treat a 1,000 to 1,500 square foot foundation is $673 when using spray, bait and soil treatment. That’s less than $1.00 per linear foot. When the infestation has moved indoors, which is rare, and the house must be tented and fumigated, the cost is around $2 – $3 per square foot.

Overview of Termite Exterminating

Discovery of a termite infestation can begin with the homeowner seeing termites on the exterior of the house or inside the basement or crawlspace. Often, however, homeowners hear that termites or white ants, which are the same thing, have been found in the area, call an exterminator to do an inspection – and bugs are found. Since the USDA estimates annual termite damage to be $10 billion, being as proactive as possible makes sense. Learn more about all pest control costs.

Performing your own termite inspection involves looking for wood damage, the clearest sign of infestation, around the exterior foundation, inside the basement or crawlspace and behind appliances. The inspector looks for termite wings, which fall off when termites mature, droppings and live insects. Termites create mud tubes on the exterior of a home to use as passageways, and the inspector will check for them as an indicator that there’s an infestation.

Once discovered, the size of the colony and the severity of the infestation is determined. Then, a termite extermination plan is developed using one or more common method:

Bait Stations – Stations are placed every 12-15 linear feet around the exterior of a home. Foraging termites find the bait, which studies show is more appealing to them than wood by a factor of 10. The worker termites ingest the poison bait and carry some back to the colony, like what happens with baits used for ant extermination. Eventually this leads to the death of the queen and the end of the colony.

Sentricon is one top-selling, highly effective bait system with cost starting around $1,400 and ranging to $3,000 based on the number of bait stations required plus the plan chosen for checking and filling the stations.

Soil Treatment – With this method, a narrow trench is dug around the home’s foundation. Termiticide powder or granules are liberally spread into the soil in the trench. Popular brands are Tarus, Premise 2, Termidor SC and Altriset.

The current colony of termites is killed with this method, and it can act as a barrier against future infestations for up to 7 years. Expect price estimates of $6-$12 per linear foot for termite soil treatment.

Spray Barrier – The foundation of your home can be sprayed with barrier to kill or repel termites. Cost is $2-$4 per linear foot when the foundation is exposed. Common brand names of termite barrier are Prelude, Bifen, Talstar, Dragnet FT and Bayer.

Adding repellent spray during construction is a cost-effective option. Excavating costs on existing homes are not included but can add $1,500 to $3,000 to the job.

Termite tenting and fumigation – Necessary only in cases of extreme infestation, the cost range is $1,600 to $3,100 for most homes. The entire home is covered in tenting and/or tarps, and the interior is fumigated.

Fumigation usually takes 2-3 days for setup and treatment. Once the tent is removed, your home will need several more days to air out before the level of fumigant in the air drops to safe levels below 1 part per million.

Tenting and heat – This method is slightly less effective than fumigation. And items like plants, photos and other heat-sensitive items must be removed.

The indoor air temperature is raised to 120 degrees to 140 degrees Fahrenheit using heaters for at least 30-40 minutes. The benefit is that you can move back into your home the same day.

Termite Exterminating Cost Factors

How much is termite extermination? Total cost of $475 to $1,280 depends on these issues.

• Size of Your Home’s Foundation – All types of termite treatment are used around the footprint of your home. The larger it is, the more bait, powder or spray is used.
• Intensity of the Infestation – Exterminators call it “termite pressure.” The more termites per square foot of soil, the more treatment is needed to kill them.
• Frequency of Exterminator Visits – When bait stations are used, they have to be checked and resupplied bait every 3-12 months. Each visit costs $100-$200.
• Standard Treatment vs Fumigation – The cost of fumigation is much higher than other options – but it is also rarely necessary.
• Type of Termite – Chemicals used to kill drywood termites cost slightly less than those used to exterminate dampwood termite species.

Along with the cost to get rid of termites, you may have to deal with remediation and repair from the damages caused. This could range from replacing a single piece of wood, to much more extensive damages where floors, walls and other related wood structures have been compromised by the invasive pest. Termite repair costs are not included in the fumigation costs and must be handled separately.

Exterminator and Application Cost Details

Cost of Services

Here are prices for common termite extermination costs for the treatment options.

• $100 – $300 | Inspection Cost – Fee is often waived if you sign a contract with the company for termite eradication.
• $7.00 – $12.00 per Linear Foot Yearly| Bait Station contracts that include positioning the stations, regularly inspecting and filling them.
• $5.50 – $11.00 per Linear Foot One Time | Soil Treatment – powder and granules.
• $1.00 – $2.25 per Square Foot | Whole House Heat Treatment
• $2.00 – $3.00 per Square Foot | Whole House Fumigation

Types of Treatment Cost

Here is the cost of treatment for a 2,000 square foot single-story with a footprint roughly 32 x 64 feet.

Treatment	Cost
Bait Stations	$875 – $1,300
Soil Powder Treatment	$750 – $1,185
Barrier Spray on Foundation	$385 – $715
Fumigation	$3,500 – $6,000
Heat	$2,200 – $4,500

How Much Is Termite Extermination for a Full House?

Interior & Exterior Comparison

House Size	Exterior Treatment	Interior Treatment
1,000 Square Feet	$250 – $850	$1,650 – $3,300
1,500 Square Feet	$325 – $1,100	$1,900 – $3,950
2,000 Square Feet	$385 – $1,300	$2,200 – $4,500
2,400 Square Feet	$450 – $1,750	$2,500 – $4,750
2,700 Square Feet	$595 – $2,100	$2,900 – $5,000
3,000+ Square Feet	$700 – $2,800+	$3,200 – $6,000

Permits, Inspection, and Labor Costs

Permits and/or Inspection Cost

• $0 | Termite control does not require a permit, though the you might want to make sure the company is licensed and insured.

Exterminator Labor Cost

Labor costs are not itemized in most exterminator estimates. In order to cover technician wages, transportation, overhead like insurances, and make a profit, exterminators typically bill for services at $50 – $100 per hour.

Treatment Time

Here’s what you can expect in terms of time:

• 1-3 Hours | Initial Inspection
• 2-3 Hours | Placing the Bait Stations, Spraying Visible Bugs
• Every 3-6 Months | Return Visits to Fill Stations/Replace Bait Stations

A reduction in termites should be noticed in 10-21 days.

Related Projects

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DIY or Hire a Pro

You can try DIY termite extermination, but pro methods generally prove most effective. The main reason is that professional termite exterminators know where and how to find bugs in and around your home.

Additionally, some of the most effective substances used by companies like Sentricon, Ortho and Terminix are proprietary – they aren’t sold to homeowners. They can only be used on your property by hiring a licensed contractor with access to them.

Termite bait stations are the best way to exterminate subterranean termites. Choose a highly rated bait station product, and follow the package directions closely. Typically, stations are spaced 10-20 feet apart and around 3-4 feet out from the home’s foundation.

Keep in mind – It takes a while! Unlike wasp extermination or bat exclusion, you won’t kill termites overnight. Not all of them. Start with a termiticide spray to kill visible bugs.

Then, be patient. It takes several days to a week for termites to find the stations. Then, the slow process begins of carrying the bait back to the colony, feeding it and killing it off.

Plus, there are always more termites where those came from, so you have to be vigilant to keep the next wave of termites away from your home.

Where to start? Do some homework about identifying a termite infestation and your options for termite treatment.