The short version
Professional termite treatment in the US takes one of three forms: a liquid termiticide applied to the soil by trenching and drilling, a bait station system serviced over years, or fumigation and spot treatment for drywood termites. Liquid soil treatments are labeled to control termites for at least five years, per University of Kentucky Entomology, and the right choice depends on species, foundation, and region.
- Termites cause $5 billion in U.S. property damage annually; homeowners insurance rarely covers it.
- Spring swarm season (March–May) is peak alert time; Gulf Coast faces year-round risk from Formosan termites.
- Two main treatment types: liquid soil treatments (barrier) and bait stations (colony elimination).
- Professional treatment costs $1,200–$3,000 for liquid/bait; fumigation for drywood termites is $1,500–$8,000.
- Prevention includes reducing moisture, removing wood-to-ground contact, and annual inspections.
This guide is for homeowners, real estate agents, property managers, and landlords who need a clear, factual understanding of termite treatment. Whether you're dealing with an active infestation, buying or selling a home that requires a termite inspection, or looking to prevent future damage, this guide covers the key options, costs, and best practices.
What to look for
A colony lives entirely inside a rafter or window frame, so the wood itself must be treated or the building gassed. Dampwood termites in Oregon and Washington need saturated wood, and drying it out is most of the cure. Colony scale shapes the plan too. Texas A&M AgriLife notes a mature native colony can reach 250,000 workers, and Formosan colonies run larger. Only a treatment that reaches the whole colony lasts. Treatment has to match the way the termite reached the wood, and that varies by species and region. Subterranean termites, which UF/IFAS says account for about 80% of termite economic impact, live in soil colonies and travel through mud tubes and hairline gaps in slabs. Killing workers in the wall does nothing if the colony keeps sending more, so subterranean treatment targets the soil path. Drywood termites, common in Florida, coastal California, and the desert Southwest, never touch soil.
- 1Mud tubes (pencil-sized) on foundation walls, floor joists, or crawlspace piers.
- 2Hollow-sounding wood when tapped; blistering or dark spots on wood surfaces.
- 3Discarded wings near windows, doors, or light fixtures (swarmers).
- 4Small piles of sawdust-like frass (termite droppings) near wood.
- 5Buckling floors, sagging ceilings, or doors that stick (advanced damage).
- 6Visible swarms of winged termites indoors during spring (especially after rain).
Why it’s worth acting soon
- Continued structural damage: termites can weaken load-bearing beams within months.
- Higher repair costs: early treatment may cost $1,200–$2,500; delayed repairs can exceed $10,000.
- Insurance denial: most policies exclude termite damage, so you pay out of pocket.
- Spread to adjacent structures: untreated colonies can move to neighboring homes or sheds.
- Reduced property value: a history of untreated termite issues can affect resale.
costs U.S. homeowners billions of dollars a yearTermite damageUSDA Treatment options and typical costs
Liquid Soil Treatment (Termiticide Barrier)
$1,200–$3,000
A trench is dug around the foundation, and a liquid termiticide (e.g., fipronil or imidacloprid) is applied to the soil. This creates a continuous barrier that kills termites on contact or repels them. Modern non-repellent termiticides allow termites to pass through and die later, effectively eliminating colonies.
- Time
- Treatment takes 4–8 hours; barrier lasts 5–10 years with proper application.
- Best for
- Homes with active subterranean termite infestations; concrete slab or basement foundations.
Bait Station System
$1,500–$3,500 (initial setup plus annual monitoring fees)
Stations containing wood or cellulose bait are placed in the soil around the property. Termites feed on the bait and share it with the colony, which slowly eliminates the colony. Bait systems require regular monitoring (every 1–3 months).
- Time
- Initial setup 2–4 hours; colony elimination can take 3–18 months.
- Best for
- Prevention in high-risk areas; homes where drilling into concrete is undesirable; sensitive environments (e.g., near wells).
Wood Treatment (Borates)
$500–$1,500
A borate-based solution (e.g., Bora-Care) is sprayed or injected onto exposed wood. It penetrates the wood and kills termites that ingest it. This is often used during construction or for accessible crawlspaces.
- Time
- Application 2–4 hours; protection lasts as long as the wood remains dry (borates are water-soluble).
- Best for
- New construction; exposed wood in crawlspaces or attics; preventative treatment.
Fumigation (Tenting)
$1,500–$8,000 depending on house size
The entire structure is sealed with tarps and filled with a gas (sulfuryl fluoride or Vikane) that penetrates all wood. It kills drywood termites and other wood-infesting pests. The structure must be vacated for 2–3 days.
- Time
- Tenting 24–72 hours; no residual protection.
- Best for
- Severe drywood termite infestations; homes with inaccessible wood (e.g., in walls).
Prices are typical published ranges. Ask what’s included before you compare quotes.
Check under the kitchen sink for dampness and soft cabinet wood. Plumbing walls are a common path for termites coming up from a slab.What happens on treatment day for a liquid barrier?
Keep the diagram with your house records for the next re-treatment or sale. Ask whether the company will return within 30 to 90 days to confirm tubes are dry, since that visit is when a missed slab shows up. University of Kentucky Entomology points out the label requires at least five years of control when done as directed, and the diagram is your proof. Before they go, ask for the completed diagram marking what was treated and how much product was used. In slab-heavy markets like Texas, Oklahoma, and Arizona, drilling can take longer than trenching. Every concrete surface touching the house, including the garage floor, stoop, patio, and abutting sidewalk, gets holes drilled on close centers and product injected beneath, then patched. Slabs are the drilling part. The crew trenches a six-inch channel along the exterior foundation down to the top of the footing, applying a label-specified volume per ten linear feet before backfilling. A liquid treatment day starts with the diagram from your inspection and a rig full of termiticide.
How does a bait station program work over time?
Ask whether stations stay in place after cancellation, since empty stations left behind can confuse a future inspector. Compare the annual service fee, not just the install price, and ask whether the stations stay if you cancel. That last clause is the whole point. UF/IFAS puts bait protection at four to seven or more years, continuing indefinitely as long as the system is maintained. The technician returns on a schedule, usually quarterly in humid Southeast states and less often in the Midwest, to check consumption, replace bait, and add stations. The colony collapses as foragers share the bait, which can take months because the product has to spread through a population Texas A&M AgriLife says can reach 250,000 workers. On the first visit, a technician augers stations into the soil around the perimeter, typically every ten to fifteen feet, with extras near mud tubes, downspouts, and other wet spots. A bait program is a service relationship rather than a single event.
Subterranean termites don't stop in winter; they just go deeper. A quiet season is a good time for a non-urgent inspection.Why do Florida and California homes get tented while Ohio homes get trenched?
Before signing for a tent, ask the inspector to show you each active area, because a single drywood colony in a window frame does not justify a whole-house fumigation. The tradeoff is confidence: spot work only holds when the inspector found every colony, and drywood termites hide well in attics and eaves. If a drywood colony is isolated, spot treatment or heat avoids the tent. California's Structural Pest Control Board and the Florida Department of Agriculture license the applicators. Everything living must be out, food sealed, plants pulled back. A fumigation starts with tarps sealed over the building, the gas released and held at a measured concentration for a day or more, then aeration and clearance testing before re-entry. Drywood termites do, and they concentrate in Florida, coastal California, Hawaii, and the desert Southwest. Fumigation kills termites in the wood but leaves the soil alone, so it only makes sense for termites that live entirely in wood. The answer is species.
When should treatment happen in your region's calendar?
In humid states, treat as soon as activity is confirmed rather than waiting for a season, because there is no slow period for the workers. Frozen ground in Minnesota or Colorado can push a liquid job to spring, and bait installs wait for the same thaw. In the Midwest and Northeast, a spring swarm gives you weeks before feeding ramps up. In humid states with year-round feeding, treat as soon as activity is confirmed because there is no slow season. Pacific dampwood termites swarm in late summer or fall in Oregon and Washington. Desert subterranean termites in Arizona and Nevada wait for late-summer monsoon evenings, often after the first big August storm, which is why Phoenix and Las Vegas companies book heaviest in September. South Texas homeowners see swarmers as early as January. Treatment can happen whenever the soil is workable, but the calendar for finding termites runs on swarm season, and that runs six months apart depending on your zone.
What should a treatment quote include so you can compare two?
A quote that arrives without the product name and the linear footage is a quote you cannot compare, so send it back and ask for both. University of Missouri Extension estimates about $4.5 billion a year in subterranean control and repair costs, and the repair share is the risk the terms are meant to cover. One company may offer a re-treatment agreement and another add damage repair, and those are different products at different prices. Then compare terms. The EPA's guidance on selecting a pest control service also suggests confirming the applicator's license. For a bait program, look for the number of stations, inspection frequency, annual service fee, and what happens to the stations if you cancel. For a liquid treatment, the quote should name the product, state the linear feet to be trenched, list each slab to be drilled, and give the total termiticide volume. Two termite quotes are only comparable when both spell out the same things, and many do not.
What affects the price
- Size of the house (square footage and perimeter length).
- Type of termite (subterranean vs. drywood).
- Severity of infestation and extent of damage.
- Foundation type (slab, crawlspace, basement).
- Accessibility (crawlspace height, landscaping obstacles).
- Geographic region (Gulf Coast and Southeast tend to be higher due to year-round pressure).
- Treatment method chosen (liquid vs. bait vs. fumigation).
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What is your biggest concern about termites?
When to call for help
If your only evidence is swarmers outdoors, you have time to get two inspections. sooner in a warm, humid region where colonies feed year-round, when the house is under contract in a report state, or when you found Formosan swarmers, which point to an unusually large colony. The products are applied per EPA-registered labels that assume trenching rigs, slab drills, and calibrated injection equipment. Treatment is a professional job the moment you have confirmed activity in the structure: tubes on the foundation, swarmers indoors, or galleries in wood.
What you can do yourself
UF/IFAS puts bait protection at four to seven or more years only while maintained, which is a service relationship, not a weekend project. Retail bait stakes lack the visits that make commercial programs work, and there is no consumer fumigation. A liquid barrier fails at its weakest point, so a homeowner who trenches three sides and skips the garage slab has spent money on nothing. The treatment itself does not scale down. Homeowners can pull soil and mulch away from siding, fix grading, replace wood-to-ground contact, and dry out a crawlspace, and those steps lower pressure for subterranean and dampwood termites alike. Do the prevention yourself and leave the treatment to a licensed applicator.
Where you live matters
Swarming occurs in March–May, but activity slows in winter. Moisture control is especially important in older homes with basements and crawlspaces. In the arid Southwest and West Coast, drywood termites are more common. These termites live inside wood and do not require soil contact. Treatment often involves fumigation (tenting) or localized injection of termiticides. Homeowners in these areas should inspect attic framing, window sills, and wood siding regularly. Termite pressure varies significantly across the United States. In the Southeast and Gulf Coast, the Formosan subterranean termite is especially destructive. This species is more aggressive than native subterranean termites and can establish aerial colonies without soil contact. Homeowners in these regions often require both liquid barriers and bait systems for adequate protection. In the Northeast and Midwest, the eastern subterranean termite is the primary threat.
Simple ways to keep termites away
- Eliminate moisture: fix leaky faucets, ensure gutters drain away from foundation, and ventilate crawlspaces.
- Remove wood-to-ground contact: keep firewood, lumber, and debris at least 18 inches off the ground.
- Seal cracks in foundation and around utility penetrations (pipes, wires).
- Replace mulch near foundation with stone or rubber; wood mulch attracts termites.
- Use termite-resistant building materials (e.g., pressure-treated wood, concrete, steel).
- Schedule annual professional inspections; early detection is key.
- Reduce cellulose debris: remove stumps, dead trees, and cardboard boxes from around the property.
Keep the inspection diagram, treatment record and warranty together. Buyers and inspectors will ask for them later.Did you know?
A termite colony can last for decades and hold millions of termites, with a queen that can live 25 years or more.
Without the protozoa and bacteria living in their gut, termites couldn't get any nutrition from wood.
The Formosan termite is nicknamed the super termite for its huge colonies and appetite.
Questions people ask
How long does termite treatment last?
Liquid soil treatments typically last 5–10 years. Bait systems require ongoing monitoring and bait replacement (every 1–3 months). Wood treatments (borates) last indefinitely as long as the wood stays dry. Fumigation provides no residual protection—termites can reinfest after the gas dissipates.
Does homeowners insurance cover termite damage?
Almost never. Termite damage is considered a preventable maintenance issue, so most standard homeowners policies exclude it. You would need a separate termite protection plan or endorsement, which is rare.
Can I treat termites myself?
DIY treatments are generally ineffective for eliminating entire colonies. Over-the-counter sprays kill only exposed termites, and foams may not penetrate deep enough. For subterranean termites, professional application of termiticides is required to create a complete barrier and reach the colony.
How much does a termite inspection cost?
A professional termite inspection typically costs $50–$150. Many pest control companies, including termite control, offer no-charge inspection as part of their service. For real estate transactions, a WDO report may cost $75–$200.
What are the signs of termites vs. ants?
Termite swarmers have four equal-sized wings, straight antennae, and a thick waist. Ant swarmers have bent antennae, pinched waists, and wings of unequal length. Mud tubes and frass (sawdust-like droppings) are unique to termites.
Do bait stations attract termites to my home?
No. Bait stations are placed in the ground around the perimeter to intercept termites before they reach the structure. They do not attract termites from afar; they only affect foraging termites already in the area. Properly maintained bait systems actually reduce the termite population near your home.
How long does it take to get rid of termites?
Liquid barriers kill termites within days to weeks, and the colony can collapse in 1–3 months. Bait systems take longer—typically 3–18 months—because the poison must be spread through the colony. Fumigation kills all termites in the structure immediately but offers no ongoing protection.
Is termite treatment safe for my family and pets?
Modern termiticides are used in very low concentrations and are safe when applied according to label directions. Liquid treatments are injected into the soil and do not enter the living space. Bait stations are enclosed and inaccessible to children and pets. Fumigation requires vacating the home for 2–3 days until the gas dissipates. Always ensure the applicator is licensed and follows EPA guidelines.
In Termite Treatment, can a pest control company do a termite inspection for a home sale?
In Termite Treatment, termites are best caught early through inspection, because the damage is hidden inside wood until it is far along. In Termite Treatment, a professional inspection looks for mud tubes, damaged wood, and swarming activity, and treatment targets the soil and the colony rather than just the visible wood.
Sources (17)
The facts in this article come from the public sources listed above. Every home is different, so ask the company you talk to about pricing and what’s included. Published by Termite Exterminator · Updated September 11, 2026 · How we write these guides