Termite Treatment Cost: Liquid Barriers, Bait Systems, and Tenting Priced Out

Liquid barrier termite treatment runs $1,200–$2,500 for a typical house in 2026, priced at roughly $7–$15 per linear foot of foundation. Bait systems run $1,500–$3,000 installed plus $300–$500 a year in monitoring. Whole-house fumigation for drywood termites runs $2,000–$4,000 or more, plus two to three nights out of the home. Prices vary by region, foundation type, and company, and the warranty matters more than the method.

Subterranean and drywood are different wars

Subterranean termites live in soil colonies and enter the structure through the foundation — most of the country fights this species, and the Southeast and Gulf Coast fight it hardest. Drywood termites live inside the wood itself, are common in coastal California, the Southwest, and parts of Florida, and cannot be reached with a soil treatment. A quote that does not name the species is a quote for a guess. Get the species and the evidence — live insects, mud tubes, damaged wood — in writing before approving any treatment.

Treatment methods priced out

The inspection comes before the price

No treatment should be sold without a documented inspection, and a treatment quoted on “signs of possible activity” alone deserves a second bid. What you want from the inspection: species identified, evidence photographed and shown to you, a diagram of where activity was found, and an assessment of conducive conditions — the leaky hose bib, the mulch piled above the siding, the woodpile against the house. Termite inspectors are licensed specifically for this work in most states, and the report is a document you keep.

Warranty types: retreat versus repair

This is the most important sentence in the contract and the least discussed in the sales pitch.

• Retreat warranty. If termites come back, the company re-treats at no charge. The structure’s damage is your problem.
• Repair warranty. The company also pays for new damage caused by termites during the coverage period, usually up to a stated cap. Different animal entirely, and priced accordingly.

Both warranties typically require an annual renewal fee — $200–$400 is common — to stay in force. A lapsed renewal year can void repair coverage, sometimes permanently, and companies do enforce renewal dates. Pay attention to the renewal notice, and get the warranty type and the renewal amount in writing before the crew arrives.

What prevention actually does

• Fix moisture problems: leaking pipes, condensate lines, downspouts discharging against the foundation.
• Keep mulch and soil below the siding line — a two-inch gap is the standard rule.
• Eliminate wood-to-ground contact: no stacked firewood, scrap lumber, or form boards left against the structure.
• Grade soil away from the foundation so water drains off.
• Keep crawlspaces vented and dry, and repair any structural rot, which is the invitation.

What to ask before signing

• What species was identified, and where is the evidence documented?
• Is this a retreat warranty or a repair warranty, and what is the coverage cap?
• What is the annual renewal fee, and what voids the coverage?
• Is the termiticide labeled for this application, and what are the re-entry requirements?
• Are both the company and the applicator licensed with the state? Verify the license number independently.

Termiticide application follows the product label and state licensing rules, and some products carry restrictions on use near wells or water. Wildlife encountered during an inspection — bats in the attic, snakes under a porch — is not the termite company’s job to remove unless they are licensed for it, and protected species require legal handling. For a treatment at this price, a second inspection at $100–$200 is the cheapest line item in the whole project.