If you’ve found mud tubes on the foundation or a pile of shed wings by a window, here’s the short answer: termite treatment cost runs $225–$2,500 per treatment in the US in 2026, according to HomeGuide, and $500–$3,000+ CAD for a full treatment in Ontario, where most of Canada’s termites live. A liquid soil barrier is $500–$2,000, a bait system is $1,000–$2,500 installed, and tenting a whole house is $2,000–$8,000. Bob Vila puts the national average professional job at $598.
The species moves the price as much as the method. Native subterranean termites, found in every state, treat for $250–$2,000. Formosan “super termites” along the Gulf Coast, with colonies of up to 7 million, usually need bait, liquid and sometimes fumigation together at $800–$5,000 or more.
Key takeaways
- A chemical or bait termite treatment costs $225–$2,500 in the US (HomeGuide, 2026); the national average professional job is about $598.
- Whole-home tent fumigation runs $2,000–$8,000, or $1–$4 per square foot; heat treatment is $2,000–$6,000 for a 2,000 sq ft home.
- Formosan termites cost more: $800–$5,000+ per job, and they do an estimated $500 million of damage a year in Louisiana alone.
- Canada is an Ontario problem: $500–$3,000+ CAD for a full treatment, $500–$1,200 CAD a year for a bait program.
- Inspections are often free ($0–$250), and a protection contract renews at $150–$500 a year in the US.
Termite Treatment Cost by Method
Pros quote by the job, but the estimate is built per linear foot of foundation for soil treatments and per square foot for tenting, so a sprawling ranch can cost more to protect than a two-story of the same size.
| Service | US (USD) | Canada (CAD) |
|---|---|---|
| Termite inspection | $0–$250 (often free) | $75–$250 (often waived with treatment) |
| Liquid soil barrier | $500–$2,000 ($3–$20 per linear ft) | $500–$3,000+ full treatment (Ontario) |
| Bait system, installed | $1,000–$2,500 + $200–$400/yr monitoring | $500–$1,200 per year (program) |
| Chemical or bait treatment, per visit | $225–$2,500 | $185–$1,530 |
| Heat treatment (drywood) | $2,000–$6,000 | rarely offered |
| Tent fumigation, whole home | $2,000–$8,000 ($1–$4 per sq ft) | rarely offered |
| Formosan termites (combined methods) | $800–$5,000+ | not present in Canada |
| Protection contract, annual renewal | $150–$500 (after $500–$2,500 initial) | $500–$1,200 |
Liquid soil barriers
The standard fix for subterranean termites: termiticide injected into the soil along the foundation, so foragers can’t reach the house without crossing it. HomeGuide prices it at $3–$20 per linear foot, or $500–$2,000 for most homes. In Baton Rouge, Pest Extinct’s local data puts the average subterranean treatment near $283 and the per-foot rate around $7.
Bait systems
Stations go into the ground around the perimeter; termites carry slow-acting bait back to the colony. Installation is $7–$12 per linear foot, or $1,000–$2,500, plus $200–$400 a year for monitoring. Baits cost more up front than a barrier but work on the colony itself, which is why Formosan jobs usually combine both.
Tenting, fumigation and heat
Drywood termites live inside the wood, not the soil, so a bad infestation means treating the whole structure. Gas fumigation under a tent is $1–$4 per square foot ($2,000–$8,000); a thermal heat treatment is $1–$3 per square foot, about $2,000–$6,000 for a 2,000 sq ft house. Drywood jobs overall run $225–$2,500+ depending on whether a spot treatment is enough.
What Changes the Price
- Species. Subterranean $250–$2,000; drywood $225–$2,500+; Formosan $800–$5,000+. The LSU AgCenter estimates Formosan termites cause $1 billion of damage a year in the US, half of it in Louisiana, with swarms peaking in May and June.
- Foundation and access. Slabs are easiest. Basements, crawl spaces, decks, patios and driveways all mean more drilling and more product.
- Home size. Tenting and heat are priced per square foot; soil treatments follow the perimeter.
- Region. HomeStars notes the same job costs $200–$300 CAD more in Toronto or Vancouver than in a mid-sized Canadian market.
- Contract vs one-time. A protection contract is $500–$2,500 initially and $150–$500 a year to renew; Terminix’s annual plans run $400–$1,500 and Orkin’s $500–$1,600, per HomeGuide’s inspection guide. Baton Rouge homeowners average about $45 a month: roughly $203 a year for a 1,250 sq ft house, $361 for 2,000 sq ft.
Termite Costs in Canada
Termites in Canada are a southern Ontario story. A CBC report counted more than 30 localized subterranean-termite areas in the region, with Toronto’s lakeshore, Guelph and Kitchener-Waterloo the best known. Guelph is still fighting them: the City of Guelph found about 25 infested properties near Regent and Grove streets in 2025 and is running a city-managed treatment program through 2026.
HomeStars’ 2026 exterminator guide puts termite control at $185–$1,530 CAD per job, bait programs at $500–$1,200 a year and inspections at $75–$250, often waived when you book treatment. Ontario Pest Quotes’ May 2026 guide ranges a full treatment at $500–$3,000+, and Richmond Hill’s Diamo Pest Control lists $225–$4,000 across the GTA. For everything that isn’t a termite, our Canadian pest control cost guide has the numbers.
DIY or Pro?
HomeStars is blunt: termites, bed bugs and carpenter ants need products homeowners can’t buy. A missed colony keeps eating, and HomeGuide puts major structural repairs at $10,000 or more. DIY is for prevention: fix leaking outdoor taps, keep wood mulch off the foundation and turn off outdoor lights during swarm season, all LSU AgCenter advice. Everything else is a pro job worth booking this week, not next season; our post on what delayed repairs really cost explains why.
How to Hire a Termite Pro
- Check the termite license, not just the pest license. Louisiana issues a separate Termite Control license through the Department of Agriculture and Forestry, which has a public lookup of licensed companies.
- Get the price per linear foot or per square foot and the total, with the method named: barrier, bait, tent or heat.
- Read the renewal terms. Does it include re-treatment if termites return, and does it cover damage repair, up to what amount?
- Ask for the inspection report in writing. A report you can hand to a second bidder is what makes quotes comparable.
- Verify identity before payment. Pros on Masters’ Guild pass a government-ID and live-selfie check, and payment is held until the job is done. Find a pest-control pro near you, or post the job for pros in Baton Rouge, Toronto and 160+ other cities.
For ant, roach and rodent pricing, see our US pest control cost guide.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much does a termite inspection cost?
$0–$250 in the US, with a $130 average per LawnStarter, and many companies inspect free when a home sale isn’t involved. Real-estate inspections with a written report run $100–$325. In Canada, expect $75–$250 CAD, often waived if you book treatment.
Is a termite bond worth it?
Usually, in high-pressure areas. A US protection contract costs $500–$2,500 up front and $150–$500 a year to renew, and covers annual inspections and re-treatment. Check whether damage repair is included, and up to what cap, before you compare renewals.
How much does it cost to treat Formosan termites?
$800–$5,000 or more, because Formosan colonies nest above ground as well as in soil and usually need bait, liquid and sometimes fumigation together. In Baton Rouge, ongoing termite plans average about $45 a month.
Are there termites in Canada?
Yes, but almost entirely in southern Ontario: Toronto’s lakeshore neighbourhoods, Guelph and Kitchener-Waterloo. A full treatment there runs $500–$3,000+ CAD, and Guelph runs a city-managed program in its active zone.
Ready to know what the mud tubes will cost before anyone drills? Post your termite job as a quest with your budget and get offers from verified local pest pros. Posting is free, and payment is only released when the work is done. Get quotes on MastersGuild.
