Tenting a house for termites typically costs between $1 and $2 per square foot, putting most homeowners in the $1,000 to $8,000 range depending on the size and complexity of the home. For an average-sized house of about 2,000 square feet, expect to pay roughly $2,000 to $3,500 for the fumigation itself, plus several hundred dollars in indirect costs that are easy to overlook.
Cost Breakdown by Home Size
Square footage is the single biggest factor in your final bill. Here’s how costs typically break down:
- Small homes (under 1,500 sq. ft.): $1,000 to $1,500. A 1,300-square-foot home might come in as low as $895.
- Medium homes (1,500 to 2,500 sq. ft.): $2,000 to $3,000. A two-story home around 2,450 square feet may run $2,500 to $3,500.
- Large homes (over 2,500 sq. ft.): $4,000 to $8,000 or more. A 2,600-square-foot two-story home in Northeast Florida was quoted at $8,700 due to structural complexities.
That last example is worth noting. Square footage gives you a ballpark, but the actual price can swing significantly based on factors specific to your property.
What Drives the Price Up
Beyond size, several factors can push your quote well above the per-square-foot average. Infestation severity matters: if termites have spread to multiple areas or colonies are in hard-to-reach spots, the pest control company needs higher concentrations of fumigant and longer treatment times, both of which cost more.
Your home’s architecture plays a role too. Crawl spaces, complex rooflines, attached garages, and multi-story layouts all require more extensive sealing work before the tarp goes on. That extra labor and material adds up. The type of fumigant used and whether you opt for a structural warranty (which covers re-treatment if termites return) also affect the final number.
Geography influences pricing as well. Homes in high-termite regions like Florida, Southern California, and the Gulf Coast tend to have more competitive pricing because of the volume of work, but severe infestations in those areas are also more common and can be more expensive to treat.
Hidden Costs You Should Budget For
The fumigation quote covers the tent and the treatment. It doesn’t cover everything else you’ll need to spend money on during the process, and those extras can easily add $300 to $800 to your total.
You’ll need to leave your home for 36 to 48 hours while the gas does its work and the house is cleared for re-entry. That means hotel stays for your family, boarding for pets, and eating out for every meal. You also can’t leave most food, pet food, or medications inside the structure, so plan to remove or properly bag those items beforehand. Avoid stocking up on groceries in the weeks leading up to treatment.
Your gas company will need to shut off and lock natural gas service at the meter before tenting begins, then come back to turn it on and relight pilot lights afterward. Some utility companies charge a fee for this. And if security is a concern (your home will be unoccupied and covered in a visible tarp for days), some homeowners hire private security, which is an additional expense.
What Happens During Fumigation
The pest control crew covers your entire home in large tarps, seals them at the base, and introduces a gas called sulfuryl fluoride. This is the standard fumigant for drywood termites, Formosan termites, and wood-boring beetles. Before releasing the main gas, technicians add a small amount of a warning agent with a strong odor so anyone nearby knows the area is being treated.
The home stays sealed for roughly 24 to 72 hours. Once the tarps come off, the gas dissipates quickly, typically dropping to very low levels within 24 hours. Before you’re allowed back inside, the EPA requires that gas levels measure below 1 part per million. Your pest control company will handle this clearance testing.
The full process, from setup to re-entry, usually takes about three days.
Heat Treatment as an Alternative
If the cost, inconvenience, or chemical exposure of fumigation concerns you, whole-structure heat treatment is the main alternative. The California Department of Consumer Affairs recognizes fumigation and heat treatment as the only two methods effective for whole-house termite eradication.
During heat treatment, technicians seal the home from the eaves down (not over the roof) and pump in dry heat until the wood core reaches 130 degrees Fahrenheit, holding that temperature for at least 1.5 hours. The entire process can be completed in about eight hours, compared to three days for chemical fumigation. That alone saves you the cost of hotel stays and pet boarding.
Heat treatment has a few other advantages. It kills termite eggs and wood-boring beetles, which chemical fumigation does not. It’s completely chemical-free. And because no one walks on your roof dragging heavy tarps, there’s no risk of damage to roofing materials, satellite dishes, or antennas. With chemical fumigation, you’ll typically sign a liability release for potential roof and plant damage.
Heat treatment pricing is generally comparable to fumigation, though it can run slightly higher in some markets. The savings on indirect costs (lodging, food, time off work) often close that gap.
Insurance Won’t Cover It
Most homeowners insurance policies do not cover termite damage or the cost of treatment. Insurers consider termite prevention a routine maintenance responsibility, similar to fixing a leaky faucet. The logic is that termite damage happens gradually over time rather than from a sudden event like a storm.
There’s one narrow exception: if termites chew through your home’s wiring and cause a fire, the fire damage itself may be covered, since fire is a standard covered peril. But the termite damage that caused it, and any treatment costs, still fall on you.
This makes the warranty option offered by many pest control companies worth considering. A structural warranty typically covers re-treatment at no additional cost if termites return within a set period, usually one to three years. It adds to the upfront bill but provides a safety net against the most frustrating scenario: paying thousands of dollars only to find the problem wasn’t fully resolved.
How to Prepare Your Home
Your pest control company will give you a detailed checklist, but the major tasks are consistent across providers. Remove or double-bag all food, medications, pet food, and animal feed. Extinguish all pilot lights on gas appliances. Schedule your gas company to shut off service at the meter before treatment day and turn it back on afterward. Arrange lodging for your family and boarding for pets.
Outside, you may need to trim trees and bushes that are close to the house so the tarp can be draped and sealed properly. Clear items away from the home’s perimeter. Water any plants near the foundation well before treatment, as the tarp and chemicals can stress landscaping. Remove or protect outdoor plants that are directly against the structure.
Plan to skip grocery shopping in the week or two before treatment. The less food you have to remove or bag, the easier preparation will be.