Termite Fumigation Cost
Last updated: October 30, 2026 · Prices checked October 30, 2026
Termite fumigation cost — the full tent-over-the-house treatment — runs $2,000–$5,000 for most homes, averaging about $3,000, with the full range spanning $1,500–$8,000. It's the most expensive termite job and the most complete: when drywood termites are distributed through a home's framing, fumigation is the one treatment that reaches all of them at once.
Tent fumigation: $2,000–$5,000 typical (avg ~$3,000), priced at $1–$4 per sq ft. Budget extra for 2–3 nights away and prep work.
National range, researched from published sources. Prices checked October 30, 2026.
Fumigation cost by home size
| Basis | Cost |
|---|---|
| Per square foot (tent fumigation) | $1–$4 / sq ft |
| Per square foot (heat treatment alternative) | $1–$3 / sq ft |
| Per linear foot (some companies quote this way) | $5–$20 / linear ft |
| 2,000 sq ft home | $2,000–$8,000 |
| 3,000+ sq ft home | $3,000 – $12,000+ |
| Typical whole-home total | $2,000–$5,000 |
Checking a per-square-foot quote against your floor plan? Our fumigation cost per square foot guide walks the math, and the treatment estimator includes a fumigation mode.
The costs around the fumigation itself
- Lodging: you, your family and pets are out for typically 2–3 nights. That's a real line item — price it before signing.
- Prep labor: food and medicine double-bagging, plants moved away from the structure, and (in some cases) roof tiles or antennas temporarily handled by the fumigator's crew.
- No residual protection: fumigant gas leaves nothing behind. The day the tent comes off, the home can be re-infested — which is why fumigation is often paired with preventive treatment or a termite bond.
- Follow-up inspection: confirm what's included; a post-treatment inspection verifies the job and starts any warranty clock.
When fumigation is — and isn't — the right spend
Fumigation earns its price when drywood termites are in multiple, inaccessible places — wall voids, attic framing, furniture-grade wood throughout. If the infestation is one door frame or a single piece of furniture's neighborhood, a spot treatment at $250–$1,200 or heat treatment does the job for a fraction. And for subterranean termites — the soil-nesting majority — fumigation is the wrong tool entirely; the colony lives underground, so the answer is a barrier or bait: see termite treatment cost. Florida homeowners face the drywood question most often: termite treatment cost in Florida covers the state's tenting market.
Frequently asked questions
How much does it cost to tent a house for termites?+
$2,000–$5,000 for most homes, averaging about $3,000 (Angi). Small or simple structures can start near $1,500; large or complex homes reach $8,000 and beyond.
How is fumigation priced — per square foot or per job?+
Both appear in quotes: $1–$4 per sq ft is the common Angi-quoted basis, and some companies quote $5–$20 per linear foot. Underneath, fumigators actually price the volume of gas needed — which is why two same-footprint homes with different ceiling heights get different quotes.
How long do we have to stay out of the house?+
Plan on 2–3 nights: the tent and gas exposure period, then aeration until the fumigator certifies the home safe to re-enter. Only the licensed fumigator can clear re-entry — never re-enter on your own schedule.
Does fumigation prevent future termites?+
No. Fumigant leaves no residue, so it kills what's there and nothing more. Pair it with preventive soil treatment, bait stations or a bond if your area has ongoing pressure.