DIY products are cheap up front, but the EPA and university extension entomologists both advise leaving an active infestation to a licensed professional. Here is what they say, and where doing it yourself does help.
| Approach | Upfront Cost |
|---|---|
| DIY (active infestation) | $100-$300 |
| Professional treatment | $500-$3,000 |
| DIY failed, then professional | $600-$3,300 |
The last row is simply the two up-front bands added together; it leaves out any wood damage that accumulates while a DIY attempt is failing, which no published source puts a number on.
We looked for a published success rate for do-it-yourself termite treatment against an active infestation, from a university extension service, the EPA or the National Pest Management Association, and found none. So this page does not put a percentage on DIY or professional success, and it does not compute an "expected cost" from one. What the primary sources do say is consistent:
“In most cases, termiticide application can only be properly performed by a trained pest management professional.” Improperly applied treatments “can cause contamination of the home and surrounding drinking water wells and will not protect against termites.”US EPA, Termites: How to Identify and Control Them, checked 13 October 2026
On retail bait stakes: whether a home is protected is “an assumption not yet proven by published research data, especially when the bait is installed and maintained by homeowners rather than professionals.” The fact sheet concludes: “we believe that baiting is a job best left to professionals.”Michael F. Potter, University of Kentucky Entomology, Do-It-Yourself Termite Baits: Do They Work? (ENTFACT-642), checked 13 October 2026
The practical reading: a failed DIY attempt costs the product price plus the professional treatment you end up buying anyway, and the colony keeps feeding in the meantime. For a confirmed active infestation, get written quotes from licensed operators first and keep DIY for the jobs below.
| Product | Cost |
|---|---|
| Spectracide Terminate Bait Stakes | $30-$50 |
| Advance Termite Bait System | $150-$300 |
| Bora-Care (borate concentrate) | $80-$130 |
| Termidor Foam | $20-$40 |
| Liquid concentrate (generic) | $40-$100 |
A mature subterranean termite colony consumes approximately 2.3 pounds of wood per day. That is about 16 pounds per week. Over a 6-month failed DIY attempt, a colony can consume over 400 pounds of structural wood.
1 Month Delay
$500-$2,000
Additional damage cost
3 Month Delay
$1,500-$5,000
Additional damage cost
6 Month Delay
$3,000-$15,000
Additional damage cost
Every month of failed DIY treatment is a month of unchecked colony growth and structural consumption. The money saved on DIY products is wiped out many times over by the additional damage.
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