Termite Inspection Cost (2026)

A basic visual termite inspection runs $75 to $300 in 2026. A real estate Wood Destroying Insect Report (WDIR or WDO) for a home sale runs $200 to $500. A full forensic inspection using borescope, moisture meter, and thermal imaging (typically commissioned for litigation or pre-sale clearance on high-value homes) runs $500 to $1,500. Many pest control operators offer free visual inspections as a lead-generation tool, but the inspector arriving for the free visit is typically incentivized to find conditions that justify a treatment quote.

Both. A free inspection from a licensed operator is a real inspection (the inspector is genuinely qualified to identify activity), but it is also a customer-acquisition channel for the operator. The operator's bet is that finding activity will lead to a treatment contract worth $1,500 to $3,000. For a homeowner doing routine due diligence, a free inspection is a reasonable starting point. For a real estate transaction or any inspection where the report itself carries legal weight, pay for an independent inspection from an operator who does not perform treatment, or commission the WDIR from a separate third-party inspector.

An annual inspection at $75 to $150 is the standard for homeowners in moderate-to-high pressure southern states. The inspection is often included in a termite bond contract as part of the annual renewal fee. Standalone annual inspections without a bond run at the lower end of the range. The annual inspection is the single most cost-effective termite-related investment a homeowner can make: it catches activity before it causes structural damage, which is where the real money is lost.

A WDIR (Wood Destroying Insect Report) or WDO (Wood Destroying Organism) inspection is a regulated inspection that produces a standardized form documenting termite and other wood-destroying organism findings. The standard national form is NPMA-33, published by the National Pest Management Association and accepted by VA loans and most FHA lenders. The inspection itself runs $75 to $200, with the form completion adding $50 to $100. State-specific forms (Florida Form 13645, California WDPO, Georgia Form 100-B) often run higher because the underlying inspection is more comprehensive.

No. Standard HO-3 and HO-5 homeowner policies do not cover termite inspections, treatment, or damage. Termites are categorized as a maintenance issue rather than a covered peril. The realistic consumer-side financial protection is a termite bond, which is an annual contract from a pest control operator that typically includes one annual inspection plus retreatment coverage if activity returns. Premium bonds also include repair coverage up to a stated cap.

A basic visual inspection of a typical 2,000 sq ft home takes 30 to 60 minutes. A WDIR inspection with form completion takes 45 to 90 minutes. A full forensic inspection with borescope and thermal imaging on a comparable home takes 2 to 4 hours. The inspector covers the exterior perimeter, accessible interior areas, attic, crawlspace or basement if present, and any outbuildings within 25 feet of the main structure that are on the same lot.

The inspector looks for active termite evidence (mud tubes, live insects, frass pellets, discarded swarmer wings), past activity evidence (treated or abandoned tubes, damaged wood, prior treatment drill marks), and conducive conditions (wood-to-soil contact, moisture intrusion, missing sub-area ventilation, mulch against siding, firewood stacked against the structure). The inspector probes suspect wood with a sounding tool or screwdriver to check for hollow areas, and a more thorough inspection includes moisture meter readings on at-risk wood members.

Yes, particularly in moderate-to-high pressure regions. A pre-listing inspection that finds and resolves activity before the buyer's inspection avoids closing-timeline pressure and protects the seller's negotiating position. The cost is $75 to $300 for the inspection plus any treatment needed. The downside of skipping is that the buyer's inspection finds the same activity under closing pressure, and the seller pays the treatment cost plus a markup (typically 110 to 130 percent of treatment cost) in a buyer credit. The pre-listing inspection is almost always cheaper.