What drives the price
You are paying a licensed fumigation crew to seal the entire structure, meter in a regulated gas, hold it at concentration, then clear the house to safe levels. The size of the home sets the gas volume, and the logistics - bagging food, boarding pets, killing pilot lights, a gas company visit - are part of the production.
- Cubic footage of the structure
- Drywood vs subterranean - tenting only treats drywood
- Attached structures and cages that must be sealed or excluded
- Warranty length and whether annual renewal is included
- Repair of termite damage, always priced separately
Should you DIY this or call a professional?
Licensed pro only - fumigation gas is lethal and the licence is not optional. Your job is the diagnosis step before signing: drywood termites (pellet piles, swarmers indoors) justify a tent; subterranean termites (mud tubes up the foundation - the most common in Florida) need trenching and soil treatment or bait stations instead, at similar or lower cost. Companies that only sell one method tend to diagnose the method they sell.
Signs you need this repair
- Piles of tiny hard pellets under wood - drywood frass
- Discarded wings on sills after a warm evening
- Mud tubes climbing the foundation - subterranean, not a tent job
- Hollow-sounding or blistered wood
- A neighbour's house tented recently - swarms travel
How to not get overcharged
Get two inspections, and make each name the species in writing - the treatment follows the species, not the sales pitch. Compare warranty terms as hard as price: a $200 cheaper tent with no retreatment warranty is the worse deal. Ask what the annual renewal costs and whether it covers retreatment AND new damage; renewal-with-damage coverage is what actually protects a Florida house long term.
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Red flags to watch for
- A tent quoted where you can see mud tubes
- No written species identification
- Warranty that lapses unless you buy yearly add-ons never mentioned up front
- Damage repair bundled into the fumigation price sight unseen
Frequently asked questions
How much does it cost to tent a house for termites?+
Tent fumigation typically runs $1,200-$4,000, averaging near $2,200 for an average home - usually priced per cubic foot. Drywood termites get the tent; subterranean termites need soil treatment instead, and the wrong one wastes the money.
Can I tent a house for termites myself, or should I hire a professional?+
Licensed pro only - fumigation gas is lethal and the licence is not optional. Your job is the diagnosis step before signing: drywood termites (pellet piles, swarmers indoors) justify a tent; subterranean termites (mud tubes up the foundation - the most common in Florida) need trenching and soil treatment or bait stations instead, at similar or lower cost. Companies that only sell one method tend to diagnose the method they sell.
How long does it take to tent a house for termites?+
2-3 Days Out of the House. Scheduling and parts availability can extend the overall timeline beyond the hands-on work itself.
What makes the price of this job go up or down?+
Cubic footage of the structure. Drywood vs subterranean - tenting only treats drywood. Attached structures and cages that must be sealed or excluded. Warranty length and whether annual renewal is included. Repair of termite damage, always priced separately.
How do I avoid being overcharged?+
Get two inspections, and make each name the species in writing - the treatment follows the species, not the sales pitch. Compare warranty terms as hard as price: a $200 cheaper tent with no retreatment warranty is the worse deal. Ask what the annual renewal costs and whether it covers retreatment AND new damage; renewal-with-damage coverage is what actually protects a Florida house long term.