When you notice termite damage, it’s essential to act quickly to avoid further damage to your home. The best termite control companies respond quickly, offer a variety of services, and don’t charge an arm and a leg. We’ve done the legwork for you, so you don’t have to start researching pest control companies while termites eat away at your home’s wood components.
Our picks
Terminix: Best termite control company
Arrow Exterminators: Best pest control company
Ehrlich Pest Control: Best for comprehensive pest control
Truly Nolen: Best for rodent control
Orkin: Best for experienced technicians
Viking Pest Control: Best for customer satisfaction
Aptive: Best for eco-friendly solutions
Terminix: Best termite control company
Star rating: 3.7 out of 5
State availability: 45 states and Washington, D.C.
Price: $800 - $1,400+ per instance
Retreatment guarantee: Yes
Why we picked Terminix
Terminix focuses primarily on termites, so its technicians are experienced in dealing with the common termite-related problems you might have. With more than 90 years of experience, Terminix uses research from its in-house entomologists to inform its employee training program. The company also has more locations than most other termite control companies, so it’s much easier to find a branch near you and schedule an appointment quickly.
Who should use Terminix
If you only have termites and don’t need more general pest control, Terminix is a good choice. Its widespread network of branches means easy scheduling and fast response times for most homeowners in the United States.
Pros
- More than 300 locations across 45 states
- Three plans to choose from
- Focuses primarily on termites
Cons
- Customer support is spotty
- Doesn’t offer free inspections
Arrow Exterminators: Best pest control company
Star rating: 4.1 out of 5
State availability: 12 states?
Price: $800 - $1,800 per instance
Retreatment guarantee: 100% satisfaction guarantee
Why we picked Arrow Exterminators
Arrow Exterminators has earned an excellent reputation for customer satisfaction over nearly 60 years in business. The company’s termite treatment programs are designed to correct the root cause of your termite problem, not just the symptoms, and are reasonably priced for the quality you get, at $800 to $1,800. Arrow uses traditional termite treatment methods alongside tried-and-true technology like Sentricon systems to eliminate termite problems without harming the environment.
Who should use Arrow Exterminators
Homeowners who struggle with ongoing termite infestations are the ideal customers for Arrow Exterminators. Arrow is one of the best termite control companies for identifying and removing the underlying causes of termite problems so that you don’t have to worry about repeat problems. It also offers a 100% satisfaction guarantee for total peace of mind.
Pros
- Nearly 60 years worth of experience
- Reasonable prices for quality of treatment
- Comprehensive inspections and treatments
- Offers environmentally friendly termite protection services
Cons
- Not the best choice for other pest control problems
- Only available in 12 states
Ehrlich Pest Control: Best for comprehensive pest control
Star rating: 3.9 out of 5
State availability: 19 states and Washington, D.C.?
Price: $54 per month or $370 per visit
Retreatment guarantee: Yes, with PestFree365+ plan
Why we picked Ehrlich Pest Control
Ehrlich is an experienced pest control company offering complete termite treatments. Its technicians receive ongoing training to stay current on best practices. The company uses a holistic approach that includes an in-depth inspection, bait stations, liquid treatments, and home fumigation, if needed.
Who should use Ehrlich Pest Control
Ehrlich is the best choice if you have termite and other pest control problems. The company’s PestFree365+ plan covers 36 of the most common household pests and guarantees satisfaction.
Pros
- PestFree365+ plan covers the most common household pests
- Low termite extermination costs
- Uses a multifaceted approach to termite control
Cons
- PestFree365+ plan doesn’t include termites
- Not available in 31 states
Truly Nolen: Best for rodent control
Star rating: 3.9 out of 5
State availability: 16 states?
Price: $45 - $75 per month
Retreatment guarantee: Yes
Why we picked Truly Nolen
Truly Nolen has excellent prices for residential termite treatment programs, even though termites aren’t its main specialty. Its dedicated research center in Arizona guides its technicians on best practices, so you’re more likely to get professional results backed by science. We also like that the company offers green termite treatments and pet-friendly options.
Who should use Truly Nolen
Truly Nolen can handle termite issues, but it excels at rodent control. Truly Nolen is a great choice if you suspect you have termites and rodent problems.
Pros
- Low prices
- Environmentally and pet-friendly termite treatments
- Top-notch rodent control services
Cons
- Limited availability
- Not a termite-focused pest control company
Orkin: Best for experienced technicians
Star rating: 3.8 out of 5
State availability: 49 states?
Price: $800 - $1,400 per instance
Retreatment guarantee: Yes
Why we picked Orkin
Orkin’s technicians undergo extensive training before they’re allowed out in the field, usually at a hands-on training center in Atlanta. The training program is more comprehensive than most companies, mandating 160 hours of on-site training. We also like that the company is confident enough in its services to offer a 30-day money-back guarantee on all of its work. Orkin will also dispatch a technician free of charge if pests return after treatment.
Who should use Orkin
If you’re willing to pay a bit more for experience, Orkin is the way to go. The company’s techs are some of the best in the business, and it is known for its excellent service and commitment to customer satisfaction.
Pros
- Highly-trained technicians
- Wide variety of services, including termite control
- 30-day money-back guarantee
Cons
- Up to $1,400 per termite issue with no per-month options like other providers
Viking Pest Control: Best for customer satisfaction
Star rating: 3.8 out of 5
State availability: 4 states?
Price: $250 - $499 plus $45 per month
Retreatment guarantee: Yes
Why we picked Viking Pest Control
Viking Pest Control made our list mostly because of its outstanding customer ratings on review sites like TrustPilot, Yelp, and the Better Business Bureau (BBB) — 4.4 out of 5, 4.4 out of 5, and 4.88 out of 5, respectively. The company has a reputation for excellent communication and superlative customer support, both before and after customers sign up.
Who should use Viking Pest Control
If you want the smoothest customer experience a pest control company offers, go with Viking Pest Control. You won’t have any trouble getting in touch with a representative and can count on their support whenever you need a pest control expert.
Pros
- Excellent customer service
- Several plans to choose from
- Covers a wide range of household pests, including termites
Cons
- Very limited availability
- Higher-tiered plans are expensive
Aptive: Best for eco-friendly solutions
Star rating: 3.6 out of 5
State availability: 30 states?
Price: $39 - $189 per treatment
Retreatment guarantee: Yes
Why we picked Aptive
Aptive has more eco-friendly pest control options than most companies. As a long-time member of the EPA’s Pesticide Environmental Stewardship Program, it only uses products approved by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). It also helps educate communities on the downsides of toxic pesticides. The company has detailed information about the chemicals and treatments it uses on its website, so you can check exactly what you’re getting. We appreciate this transparency and hope more companies follow suit.
Who should use Aptive
If you have termites but are concerned about using green treatments, Aptive is your best option.
Pros
- Tons of environmentally friendly options for treatment
- Can deal with most household pests
- Solid plans for bed bugs and termites
Cons
- No free inspections
- Reputation for poor customer support
- Relatively young company
Our picks at a glance
Here’s a brief look at our top picks:
|
Our rating (out of 5 stars)
|
Average cost
|
States covered
|
|
|---|---|---|---|
| Arrow Exterminators | 4.1 |
$800 - $1,800 per treatment |
AL, AZ, FL, GA, KY, LA, MS, NC, SC, TN, TX, VA |
| Ehrlich Pest Control | 3.9 |
$54 per month or $370 per visit |
CT, DE, FL, GA, ME, MD, MA, MI, NH, NJ, NY, NC, OH, PA, SC, TN, VT, VA, WV and DC |
| Truly Nolen | 3.9 |
$45 - $75 per month |
AZ, CA, FL, GA, KY, NV, NJ, NM, NY, NC, OH, PA, SC, TN, TX, UT |
| Orkin | 3.8 |
$800 - $1,400+ per instance |
AL, AZ, AR, CA, CO, CT, DE, FL, GA, HI, ID, IL, IN, IA, KS, KY, LA, ME, MD, MA, MI, MN, MS, MO, MT, NE, NV, NH, NJ, NM, NY, NC, ND, OH, OK, OR, PA, RI, SC, SD, TN, TX, UT, VT, VA, WA, WV, WI, WY |
| Terminix | 3.7 |
$800 - $1,400+ per instance |
AL, AZ, AR, CA, CO, CT, DE, FL, GA, HI, ID, IL, IN, IA, KS, KY, LA, ME, MD, MA, MI, MN, MS, MO, NE, NV, NH, NJ, NM, NY, NC, OH, OK, OR, PA, RI, SC, TN, TX, UT, VA, WA, WV, WI, WY |
| Aptive | 3.6 |
$39 - $189 per treatment |
CA, CO, DE, IA, IL, IN, FL, GA, KS, KY, MA, MD, MI, MN, MO, NC, NE, NJ, NV, NY, OH, OK, OR, PA, TN, TX, UT, VA, WA, WI |
What didn’t make the cut
We ranked 20 of the top pest control companies in the country using over 1,600 data points, and two companies that didn’t make the cut that surprised us were Bulwark Exterminating and Massey Services.
Based on consumer reports, Bulwark’s pricing for termite treatments is approachable and offers a 100% bug-free retreatment guarantee. However, it doesn’t provide free inspections or online quotes, and it only services 15 states, so availability is limited.
Massey Services lost points in our ratings primarily because of the high cost of services — exceeding $2,000 in some cases, based on consumer reports — and the limited service area of just nine states. Massey Services also doesn’t offer online quotes, so scheduling service is less convenient than with many of our top picks.
What are the signs of a termite infestation?
The most obvious sign of a termite infestation is damage to wood throughout your home. Unfortunately, when you notice wood damage, you probably already have a significant infestation. The good news is that there are other signs you can detect earlier if you know what to look for.
- Mud tubes near your home’s foundation: Mud tubes are made from soil and wood combined with termite saliva and used to connect termite colonies in the soil underground to their above-ground food sources. It’s a good idea to inspect the ground around your foundation a few times a year to look for mud tubes since early detection makes dealing with termites much easier.
- Clicking sounds from behind your walls: Your home probably already has some wood damage at this stage, but it may not be extensive if you have yet to notice any of the larger symptoms.
- Structural damage to your home: This can include hard-to-open doors or windows, sagging floors or ceilings and obvious wood damage. If you notice these signs, contact a pest control company and schedule an inspection immediately. You may also need to call a structural engineer if the damage is severe.
How to choose a termite control company
Choosing a termite control company requires setting a budget, diagnosing the extent of your termite problem and finding a company that offers the services you need at a price you’re comfortable paying.
Setting a budget is the first step. You should get free quotes from as many local termite companies as possible to determine the range of prices in your area. Most termite services will cost between $500 and $1,500, but that can fluctuate based on your location, the company experience and the extent of your problem.
Determining what services you need is trickier and not something you can do without expert input. However, we recommend choosing a company that offers comprehensive treatments that treat the causes of your termite problem and not just the symptoms. That means you should look for a company that includes recommendations for changes you can make to your home to reduce the chances of future infestations in its inspections. Most of our top picks offer this kind of integrated pest management.
Most companies offer similar treatments, such as bait stations, liquid pesticide treatments and — in extreme circumstances — home fumigation. If you require special treatments due to having pets or young children, make sure the company you choose has those options.
Do-it-yourself vs. professional termite control
It’s tempting to think DIY termite control is a good idea to save money, but it’s usually not a good option. Termite control is more complicated than other types of pest control because termites need to be eradicated at their source, not just inside your home.
Professional termite treatments are more likely to result in total extermination of the termite colony, whereas DIY spot treatments often only kill the termites already inside your home. Professional termite control companies know how to place bait stations to eliminate the entire colony rather than just spot-treating affected areas in your home.
Professional treatments also come with guarantees and warranties that make subsequent treatments cheaper or free if the problem isn’t resolved after one visit. That gives you greater peace of mind than you’ll get from spraying some pesticide yourself and hoping it works. Plus, you stand to save money on home repairs and future treatments.
Professional termite control costs
Professional termite control seems pricey until you factor in the cost of repairing the damage termites cause if they’re left unchecked. Termites cause an estimated $1.5 billion in damage in the U.S. alone and can easily leave you with thousands of dollars worth of damage to your home’s structure.
Termite control costs depend on the size of your property, the extent of the infestation and the type of termites you have. In general, the larger your property, the more you have to pay for termite treatments. You’ll also have to pay more for treating an entrenched infestation than you would for preventative measures before the colony gets too big.
You should contact local pest control companies for specific estimates, but the approximate cost of professional termite control in the U.S. is between $500 and $1,500.
How to prepare for a termite inspection
There is little you have to do to prepare for a termite inspection. However, you should know the year your home was built and be prepared to answer some questions about your home and the signs of termite activity you noticed.
Make a list of the termite signs you’ve noticed, and tell your inspector about any DIY treatments you’ve tried. The more information you can provide, the better equipped the tech will be to help.
Methodology
We spent hours sifting through providers to ensure we only recommend the best pest control companies available. We also believe in honesty and transparency, so we’ll include our detailed methodology below.
