Termites can quickly cause extensive damage to your home. While there are many ways to treat termites, termite killers are some of the faster and most effective solutions, which is critical when dealing with highly-destructive pests like termites. There are many effective termiticides available, such as liquid termiticides, bait stations, control solutions, foams, and more. Still, we don’t recommend a do-it-yourself termite treatment due to the thousands of termites that could be burrowing in your wooden structures.
Hiring a professional pest control company is the best option for ridding your home of termites. Read on for reviews of the six best termite killers alongside some of the best pest control companies for termite treatments. While some termite infestations can be managed through DIY methods, larger infestations can quickly get out of hand. Termite killers can help in the short term, but most termite infestations need professional pest control attention.
Terminix and Orkin are two of the top-rated termite control companies. If you’re ready to put an end to your termite problem today, click one of the buttons below to get connected with a local pest control expert.
What Are The Best Termite Killers?
Our top recommended termite killers are:
- Taurus SC: Best Overall
- Spectracide Terminate: Best Bait
- Bonide Systemic Insect Control: Best Value
- Terro T1901: Best Budget-Friendly Option
- Termidor Foam: Best Foam Killer
- BioAdvances Ant & Termite Killer: Best For Wood
Compare The Top Termite Killers
| Company | Our Take | Type | Cost |
| Taurus SC | Best Overall | Liquid | $42.49 (20 ounces) |
| Spectracide Terminate | Best Bait | Bait | $53.00 (15 stakes) |
| Bonide Systemic Insect Control | Best Value | Granules | $27.99 (4 pounds) |
| Terro T1901 | Best Budget-Friendly Option | Aerosol Spray | $9.99 (16 ounces) |
| Termidor Foam | Best Foam Killer | Foam Killer | $176.60 ($1.47/ounce) |
| BioAdvances Ant & Termite Killer | Best For Wood | Concentrate | $26.99 (40 ounces) |
Featured Video: Learn What Steps Professionals Take to Control A Termite Infestation
1. Taurus SC: Best Overall
Overview
- Active Ingredient: Fipronil
- Lasts For: Up to 10 years
- Works As Fast As: Less than three months
Taurus SC is a highly concentrated, liquid termite killer that is applied to a trench around your house’s perimeter. For best results, dig a six-inch trench around your home’s perimeter, pour the solution in approximately every ten feet, and wait for your results.
Taurus SC is a highly-effective termite killer because termites cannot detect it, so they walk over the liquid and bring the poison back to the termite colony with them. This leads to other termites being contaminated with Taurus SC and eventually eradicates the colony. It also works against wasps, ants, centipedes, roaches, and other pests as well.
2. Spectracide Terminate
Overview
- Active Ingredient: Hexaflumuron
- Lasts For: One year
- Works As Fast As: Time varies
Spectracide Terminate is a two-in-one product that has pop-up indicators which detect termite activity and stakes which kill foraging termites. It’s easy to use and installs in minutes. Each kit comes with 15 stakes and locator shields, an instruction booklet, and a digging tool.
Simply place stakes in the ground about two to three feet away from your home and no more than ten feet apart from each other. Regularly check the pop-up indicator to see if the stakes indicate termite activity. It’s recommended that you place the stakes in moisture-rich areas, such as areas with poor drainage because these areas are more attractive to termites.
Once the foraging termites have come across the stakes, they pick up the poison and bring it back to their termite colony, spreading it to other termites. Spectracide Terminate does use strong chemicals, which may be poisonous to aquatic animals, so it’s recommended that you don’t use these near ponds or water features.
3. Bonide Systemic Insect Control
Overview
- Active Ingredient: Imidacloprid
- Lasts For: Up to 8 weeks
- Works As Fast As: 48 hours
Bonide Systemic Insect Control is a granule-based termite killer that works by absorbing into the roots of plants and poisoning insects as they eat the plants or other nearby organic material. To use the granules, place the granules in the soil around your home or non-edible plants, then water them. The granules will then absorb into the ground and roots of the plants, protecting them against insects.
Bonide Systemic Insect Control is effective against termites, fungus, gnats, mealybug, whitefly, aphids, etc. However, please keep in mind that this pesticide may be harmful to other animals like bees and hummingbirds. It will provide you with up to eight weeks of protection and should be applied every eight weeks during the growing season for optimal benefit and protection.
4. Terro T1901
Overview
- Active Ingredient: Deltamethrin
- Lasts For: Up to 1 month
- Works As Fast As: Kills on contact
Terro T1901 is an aerosol spray pesticide that is effective against wood-destroying insects, such as termites, carpenter ants, and carpenter bees. To use it, either spray the insects directly to kill on contact or spray into crevices where they live. This aerosol spray features two nozzle tips that allow you to spray narrow or broad streams, depending on your goal. In inaccessible closed voids where insects live, drill small holes about eight to ten inches apart and spray into these holes.
This product kills on contact and lasts up to one month. It has a non-staining spray with no unpleasant odors and can be used both indoors and outdoors. Don’t spray this on or near food preparation areas, like kitchen counters.
Please note that this company does not recommend this as sole protection against termites and recommends professional inspection for active termite infestations.
5. Termidor Foam
Overview
- Active Ingredient: Fipronil
- Lasts For: 4 to 6 weeks
- Works As Fast As: 90 days
Termidor Foam is a stellar product because it can be used inside of your home, unlike many bait and barrier products. So, if you have termites in your home, consider this long-lasting, odorless product.
Unlike a spray, Termidor Foam will expand up to 30 times its volume after application, making application inside crevices easy. Simply shoot the foam into cracks around your home, and the foam will expand over time, killing many termites with it in the process. The foam is completely odorless, so it won’t cause your home to smell either.
6. BioAdvances Ant & Termite Killer
Overview
- Active Ingredient: Cyfluthrin
- Lasts For: Up to 3 months
- Works As Fast As: Kills on contact
BioAdvances Ant & Termite Killer kills over 90 types of pests, including many species of termites, wood-destroying insects, yellow jackets, and more. It’s ideal for creating a broad-spectrum outdoor perimeter around your home. However, it’s also great for use around indoor cracks, crevices, and baseboards. This product kills on contact and lasts up to three months.
When using this product, you’ll need to look at the instruction manual for a specific breakdown of how much concentrate to water you’ll need to use for the type of pest you’re targeting. In addition, BioAdvances Ant & Termite Killer isn’t just a broad-spectrum application, it can also be used as a quick spot treatment or create a barrier around your home.
Signs You May Have a Termite Infestation
Before you start treating termites, it’s critical that you are positive you have termites in the first place. Other wood-destroying pests, like carpenter ants and carpenter bees, also damage wood and organic matter. Use the following signs of termites to determine if they’re the issue, or if you have another pest problem.
- Hollow wood: Termites are wood-destroying insects, so one of the best ways to identify a termite infestation is to look for wood damage. If you spot wood that appears normal but is hollowed and damaged on the inside, this is a strong indication that you have termites.
- Mud tubes: Mud tubes are tunnels created from small bits of wood and soil used by termites as protection against predators. Typically, subterranean termites are the cause of mud tubes. However, it’s important to note that mud tubes can be abandoned, so look for other signs beyond mud tubes to identify if you have a termite infestation.
- Swarm evidence: Termite swarming is often a sign of a well-established termite colony nearby. Swarm evidence may include spotting flying termites, piles of wings abandoned after swarms, and mounds of termite excrement.
- Frass: Frass, also known as solid termite excrement, is a sure sign that you have termites in the area. Termite frass often looks like tiny pellets or fine sawdust.
- Peeling paint: Termites can create tunnels in your walls, resulting in bubbling, raised, or peeling paint. This drywood termite infestation sign often resembles water damage.
- Headbanging: When termites feel threatened, soldier termites will hit their heads against mud tubes, walls, or tunnels to warn their colonies and alert other soldier termites. If you hear strange rattling, knocking, or vibrating noises coming from your walls or wood areas, this may signify termite headbanging.
- Discarded wings: After swarming, termites abandon their wings. If you notice discarded wings that resemble fish scales, you may have a termite problem.
The 3 Types of Termite Killer
After learning about some of the best termite killers on the market, you may be wondering which kind of termite killer you should choose for your home and specific situation. Keep reading to learn more about the different types of termite killers and their pros and cons.
Direct Liquid Treatment
A direct liquid treatment, also known as a “spot treatment,” targets termites through poison transmission. Most direct liquid treatments are applied into cracks, crevices, and drilled holes in woodwork and often come in a spray or foam format. Liquid termite sprays are “non-repellent,” meaning termites don’t detect the poison before contact. The liquid is fast-acting, as once termites return to the colony after coming into contact with it, the poison will spread and kill off other termites.
Liquid Barrier
Liquid barriers create a protective barrier around your home’s perimeter, typically by digging a small trench and applying termite killer to the trench. Once foraging termites cross the barrier, they unknowingly bring the poison back to their colony. This poison spreads throughout the colony, killing many termites and eventually wiping out the colony. Unlike the “kill on contact” direct liquid treatments, the liquid barrier won’t kill immediately but works to destroy the colony from the inside out.
Bait
Baits are similar to liquid barriers because they depend on termites to find the poison and bring it back to their colony, spreading it to other termites. Termite baits are traps filled with poison placed around your home in high-traffic areas. These baits are created with paper, cellulose, or wood, attracting termites. Worker termites come across the baits, eat them, and unknowingly bring the poison back to their colony.
How to Choose the Best Termite Killer
It can be challenging to choose which termite killer is best for your home, termite situation, and lifestyle. Before choosing one, you must consider if a product is safe for children or pets to be around, along with outdoor animals, like birds and bees, that may linger in your backyard and become exposed to the termite killer. Other factors to consider include the type of termite killer, your budget, how long it lasts, chemicals vs. natural termite killers, ease of application, indoor vs. outdoor products, etc.
Active Ingredients Most Common in Termite Killers?
Fipronil
Fipronil is a white, smelly powder that kills termites by upsetting their nervous system and preventing it from functioning well. Without a properly functioning nervous system, the termites die. This is also a common ingredient in many flea and tick sprays for pets.
Bifenthrin
Bifenthrin is derived from naturally-occurring chemicals found in Chrysanthemum flowers and is considered a pyrethroid insecticide. It prevents termites from sensing their surroundings and causes their nervous system to fail, which results in their death.
Imidacloprid
Imidacloprid is similar to nicotine and works by blocking neuronal pathways in insects. Once absorbed into the body, the imidacloprid paralyzes the termite, resulting in their death.
Hexaflumuron
Hexaflumuron kills termites in two primary ways. It starts by disrupting the insect growth regulator, which allows termites to grow and create new exoskeletons. Secondly, it will result in the termite queen’s sterilization, eliminating the termite colony’s potential to grow.
Best Professional Pest Control Companies to Kill Termites
Termites are serious pests that often need professional help to address and fully eradicate. Unfortunately, termites are highly destructive pests that can quickly damage your home. They also create giant termite colonies, making it difficult to eliminate the entire colony without professional help. If you’re interested in professional pest control treatments for termites, keep reading to learn more about the best professional pest control companies for termite control.
Terminix
Terminix was the first pest control company to obtain a termite control patent in 1927. Today, they are still known for their incredible innovations in the pest control industry, especially when eradicating and preventing termite problems.
Terminix offers several termite service plans, including their basic termite plan, advanced termite plan, and premium termite plan. All three plans feature annual termite inspections, Terminix’s OnGuard Termite Protection System, and the Nix Guarantee. The advanced and premium plan also has the Nix & Fix Guarantee for additional peace of mind. The premium plan exclusively offers ongoing pest control for people with ongoing termite control problems.
For a free quote, enter your zipcode here.
See how Terminix compares to other providers with our Terminix Review.
Orkin
Orkin has over 100 years of experience in the pest control industry and offers many specialty pest control services, including termite control. With Orkin, you can have specialized treatments for termites, general pests, bed bugs, and home services, such as moisture control, lawn treatments, and attic insulation. They also offer a user-friendly mobile app that allows you to manage your account easily.
Orkin has a thorough approach to their pest and termite control, including six steps: investigate, protect, fortify, keep watch, report, and follow up. Each termite treatment plan is personalized to your home, situation, and needs. Orkin offers Termidor liquid treatments, dry foam, Orkinfoam, and Sentricon bait and monitoring, which upsets the termite molting process, stunting the termite colony’s growth.
Get a free quote from Orkin here.
See how it compares to other providers by reading our Orkin Review.
Final Thoughts
Without professional pest control help, a homeowner can quickly end up with thousands of dollars in home repairs on top of the cost to have termites eradicated from their property. Act now and contact a pest control company so that you save yourself time, money, and damage to your home. Both Orkin and Terminix are great options for termite control. However, Terminix’s termite control patent and extensive experience with termite control make them the stronger candidate for termite extermination.
FAQs About Termite Killers
What is the best termite killer on the market?
The best termite killer on the market will be easy for you to apply, safe for any pets, children, or animals you may have around, and fit your budget. There isn’t one termite killer we recommend because everyone’s needs vary. We recommend using the above guide to narrow down your choices.
What is the most effective termite treatment?
If you have an ongoing termite infestation, a direct liquid treatment or bait treatment may be best because the termites will bring the poison back to their colony, resulting in more termite deaths. A perimeter control treatment may be ideal if you want to protect your home from returning termites.
What do professionals use to kill termites?
Professionals use many methods to kill termites, ranging from tenting, foaming treatments, barrier treatments, etc. Most professionals will create a personalized plan to treat your home after they’ve inspected it.
Can I spray for termites myself?
You can. However, keep in mind that termites create huge colonies. Professional help is typically needed to kill termite infestations due to the sheer number of termites often found on one property.
Is termite killer bad for my pets?
This depends on the termite killer. Some termite killers are safe for pets to be around or are safe once dried. Reference the termite killer you’re interested in for more information on if it’s safe for pets.
