TL;DR — Woodworm Treatment Cost At A Glance
- Most people pay £300 – £1,000 for professional woodworm treatment outside London, with typical work priced at £50 – £80 per m² or as a whole-area job; London and the South East run 20–30% higher (inc VAT).
- Woodworm treatment is a property-protection job — untreated infestation weakens joists, floorboards and roof timbers over time.
- Price depends on the area affected, the timber's condition, access (lofts and under floors), and whether damaged wood needs replacing.
- A survey comes first to confirm the infestation is active and identify the beetle, because dormant, historic damage may need no treatment at all.
- Quotes usually cover the survey, treatment and a guarantee, but structural repairs to badly damaged timber are a separate cost.
- A BPCA-qualified surveyor distinguishes active woodworm from old flight holes, so you only pay to treat timber that genuinely needs it.
Get a fixed price for professional woodworm treatment — check prices and book a survey online or call to arrange an inspection.
How Much Does Woodworm Treatment Cost In 2026?
Professional woodworm treatment in the UK costs £300 – £1,000 on average, typically priced at £50 – £80 per m² of treated timber or as a whole-area job, and running 20–30% higher in London and the South East (inc VAT). A single affected room or a contained loft sits at the lower end; whole-house treatment, or a job that also needs timber replacing, lands well towards the top.
Woodworm is the larvae of wood-boring beetles — most commonly the common furniture beetle in the UK — tunnelling through structural and decorative timber. The small round exit holes people notice are where adult beetles have already left; the damage is done by the larvae inside, over years. Because that damage can weaken joists, floorboards and roof timbers, active woodworm is treated as a structural matter, not just a pest one. Treatment starts with a survey to confirm the infestation is live, followed by applying a suitable insecticide to the affected timbers.
Here is what you can expect to pay for woodworm treatment across the UK:
| Scope of work | Rest of UK | London & South East |
|---|---|---|
| Woodworm survey | £80 – £180 (often credited against work) | £100 – £220 |
| Single room / contained area | £300 – £500 | £360 – £650 |
| Multiple rooms / large loft | £500 – £800 | £650 – £1,000 |
| Whole-house treatment | £800 – £1,000+ | £1,000 – £1,300+ |
Figures include VAT and reflect 2026 market rates. Your exact price depends on the area, timber condition and your postcode — get a fixed quote here.
Woodworm Treatment Cost By Area And Method
Woodworm is usually priced per square metre of timber treated or as a whole-area job. The condition of the wood is the other big variable — treating sound timber is straightforward, but badly damaged wood may need cutting out and replacing first.
| Job | Typical price (rest of UK) | Typical price (London) |
|---|---|---|
| Treatment per m² (spray/paint-on) | £50 – £80/m² | £65 – £100/m² |
| Loft / roof timbers | £400 – £900 | £500 – £1,100 |
| Suspended timber floor | £400 – £800 | £500 – £1,000 |
| Replacing badly damaged joists/boards | £500 – £2,000+ (structural) | +20–30% |
The treatment itself is largely labour and product. The cost that catches people out is structural repair: where larvae have weakened joists or floorboards beyond treating, those sections need replacing, which is a joinery or handyman job priced separately from the chemical treatment.
What Affects The Cost Of Woodworm Treatment?
Several things decide where you land in the ranges above.
1. The Area Affected
Woodworm is priced largely by the square metrage of treated timber. A single affected joist is cheap; loft timbers, a whole suspended floor, or infestation across several areas mean far more surface to treat.
2. Whether The Infestation Is Active
Old flight holes do not always mean live woodworm. A survey confirms whether beetles are still active — if the infestation is historic and dormant, treatment may not be needed at all, saving the whole cost.
3. The Timber's Condition
Treating sound timber is quick. Where larvae have caused structural weakness, damaged sections must be cut out and replaced before or alongside treatment, which adds a significant repair cost.
4. Access
Under-floor voids, tight loft spaces and boxed-in timbers take longer to reach and treat thoroughly. Lifting floorboards or clearing a loft to gain access adds labour.
5. The Beetle Species
Common furniture beetle is treated routinely. More serious species — such as house longhorn or death watch beetle — need specialist assessment and can cost considerably more to deal with.
6. Your Location
London and the South East run roughly 20–30% higher than the rest of the UK, reflecting higher labour and travel costs.
What's Included — And What's Not
Typically included in a woodworm treatment quote:
- A survey to confirm active infestation and identify the beetle
- Preparation and cleaning of the timber surfaces to be treated
- Application of a suitable insecticidal treatment to affected timbers
- A guarantee, commonly 20–30 years with established firms
Usually charged separately or not included:
- Replacing structurally damaged joists, floorboards or roof timbers
- Lifting and relaying floors or extensive roofing work
- Treating an underlying damp problem that allowed woodworm to thrive
- Redecoration after treatment
Always confirm whether the survey fee is credited and what the guarantee covers, so the final bill matches the quote.
Can You Do It Yourself?
Small, localised woodworm in a piece of furniture or a single accessible timber can be tackled with a shop-bought woodworm treatment fluid, provided the infestation is genuinely minor and the wood is sound. For furniture, that may be all it needs.
Structural woodworm is not a DIY job. Treating joists, floor timbers and roof structures properly requires confirming the infestation is active, reaching every affected surface, using the correct product at the right coverage, and — the part most people miss — dealing with the damp that usually lets woodworm take hold in the first place. Get it wrong and the infestation continues quietly inside timbers that matter to the building. Where woodworm affects structural timber, or where a survey, mortgage or house sale is involved, a BPCA-qualified surveyor and treatment with a long-term guarantee is the sensible route.
How To Save Money On Woodworm Treatment
- Get a survey first. Confirming whether the infestation is active can save the entire treatment cost if the damage turns out to be old and dormant.
- Fix the damp. Woodworm thrives in damp timber, so improving ventilation and resolving moisture issues is the cheapest long-term protection.
- Ask whether the survey fee is credited against the treatment if you go ahead.
- Treat contained areas promptly before the infestation spreads and structural repairs become necessary.
- Combine access work — lifting floorboards or clearing the loft yourself where safe — to reduce labour time.
- Get 2–3 quotes and compare the guarantee length and what it covers, not just the headline price.
How To Hire A Good Pest Controller
Choose a firm that employs BPCA-qualified or CSRT-qualified surveyors, holds public liability insurance, and provides a written report and a long-term guarantee (often 20–30 years). Ask how they confirm the infestation is active, whether the survey fee is credited, and whether the quote includes any structural repairs or just the chemical treatment. A guarantee that transfers to a future buyer is worth having if you may sell. Reviews and references are worth checking before you commit.
With Fantastic Services, you get vetted, insured pest controllers, a clear survey and treatment plan and transparent pricing — describe the property and get a price up front.
Frequently Asked Questions
How Much Does Woodworm Treatment Cost In The UK?
Professional woodworm treatment costs £300 – £1,000 across most of the UK, typically £50 – £80 per m² or as a whole-area job, rising 20–30% in London (inc VAT). Whole-house treatment or jobs needing timber replacement sit at the top.
How Do You Know If Woodworm Is Still Active?
Signs of active woodworm include fresh, clean-looking exit holes, fine powdery bore dust (frass) beneath timber, and live beetles in spring and summer. A survey confirms activity, because old holes alone can indicate a historic, dormant infestation that may need no treatment.
Does Woodworm Treatment Come With A Guarantee?
Yes, established firms usually offer a long-term guarantee, commonly 20–30 years, on structural woodworm treatment. Confirm the length, what it covers, and whether it transfers to a future buyer before booking.
Is Woodworm A Structural Problem?
It can be. Over years, larvae tunnelling through joists, floorboards and roof timbers can weaken them, so active structural woodworm is treated as a property-protection matter. Furniture woodworm is usually a cosmetic concern by comparison.
Do You Need To Treat Woodworm Before Selling A House?
A mortgage valuation or survey may flag woodworm and ask for a specialist report or treatment before completion. A treatment guarantee that transfers to the buyer reassures lenders and can smooth a sale.
Is Woodworm Treatment More Expensive In London?
Yes. Expect to pay roughly 20–30% more in London and the South East than in the rest of the UK, reflecting higher labour and travel costs.
