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The Spruce / Kimberly Holland
A quality bug zapper kills mosquitos, flies, and other flying insects that are attracted to UV light.
We researched and tested the best models on the market, ranking them on ease of setup and maintenance, durability, and coverage. Our top choice, the Flowtron BK-40D Electronic Insect Killer, is a powerful outdoor option that attracts bugs from up to an acre away and is easy to clean.
Here are the best bug zappers available.
Best Overall, Outdoor: Flowtron BK-40D Electronic Insect Killer
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Amazon
Large coverage area
Attractant cartridge included
High-intensity UV light
Louder than other models
Very Bright Light
Who else recommends it? BestReviews and Bustle also picked the Flowtron BK-40D Electronic Insect Killer.
What do buyers say? 87% of 17,200+ Amazon reviewers rated this 4 stars or above.
Designed for outdoor use, the Flowtron BK-40D electronic insect killer uses a high-intensity UV light bulb to attract pests from as far as an acre away. Mosquitoes, biting flies, and other annoying bugs are zapped immediately on the electrified grid. Our tester noted that this big and powerful zapper did an outstanding job eliminating flying pests in their backyard.
The zapper comes with an octenol (an active ingredient in many pesticides) attractant cartridge to lure mosquitos. While each one only lasts for 30 days, replacement cartridges are available. Our tester noted that the bug zapping seemed to escalate more with the cartridge, but the lantern still works without it.
This durable, polycarbonate, lantern-style bug zapper plugs into a wall. We recommend hanging it out of the way to attract nearby bugs away from your outdoor seating area—you'll probably need an extension cord since the power cord is short. Although it is brighter and louder than some other models, we think its coverage area and effectiveness make it the best choice for your outdoor space, especially if you're looking for something that covers a large area.
Price at time of publish: $65
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The Spruce / Kimberly Holland
Best Overall, Indoor: Aspectek 40W Electric Indoor Insect Killer
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Courtesy of Home Depot
Easy to clean
High-voltage metal grid
Attracts a variety of insects
Zapping sound can be loud
For an indoor solution, your best bet is the Aspectek Bug Zapper, a grid-style contraption boasting 40 watts of power and a one-acre range. The high-voltage metal grids eliminate houseflies, mosquitoes, boxelder bugs, moths, gnats, and even wasps.
As long as there's an outlet nearby, you can set this insect killer on your counter, shelf, or floor or hang it up with the included chain and hooks. We also like that it's easy to clean—remove the plastic tray from the bottom and wipe away the leftover debris. The light bulb's lifespan is impressive and can last up to 5,000 hours.
Our tester did note that this indoor zapper is a bit loud and very bright, so they placed it in an area they could avoid and limited its use to a few hours at a time.
Price at time of publish: $50
Best Budget: Gloue Bug Zapper Light Bulb
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Courtesy of Amazon
Budget-friendly
Easy to use
High-wavelength light
Doesn't work as well for houseflies
With the Gloue Bug Zapper Bulb, you can turn virtually any old lamp into an insect-killing device. This is a great option for any areas inside your home where you don't want to use pesticides, poisons, or chemical sprays.
This bulb emits LED ultraviolet light at a high wavelength and delivers an electric charge through its built-in metal grid—a fatal attraction that kills mosquitoes, fruit flies, gnats, and other insects on contact.
Price at time of publish: $21
Best Racket: Zap It! Electric Bug Zapping Racket
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Courtesy of Zap It!
Budget-friendly
Rechargeable battery
Ergonomic design
Safety features
Not as effective for larger insects
When it comes to electric swatters, Zap It! is tough to beat. This ergonomically designed mesh racket runs on a rechargeable lithium battery and switches on with the press of a button. You can swat the occasional housefly or wasp that wanders into your home and kill it mid-air.
When the 4,000-volt grid activates, extra-bright LEDs will ignite to attract vexing insects. We like its three-layer design to prevent accidentally shocking yourself or your loved ones. All the same, leave the swatting to adults to protect kids from a painful jolt.
Price at time of publish: $48
Best for Mosquitoes: Black Flag 2,000-Volt Bug Zapper Insect Killer, Includes Black Flag Mosquito Octenol Lure
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Courtesy of Home Depot
Special mosquito lure
Powerful
Easy to clean
Short power cord
Mosquitoes can be a real nuisance, and they aren't lured in as effectively by UV light alone compared to other flying pests. If you're mainly looking to reduce the number of mosquitoes in your space, consider a zapper that uses octenol, like this Black Flag 2,000-Volt Bug Zapper. One lure will last about a month, so you should only need to replace it a few times to get through the season.
One unit can cover about half an acre. The company recommends placing the zappers about 20 feet away from where you spend your time—so not only are you zapping bugs, you're also attracting them away from you, your family, and your guests.
Price at time of publish: $35
Best for Flies: Black + Decker 36W Electric Bug Zapper
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Courtesy of Amazon
Large coverage area
Easy to clean
Works day or night
Small holes may not let large bugs through
Got flies? Say, "Shoo, don't bother me," with Black + Decker's Electric Bug Zapper. This high-voltage lantern can be placed on any flat surface on your patio, porch, or deck or hung up using the included chain and ring hook.
The UV light lures in flies and other bothersome bugs, day or night, and kills them instantly. Cleaning is a breeze: Just pull out the tray, empty it out, and wash as needed with the included brush.
Price at time of publish: $66
The best bug zapper for outdoor use is the Flowtron BK-40D Electronic Insect Killer (view at Amazon). With a high-intensity UV light, an octenol cartridge, and an electrified grid, bugs are effortlessly lured in and immediately zapped down. If you're dealing with indoor pests, your best bet is the Aspectek 40W Electric Indoor Insect Killer (view at Amazon) This versatile zapper can be hung or placed on any flat surface and kills flies, mosquitoes, moths, and gnats with ease.
What to Look for in a Bug Zapper
Indoor or outdoor
Although many manufacturers make bug zappers that can be used both indoors and outdoors, some machines are only suitable for one or the other. Be sure to check the packaging to ensure the bug zapper you’re buying works for your space. Indoor-only bug zappers are not powerful enough for outdoor use, and outdoor models often don’t have a tray to catch dead insects (yuck!).
Coverage area
The efficiency of a bug zapper is the most important measure of success. In general, the more powerful the wattage of the UV light, the wider the range of the bug zapper. If you have a small backyard, you may not mind a smaller range, since a large range will actually attract bugs from neighboring homes into your space before zapping them.
Insects
Contrary to popular belief, bug zappers aren’t very effective tools for eradicating mosquitoes. If this is the goal, make sure you choose a model fitted with an octenol packet, which attracts the insect better than a UV light does.
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How do bug zappers work?
Bug zappers emit bright light (usually from UV bulbs) to attract flying pests. Insects are lured into a high-voltage metal grid at the center of the device, where they're killed through electrocution. Some bug zappers also use octenol, a known mosquito attractant, to help draw in biting insects and cover a larger range.
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Are bug zappers safe?
Bug zappers are generally safe to use. Many have multi-layered mesh grids to prevent accidental shocks and burns while still allowing insects to pass through. As for the ultraviolet light, the wattage is strong enough to attract bugs but typically not strong enough to be harmful to humans, especially when you keep roughly a foot or more of distance from the light.
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How do you clean a bug zapper?
Some bug zappers are self-cleaning, meaning the bugs drop out from underneath, so all you have to do is sweep them up from the floor or ground. Many lantern-style insect killers have removable trays on the bottom, which you can pull out and wash with soap and water. As for electric rackets, you can use a brush or cloth to remove dead bugs from the grid.
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When should you use a bug zapper over a bug repellent?
You should use a bug zapper instead of insect repellent anywhere you want to avoid pesticides or other chemical formulas. For this reason, they're great for inside the home. Additionally, a bug zapper can kill certain pests that a repellent may not keep at bay, so it's a great way to increase your protection both indoors and outside.
Why Trust The Spruce?
Theresa Holland is a seasoned commerce writer with several years of experience covering outdoor living and cleaning products. She's been contributing to The Spruce since 2019, where she writes about a wide range of home goods. You can find more stories by Theresa on Verywell Mind, Byrdie, and MyDomaine.
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