The 7 Best Fly Traps of 2023

Keep unwanted pests away from you and your guests

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Best Fly Traps

The Spruce / Chloe Jeong

Flies can sometimes be difficult to control but there are effective solutions to ridding your home of the winged pests. Your main strategy, says Cindy Mannes, a senior vice president for the National Pest Management Association, is “identifying the source of the pest and employing commonsense solutions for control.” Fly traps can be an easy and effective solution.

After speaking with Mannes, we researched dozens of fly traps and tested each one featured on this list. We then evaluated their effectiveness, ease of use, method of capture, and value.

Our Top Picks

Best Overall

Starbar Fly Terminator Pro

4.8
Starbar Fly Terminator Pro

 Amazon

What We Like
  • No electricity needed

  • Insecticide-free

  • Catches 35,000 flies

  • Rustproof

What We Don't Like
  • As with many traps, leaves unpleasant odor

Our best overall pick for ridding your home of flies is the Starbar Fly Terminator Pro. Although it's not an attractive option, we think it's effective in catching a slew of flying-insect species. According to the manufacturer, this plastic, insecticide-free trap can catch up to 35,000 flies before the 1-ounce, water-soluble attractant pouch needs to be thrown away. We also like that two pouches are included, so you can have one as a backup if needed.

The 1-gallon jug-style trap is a serious remedy, designed for what the manufacturer calls “medium-level” fly issues. Thanks to its durable handle, you can easily hang it close to where it’s needed most such as by a back door or in the corner of a small yard. Just don't rest it close to a wall, or it fills with cockroaches and other bugs, drawn to its significant odor.

Keep in mind that the smell can be unpleasant and many users have recommended that it should be placed downwind. Plus, as with any trap, it's best to keep it away from pets and small children.

Price at time of publish: $22

Type: Plastic trap | Dimensions: 6 x 9 x 11 inches | Targeted Species: All flies

Best Budget

Rescue! Disposable Fly Trap

Rescue Disposable Fly Trap

 Amazon

What We Like
  • No electricity needed

  • Insecticide-free

  • Easy to use and fast-acting

  • Disposable

What We Don't Like
  • As with many traps, leaves unpleasant odor

We like the Rescue Disposable Fly Trap because it is budget-friendly, and designed to eliminate up to 20,000 flies, according to the manufacturer. We also found it to be effective very quickly, in fact, we spotted flies trapped inside an hour after installing it. It is also simple to install. After positioning the trap, cut away the top circle and add the included hanger and some water. and watch the insects flock to its attractant.

Be sure to position the trap at least 20 feet from living spaces. The manufacturer says the bait effectively lures a variety of flies. Like similar traps, it does produce a strong odor. However, when the trap is full, just toss it into a plastic bag and tie it off, and throw it away. You also can buy bait refills if necessary.

Price at time of publish: $13 (two-pack)

Type: Plastic trap | Dimensions: 9.5 x 4.25 x 3.5 inches | Targeted Species: All flies

Best for Indoors

Catchmaster Window Fly Traps

Catchmaster Bug & Fly Clear Window Fly Traps

 Amazon

What We Like
  • No electricity needed

  • Easy to use

  • Hard to visually detect

  • Disposable

What We Don't Like
  • May require scrubbing to remove sticky residue

Catchmaster Clear Window Traps are perfect for catching sunbathing flies at one of their entry points. They come in handy packs of 12 or more and adhere to any glass surface. They work best in windows, which naturally attract flies of all species.

Flies just can't resist the sticky substance. Once the clear rectangle of film is full of fruit and house flies, gently pull it away from the window and replace it with a fresh one. The glue left behind from the adhesive is easily removed with a swipe of rubbing alcohol. Since these traps are clear, guests are not likely to notice them, keeping your fly problem a secret.

Price at time of publish: $16

Type: Paper | Dimensions: 8 x 0.01 x 8.2 inches | Targeted Species: All flies, especially house

Best Zapper

ASPECTEK 20W Electric Indoor Bug Zapper

ASPECTEK 20W Electric Indoor Bug Zapper

 Amazon

What We Like
  • Easy setup

  • Kills all flies, including mosquitoes

  • Easy to clean

  • Self-cleaning grids

What We Don't Like
  • Needs electricity

  • Loud and bright

For an effective indoor solution, we recommend the ASPECTEK Electric Indoor Bug Zapper. We tested this product at home and found that the ultraviolet light attracted flies as well as mosquitos, gnats, and beetles. In fact, in only two hours we counted about 20 bugs. It also features a mesh screen that flies can fit through, but small hands or curious pets cannot, ensuring accidental shocks don’t occur.

Simple and aesthetic in design, this is a breeze to set up. You can hang it using the included chain-and-hook set, or simply set it on a hard, even surface, as long as an outlet is nearby. We also found the upkeep to be easy as well, with a removable plastic tray at the bottom that is dishwasher-safe. We appreciate the ease of use and the self-cleaning electric grid. One thing to note is that this zapper is loud and very bright so if you are using it indoors, you will want to put it in an area you can avoid.

Price at time of publish: $45

Type: Zapper, metal, electronic | Dimensions: 15.16 x 11.02 x 3 inches | Targeted Species: All flies, including mosquitoes

Best for Fruit Flies

FlyFix Fruit Fly Trap

FlyFix Fruit Fly Trap

 Amazon

What We Like
  • No electricity needed

  • Easy to use

  • Reusable

  • Choice of 6 colors

What We Don't Like
  • Need to supply fruit bait

Attractive and effective, the FlyFix Fruit Trap looks good on your countertop while clearing your room of those tiny pests. It comes in an array of rainbow colors that can blend into your home decor while it attracts fruit flies through a narrow funnel and into the FlyFix center.

To lure flying pests, the tiny, egg-shaped container uses a small piece of fruit of your choice and some water under its crystal-like top. Lock it in place and set it out to rid your rooms of flitting fruit flies. It can rest neatly in a bowl of fruit to grab fruit flies at their home base. Or place it neatly on a kitchen countertop, preferably near the kitchen sink. FlyFix comes in a two-pack, so you can spread them around the home to catch flies that have traveled beyond the kitchen.

Price at time of publish: $25

Type: Plastic trap | Dimensions: 7 x 4 x 3.5 inches | Targeted Species: Fruit flies

Best Reusable

Safer Brand Victor Fly Magnet Fly Trap

Safer Brand Victor Fly Magnet Fly Trap

 Amazon

What We Like
  • No electricity needed

  • Easy to use

  • Easy to hide

What We Don't Like
  • Need to buy replacement bait

  • Bait has a strong fermented odor

The Victor Fly Magnet is a tidy container that uses bait to lure flies under its tented lid and into the depths of its glass chamber. The flies drown in the jar, which can hold dozens of winged insects. The scent of this compact outdoor fly trap also repels stinging insects such as bees and wasps.

With its compact size, the Victor Fly Magnet Fly Trap is simple in its style, so it can tuck behind a plant on a table or sit on a porch under a chair to keep flies from ruining your outdoor experience. The bait squares are made of decayed food-grade products, and you need to cover them in water to activate the trap. Once the jar is full of flies, which should take at least a week for typical outdoor environments, just toss the contents and insert another bait square.

The bait has a strong fermented food smell, which might make it better suited away from outdoor dining areas.

Price at time of publish: $16

Type: Plastic trap | Dimensions: 5.97 x 5.95 x 13.09 inches | Targeted Species: All flies

Best for Outdoors

Flies Be Gone Fly Trap

Flies Be Gone Fly Trap

 Amazon

What We Like
  • Large capacity

  • 30-day effectiveness

  • No insecticides

What We Don't Like
  • Not an attractive trap

If flies outdoors are giving you stress, the original Flies Be Gone Fly Trap is a convenient, inexpensive, and easy way to reduce their numbers quickly. Great for barns, houses with chickens, and more, this trap can house thousands of flies and doesn't need to be changed for 30 days.

As with most traps on this list, it is pesticide-free (the manufacturer has created its own bait, which it describes as a “handmade fly food”) and can be tossed once it’s full. Just be sure to hang it out of reach of children and pets (although since it is a clear trap and doesn't hide its contents, you will want to anyway) You can purchase this trap as a two-pack, or in multiples of up to 50 on the manufacturer’s site.

Price at time of publish: $37

Type: Hanging | Dimensions: 10.2 x 8.2 x 6.6 inches | Targeted Species: Flies

Final Verdict

Our top pick is the Starbar Fly Terminator Pro, a powerhouse trap that can catch 35,000 flies, horseflies, deer flies, and gnats before it needs emptying. If you're looking for a reusable option, check out the Victor Fly Magnet Reusable Trap With Bait. It can be refilled with the brand's bait.

What to Look for in a Fly Trap

Style

Historically, fly traps have come in two formats: sticky traps and container traps. Sticky traps require flies to land directly on the sticky material, which may catch other debris and need to be replaced more often. For example, the Catchmaster Clear Window Traps, our best for indoors option consists of clear strips that can be thrown out after use.

Container traps lure flies with bait and make it impossible for them to leave. Some container traps are reusable with bait refills, like the Victor Fly Magnet Reusable Trap With Bait: others need to be thrown out once full. A zapper, while not technically a trap, lures insects with its ultraviolet light and eliminates them with an electric charge, like the ASPECTEK 20W Electric Indoor Bug Zapper.

Bait Type

Most traps, even sticky ones, use bait to lure flies close enough to trap. Disposable traps may come with bait already in place to make setup easier, but reusable containers likely require additional bait to be added after the first use.

Placement

Depending on your fly problem, you need indoor or outdoor traps. Indoor traps tend to be smaller and more focused on design, so you don't have to stare at dead flies inside your home. Outdoor traps have a larger capacity, which means they may only need to be replaced a couple of times a season. For example, the Please Be Gone Fly Trap is a great outdoor option, and should only need to be replaced after 30 days.

FAQ
  • How do fly traps work?

    No matter the type, all fly traps offer something attractive to the fly to ensure entrapment. This might be color, scent, bait, UV light, or vacuum. All are effective, though some flies are more attracted to carbon dioxide (gas breathed out by most mammals), and fruit flies favor fermented fruit.

  • How often do fly traps need to be replaced?

    Your mileage varies greatly with the fly trap you choose. Typically, light bulbs in light traps need to be replaced less frequently; traps using bait require more daily monitoring and cleaning. Glue traps are a nice middle ground, only needing disposal when full. They cost minimal money to replace.

  • How do you clean/empty fly traps?

    Luckily, most traps today are designed to be simple to clean out. Many have trays that can be easily dumped into a trash can. Some, like glue and cling traps, can just be disposed of directly. Fruit fly traps that have a liquid bait are the most difficult, as they need to be cleaned out regularly to be effective. Cindy Mannes, a senior vice president for the National Pest Management Association, also suggests "removing kitchen trash daily and keeping garbage and recycling bins clean. In addition to decaying fruit, flies can be attracted to beverage bottles and cans waiting to be recycled. Rinse out bottles and cans before throwing them in the bin.” This reduces the number of flies hanging around your home and trash cans.

Why Trust The Spruce?

This article was written by Amanda Rose Newton, a freelance writer and garden reviewer for The Spruce. As an entomologist, she delighted in personally testing out the products to provide advice to those with different needs, homes, and price points when it comes to pest control.

To make this list, Newton tested each product over the span of two weeks. She also considered the difficulty in application/setup, positioning, and cleanup. She also spoke with Cindy Mannes, a senior vice president for the National Pest Management Association.