The Best Bug Sprays, Backed By Our Testing

Stop all kinds of creepy crawlies in their tracks with these 8 bug sprays.

Insect bites aren’t just unpleasant—they also have some serious health ramifications. Mosquitoes can carry malaria, Zika virus, and West Nile virus while ticks can cause Lyme disease, anaplasmosis, babesiosis, and others. Bug repellents prevent both bites from insects and any diseases they may carry.

The top bug sprays on the market can protect you from mosquitoes, ticks, chiggers, biting flies, no-see-ums, and other types of biting insects. But it can be difficult to navigate the many products out there. A good starting point for choosing a bug spray is to consider the active ingredient and the delivery method. The active ingredient for most bug sprays is DEET or picaridin, although some of the more natural options use oil of lemon eucalyptus as an alternative. You can also find bug sprays in aerosol, spritz, or lotion forms.

To find the best bug repellents, we interviewed experts to create our list, then personally tested each product’s effectiveness, coverage, ease of use, value, and smell. We also considered active ingredients, application methods, EPA labeling, and what types of insects each spray could repel.


Find more detailed reviews on the complete list of best bug sprays, written by By Elizabeth Yuko, PhD and Caroline Thomasone here.

IMESASISHWA MWISHO

October 28, 2024

Imeandikwa na
Mwandishi wa Blogu ya Picha

Afya ya Sana

Media Mentions from Verywell Health

Health and wellness is a journey. Verywell is with you every step of the way. Know more. Feel better.

Chunguza Maudhui Zaidi

Majina ya Vyombo vya Habari

Sawyer’s donation of water filters represents a significant shift away from the cumbersome logistics of bottled water, offering a faster and more efficient solution.

John Dicuollo
Public Relations Director at Backbone Media

Majina ya Vyombo vya Habari

Summer tick season used to be a problem only in the southern part of Ontario, but tick populations are moving north as the climate grows warmer.

TVO ya Leo
Habari za vyombo vya habari kutoka TVO Leo

Majina ya Vyombo vya Habari

Mosquitos are nasty creatures. They bite, they transmit terrible diseases to people and pets, and from what I read, they have absolutely no redeeming value in the ecosystem.

ArcaMax
Maelezo ya vyombo vya habari kutoka ArcaMax