7 Best Fly Killers for Indoor & Outdoor Use

Updated on by Jared Belson | Please note that there may be affiliate links on this page.

You can kill flies manually or use a variety of traps, sprays, baits, and other tools. But the best fly killers can be tricky to differentiate from the mediocre ones if you don’t know how all types of fly killers work.

In this article, I’ll share with you what makes each trap, bait, spray, and zapper work, as well as my top recommendations for each category. That way, you won’t just have one product that you can use, but as many as it takes to get the job done safely for you, your kids, pets, and your plants.

Best Fly Killers that I Recommend for Home Use

If you haven’t used pressurized fly bait before, it’s time you’ve tried some. PT Alpine offers an excellent formula that targets a wide range of flying insects, including house flies, flesh flies, fruit flies, and others.

The spray is odorless and dries off quickly, thus eliminating the risk of staining. When used on non-porous surfaces, it can provide a residual control effect for up one month. That is very convenient, especially in residential areas.

Because the formula’s main ingredient is Dinotefuran, the PT Alpine fly bait has a fast knockdown effect. And, you can also use it for broad applications, not just spot treatments.

The main highlights remain the odorless and non-staining qualities of the formula. But, I also like the aerosolized delivery system since it allows for more precise treatments, whether inside or outside. I do recommend it for indoor use if you want a long-lasting effect.

  • For broad and spot treatments
  • Odorless
  • Clear once it dries
  • Fast-acting formula
  • Not as great for outdoor use

If you want to kill flies with non-toxic methods, you might want to try the Black Flag Fly Stick. This neat sticky trap is easy to install and has plenty of surface space to trap a variety of small and medium-sized flies.

One pack comes with six sticks, all of which are odorless and great for indoor use. I will say that the sticks don’t come loaded with attractant. So, you could just add commercial bait or make your attractant with syrup or honey.

Either will do, and you won’t need to use large amounts to attract flies. The sticks come with hooks for easy hanging. However, you can also stick them into a flowerpot, or on a makeshift holder on your table. Also, you can put it somewhere near your trash bin.

It is essential to remember to give the sticks 360 degrees clearance so that you’re not wasting any portion of the sticky surface. These traps don’t smell and are easy to dispose of after use. However, they’re not reusable, so they may end up being costly in the long-run.

  • Six sticks per pack
  • Powerful glue
  • Will work indoors and outdoors
  • Built-in hook design
  • Not cost-effective for long-term treatments and protection

While this trap is an all-purpose device, I recommend it for outdoor use. It comes with a large insect tray that isn’t airtight. That means that after a while, it may develop an unpleasant smell.

In outdoor use situations, it performs excellently. It has almost a full acre of coverage and is equally effective against flies and mosquitoes. The AtraktaGlo light is a very potent attractant, especially when enhanced by a diffuser.

This unique design also has a quiet fan. That way, your animals and neighbors won’t be disturbed by the DT1750 even if you run it all night long.

I also recommend it for its very durable build. It’s not only sturdy but also weatherproof, thus making this an even sweeter deal. There’s also no need to add additional attractants as the light takes care of everything.

  • Odorless and non-toxic
  • Weatherproof design
  • Very quiet fan
  • Diffuser-enhanced light attractant
  • The mesh insect tray can get a bit messy after a while

The Black Flag ZR-7936 is another handheld fly zapper I like and recommend. It offers a whopping 2,750v of power, which will simply obliterate flies, mosquitoes, and other pesky flying insects.

It’s one of the most popular racket zappers, for good reasons. The zapper’s mesh has tight weaving. Thus the pattern allows the racket to hit even the smallest of fruit flies. It also comes with a LED indicator, so you have a good energy monitor.

Since it’s so powerful, it can also kill bees and other pests quickly. It may come handier than you think since you won’t have to buy different traps and repellents for all flying pests around your house.

Are there any downsides? It’s not for everyone’s taste since it provides little to no passive fly killing. However, you could leave it on and use the hook to hang it somewhere.

  • High-voltage racket zapper
  • LED indicator
  • Very tight and secure mesh
  • Hanging hook included
  • Not a passive fly killer

You can rarely go wrong with a good, classic bug zapper. This model uses UV light as an attractant and a powerful discharge to instantly remove flies, mosquitoes, bees, and other pests from existence.

Its coverage is around half an acre, which is good enough for the money. The collection tray can hold many dead flies and is rather easy to clean, making this killer even more convenient.

The modern design is ok, but nothing spectacular. However, I do like how everything is easy to access, from the dead flies to the actual bulb. Black+Decker did a great job of making bulb replacement intuitive and user-friendly.

The build is not weatherproof. I recommend you use this outdoors but only in areas where rain and snow won’t get into the zapper while it’s plugged in. I will also point out that the cord is just under 5ft long. So, you may need an extension cord for optimal placement.

  • 2,400v fence
  • Easy access to tray and bulb
  • Durable bulb
  • Energy-efficient
  • Not weatherproof

One of my all-time favorites, the Katchy Indoor Insect Trap uses UV light to attract a variety of pesky insects. Included, but not limited to – fruit flies, mosquitos, and gnats.

The powerful fan draws flies in without a problem. The glue boards then immobilize the flies and prevent them from escaping. Flies will eventually die of dehydration.

I like the design as it is quite catchy and should look well in any modern décor. While this is mostly an indoor trap, you can also use it on the patio or your deck.

The light is powerful enough to attract insects from far away. Other advantages include being odorless, much quieter than similar fan traps, and non-toxic. That said, it may not be the most effective against common house flies.

Apart from that, the trap is easy to set up and clean, and it won’t inconvenience you while you’re sleeping.

  • Optimized UV light
  • Powerful fan
  • Attracts a variety of flies
  • Quiet operation
  • Not ideal for daytime use

I recommend this fly killer to any homeowner that enjoys swatting flies manually. Classic fly swatters are still in use, but they can’t always guarantee success. With the Elucto Fly Swatter, you get more room for error.

Barely touching a fly is enough to kill it since it will instantly zap the insect. The tennis racket-style design gives the swatter a cool look and a comfortable handle.

Another thing I like is that this swatter doesn’t require you to swat a fly over a window, table, wall, etc. You can kill it in mid-air, which is something most swatters can’t do.

What’s even better is that this zapper is reusable, durable, and very easy to clean. It also provides a non-toxic fly killing alternative, which is always nice to have.

  • A fun way of killing flies
  • Easy maintenance
  • Guaranteed mid-air kills
  • Batteries last long
  • Only suitable for active fly killing

Types of Fly Killers I Recommend

There are so many ways to can kill flies and so many tools and gadgets you can use. I prefer set-it-and-forget-it traps because I often have other things to do.

So, I think that most homeowners will appreciate a good bug zapper or some sticky glue traps. Stick or pole-type traps may not have the best area coverage or capacity, but they’re pretty straightforward to use.

That said, there’s a time and a place for aerosolized fly killers too. I prefer using these inside rather than outside, to guarantee I get the most out of the formula.

I also recommend indoor UV light traps with fans as long as you get a good one that works quietly. Also, go for a device that won’t keep you up at night because of a bright bulb.

Last but not least, fly swatters are also nice to have. Racket zappers, the modern version of fly swatters, are fun to use but not great for dealing with a severe infestation.

The main advantage of this design is that it’s effective against any type of flying pest. That includes those that aren’t attracted by UV light or regular fly attractants. Finally, they are more time-consuming but more versatile.

Convenience vs. Efficiency

The ideal fly killer should do it all. But, there is always a trade-off between convenience or quality of life features and efficiency.

For example, an indoor UV light trap may be very convenient to use since it’s odorless and keeps dead flies out of sight. However, not all fans can suck in larger flies. And, the range of the fan is usually around one or two feet at the most.

Sprays are much more efficient at killing. But, to get the most out of them, you have to coat all areas of interest. That can take time, and some sprays may even be toxic to pets or kids.

Initial Costs and Long-Term Maintenance

Another important aspect of selecting a fly killer is how much money you’re willing to spend. Some fly killers, mainly attractant traps, may seem expensive at first. However, they may end up being cost-effective in the long-run since you don’t always need commercial attractants.

Many other traps may seem advantageous until you realize that they’re not reusable. That often happens with sticky traps, which tend to be one-use only.

Even bug zappers are not always the most economical option. They don’t use too much power; they run on batteries or use wall adapters. On top of that, you will need to swap the bulbs after a while. Otherwise, you won’t be able to attract flies into the charged fence.

Indoor vs. Outdoor Traps

The easiest way to determine if a trap is suitable for indoor or outdoor use is to look at the fly killing method and build design. Not all zappers are for outdoor use. Especially those that don’t have decent waterproofing or a rain deterrent feature.

UV light attractants work best indoors. Even though you could leave them outside during the night, they won’t always attract distant flies. That’s because of all the potential distractions in between – food, trash, flowers, etc.

The same goes for glue traps. Not all of them are usable inside and outside your home. Some adhesives are more waterproof or water-resistant than others. Therefore not all glue traps will be useful outside.

Furthermore, small glue traps can be costly to use outdoors. That’s because they can accidentally trap other insects too, leaving too little room on the sticky surface for your primary targets, flies.

Always compare these features before deciding on the best course of action in your situation. And don’t forget to account for environmental factors too, as well as your eating and cleaning habits.

Swat Them Away or Lure Flies In for the Kill

Either method of killing flies should work unless you are dealing with a severe infestation. If you can’t seem to get rid of them, then I suggest a fly killer with reasonable residual control and a powerful attractant. You might want to get a killer with two attractants working in unison.

As you can see, there are plenty of traps to choose from, with various designs tailor-made for different surroundings and preferences. Make sure you use these tips that I’ve presented, to give yourself a better chance of making the right decision.

2 thoughts on “7 Best Fly Killers for Indoor & Outdoor Use”

  1. Have you ever tried those fans for picnic tables that have rotating strips that reflect light and they flap in circles to deter flies from landing on your food? Belfans technology is one example. But it looks like they are all made in China and have flimsy construction.

    Reply
    • Hi Molly, thanks for your comment. I haven’t tried one of those, though, so can’t comment on their effectiveness.

      Reply

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