Best Wasp & Hornet Sprays – 7 Efficient Wasp Killers

Ortho offers its unique hornet and wasp killer formula in 16oz spray cans. The formula kills on contact due to the effect it has on the insect’s nervous system and also by quickly encasing it in foam.

You can also use it on yellow jackets and mud daubers too, if there are more species of flyers preventing you from enjoying your time in the yard. The jet has a good reach of 20ft. but the wide dispersal pattern may make it difficult to saturate a nest without going in close to the entrance.

That said, with its wide dispersal pattern and quick foaming action, this can be a great tool to deal with swarms of flyers as they come for your flowers, food, or for bait.

Another advantage of the wide dispersal pattern is the ability to quickly spray under roof eaves, doorways, window frames, windowsills, and other areas where wasps or hornets may use to get inside your house.

The formula has an odor, but nothing that you shouldn’t be able to stomach. It goes away just as fast as it comes out of the can. There’s not much residual effect to speak of due to the foam not being very weather resistant. But, if used on a hot summer day, a few applications should take care of your problems.

Raid offers its top-of-the-line flyer insect killer in packs of three 14oz spray cans. The Raid formula is very powerful, being able to kill both wasps and hornets on contact. You can use this to eradicate entire nests and prevent a more serious infestation.

What I also like about this spray is that it’s non-conductive, or at least safe to use up to 32,500V. This means that it should be safe to use in garages, around cars, in attics, or any other places you may have electrical wiring around your house.

The dispersal rate is not very wide. However, the nozzles can shoot a jet of spray up to 22 feet in optimum weather conditions – non-windy to be exact. This is really good as it should let you stay at a safe distance from most nests, unless they’re located on really tall trees.

The two main active ingredients in this formula are prallethrin and cypermethrin, both known synthetic insecticides used to kill crawling and flying insects. In terms of pricing, Raid was never known as a cheap brand. But, the reliability you get with its wasp and hornet killer spray may be well worth the price.

I consider the Terro T3300-2 as a value pesticide. It comes with two 19oz aerosol cans with decent spread and reach. It’s not as nasty smelling as other similar products, making it a no-brainer pick for indoor and outdoor use.

It is, however, a bit unnerving to flyers so you might want to spray nests during periods of minimal activity. The water-based formula can really sink into a nest, spreading its poison to the entire colony.

I also like that, even though it’s watery, it doesn’t stain. The dispersal pattern is very wide, hence the range of only 20ft. But, this can be a good thing if you’re not dealing with nests and instead want to kill wasps, hornets, or yellow jackets flying around the patio.

Although the formula is a bit too toxic to be spread on edible plants, most decorative plants should be able to handle it. The main active ingredient is tetramethrin. And, although it’s a potent synthetic compound, it’s not as toxic to plants as it is to insects.

There are also natural solutions to deal with a wasp or hornet infestation. The EcoSmart Organic Wasp and Hornet Killer spray comes in a 14oz can and it’s safe to use around pets, kids, and even edible plants.

Its formula is non-toxic and 100% organic which means that there’s nothing that could contaminate the water supply either, even when used generously. You can also use this spray inside your home. It has a pleasant minty scent, thanks to peppermint oil.

Other natural-derived fragrances and essential oils are also used. The proprietary formula may not smell like your average wasp insecticide, but it kills on contact. Granted, as opposed to using synthetic insecticides, with the EcoSmart spray you’ll have to drown the fliers.

It may take more than just a light application to dispatch an entire nest. And, keep in mind that peppermint oil can rile the insects up inside the nest. You may want to consider using a nozzle attachment with this can because its standard range is just 16ft.

This particular wasp and hornet killer from CRC is not the most popular choice, but it’s very effective. Even with its short range of just 20ft, there are plenty advantages to choosing this over other sprays in some situations.

For one, the CRC EWHIK16 formula is non-conductive up to 47,600V. That’s almost twice the industry average, and at a competitive price too. Secondly, even with its 20ft. maximum reach, the jet is highly accurate for up to 15ft, which is not something you can always say for other spray cans.

Furthermore, the water-based formula is surprisingly dense and the mist sprayed from the nozzle is hard to escape. This can be your go-to solution for large extermination jobs.

I also like that it’s one of the few cans with an extension tube. This will give you more control, even though it doesn’t boost the range. The ergonomic trigger is also nice to have, if you have more than one nest to tackle.

The Hot Shot HG-13412 Pest Control comes in 14oz and 17.5oz spray cans. You can also choose to get it as a two-pack or purchase it in individual cans, depending on the severity of the infestation.

The jet spray can reach up to 27ft. in a decent medium-wide pattern. You should be able to get enough HG-13412 inside a nest even when standing far from it. But, there will be some product waste if you’re looking to be extra safe, so to speak.

Although billed as non-staining, I wouldn’t recommend this formula for indoor use. It’s quite toxic for pets and kids, and can be harmful to adults too if too much of it is inhaled. Also, due to how long it can linger once applied, it may actually stain surfaces that aren’t treated or properly cleaned on a regular basis.

However, if you’re absolutely budget-constrained, you’d be hard pressed to find something equally efficient in this price range.

The Spectracide Wasp and Hornet Killer spray comes in packs of 20oz aerosol cans. The formula is strong, being able to kill most flyers on contact. It’s also capable of eliminating entire nests, as long as you spray a good enough amount inside them.

Each can of the Spectracide is able to shoot the spray up to 27ft. away. This is a very good range if you ask me. And, even though the dispersal rate is quite wide at maximum distance, it should still be safe enough to cover an entire nest.

The formula has a decent residual effect. It will last for a few days to finish off any strays returning to the nest. It is sensitive to rain, but strong winds won’t do much against it.

I should also point out that this is one of the most affordable wasp, hornet, and yellow jacket aerosol killers on the market. The massive spray cans should keep you covered for at least a few months, even if you own a large property with many trees.

But, to really kill an entire nest, you may have to get a bit closer to it. That’s because the can doesn’t have an adjustable spray nozzle. You can swap a universal adjustable nozzle in, although I don’t recommend that. You could hurt yourself or reduce the efficiency of the spray.