10 Best Bug Zappers of 2024 – Indoor & Outdoor Bug Zapper Buying Guide
Insects are pesky little creatures that can be quite annoying. Whether it is some blood-sucking mosquitoes or wasps with their nasty stings, insects can make life uncomfortable both indoors and outdoors. Proper pest control is key whether you are in an apartment or a 1 acre ranch.
It is true they also have several benefits such as aiding in pollination, but the fact that some can also spread diseases is enough reason to get rid of them. And a bug zapper provides one of the best ways to do this.
Bug zappers take advantage of the insects’ natural attraction to light and then use electrocution to kill these nasty little creatures. They can be one of the most effective mosquito killer techniques you can find.
But, just like with anything else there are all kinds of electronic insect killers out there from different manufacturers. You might find them marketed as a fly zapper, light bulbs, insect zapper, fly trap or even a camping lantern. No matter the name, they all do the same basic thing: kill bugs.
And so this piece we review and compare different ones and also highlight some important things that you need to know to help you pick the best.
Image | Product Name | Rating | Current Price |
|---|---|---|---|
 | 1. Flowtron BK-15D Electronic Insect Killer (Best Outdoor) | 4.5 | |
 | 2. Boomile Light Bulb (Best Bulb) | 4.5 | |
 | 3. Aspectek Electronic Indoor Zapper (Best Indoor) | 4.3 | |
 | 4. Gloue Electronic Insect Killer | 4.5 | |
 | 5. Zap-It! (Best Racket) | 4.5 | |
 | 6. Pest Soldier Electronic Indoor Zapper | 4.5 | |
 | 7. Liba Electric Indoor Insect Killer | 4.5 | |
 | 8. Hoont Powerful Electronic Indoor | 4.0 | |
 | 9. Elucto Electric Zapper | 4.0 | |
 | 10. PestZilla Robust UV Electronic Zapper | 4.0 |
You can also read other product reviews such as bug spray, ant killer, garden sprayer.
10 Best Bug Zappers - Reviews
1. Flowtron BK-15D - Best for Outdoors
Editor's Rating: 
(4.5 / 5)
The Flowtron BK-15D might be the priciest item on our bug zapper reviews but the service that it provides explains why.
It is the best outdoor bug zapper on our list and the highly efficient and non-clogging killing grid is one of its most outstanding features. For pest control, this should be on the top of your list.
This one also uses a high voltage transformer that keeps the wire mesh electrified to ensure no insect survives the killing grid.
And you will not need to buy another outdoor device for a long time because the rugged and weatherproof construction means that this one will last for many years. The bulb replacement is easy and you will not even need any tools.
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2. Boomile Bug Zapper - Best Mosquito Bulb
Editor's Rating: (4.5 / 5)
Unlike some of the other options in this list that are large electric bug zappers, this is actually a standard light bulb replacement.
For those that are looking for a small bug zapper light, here is a high-performing one. It is the cheapest devices in our reviews but it still offers top-notch service.
This bulb uses an advanced technology that makes it possible to choose from 3 modes and you can use it both indoors and outdoors.
The long lifespan makes this the best bulb zapper as it has a working life of an impressive 50,000 hours and it is also highly energy efficient to make it even better.
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3. Aspectek 20W - Best for Indoors
Editor's Rating: 
(4.3 / 5)
Here is one of the best indoor bug zappers for any homeowner looking for a chemical-free way of dealing with pesky insects.
It will provide a powerful insect control mechanism that will attract everything from flies and moths to mosquitoes and other flying bugs. And it is also a safe zapper to use thanks to the protective mesh grid that prevents accidental contact with the grid.
Installation is also quick and easy as there is nothing much to do. And maintenance should also only take a few minutes as there is a removable and washable plastic tray at the bottom for getting rid of the dead bugs and the electric grid is also self-cleaning.
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4. Gloue Electronic Insect Killer
Editor's Rating: (4.5 / 5)
Here is another affordable one that is also highly efficient in dealing with those annoying insects that might make life uncomfortable for you.
The small and compact size makes this plug-in zapper easy to carry and use. And for the use, there is nothing much that you need to do besides from plugging it into an outlet and switching it on.
Removing the dead insects from the zapper is also quite straightforward and a screwdriver is the only tool that you will need to use.
The fact that its LED lights are useful in attracting various kinds of insects also helps to cement its place as the best plug-in bug zapper on our list.
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5. Zap-It! - Best Racket
Editor's Rating: (4.5 / 5)
This 3,000-volt Zap-It is the best bug zapper for killing mosquitoes on our lists and it will kill them and many other insects in just one swing. Plus, let's face it, it is just so fun to use an electric fly swatter.
And there are almost no downtimes when using this device as it uses an ultra-fast USB charging that ensures it is ready for use when you need it.
The super bright built-in LED light makes this an ideal zapper for use both in the day and at night and so it provides round the clock solution to your insect problem.
Also, it is a safe zapper even for kids as it has a triple layer mesh around the grid to protect your hands in case you touch it accidentally.
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6. Pest Soldier 20W Electronic Indoor Bug Zapper
Editor's Rating: (4.5 / 5)
The powerful electric grids on this bug zapper make it highly reliable in dealing with various kinds of insects. The grid is powered by a couple of 20-watt ultraviolet bulbs that will attract most kinds of insects.
There is also a protective cage on this device that makes it safe for use even around kids and pets as it prevents accidental contact with the electrified grid.
Removing the dead bugs is also quite easy and only takes a few minutes since the collection tray is easy to remove and also washable.
It is also 100% chemical and odor free which makes it entirely safe for use indoors. And it also comes with a wire chain that makes it possible to hang it almost anywhere.
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7. Liba Electric Indoor Insect Killer
Editor's Rating: (4.5 / 5)
Here is another great bug zapper that will be ideal for use in any indoor space. And it has a powerful 2,800-volt grid that makes it easy to get rid of the bugs.
And once you set up the zapper it will provide instant attraction and elimination of insects and so it can be a quick solution to your bug problem.
There is also a cage wiring around the grip to make this a safe device for use indoor as it minimizes the risk of accidental electrocution for kids, pets, and even adults.
The dead bug tray is also easy to remove and washable to make this device easy to maintain. Also, it will come with a wire chain for easy and space-saving hanging.
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8. Hoont 20W Powerful Electronic Indoor Bug Zapper
Editor's Rating: 
(4 / 5)
Although this Hoont bug zapper is for indoor use, you can still use it outdoors provided it does not get wet. And it will provide an easy and efficient way of controlling bugs in and around your home.
The two 10 Watts ultraviolet bulbs will attract the pesky insects and kill them fast and they also provide a wide coverage area of up to 6,000 square feet.
This wide coverage means that the device will work for a variety of other places besides from the home such as hospitals, schools, and restaurants.
Like most other devices it has a removable tray at the bottom that makes it easy to get rid of the dead insects. And it also provides various mounting options to make it even more convenient.
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9. Elucto Electric Racket
Editor's Rating: (4 / 5)
A fly swatter is an affordable and highly reliable method of getting rid of pesky bugs. This simple to use zapper will not take a lot of effort and you can use it in various environments.
When you buy the bug racket you will also get some AA batteries to make it ready for immediate use. And just by looking at this bug racket you can tell that it is just simple to use.
There are also no safety risks when using this big zapper as there are no chemicals or odors.
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10. PestZilla Robust UV Electronic Bug Zapper
Editor's Rating: (4 / 5)
If you are dealing with any other annoying insects besides from mosquitoes here is an affordable and reliable bug zapper that will work well for you.
It might not be the best mosquito zapper but the extremely powerful metal grid will help to attract other kinds of flying and crawling insects and kill them fast.
Also, this one provides a wide coverage as it will cover up to 6,000 square feet to make it ideal for use in many other places besides from the use at home.
Setting up this device will also not take up a lot of effort as you only need to plug it in and watch it do the job fast. And this is because it comes assembled and ready for use.
There is also a collecting tray to add to the convenience of this device and a couple of detachable chains for ceiling or wall mounting.
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How to Buy the Best Bug Zappers
There is no doubt that you need a bug zapper to deal with the pesky insects and bugs that make life uncomfortable at home.
But what is even more important is getting the right one or at least something useful and reliable in killing the annoying bugs and insects.
And to make sure that you choose the best from the many options you should always consider the following important things when choosing your bug zapper.
Housing
The housing of the device is an important element that should always be one of the first things that you consider. And this is more so if you have kids or pets.
It is always important to make sure that housing is not only durable and sturdy enough but it is also safe for kids and pets.
A good housing should make it impossible for kids or pets to touch the electrified grid inside to eliminate the risk of electrocution. But, the spaces should still be large enough for the targeted insect to pass through.
Light Source
Every bug zapper will come with a light source as it is what will draw the insects to it. But it is important to make sure that the light source can attract the insects that you are trying to get rid off as there are different kinds of light source.
Most will use mercury, neon or ultraviolet lights sources. However ultraviolet is the most popular option as many insects will see it better than light in the visible spectrums.
Mercury vapor lights are also highly effective and this is more so when attracting the night-flying insects. It is because of this that entomologists will use it to observe or capture insect specimen.
Wire Meshes
A good bug zapper design will consist of two metal wire meshes surrounding the light source. They are also an important factor to consider as they are what will electrocute the bugs.
There is nothing much to watch out for when it comes to the wire meshes besides from making sure that their size and design are safe. And this is because they carry a high voltage that can pose a significant risk.
Voltage
The last factor to consider is the voltage that the device produces. What makes this an important factor is the fact that it determines the efficiency of the zapper in killing bugs and insects.
It is important to choose an electric design that will deliver enough voltage to kill the insects that you intend to eliminate.
The best bug zappers will deliver a voltage of around 2,000 volts or more and this should be enough to kill the most bug and insect types.
Why Are Bugs Attracted By Light, Carbon Dioxide?
Although bug zappers will use an electric current to electrocute the insects, it is their light source that draws the bugs to their death.
While there is common misconceptions that bugs just love light and hence will always go to its source, there is much more to it than this.
Night flying insects do not always see very well in the dark or have reliable navigation mechanisms like doves and other flying animals, and so the will rely on moonlight for navigation.
These insects will keep the reflected light from the moon at a constant angle and use it to maintain a straight course and steady flight path.
But, artificial sources of light confuse the bugs by blocking the natural light from the moon and make it hard for them to navigate. And when they cannot use the moon for navigation, they end up relying on the artificial source of light.
Since the light from the bulb will radiate in all sides, insects cannot keep it at a constant angle as they would do with the moon and so they end up spiraling around the artificial light source.
Why Mosquitoes are Attracted to Carbon Dioxide?
Carbon dioxide is the surest indication for mosquitoes that there is a meal nearby. And this is because all animals will exhale carbon dioxide.
The scent of carbon dioxide in the air helps mosquitoes locate a source of blood and they can detect it when they are as far as 35 feet away.
While the ultraviolet light that zappers produce attracts a variety of insect types, carbon dioxide and the water vapor in sweat are the only ways to attract mosquitoes.
How Does a Bug Zapper Work?
Before you go out to buy a bug zapper it will be a great idea to start by finding out how it works. Doing this ensures that you know what you are getting and what to expect.
Although there have been some changes and advancements to improve the safety and the luring potential of the device, basically they are still the same as they were several decades ago.
They will consist of a light fixture that is an ultraviolet source, housing wire grid, and the electric power supply.
The bug zapper uses the ultraviolet light to attract most types of bugs and modern ones will also produce carbon dioxide to attract mosquitoes.
The wire grid around the UV light source is electrified with a low voltage current. When the insects that are drawn to the light try to pass through the wire grid they are electrocuted.
Most devices will also include a special collection tray at the bottom where dead bugs will accumulate.
Do Bug Zappers Kill Mosquitoes?
Bug zappers use UV light to attract insects and bugs but it does not attract mosquitoes. And this is because mosquitoes, like many other biting insects, will use the scent of carbon dioxide to locate a source of blood.
However, this is not to say that they are completely ineffective in killing mosquitoes. There are those mosquitoes that will get curious and want to inspect the source of light and hence end up dead.
A University of Guelph study on the effectiveness of zappers at killing mosquitoes found that only about 4.1% of the dead insects as the female biting mosquitoes. And so 95.9 % of the dead insects were not the biting mosquitoes.
If you have a serious mosquito problem indoors or outdoors a zapper might not be your best solution. However, there are still many other reliable options out there.
One of these options is using the manual racket. The zapper racket is basically an electronic fly swatter that kills the mosquitoes instantly in a single swing.
And besides, from the useful zapper racket, the other good solution when dealing with mosquitoes is to invest in a high-quality bug repellent to keep them away from your home.
Lastly, it is important to remember that there is also some modern zapper that emits carbon dioxide or at least a mosquito attractant and these can be very useful in killing mosquitoes.
Kinds of Bugs That Can Be Drawn Into Bug Light
As you shop for the best bug light it is important to understand the kind of bugs that these lights can attract just to be sure that it will serve the intended purpose. Luckily there are a variety of bug types that you can attract with this light and they fall in almost all categories of insects.
#1. Flying Bugs
The flying bugs are probably your main target when buying indoor or outdoor bug zappers. Luckily, the light they use will attract various kinds of flying bugs.
And these bugs include moths, beetles, and fireflies which means that the light will attract both the ones that bite and also the harmless types.
If your bug zapper also has a mosquito attractant it will also be useful in attracting and killing mosquitoes.
Biting Bugs
Biting flies and mosquitoes make it hard to enjoy your outdoor space. But the worst thing about them is that they can also spread diseases such as malaria.
But, it is important to remember that not all zappers will attract mosquitoes because unlike others they will not be attracted by ultraviolet light.
Also, the outdoor bug zapper might just attract the biting bugs to your compound and not necessarily to the light source. Mosquitoes, for example, can be attracted to your yard but once there, they are more likely to fly to you for a bite that goes to check out the light source.
Crawling Bugs
Although the flying bugs will form a majority of the dead insects on the tray on your bug zapper, they are not the only ones. An electric bug zapper will also attract crawling bugs like ants and the non-flying beetles.
Since most are meant to attract the flying bugs they will not kill a significant amount of the crawling one to reduce their population.
Hence when dealing with a massive infestation of crawling bugs, you will have to combine the bug zapper with another solution such as the use of insecticide and repellants.
Stinging Bugs
The light will also attract the stinging insects such as bees and wasps and this is likely to happen in the evening just as the daylight starts to fade away.
While wasp and bees can have a nasty sting, they are not likely to hunt or seek you out as in most cases they only sting on self-defense.
Moreover, bees and wasps will have more benefits to your garden when alive. For example, bees are the kings of pollination and they can help to keep your garden healthy.
Wasps, on the other hand, will hunt and kill insects such as psyllids that can be very destructive in your garden.
Last Updated on June 2, 2019 by Tom Bradly