Our top pick, Amdro Ant Block Home Perimeter Ant Bait, targets ants at the source (the nest) to prevent indoor infestations, is easy to use, and works quickly. Here are the best ant killers. For a long-lasting solution that tackles the issue at its source, our best overall pick is Amdro Ant Block. These granules act as bait for the ants because they smell like food. Ants in turn take the granules back to their colony for the Queen, which eliminates them. Shake Amdro around the perimeter of your home to create a protective barrier of bait. A whole container can cover nearly 1,100 linear feet, which is enough to treat the average-sized house five times. One treatment also lasts as long as three months, killing carpenter ants, fire ants, and over 20 other ant species. Be aware that Amdro is not safe to use around pets. Although its use is limited to residences without pets, it’s still our best overall pick for its long lasting effect and colony-elimination capabilities. After applying Amdro around her Portland, Oregon, home, one of our testers noted: “In my experience, after a day or two, I noticed a drastic decrease in ants inside the home, a respite that I continue to enjoy two months post-treatment.” Price at time of publish: $20 Price at time of publish: $13 Price at time of publish: $36 Price at time of publish: $15 Price at time of publish: $10 Price at time of publish: $25 Price at time of publish: $22 Price at time of publish: $20
Indoor vs. Outdoor
Many ant killers can be used both inside and outdoors. Always check the label, though—some stronger ant killers may be too potent for indoor use while some household products may not hold up to the elements outside.
Safety
If you have pets or young children, opt for ant traps because they’re more contained than sprays and granules.
Why Trust the Spruce?
Theresa Holland is a professional freelance writer who has been contributing to The Spruce since 2019. Having dealt with ants at every home she can remember, she’d tried a number of products to take care of the issue and usually always goes back to Amdro Ant Block. You can read more of her work on Byrdie, Verywell Fit, and MyDomaine. That said, to deal with ants currently in your home, your best bet is to place indoor-safe bait stations around places they frequent. It’s also good to have an ant killer spray on hand to stop them in their tracks.
