--- title: "The 6 Best Wasp Sprays for Safe and Quick Wasp Nest Control" description: "If wasps are too close for comfort in your spaces, choose the best wasp spray for your pest control needs. See our top picks." date: "2020-10-15" modified: "2025-09-09" authors: - name: "Tony Carrick" job_title: "Contributing Writer" link: "https://www.bobvila.com/authors/tony-carrick.md" url: "https://www.bobvila.com/articles/best-wasp-spray/" categories: - "Garden Pests" - "Gardening" - "Interior" - "Lawn & Garden" - "Pests" - "Reviews" tags: - "Commerce" - "MPR" --- # The 6 Best Wasp Sprays for Safe and Quick Wasp Nest Control ![The Best Wasp Spray Options]() *Photo: amazon.com* If you’re noticing an increasing number of wasps in your outdoor living space, or even your home, it might be time to find an effective wasp spray. Whether these winged [pests]() are hiding between the vinyl in your eaves or building a nest under your covered porch, the right spray can help you put an end to their assault. Wasp sprays use a blend of neurotoxins that attack a wasp’s nervous system, rendering it paralyzed on contact. These potent pesticides kill on contact and from a safe distance, so you stay out of harm’s way. When sprayed into a nest, they coat the hive, killing wasps returning to the hive hours later. After researching top wasp sprays on the market for effectiveness and ease of use, we chose the [Raid Wasp & Hornet Killer]() as our top pick. Read on to learn more about it and the rest of the products that made our list, plus details on how to choose between the best wasp sprays available today. 1. **BEST OVERALL:** [Raid Wasp & Hornet Killer]() [↓ *Jump to Review*](<#raid-wasp-and-hornet-killer>) 2. **BEST BANG FOR THE BUCK:** [Spectracide Wasp & Hornet Killer]() [↓ *Jump to Review*](<#spectracide-wasp-and-hornet-killer>) 3. **BEST LONG-RANGE:** [Hot Shot Wasp & Hornet Killer]() [↓ *Jump to Review*](<#hot-shot-wasp-and-hornet-killer>) 4. **BEST FOAM:** [Ortho Home Defense Hornet & Wasp Killer]() [↓ *Jump to Review*](<#ortho-home-defense-hornet-and-wasp-killer>) 5. **BEST CONCENTRATE:** [Syngenta Demand CS Insecticide]() [↓ *Jump to Review*](<#syngenta-demand-cs-insecticide>) 6. **BEST NATURAL:** [EcoSmart Wasp & Hornet Killer]() [↓ *Jump to Review*](<#ecosmart-wasp-and-hornet-killer>) ![]() *Photo: amazon.com* ## Wasp Sprays Comparison | **Product** | **Type** | **Reach** | **Active Ingredient(s)** | | --- | --- | --- | --- | | [Raid Wasp & Hornet Killer]() | Spray | Up to 22 feet | Prallethrin, cypermethrin | | [Spectracide Wasp & Hornet Killer]() | Spray | Up to 27 feet | Prallethrin, lambda-cyhalothrin | | [Hot Shot Wasp & Hornet Killer]() | Spray | Up to 27 feet | Prallethrin, lambda-cyhalothrin | | [Ortho Home Defense Hornet & Wasp Killer]() | Foam | Up to 20 feet | Tetramethrin, sumithrin | | [Syngenta Demand CS Insecticide]() | Liquid concentrate | Variable, depends on sprayer | Lambda-cyhalothrin | | [EcoSmart Wasp & Hornet Killer]() | Spray | Up to 18 feet | Peppermint oil, 2-phenethyl propionate | ## Our Top Picks The [insecticides]() below eliminate wasps from up to 27 feet away, allowing you to remain at a safe distance while they work. Each is designed to kill wasps on contact, and when used regularly, each pick can also act as a wasp prevention spray​. - ![Raid Wasp and Hornet Spray set up on table]() *Photo: Stephanie Cronk for BobVila.com* - ![Raid Wasp and Hornet Spray being sprayed under table]() *Photo: Stephanie Cronk for BobVila.com* - ![Raid Wasp and Hornet Spray being sprayed]() *Photo: Stephanie Cronk for BobVila.com* - ![Raid Wasp and Hornet Spray being sprayed]() *Photo: Stephanie Cronk for BobVila.com* [][][] This wasp killer from Raid makes it easy to unleash destruction on wasps’ nests threatening your home while standing at a safe distance. Each 17.5-ounce can delivers an impressive 22-foot range, allowing you to hit high eaves and window casings without having to teeter dangerously on a ladder. You can also target lower-level hives from afar, minimizing the chances of being stung. With 0.05 percent cypermethrin, the formula has a higher concentration of the neurotoxin that kills wasps than most other pesticides, making it incredibly effective. This Raid wasp killer is available in various multi-pack quantities between one and 12 cans each to ensure you have plenty for season-long treatment of wasps, hornets, and yellow jackets. Its strong scent makes it appropriate for outdoor use only, and the manufacturer recommends spraying in the early morning or evening for best results. Users should also avoid using Raid near sewers and storm drains and on gutters that drain into these areas, as it is toxic to aquatic life. **What our tester says:** “Raid’s Wasp and Hornet spray is my go-to choice when I see a wasp’s nest forming. One can of this spray can tackle multiple nests with ease. I also really appreciate the 22-foot range. I’m able to spray any size nest without getting too close to angry wasps or hornets. I have multiple cans of this on hand each summer and it never disappoints. ”—Stephanie Cronk, Executive Editor of Product Reviews **Get the Raid wasp spray (various pack sizes) at** [**Amazon**]()**,** [**Lowe’s**]()**,** [**Tractor Supply Co.**]()**,** [**Ace Hardware**]()**,** [**The Home Depot**]()**,** [**Walmart**]()**, or** [**Target**]()**.** With its ability to kill a whole host of unwelcome visitors, this wasp and hornet spray from Spectracide is an excellent option for budget-friendly pest control. In addition to taking out wasps and hornets, it will also [get rid of yellow jackets](), carpenter and harvester ants, tent caterpillars, mud daubers, and even the odd scorpion. Designed to be a long-distance wasp spray​, it can deliver a stream of wasp-paralyzing poison a maximum distance of 27 feet, allowing you to hit high places without climbing a ladder. To use, simply coat the entire nest and wait 24 hours for it to kill stragglers returning to the hive. While most colonies fall quickly, larger nests may need a second treatment. The non-staining formula won’t damage siding, so it’s safe to apply under eaves and covered porches, along window casings, and in other nooks and crannies where wasps like to build nests. **Get the Spectracide wasp spray at** [**Lowe’s**]()**,** [**Ace Hardware**]()**,** [**The Home Depot**]()**,** [**Walmart**]()**, or** [**Amazon**]() **(12-pack only).** Hot Shot’s wasp and hornet killer comes in a 14-ounce can with a jet spray that reaches an impressive 27 feet, allowing you to hit both low and high spots on your home’s exterior without getting too close to hives. In addition to killing on contact, it keeps working for days to come. Any wasps, hornets, yellow jackets, mud daubers, tent caterpillars, or scorpions that aren’t home at the time of treatment will meet their demise upon return. This formula is designed to be non-staining, though siding age and cleanliness can have an impact, so it’s smart to test a small area first. When targeting the nest, simply aim the narrow stream at the entrance and expand out to cover the whole hive. Like most wasp repellent spray products, Hot Shot is for outdoor use only. **What our tester says:** “We had wasps going in and out of a small hole in our siding and nesting under our patio umbrella last summer. I specifically chose Hot Shot for its range and the fact that I didn’t want our light-colored exterior to end up stained. The siding still looks good as new, and I got rid of the wasps without having to go anywhere near them.”—Michelle Larson, Product Reviews tester and writer **Get the Hot Shot wasp spray at** [**Amazon**]() **or** [**Walmart**]()**.** You don’t need to have perfect aim with this foaming wasp spray from Ortho. The formula expands upon contact, coating nests more thoroughly than a standard spray for wasps. This action makes it easy to kill wasps as they enter, exit, or return later. Ortho Home Defense reaches up to 20 feet, allowing you to hit doorways, eaves, and windows while staying out of harm’s way. It’s also safe to use as an indoor wasp spray in areas where wasps like to build nests, such as attics. In addition to working on wasps, Home Defense will also take out yellow jackets, mud daubers, and hornets. It comes in a convenient three-pack to provide plenty of coverage for multiple nests or repeat treatments. **Get the Ortho wasp spray at** [**Amazon**]()**.** For those with recurring wasp problems, buying individual spray cans can get expensive and create excess household waste. This concentrated formula from Syngenta, available in 0.8-, 8-, and 32-ounce jugs, lets you mix pesticide as needed to keep wasps, mosquitoes, flies, spiders, fleas, ticks, cockroaches, and dozens of other bugs at bay. While this pick is both comprehensive and cost-effective, it does have a couple of potential drawbacks. You’ll need to dilute the concentrate with water before use and [purchase a sprayer]() if you don’t already have one. Also, since it’s not an aerosol spray, you won’t get the same long-range propulsion as other products on this list—but you will get long-lasting control for over 30 common pests. Plus, you can dilute it at a rate of between 0.2 and 0.8 fluid ounces per gallon to meet your specific needs. **Get the Syngenta wasp spray (various sizes) at** [**Amazon**]() **or** [**Walmart**]()**.** When you have pets and kids, using pesticides can make you nervous—even when you know getting rid of that growing wasp’s nest under the front porch is urgent. With EcoSmart’s wasp and hornet killer, you get effective pest control without stressing about potential impacts to your family’s health or the environment. Since this insecticide uses peppermint oil and 2-phenethyl propionate (a chemical compound found in foods like guava, peanuts, and certain cheeses) as its primary neurotoxins, it kills insects without harming humans, pets, or wildlife. While kill speed is generally fast and effective, EcoSmart may not match the immediate knockdown of synthetic chemical sprays. However, like its more aggressive counterparts, it works on more than just wasps, eliminating hornets, yellow jackets, mud daubers, and other flying insects. The jet spray has a reach of up to 18 feet and comes in 9- and 14-ounce cans, sold individually or as a two-pack. **Get the EcoSmart wasp spray (various can sizes and pack sizes) at** [**Lowe’s**]()**,** [**Tractor Supply Co.**]()**,** [**Ace Hardware**]()**,** [**The Home Depot**]()**,** [**Walmart**]()**, or** [**EcoSmart**]()**.** ## [Jump to Our Top Picks](<#recap>) ## What to Consider When Choosing a Wasp Spray Spraying wasps can be scary business, and not just because there’s always a risk of getting stung. When choosing the best wasp spray for your needs, aspects like safety and ease of use must also be part of the equation. ## Types of Wasp Sprays Wasp killers come in three forms: sprays, foams, and concentrates. Each has advantages and disadvantages that impact tackling nests, whether they’re exposed, hidden, or hard to reach. ### Spray Wasp sprays contain powerful chemicals, including pyrethroids like prallethrin, cypermethrin, lambda-cyhalothrin, tetramethrin, and sumithrin, that rapidly paralyze these defensive insects on contact. This prevents them from retaliating while providing residual protection against their return. Sprays usually come in aerosol cans, which lets you stand a reasonably safe distance of up to 27 feet away. As wasps tend to make their nests in the eaves of homes, this long range also allows you to reach the nest without having to use a ladder, which could be dangerous should you need to make a hasty retreat. Of course, blasting a nest from 27 feet away takes some skill. The further away you are, the harder it is to aim the spray accurately, causing waste or, worse, leaving enough wasps alive to mount a counterattack. A thorough approach works best when using a spray, meaning a few spurts won’t be enough. Keep the nozzle depressed and coat the entire nest to ensure all wasps are disabled to prevent any from retaliating or escaping to build a hive in some other location near your home. ### Aerosol Foam Aerosol foam sprays work similarly to standard sprays, only the liquid creates a foam on contact, [trapping wasps]() and paralyzing them with chemicals. The foam expands after it hits a nest, increasing the pesticide’s coverage and ensuring fewer wasps escape. While aerosol foams provide better coverage than standard sprays, they generally have shorter ranges of up to 20 feet. ### Liquid Concentrate For smaller problems, a simple can of spray or aerosol foam will get the job done. Unfortunately, wasps can be persistent pests, returning to make nests in various nooks and crannies around your home’s exterior. If you have a recurring wasp problem, you may need a larger supply of wasp killer to keep the wasps at bay. Since even a relatively small bottle of liquid concentrate will typically make several gallons of spray, concentrates offer a much better value than the spray-ready products. They’re also typically effective against a broader range of insects, allowing you to take out ants, roaches, and a whole host of other pests. Concentrates do have their downsides, including requiring mixing to a properly diluted level and supplying your own sprayer. Because they don’t come compressed in cans, they also won’t have the same range as aerosol products, meaning you’ll need to stand much closer to the nest during application, which makes you more vulnerable to stings. ## Residual Action Residual action is how long a wasp spray keeps killing after initial application. The best wasp sprays are pyrethroid-based, and their chemical formulas leave a protective residue on nests and surrounding surfaces that can remain effective for days or weeks. Some concentrated formulas may even work for up to 3 months. Since both rain and sun can shorten residual effectiveness, periodic reapplication may be necessary for ongoing protection. ## Safety Safety considerations are twofold when it comes to dealing with wasps. Not only can the products themselves be toxic, but spraying hives can also provoke an aggressive response. Choose products with clear instructions and use them during early morning or late evening when wasps are less active. Always wear protective clothing, including gloves and safety glasses, and avoid inhaling spray. If you have kids or pets, consider nontoxic or natural sprays if you have children or pets. No matter which product you use, keep it away from food, water sources, and open wounds to protect your family and the environment. ## FAQs If you’re wondering how you should use wasp spray, how these products kill insects, or whether they’re harmful to humans, read on for answers. ## Author Tony Carrick is a freelance writer who has contributed to BobVila.com since 2020. He writes how-to articles and product reviews in the areas of lawn and garden, home maintenance, home improvement, auto maintenance, housewares, and technology. ### Author social links [LinkedIn]()