Best Ant Poisons
Last update on 2023-03-28 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API
How We Found the Best Ant Poisons
Ant Poisons We Reviewed:
Best Ant Poisons
If you have a continuous ant problem, chances are you have not yet found a full-proof solution yet. Perhaps you have tried numerous do it yourself tactics, or you have tried your best to repel and protect.
Preventing ants and other insects from getting into your home is one thing, but defeating the problem altogether is another discussion.
Ant poisons don’t repel ants; they kill them—plain and simple. While that part of the solution is easy enough to figure out, it can be hard to know which product is best for your situation. There are several different types of ant poisons on the market, so we have picked some of the top competitors to aid in your decision-making.
BEST OVERALL
Terro Liquid Ant Baits
Last update on 2023-03-28 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API
Pros
- The poison is very effective and will kill any ant who consumes it.
- The poison is also slow-acting, meaning the ants can lead the rest of their colony to it before they die.
- Bait stations are easy to open and use.
- Terro Liquid Ant Bait is very affordable.
- The sweet taste of the liquid bait will attract ants quickly.
- Bait stations are mess-free and keep the liquid from drying out.
Cons
- Initially, you will see an increase of ants in your house before they die out.
- Bait stations should not be within reach of small children or pets.
Features & Specs
- Comes in 1, 2 and 3-packs
- Ready to use
- Sealed station keeps bait fresh until opened
- Can be placed under appliances or other hard to reach areas
The slow-acting poison allows the ants time to return to their colony and share the bait and its location with the rest of the members. Eventually, the poison will spread through the colony and to the queen, and your ant problem will be solved.
Terro’s liquid bait stations are very effective and extremely easy to use. The stations have a snap-off tab to create an opening where ants can get in. Once you have removed this tab, you simply need to place the station along the baseboard, near doors, or where ever else you have seen ants gathering.
BEST OUTDOOR
Terro Outdoor Liquid Ant Baits
Last update on 2023-03-27 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API
Pros
- Effective bait will attract and kill ants within the area.
- Slow-acting bait allows time for ants to spread the poison to the rest of the colony, eliminating the entire population.
- Weatherproof stations ensure the bait isn’t lost and the station isn’t disturbed.
- Removable stakes allow users to place stations securely in the ground of flat on hard surfaces.
- Bait is easy to use with no exposure to harmful chemicals or inhalants.
- Traps are meant to stop the problem before they enter your house.
Cons
- Rendered ineffective if it comes into contact with moisture
Features & Specs
- It comes in packs of one, two, three, or six
- Kills all forms of household ants
- For use outdoors to kill ants before they get in
- Can be staked into the ground
What makes these stations different from the indoor versions is that they include a removable stake that can be used to push the stations into the ground, securing them. The stakes can keep them in place and prevent them from getting knocked or kicked over.
Secondly, the stations are weatherproof and are made to resist rain as well as UV rays from the sun. These features let the stations do their job undisturbed, making your life easier.
Since the bait station has a green design, users can place it in the grass for discrete ant elimination. They are very easy to use; users simply need to press down and twist a one-quarter turn. They work best when placed near entry points of your home and where you see the most ants gathering.
BEST FOR FIRE ANTS
Ortho Orthene Fire Ant Killer
Last update on 2023-03-27 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API
Pros
- Quickly eliminates fire ants, their mounds, and the queen ant in one use.
- Does not require watering.
- Can be used on both lawns and ornamental plants.
- One bottle can treat as many as 54 mounds.
- Made with reduced odor formula.
- Very affordable price.
Cons
- Works best when purchased with Ortho’s two-step fire ant process.
- Requires you to get close to the colony, which can be dangerous.
Features & Specs
- 12 oz bottle can treat 54 mounds
- Does not require watering-in
- Kills off the entire colony
- Can kill an entire colony in one day
The Ortho Orthene Fire Ant Killer is a liquid poison that works by attacking the fire ants right at the source: the anthill. One bottle treats up to 54 mounds and is guaranteed to destroy the mound and kill the queen ant.
Individuals can use Ortho Orthene on lawns and to treat ornamental plants. It requires no watering and needs to be poured directly on the mound.
BEST FOR ANTS AND MORE
Terro Granular Ant Killer Plus
Last update on 2023-03-27 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API
Pros
- Granules contain effective poison that kills far more insects than just household ants.
- Contact killing provides a quick fix to insect issues.
- Good for the use of perimeter protection, giving you long-lasting results.
- The easy-to-spread bag design is convenient for any user.
- Granules are weather resistant and can remain effective through the rain.
Cons
- Terro does not recommend this product for indoor use.
- Not as fast-acting as other products.
- Requires more effort to use than some other products.
Features & Specs
- Comes in two 3 lb. bags
- Weather resistant
- Easy-to-use shaker bag
The granules are weather-resistant, so even after a rainfall, they can remain effective. They offer on-contact killing while providing long-lasting residual control, ridding you of your insect problem and keeping it that way long term.
These granules are meant for outdoor use only, but their uniquely-designed shaker bag allows for easy spreading. There is no need for you to touch the granules or purchase a spreader. Easy spreading makes this product good for perimeter control as well as contact killing.

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BEST DUST
Terro Ant Killer Dust
Last update on 2023-03-27 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API
Pros
- Convenient container is easy to use and apply.
- You can use the product both indoors and outdoors.
- Waterproof dust stays put even through rain.
- Effective poison kills insects on contact.
- Dust can be used as long-term protection and preventative methods.
- Excellent for cracks and crevices.
- Can be used for direct application on anthills.
Cons
- Dust can be difficult to clean up.
- Dust can appear messy.
Features & Specs
- Waterproof dust
- Easy-to-use can
- Lasts up to eight months
- Comes in packages of 1 or 2
- Shake and spread
Ant killer dust can be used both indoors and outdoors. A waterproof product, this ant killer dust won’t wash away in the rain. It is highly effective on other insects as well, including fire ants, spiders, ticks, and wasps.
The fine dust texture of this product is ideal for cracks and crevices that other products can’t get into. Since it won’t wash away, the product will sit in these places for months to come, providing continuous protection.
Terro dust can be placed practically anywhere: porches, patios, garages, stairways, windows, and doors.
BEST GEL
Optigard Ant Bait
Last update on 2023-03-27 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API
Pros
- Works very quickly.
- Small applicator is good for small areas such as cracks and crevices.
- Formula is highly attractive to a variety of ants.
- Targets the entire colony as opposed to the individual visible ants.
- Effective poison kills ants slowly with time to spread.
- Targets insects other than ants.
Cons
- Gel comes at a higher price point.
- More ants will come before the problem is eliminated.
- Is not useful against fire ants.
Features & Specs
- Comes with 4 Tubes
- Can be used indoors and outdoors
- Targets most types of ants
- Highly attractive formula
Good for both indoor and outdoor use, this gel targets and kills common household ants, carpenter ants, and ghost ants. As the ingredient spreads through the colony, more and more ants die, including the queen.
Since this gel comes in a small tube and is easily spreadable, users can spread it in small cracks and crevices where ants and other insects commonly enter the house.
BEST SPRAY
Terro Outdoor Ant Killer Spray
Last update on 2023-03-27 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API
Pros
- Targets a variety of household ants as well as insects like cockroaches, spiders, and some beetles.
- Contact kill lets you instantly eliminate insects on sight.
- Spray can be used as a preventative measure when sprayed along borders and perimeters.
- The nozzle conducts a powerful spray, reaching up to 10-15 feet for hard-to-reach areas.
- The spray comes at an affordable price.
Cons
- Does not work on fire ants effectively.
- Some users report dripping when spraying.
Features & Specs
- 19oz spray bottle
- Sprays up to 15 feet
- Spray into crevices and cracks
- Kills ants on contact
While the spray is powerful enough to product instant knockouts, it also works as a long-term control. This spray creates barriers that keep bugs out and away from your home. Just spray this formula around windows, doors, and foundations to keep insects from entering.
The aerosol spray reaches up to 10-15 feet. This feature is great for attacking from afar or getting to hard-to-reach spaces. The spray is most effective when ants are active, which is generally in the spring and the fall.
BEST NON-TOXIC
Harris Borax Liquid Ant Killer
Last update on 2023-03-27 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API
Pros
- Non-toxic formula is a safer alternative to chemically developed baits.
- Product is EPA approved, meaning it’s safe for the environment.
- The sweet formula will easily attract common household ants.
- The slow-working borax poison gives ants plenty of time to lead their colony back to the bait, killing the entirety of the colony over time.
- Liquid bait and trays are easy to use and set up.
Cons
- Some users report that ants ignore the tray but respond when liquid is placed on wax paper.
- Will not work on carpenter ants or fire ants.
Features & Specs
- 9 trays per pack
- Contains Borax
- EPA Registered for indoor and outdoor use
This liquid ant killer uses trays that hold the sweet liquid bait. The borax slowly kills the ants, leaving plenty of time for them to report back to their colony and spread the bait. More ants will begin arriving at the bait tray, and soon the whole colony will be affected and eliminated.
Harris’s liquid cleaner works best on sweet eating ants, sometimes referred to as sugar ants. That is why the liquid bait has a sweet flavor—it will attract more of these kinds of ants, which are commonly found in households.
To use, you pour the liquid formula into a tray and place it where you have seen the ants in your house. Bait will kill any single ant within 48 hours, but it can take up to two weeks to destroy the whole colony.

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Additional Information
It can be very helpful to have the right knowledge for a better understanding of ants and the products used to kill them. However, it can be hard to find the right information quickly. For that reason, we have listed some commonly asked questions concerning ant poison to help further educate you on the topic.
What’s the difference between ant poison and ant repellent?
There is a big difference between ant poison and repellent. An ant repellent works to deter or repel ants and other insects from coming into your home. Ant repellents are often used to create barriers or perimeters that keep ants out and prevent larger problems.
Ant poisons don’t just keep ants away; they kill them. Some ant poisons work at the point of contact, such as a spray that kills a group of ants on your counter. Other ant poisons work by eliminating an entire colony rather than the small amount you see.
If you’re having a continuous ant problem, you’ll probably want to go for an ant poison that targets a colony.
How does a poison eliminate a colony?
Ant poisons, often in the form of bait or bait stations, work because of the ants’ social system. Different ants within a colony have different jobs. The female worker ants leave the anthill and find food. When they find food, they bring it back to feed others—including the queen. They also lead more workers back to the food source for more.
Baits and poisons play off of this system. Baits are designed to attract ants. Using various active ingredients, the baits poison the ants. These poisons work slowly, killing the ants over a couple of days. Since the poison works slowly, the ants have time to go back and distribute the poison to the colony, as well as lead more ants to the poison.
At first, you will definitely see more ants than you had. Don’t be alarmed—that means it’s working. Shortly after that, usually within two weeks, the colony should be eliminated along with your ant problem.
Should assorted products be used for different ants?
While many products will work for various kinds of ants and even other insects, like our reviewed Terro Granular Ant Killer Plus, certain kinds of ants should be targeted with more specific poisons.
For example, a sweet liquid bait station won’t do any good against carpenter ants, as they are interested in wood and not sweet things. In the same way, fire ants do not typically run towards sweet items and may not be attracted to a sweet bait.
Carpenter ants, like termites, like to eat through wooden structures. They can dig all sorts of tunnels in your wood, making them hard to reach. For a problem like this, you may want to find a poison that specifically targets carpenter ants.
It is very important to pay attention to whether a product is specified as being outdoor, indoor, or both. Some outdoor products are only intended to be used outside of the house due to their formulas and ingredients.
Likewise, other products work best inside the house, such as indoor bait stations. Be sure to pick a product that will work best for your situation.