Best Roach Baits
Last update on 2023-06-01 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API
How We Found the Best Roach Baits
Roach Baits We Reviewed:
Best Roach Baits
Roaches are able to hold their breath for up to 40 minutes and even when submerged underwater, can survive up to a full 30 minutes. Additionally, the critters can run up to three miles per hour, making it easy for them to spread germs at a rapid rate.
These insects are linked with outbreaks of diseases such as cholera, dysentery, and typhoid fever. So, getting an infestation out of your home is crucial. Cockroaches are ranked among the most adaptable creatures on the planet. Controlling and eradicating a cockroach infestation is often tricky and can cause ongoing frustration.
The disgust people feel when dealing with a cockroach infestation is why we compared the best roach baits of 2018 to remove these insects from your home. With all of the products below, we recommend using gloves to protect your hands when you apply them and take precautions to avoid inhaling any powders.
BEST POWDER
Harris Boric Acid Roach and Silverfish Killer
Last update on 2023-06-01 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API
Pros
- Easy to use
- Very affordable in the $10 range
- PF Harris is the oldest EPA-registered company in America
- Manufactured in the United States
- You can apply it directly to places you’ve seen the insects, as well as areas you suspect they might travel
- Kills insects within only a few hours of contact
Cons
- Some say it smells like mothballs
- Appears to work better for small, concentrated areas than large houses
- The powder must be left around cracks and corners of the floor
Features & Specs
- You have flexibility in spot usage
- Shake well and apply along areas roaches are likely to crawl
- Must remain dry to work
- Approved by the EPA
- Fast acting
- Extremely affordable if you are on a tight budget and have only seen a few roaches
A bonus of this product is that it also eradicates silverfish. So, if you have a problem with those speedy buggers, this powder should take care of that, too. Keep in mind, this is a powder that will sit along places like baseboards, so if you have pets or small children use extreme caution when considering how that will work out in your home.
BEST FOR SMALL INFESTATIONS
Hot Shot Ultra Liquid Roach Bait
Last update on 2023-06-01 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API
Pros
- No messy powders left out in the open on floors or around cabinets
- Easy to use for small spaces
- Last around two months
- No risk of accidentally inhaling powders
- Can continue to work for a couple of months
- Kills ants, too
- Affordable at under $10 for a pack of six bait stations
Cons
- Not noted to be used for larger areas or infestations
- The plastic station must be used in a place where the cockroaches will enter it. Otherwise, the product will not work
Features & Specs
- Contained poison
- Easy cleanup
- Just pick up the stations and throw them away once you’re done with use
- Budget-friendly
- Takes out ants too
This lure is also alluring to ants so it can take care of an indoor ant problem as well. You pull the tab on the side of the station which will break the seal of a vile containing the bait inside. Then place the stations where you have seen ants or cockroaches, or in areas near walls, cabinets, under sinks, or near your refrigerator.
BEST FOR LARGE INFESTATIONS
Advion Cockroach Bait Station
Last update on 2023-06-01 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API
Pros
- Works for many roach species
- Still effective one year after application
- Contains efective ingredient Fipronil at high strength
Cons
- Not all roaches are attracted to the gel
- Application can be difficult
Features & Specs
- Long-lasting effectiveness
- Fantastic for huge infestations
- Suitable for all sizes of roaches
The slow pace of this poison provides enough time for the cockroaches to spread the poison throughout their colony. This product is said to last a long time, with one customer stating it lasted up to three years.
BEST OVERALL
Advion Cockroach Gel Bait
Last update on 2023-06-01 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API
Pros
- Eighty percent of over 13,000 reviews were five stars; rated highly effective
- You can control where you apply the gel, so you’re not limited by bait stations
- No concern of inhaling powders
- Relatively cost effective at around $30 for four syringes
- Can be used near food handling areas as long as caution is used
- Effective for up to two years
Cons
- Does require gel to be out in areas such as cracks or near cupboards, so the roach killer can accidentally come in contact with skin
- Will require a thorough clean up after infestation is gone by wiping gel bait away
Features & Specs
- Highest rated
- The gel can be used in all types of areas
- Long-lasting
- Reasonable price at around $30
Advion Cockroach Gel Bait utilizes MetaActiveTM as a trademarked active ingredient that is noted to be suitable for up to two years. One review suggests placing the gel product on tape for easier cleanup and re-application. Apply this gel along crevices or areas roaches are likely to creep or have been seen.

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Research and Advice
Roaches originated in tropical areas, but live in temperate zones where warmth, moisture, and food are found. Cockroaches are mostly active at night and live in groups most often. These insects usually hide during the day in cracks and crevices in walls, along walls, and in secure places such as under furniture, in cupboards, basements, electrical devices, and even drains.
Use Caution
As with handling any poisons, always use extreme caution and consider pets, children, and the environment. Wear gloves when applying any kind of roach killer, as well as when you clean them up. If you use a powder, wear a dust mask while applying the product.
Do not leave powders and gels out where small children or pets can come in contact with them. Do not use poisons in vents where the chemicals can be blown through the air in your house or apartment and cause respiratory distress.
Keep Your Home Impeccably Clean
With any product you select, if you are trying to remove cockroach infestation, you need to clean any spills and crumbs right away so that food is not readily available for the roaches. Remove food bits from not only the floor and counters but also cupboards. Keep your home dry and immaculately clean.
Do whatever you can to eliminate moisture from around the foundation of your home, as well. Keeping these steps in mind, combined with a great product should help rid your home of roaches.
Keep Your Food Away from Poison and Roaches
As always, use caution when applying this roach killer near your own food sources and package any consumables in bags, plastic, or glass containers to protect your food from coming into direct contact with the gel. Packing all of your food in plastic or glass containers to prevent roaches from getting into them is another measure you can take to keep them from finding nourishment in your kitchen.
Remember fruit trees if you have any right next to your house, too. Fallen fruit on the ground should be cleaned up as much as possible.
Use Two Methods If You Have a Tricky Infestation
While you never want to mix two types of poisons together, you can consider two methods of pest control if you have an excessive number of roaches. Some people have a professional come in and bug-bomb their home, then follow up with their own bait to prevent cockroaches from returning.
You can also spread a powder like the Harris Boric Acid around and also use the disposable bait stations in spots you have seen cockroaches. Or you can try both Advion’s gel with bait stations to test if you have more successful results. The good news is that as hardy as cockroaches are, they can be removed entirely from your home.