Best Ant Killer for Inside and Outside Your Home

There are dozens of ant killers on the market today, and each professes to be effective at getting rid of these pesky insects. But with so many options, how do you know which one is right for you? Whether you’re looking for an indoor versus an outdoor product, all-natural versus chemical, or liquid versus powder, we’ve laid out the 12 best ant killers you can buy.

Top 12 Best Ant Killer Products in 2025

Terro Liquid Ant Killer

• Attracts and kills common household ants
• Eliminates both visible ants and hidden colonies
• Works quickly, with noticeable results in a few days
• Ready-to-use bait stations
• Place near ant activity, such as baseboards, corners, and counters

$12.99

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Pros

• Ready to use
• Affordable
• Targets the queen for effective colony elimination

Cons

• Can take several days or over a week to start working
• Not as effective on larger infestations
• For indoor use only

Borax is the main ingredient in Terro Liquid Ant Killer, and it works by disrupting the digestion in ants which causes them to die of starvation. Terro products don’t work instantaneously. Instead, the ants ingest the product and carry it back to their colony, where they share it with others – including the queen.

These ready-to-use bait stations can be used anywhere around your home like baseboards, corners, windowsills, doorways, counters, or next to garbage cans.

👉 Related: Is Ant Killer Safe for Pets?

Advion Ant Gel Bait

• Advion Ant gel targets all major ant species
• Contains 0.05% indoxacarb, safe for people and pets
• Odorless gel for indoor and outdoor use
• Apply in cracks, under appliances, and hidden areas
• Attracts ants and targets nests
• Fast-acting, long-lasting protection

$32.60

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Pros

• Easy application
• Gel formula won’t run
• Designed to target many different ant species

Cons

• Can harm pets and children if ingested
• More expensive than other options

Advion Ant Gel Bait uses a newer insecticide called indoxacarb to attract and kill ants by blocking their neuronal sodium channels. This odorless gel bait should be placed anywhere you’ve noticed ant activity like window sills, entryways, cracks, crevices, under appliances, or on counters.

You can also use Advion gel in outdoor areas as well. Like borax, indoxacarb doesn’t act immediately on the ants, so the ants bring it back to their colony, sharing it with the others to more effectively wipe out the infestation.

🐜 Need help with ants? Best Pest Control Companies in 2025

Amdro Ant Block Home Perimeter Ant Killer Bait

• Controls 25 ant species, including carpenter and Argentine ants
• Apply during cool mornings/evenings, avoid wet or cold conditions
• Prevents ants around home perimeter, ideal for lawns and gardens
• Pair with Amdro Bait Stations or Stakes for extra protection
• Trusted pest control since 1980

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Pros

• Targets 25 different species of ants
• Keeps ants away for up to three months

Cons

• Less effective in rain or if the ground is wet
• Can’t be used around vegetable gardens or pets

For help with outdoor infestations, try the granular insecticide Amdro Ant Block Home Perimeter Ant Killer Bait. To use, you sprinkle the bait making a one-foot band around the perimeter of your home. This product uses the insecticide hydramethylnon, and like other baits has a delayed action since the ants will first eat it and then bring it back to the colony.

Amdro claims the product should eliminate the queen within a week and the entire colony within two weeks. The product is easy to apply and the container comes with a shaker for even distribution on the ground.

👉 Related: Is Ant Killer Safe for Pets?

Fipronil-Plus-C Insecticide

• Nonrepellent insecticide with Fipronil and cellulose tech
• Works indoors and outdoors on roaches, ants, flies, and spiders
• Acts as bait for ants and roaches, prevents future infestations
• Precision application with reduced spray drift
• Contains 0.65% Fipronil for fast and reliable pest control

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Pros

• Works on other insects like roaches, termites, and earwigs
• Can be used both indoors and outdoors

Cons

• Expensive
• Highly toxic to fish

Fipronil-Plus-C Insecticide is sold as a liquid concentrate that homeowners must mix with water. You can then use it as a spot treatment or in a pressurized hand sprayer. The active ingredient, fipronil, is a phenylpyrazole that’s used in several pest control products. It works by attaching itself to the insect and then attacking its nervous system.

This chemical is also commonly used in flea medication for both cats and dogs, so in small amounts is not dangerous to them. However, it can be toxic if ingested, so precautions should be taken when using this around your house to ensure your pets won’t accidentally lick it.

Advance 375 A Ant Bait

• Food attractant ants love
• Effective on various ant species
• Easy application
• Lasts several weeks per treatment
• Weather resistant

$22.40

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Pros

• Especially effective on carpenter ants
• Can be used both indoors and outdoors

Cons

• Can be toxic to pets if ingested in large quantities

Advance 375 A Ant Bait is a delayed-action, granular product that takes care of pests, especially carpenter ants. The bait uses the chemical, abamectin, and attracts the ants with a protein who then take it back to the colony with them.

For outdoor use, you’ll sprinkle a band of the granules in a 1-2 ft. band around the perimeter of your home. Inside your home, you’ll place the granules in cracks and crevices or anywhere you’ve seen ants entering and leaving your home. This product can be harmful to pets if they ingest it, so it’s best to use it in areas that cats or dogs aren’t likely to disturb.

💡 Related: What Does Permethrin Kill?

Terro Outdoor Liquid Ant Bait

• Attracts and kills common ants
• Eliminates visible and hidden colonies
• Works within a few days
• Ready-to-use bait stations
• For outdoor use to prevent indoor infestation

$9.99

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Pros

• Larger bait station to tackle bigger infestations
• Specifically designed for use outdoors
• Ready to use

Cons

• Can spill easily if not level
• Doesn’t come with stakes for securing in the ground

Like the popular indoor bait stations, Terro also makes an outdoor version that’s equally as effective. Terro Outdoor Liquid Ant Baits also use borax as the active ingredient, but these pre-filled stations are larger and completely covered to protect against rain and other elements.

These can be used in yards, around the perimeter of your home, or inside but they must be kept level to avoid spilling the liquid bait inside. It’s also best not to use these in areas where pets may come into contact with them because borax can be toxic to animals if ingested in large amounts.

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Raid Ant & Roach Killer Spray

• Two 17.5 oz cans kill ants and roaches on contact
• Protects for up to 4 weeks
• No lingering chemical odor
• Quick bug control for home use
• Part of the Raid pest control line

$8.30

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Pros

• Affordable
• Fragrance-free
• Works on multiple types of pests including roaches, silverfish, and earwigs

Cons

• Only for indoor use
• Not as effective for wiping out the entire colony

Raid is one of the most recognizable names in pest control, and it has a number of products on the market. Raid Ant & Roach Killer Spray kills ants and other insects on contact and can continue to keep out bugs for up to four weeks. To use, you’ll hold the can about 18 inches from the surface and spray until wet.

It can be used on any surface in your home where ants have been like cracks and crevices, doorways, or window sills. This product uses the pesticides imiprothrin and cypermethrin which can be harmful to both humans and pets, especially cats who can’t tolerate even small doses.

Ortho Home Defense Ant Bait

• Starts working in 24 hours
• Kills the queen and colony
• Replace every 30 days
• Uses 4 food sources to target listed ants

$7.50

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Pros

• Easy to use
• Safe for use around pets

Cons

• Have to replace bait stations often
• May not be effective for large infestations

The Ortho Home Defense Ant Bait stations are similar to other ready-to-use products, except instead of borax they use a chemical called abamectin. Abamectin targets the nervous system in ants and is slow acting so the ants ingest it and bring it back to their colony.

There are other Ortho products on the market that use different pesticides which leads many to ask, “Is Ortho Home Defense Safe for Pets?” While abamectin can be toxic to pets, the amount in each bait station is so small that if your pet did eat it, it wouldn't be enough to cause a serious reaction. That said, if you use other Ortho products, always check the label to ensure you’re taking the right precautions for pets in the home.

📌 Recommended: Is Ortho Home Defense Safe for Pets?

Mighty Mint Insect & Pest Control

• Easy to apply and clean up
• Safe when used as directed
• Extra concentrated for long-lasting protection
• Made with natural, effective ingredients
• Contains powerful US peppermint oil

$19.98

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Pros

• All natural, plant-based ingredients
• Also works on spiders, bees, and stink bugs
• Non-toxic to pets when used as directed

Cons

• Only repels ants and won’t necessarily kill them
• Product won’t reach the colony

For homeowners who want to steer clear of synthetic chemicals, Mighty Mint Insect & Pest Control offers an all-natural option. This product uses peppermint oil to repel ants and can be used both indoors and outdoors. Ants are naturally turned off by strong smells and peppermint oil will not only repel them but will also mask their pheromone trails so won’t be able to find their way back to their colony.

When used as directed this product is largely non-toxic to humans and animals, but if a cat or dog does ingest large quantities of concentrated mint it can be very dangerous.

Safer Home OMRI Listed Diatomaceous Earth

• Kills roaches, ants, bedbugs, and more
• Diatomaceous earth dehydrates insects in 48 hours
• No immunity buildup in insects
• Use indoors or outdoors in cracks and entry points
• OMRI Listed, safe for organic gardening

$14.99

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Pros

• Safe for both humans and pets
• Use both indoors and outdoors
• Non-toxic

Cons

• Can be messy to apply
• May need multiple applications to work
• Doesn’t always penetrate into the colony

Diatomaceous Earth (DE) is a powder-like substance made from the fossils of small, aquatic animals. It works as an abrasive agent that breaks down an ant’s exoskeleton, causing it to dehydrate and eventually die.

To use DE, sprinkle a thin layer of the powder on ant trails and entry and exit areas and let it sit for a day or two before you clean it up. When purchasing DE for ants, be sure to look for a food-grade product like the Safer OMRI Listed Diatomaceous Earth.

👉 Related: Is Diatomaceous Earth Safe for Pets?

JT Eaton Boric Acid Insecticidal Dust

• Simple and effective solution
• Eliminates roaches, ants, and other listed insects
• Low hazard boric acid powder
• Easy-to-use puffer bottle

$5.76

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Pros

• Only naturally-occurring ingredients
• Easy to use
• Good value

Cons

• May have to add a sweetener like sugar to attract ants
• Can only be used indoors

JT Eaton Boric Acid Insecticidal Dust uses boric acid to kill ants and other insects like roaches and silverfish. Boric acid is a naturally-occurring compound that’s more refined and concentrated than borax, and has been used as a pesticide since 1948. Homeowners should apply the powder to areas with ant activity, such as under appliances, inside electrical conduits, and in cracks and crevices.

When the powder comes into contact with the ant, they ingest it which causes dehydration and eventual death. Boric acid is considered to be mildly toxic to other animals, so care should be taken when using it around pets and children.

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Ortho Orthene Fire Ant Killer

• Kills the queen and destroys the mound
• No watering required
• Use for lawns and around ornamental plants
• Apply when fire ants are active
• Treat new mounds as they appear

$19.97

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Pros

• Very effective for fire ants
• Kills the queens quickly and destroys the mound
• Can be used on multiple mounds

Cons

• Not good for other types of ants or insects
• Hazardous to animals

Another popular Ortho product is the Ortho Orthene Fire Ant Killer made with a 50% acephate formula. Acephate is an insecticide that’s used on food crops and kills ants almost instantly. This is a granule fire ant killer that’s applied outside, directly on top of a fire ant mound, and does not need to be watered in.

This product is most effective when used when the ants are active and the ground is dry. There should also be no rain in the forecast. Note that acephate can be toxic to animals, and you should keep dogs away from the treated area.

How To Pick the Best Ant Killer

Not every pest control solution is right for every household, so it’s important to choose a product that will work for you, and there are a few factors to consider. The first is the type of pest you're dealing with and the extent of the infestation. For smaller issues with common “sugar ants,” a simple bait station should do the trick. On the other hand, if you have fire ants on your property you’ll want a product specifically designed to target them.

Another consideration to take into account is the type of products you want in your house. Some homeowners are worried about using toxic chemicals inside due to health concerns for their family or their pets. If you only like to use all-natural products, you should try an ant killer made with diatomaceous earth or one that uses essential oils to deter pests.

Lastly, you’ll want to consider where the infestation is happening. If it’s mostly outside, choose a product designed to weather the elements and work in outdoor environments over a product that’s only intended for indoor use.

Ant Killers – Finding the Right Approach

Like it or not, ants will always pose a problem to homeowners, and choosing the right approach to get rid of them is key. Thankfully, there are several products on the market that can help. From bait stations to sprays to powders and granules, there’s a solution out there that can get the job done. Among the ant killers we’ve listed above, you’re sure to find something to take care of the problem and keep your family and pets safe.