Get Ready for the Great Outdoors with the Best Mosquito Repellents of 2024 (2024)

The best mosquito repellant from our tests isn’t a conventional spray or candle. Instead it's a rechargeable device called the Thermacell E55 that creates a 20-foot zone of protection, say, around your campsite or outdoor dining area. It might sound too good to be true, especially since you can’t see or smell the heat-generated repellant as it works its magic, but in test after test it did a superb job of scaring off mosquitoes.

The one exception is when a stiff breeze is blowing, since it dissipates the repellant, though, of course, a stiff enough wind will also keep the bugs away. It also only repels mosquitoes, not ticks or other pests.

The E55 is incredibly easy to set up and operate. After charging the device with the provided USB cable, simply place it in the center of your desired zone of protection and hit the power button. It takes about 15 minutes for the repellant to heat up and dispense into the air. After about five hours of use, the cartridge that contains the repellant will need to be replaced; a status indicator on the control panel lets you know how much protection you have left.

In addition to the simplicity and effectiveness of the E55, our experts like Thermacell's claim that its repellent uses EPA-reviewed pyrethroid as its active ingredient. Replacement fills are fairly affordable, costing about $20 for 40 hours of protection — good for plenty of hot summer nights.

Active ingredient: Pyrethroid | Application: Device

If you have a large yard that's often the scene of cookouts and games of capture the flag, you're best off creating a bug-free zone. This aggressive solution from Cutter is formulated to not just repel mosquitoes and other pests, but to kill them dead, using the EPA-registered insecticide lambda-cyhalothrin.

The big upside to sprays like Backyard Bug Control is their ease of use. Simply attach your hose to the sprayer bottle and you'll be able to reach every nook and cranny of your yard. A single bottle treats up to 5,000 square feet of landscaping, lawn and other outdoor terrain. Even rain or humid weather won't get in its way: It kills mosquitoes, ants, fleas, ticks and other insects for up to 12 weeks — all summer long, in other words.

Our experts caution that the product needs to be applied safely and according to the manufacturer's instructions. Keep it away from sewers and storm drains, where it could enter rivers, lakes and other waterways. If children or pets are present, it's important to keep them away until the spray is thoroughly dry.

Active ingredient: Lambda-cyhalothrin | Application: Yard spray

Lemongrass Farms is a newer name to the bug spray category. The brand touts its quick-drying, plant-based formula and its repellants didn't leave behind any oily residue in our initial tests. That's good for sporty types who don't want to worry about a golf club or tennis racket flying out of their hands.

"I like that the cans dispense the spray evenly, making it easy to apply," said Sabina Wizeman, director of the Beauty, Health and Sustainability Lab at the Good Housekeeping Institute. She also praised the textured surface of the spray bottle, which provides a firm grip, preventing it from slipping out of your hands.

Take note, however, that the Trek sprays leave behind a rather intense scent, so they're not ideal for indoor use. And since the essential oils they contain can cause allergies in some people, our experts recommend patch-testing a small area of your skin before applying the spray more widely over your body.

Active ingredient: Geranium oil, lemongrass oil, peppermint oil and cedarwood oil | Application: Body spray |

One of the oldest names in bug sprays is still up there with the best. The brand's Botanicals spray boasts an effective plant-based formula that's made with pine oil extract and lemon eucalyptus oil without added fragrances or dyes.

One of our testers has been using this for four consecutive summers now with her family, including spraying her kids' clothes before they go off to camp. "There have been the odd bug bites, but it generally provides several hours of protection," she said.

Off's repellent also works directly on skin. Just note that the brand recommends spraying in the palm of the hand, then spreading onto the face and neck to avoid getting into eyes. One more important caveat: The spray cannot be used on children under the age of 3 and it does need to be reapplied every two hours for maximum protection.

Active ingredient: p-Menthane-3,8-diol (pMd) | Application: Body spray

Like its brand-mate in this round-up, the Thermacell E55, this Thermacell device is meant to keep mosquitoes from flying into your space with the use of a odor-free, heat-activated repellent. Our product experts like that it also allows you to illuminate your patio or deck, thanks to its built-in, battery-powered lantern.

Operation is the same as with E55 and replacement fills cost the same: $20 for 40 hours of mosquito protection. However, it does not help with ticks or fleas.

Active ingredient: Pyrethroid | Application: Device

To fend off bugs like ticks, biting flies, gnats and chiggers for hours on end, our experts recommend Off! Deep Woods Spray. Though the name suggest camping and hiking, it's also great for the golf course, since the spray repels mosquitoes for "the longest period of time of all sprays," said Ohio State University's Dr. Meuti.

Credit DEET, which accounts for 25% of the formula, with the repelling power of this aerosol spray. Meuti calls it one of the most effective mosquito repellents on the market, and that's been the experience with testers who have taken it into deep into nature and onto some of the buggiest golf courses around. One drawback is that it can leave skin slippery.

Active ingredient: DEET | Application: Body spray

Although it isn't a permanent solution, our experts say lighting a citronella candle is a tried-and-true way to temporarily ward off mosquitoes. This pick from Murphy's Naturals has more than 4,800 five-star Amazon reviews due to its 30-hour burn time, confirmed in our tests, and refreshing scent of rosemary, peppermint, citronella, lemongrass and cedarwood.

While we always remind consumers that ‘natural’ is not a regulated term, our review of the candle's active ingredients list found them to be plant-based botanical oils, which are considered minimum risk biopesticides by the EPA. Along with citronella, most of the other oils in this candle have also been shown to have some repellent efficacy against mosquitoes. It's not suited for indoor use.

If you're not a fan of candles, consider Murphy's Lemon Eucalyptus Oil Mosquito & Tick Repellant Spray, which the brand says can repel mosquitoes for up to six hours, deer ticks for up to four hours, and lone star and brown dog ticks for more than eight hours. The 2-ounce bottle is TSA-approved as a carry-on item, so it's ideal for travel.

Active ingredient: Rosemary oil, peppermint oil, citronella oil, lemongrass oil and cedarwood oil | Application: Candle

Spraying your clothes before heading out for a hike or a round of golf is one of the easiest ways to stay bug-free. In particular, reach for this permethrin-based product from Sawyer for one of the most effective strategies. The spray is so powerful and long-lasting that after you spray it directly onto clothes, it will last for several washes.

It can also be applied to the exterior of outdoor gear like tents, sleeping bags and backpacks. "It will keep both ticks and mosquitoes away, so it's perfect for hiking or while gardening in the yard," said Meuti. But take note: Permethrin is toxic to cats, so pet lovers should opt for another repellant.

Active ingredient: Permethrin | Application: Clothing spray

Here's another option for eliminating mosquitoes at their source. Stick one of these small (but mighty) circles in any bird bath, pond, plant tray or flood-prone area up to 100 square feet to kill mosquito larvae for 30 days. Keep in mind that this isn't a solution for getting rid of existing bugs.

Don't worry about fish or other wildlife, said our expert team: BTI, the EPA-registered ingredient in this product, only kills mosquito larvae and is non-toxic to people, pets and other animals. Meuti gives a resounding "yes" to this mosquito repellent: "This is a great idea for reducing mosquito numbers on your property!"

Active ingredient: BTI | Application: Water treatment

For a plant-based option, treat up to 5,000 square feet with this spray from Wondercide, which uses a combination of cedarwood oil, sesame oil and sodium lauryl sulfate to kill mosquitoes, as well as fleas and ticks, at any and every stage of the life cycle.

Spray twice within two to 10 days to ensure that you're getting rid of all pests, and then continue to spray as needed. More applications are likely needed than with chemical sprays.

Our experts have also tried Wondercide's Insect Repellant, which uses a similar plant-based formula in a convenient 4-ounce bottle. Efficacy tests are ongoing, but both the rosemary and lemongrass formulas have a fairly mild scent and don't leave behind an oily residue.

Active ingredient: Cedarwood oil, sesame oil and sodium lauryl sulfate | Application: Yard spray

When choosing mosquito repellents, our experts start by gathering a list of the products most commonly found on store shelves and online. They look for a wide range of solutions for different scenarios, from candles designed for small decks and patios to backyard applications with claimed coverage areas of up to 5,000 square feet.

Our product experts then performed informal tests of the products in their own yards, when possible. In addition, our health and sustainability experts reviewed ingredient lists to ensure products are in accordance with guidelines set forth by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency.

There are a number of things to consider to limit mosquitos.

✔️ Repellent vs. insecticide: You need to decide whether your goal is to repel mosquitoes or kill them off completely. Repellents are best for small-scale, temporary relief (think: summer meals in the open air). Reach for an insecticide when your goal is to wipe out entire mosquito populations for weeks at a time, if not longer. To be clear, the insecticides that you use in your yard shouldn't be the same ones that you spray on your body and clothes.

✔️ Active ingredients: Always follow the guidelines set by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. This will help ensure that you're buying the most effective repellents that are also safe. All bug sprays marketed in the U.S. must contain EPA-registered active ingredients that can effectively repel mosquitoes, ticks and flies. (See below "How Do I Stop Mosquitoes From Biting Me?" for more info on these active ingredients.)

✔️ Yard maintenance: Aside from using top-of-the-line sprays and repellents, generally the best way to reduce mosquitoes is by emptying anything that holds water. "Remember the tip-and-toss rule," said Craig Stoops, chief science officer for Mosquito Authority, a pest control service. "Tip over items that you can’t dispose of to empty water where mosquito larvae may be found. Then toss any items in your backyard that you don’t need anymore that may be sources of mosquito breeding."

The EPA offers this additional checklist for eliminating mosquito habitats at their source:

• Drain standing water in rain gutters, old tires and buckets.
• Empty and change the water in birdbaths, fountains, wading pools, rain barrels and potted plant trays at least once a week.
• Keep swimming pool water treated and circulating.
• Replace your outdoor lights with yellow-hued lightbulbs that attract far fewer mosquitoes.

A variety of active ingredients are deployed by brands in the battle against bugs. Here are the four most common:

✔️ DEET: It was once believed that DEET worked by interfering with a mosquito’s ability to detect humans by masking the scent of carbon dioxide (the gas we exhale with every breath) and lactic acid (a chemical that is in our sweat). However, more recent studies reveal that chemicals within DEET are repellent to mosquitoes, meaning that they have specific receptors within their antennae that allow mosquitoes to smell and avoid DEET if they smell it at a distance, said Meuti.

✔️ Picaridin: Another effective mosquito repellent, it's quite similar to DEET in the way that it can get mosquitoes to turn away from its scent, added Meuti.

✔️ IR3535: A synthetic amino acid, this repellent can bind to the same sensory receptor as DEET and picaridin, suggesting that this compound also smells bad and is avoided by mosquitoes.

✔️ Oil of lemon eucalyptus: For a more natural repellent, you may reach for this effective oil. It's designed for broad outdoor application and EPA-registered, unlike other essential oils like citronella, lemongrass and cedarwood oil, which are not registered because the EPA deemed they pose minimal risk to people. Note, however, that oil of lemon eucalyptus is not recommended for children under the age of 3.

The Good Housekeeping Institute provides expert reviews and advice on all things home-related, including lawn and yard care.

In his role as Director of the Home Improvement and Outdoor Lab, Dan DiClerico brings more than 20 years of experience to the Institute, having reviewed thousands of products for Good Housekeeping, as well as brands like This Old House and Consumer Reports.

For this report, DiClerico and our review team also worked closely with Sabina Wizeman, director of the Institute's Beauty, Health and Sustainability Lab, and Megan E. Meuti, P.h.D., an assistant professor of entomology at Ohio State University.