Best Outdoor Spider Sprays: Residual, Contact, Plant-Based Picks

The best spider spray for outdoors is Miss Muffet's Revenge, a ready-to-use bifenthrin spray with a 10-foot sprayer for eaves, frames and siding. TERRO's T2302 aerosol is the budget pick that lists brown recluses and black widows, Black Flag's 12-pack handles black widows and egg sacs, and STEM is the plant-based option for spot use.

Does Spraying for Spiders Outside Actually Work?

It works, but not on its own and not forever. University of California IPM's pest note on spiders says outdoor insecticides will not give long-term control, and that spiders are hard to kill unless the spray reaches them. A residual spray improves the odds because spiders pick up the residue as they walk across treated wood, vinyl and trim, but webs return as long as lights keep drawing insects to the house.

So the spray is one part of a routine: knock down webs, change the bulbs by the doors, clear clutter from the foundation, then spray the places spiders build and enter. For the full routine and non-spray tools such as cobweb dusters and bug-light bulbs, see our guide to the best outdoor spider repellents. The outdoor spider spray guides also cover concentrates and homemade options.

Residual, Contact or Plant-Based: Outdoor Spray Types

Most houses need a residual spray for the structure and a contact can for the spider that shows up on the deck rail. A plant-based spray suits people who would rather avoid synthetic insecticides near play areas, with the trade-off of frequent reapplication.

How We Selected These Products

We compared outdoor spider sprays on their labeled spiders and surfaces, residual claims, application and what buyers report. Our sources were the makers' listings, Amazon's review digests, UC IPM guidance and the National Pesticide Information Center; we did not test the products.

We favored sprays that list spiders and leave a residue, plus one aerosol for black widows and one plant-based option. We left out large jugs without buyer feedback, a plant-oil spray whose buyers split evenly on whether it works, and a duplicate listing of our top pick. Concentrates that need mixing are covered in our insecticide guide, so every pick here works straight from the can or jug.

Miss Muffet's Revenge: Best Overall Outdoor Spider Spray

Among ready-to-use outdoor sprays, Miss Muffet's Revenge stands out for its residue: a 64-ounce jug of bifenthrin with an attached sprayer for the eaves and siding.

• The maker says one application kills spiders and leaves a barrier inside and outside the home for up to 12 months.
• The sprayer reaches up to 10 feet, which covers eaves, soffits and porch ceilings on a single-story house.
• Apply in calm weather with no rain expected for 24 hours, per the maker.
• Buyers find it effective and fast, but many say the attached sprayer does not work well, and opinions on how long it lasts are mixed.

Choose it for treating the outside of a house without mixing a concentrate. Spray the eaves, door and window frames, porch ceilings, railings and a band along the bottom of the siding. The maker says it is formulated for all spiders except black widows and brown recluses, so keep an aerosol that lists them for those.

OUR CHOICE

Wet & Forget Miss Muffet's Revenge 64 oz

BifenthrinAttached sprayer

Best for: A barrier on eaves, frames and siding

• ✓Up to 12 months per application, per the maker
• ✓Sprayer reaches up to 10 feet
• ✓Effective and fast, per buyers
• −Not formulated for black widows or brown recluses
• −Attached sprayer often fails, per buyers

Editor's Note

It treats the outside of a house without mixing. Keep an aerosol that lists black widows too.

Check Price

Specifications (3)

Active Ingredients

Bifenthrin

Liquid Volume

1.89 liters

Item Form

Spray

TERRO T2302 Spider Killer Spray: Best Budget Outdoor Spray

TERRO's T2302 comes as a 16-ounce aerosol for indoor and outdoor use.

• It lists brown recluse, black widow and hobo spiders, plus ants, roaches, crickets, scorpions and ticks.
• The maker says it gives fast knockdown on contact and residual control afterward.
• It is labeled for direct spraying, broad treatment and crack-and-crevice use, near entry points and in crawl spaces.
• Buyers find it effective on spiders, including black widows and scorpions; spray performance and scent get mixed reviews.

Choose it for the entry points, crawl space vents and the spiders you see around the porch and garage, especially where brown recluses live. One can covers spot work, not a whole house, so pair it with a barrier spray if webs cover the eaves.

BUDGET PICK

TERRO T2302 Spider Killer Spray 16 oz

Aerosol16 oz

Best for: Entry points and dangerous spiders on a budget

• ✓Lists brown recluse, black widow and hobo spiders
• ✓Knockdown plus residual, per the maker
• ✓Effective on spiders, per buyers
• −Mixed spray performance, per buyers
• −One can covers spot work only

Editor's Note

It covers entry points and the spiders you see, including recluses. Pair it with a barrier spray for eaves.

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Specifications (2)

Item Form

Aerosol

Size

16 Ounce (Pack of 1)

Black Flag Spider and Scorpion Killer: Best for Black Widows

Black Flag's Spider & Scorpion Killer is the spray to stock up on, sold as 12 aerosol cans of 16 ounces each.

• It lists black widows, brown recluses, wolf spiders and scorpions, and the maker says it kills black widow spiders as they hatch.
• The maker says to spray spiders directly or spray webs and egg sacs, from up to 5 feet away.
• Buyers find it kills spiders and scorpions quickly, including inside egg sacs; some say it does not reach the full 5 feet.

Choose it where black widows or scorpions are a regular find: woodpiles, decks, sheds, block walls and crawl space openings. A case keeps a can in the garage, shed and house through the season.

Black Flag Spider & Scorpion Killer 16 oz 12-Pack

Aerosol12 cans

Best for: Black widows, scorpions and egg sacs

• ✓Lists black widow, brown recluse and wolf spiders
• ✓Sprays webs and egg sacs
• ✓Kills quickly, per buyers
• −Does not always reach 5 feet, per buyers
• −A case of 12 is a large purchase

Editor's Note

It handles black widows and scorpions where they are a regular find. A case covers house, garage and shed.

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Specifications (2)

Unit Count

12 Count

Item Form

Spray

STEM Plant-Based Bug Spray: Best Plant-Based Option

STEM is a 10-ounce aerosol made with botanical extracts that kills ants, roaches and spiders on contact.

• The maker describes it as safe for use around people and pets when used as directed.
• It has no added dye or fragrance, per the maker.
• Buyers find it kills ants and spiders and like that it suits homes with pets; many say it leaves an oily residue.
• Opinions on how long it lasts are mixed, as expected of a plant-based spray.

Choose it for spiders on patio furniture, play equipment and doorways near gardens, where you would rather not use a synthetic insecticide. Spray the spider directly; it is a contact killer, so it will not keep new spiders away, and the oily film is best wiped off surfaces people touch.

STEM Plant-Based Bug Spray 10 oz

Plant-basedAerosol

Best for: Spot use near kids, pets and gardens

• ✓Plant-based active ingredient, per the maker
• ✓Kills ants and spiders, per buyers
• ✓No added dye or fragrance, per the maker
• −Leaves an oily residue, per buyers
• −Contact only; no lasting barrier

Editor's Note

It suits spiders on patio furniture and play equipment. Spray the spider directly and wipe the film off.

Check Price

Specifications (3)

Item Form

Aerosol

Liquid Volume

10 fluid ounces

Target Species

Ants, Roaches, Spiders

Where and when you spray decides how much of any of these reaches spiders.

Where and When to Spray Outside

• Eaves and soffits: the most common web sites, especially above lights and windows.
• Door and window frames: the outside edges and trim, where spiders enter and anchor webs.
• Bottom edge of the siding: a band ground spiders cross to reach the walls.
• Undersides of rails, steps and furniture: sheltered spots that hold webs.
• Crawl space vents and utility openings: gaps leading inside.

Spray on a dry, calm day with no rain in the forecast, after sweeping webs away. Keep sprays off plants in bloom, vegetable beds, ponds and birdbaths: the National Pesticide Information Center's bifenthrin fact sheet describes it as very highly toxic to bees and highly toxic to fish. Keep children and pets off treated areas until they dry, and treat again at the label interval, sooner on surfaces that take direct rain and sun.

If spiders keep returning to the same corners within days of spraying, look at the nearest light before buying more spray; a bright white bulb there will keep feeding new spiders faster than any residue can kill them.

Common Questions About Outdoor Spider Sprays

Which One Should You Buy?

Miss Muffet's Revenge is the outdoor spider spray to buy. It is ready to use, reaches eaves and porch ceilings, and its bifenthrin residue keeps working on spiders that cross treated frames and siding after you spray.

Choose TERRO's T2302 for entry points and brown recluses on a budget, Black Flag's case if black widows or scorpions turn up often, and STEM for spot use near kids, pets and gardens. Pair any of them with web sweeping and warmer porch bulbs, since spraying alone does not keep spiders away for long.

Before you buy, look under your deck rails and eaves with a flashlight after dark to see where the webs and spiders actually are.