10 Best Indoor Bug Zappers 2024 in the United States

During the spring and summer months, you may suffer from swarms of mosquitoes, gnats, and other flying insects. You might think that a good bug zapper would provide some relief. Actually, studies have shown that placing a bug zapper outside your home doesn’t actually catch a lot of major insect pests. In fact, one study showed that out of 13,789 zapped insects: only 31 were mosquitoes and biting flies–a mere 0.25%! Most of the insects killed were actually beneficial ones. So, instead of installing bug zappers outside, using indoor bug zappers is a much better choice.

Indoor bug zappers come in a variety of designs. But they all utilize the same patent: they have a high-voltage electrical mesh that surrounds an electrical lamp, usually giving off ultraviolet light. Insects are drawn to the blue lamp and are fried when they touch the electrical mesh. You’ll see large box cases that enclose two or three UV lamps. There are also circular lamps, that allow bugs to enter from a full 360 degrees. You’ll also see bug zapper paddles, that allow you to whack exactly the bug that’s bothering you, with a satisfying snap-crackle-&-pop when you’ve scored a hit!

We’ll go through the MSN list of the ten best indoor bug zappers so that you can see the benefits of each type of design. A zapper is also a great alternative to chemical repellents or noxious bug sprays. (You can also look at other MSN buying guides for other environmentally-safe bug removal products.) We’ll also provide you with a few pointers as to where to place them for the best results.
 

What Types of Indoor Bug Zappers Are There?

Indoor bug zappers come in a few popular geometries.

• Lantern-type bug zappers: There are small, portable units that you can either hang or place on a flat surface. They have the advantage that a bug can fly in from a full 360 degrees. An example is the LinkPal Electric Bug Zapper. It’s effective at around 35 square meters.

LinkPal Electric Bug Zapper

• Box-shaped bug zappers: These are popular because of the large surface area that they provide. For example, the LiBa Electric Indoor Insect Zapper measures 35 inches x 38 inches, providing a large area for bugs to fly inside. It comes with a chain to give you the option of hanging the device from the ceiling. Alternatively, you can place it on a desk or countertop.

LiBa Electric Indoor Insect Zapper

• USB-charging bug zapper: There are also bug zappers that are battery-powered so that you’re not constrained to having the device near a wall outlet. You can also take it with you if you go camping or fishing. An example of such a device is the CherryPig Rechargeable Bug Zapper.

CherryPig Rechargeable Bug Zapper

• Paddle-type bug zapper: These are handheld units, that are much more effective than the traditional fly swatter. An example is the AICase Handheld Rechargeable Mosquito Fly Swatter. It operates in two modes: regular mode, and mosquito lamp mode, where it emits a gentle purple light to attract mosquitoes. That’s recommended for use at night since mosquitoes are largely nocturnal insects. You can hunt them down without turning on the lights in the room.

AICase Handheld Rechargeable Mosquito Fly Swatter

What Features Should I Look For When Selecting a Bug Zapper?

There are a number of nice features that you’ll find in select bug zappers. It’s worth keeping your eyes open for them when making a selection:

• Replacement bulbs: The UV bulbs on these zappers can last a long time. It’s estimated that a bulb will emit UV light for around 8000 hours before it starts to decline in effectiveness. But it’s always good to be able to get replacement bulbs. You also may have difficulty getting the right size bulb. The LiBa bug zapper comes with two replacement bulbs when you purchase it, but it’s always good to see that you can order replacement bulbs as well for your device.

• Attractants: Mosquitoes aren’t drawn just to the particular wavelength of UV light. They also hone in on human perspiration and the carbon dioxide that we exhale. Some bug zappers capitalize on this, by including a chemical that attracts mosquitoes. One such attractant is octenol which supposedly has an odor similar to human breath and perspiration.

• Easy to clean: There are indoor bug zappers that have a removable tray to get rid of the roasted bugs that accumulate over time. This is especially important with indoor bug zappers since you don’t want the dead bugs to be scattered all over your house.

• Placement: Where you place the bug zapper is also important. You don’t want to attract insects to a location where there are people. Instead, you should place the zapper away from exterior windows or doors, so as not to draw insects into the house.

• Auto-mode: Some bug zappers are equipped with an “auto-mode” feature. They’ll turn on immediately when it gets dark, and turn off if it’s light outside. The Cremax Mosquito Killer has this feature.

Cremax Mosquito Killer 

• Coverage: The coverage of an indoor bug zapper is also an important specification. An indoor bug zapper needn’t be effective for more than 1000 square feet. The Aspectek Electronic Bug Zapper is capable of covering up to 6000 square feet! On the other hand, some lantern bug zappers will cover less of an area (of approximately 320 square feet), but you can place several of them in your house for maximum efficiency.

Aspectek Electronic Bug Zapper

Are There Any Safety Issues With Indoor Bug Zappers?

• Electrical shock: You’ll see that many bug zappers are rated to give shocks in the range of 3,000 - 4,000 Volts. That might make it seem like it will electrocute you, like a bolt of lightning! However, the current going through the mesh is very low. The electrical shock that a zapper gives is fatal to insects, but not to humans. But, it can still give a nasty burn that leaves a blister. To prevent this, zappers generally have a guard surrounding the electrical mesh, to prevent someone from inserting their fingers and getting hurt. Even with all of these safety features, indoor bug zappers should be kept away from unpredictable children and pets.

• Keep away from water: Bug zappers for outdoor use are waterproof, such as the Homesuit Bug Zapper. But, since we’re dealing with indoor bug zappers, they may not be waterproof. Therefore, unless specified otherwise, keep a bug zapper away from water or rain.

Homesuit Bug Zapper

• UV light: There might also be a concern about the zappers working on emitting ultraviolet light. Ultraviolet light from the sun can cause sunburn and can damage the eyes as well. However, studies have shown that the range of UV radiation that is used in bug traps is UV-A, with a wavelength ranging from 335-380 nanometers. This is the range of UV light that attracts insects and is fortunately considered safe around humans. It doesn’t cause sunburn, but it can cause the skin to age. The higher ranges of UV light, UV-B (from 280–315 nm) and UV-C (from 100–280 nm) are more dangerous.

Wrap Up

We examined some of the offerings in the MSN list of the 10 best indoor bug zappers, noting some of the distinguishing features of each one. They’re effective against a lot more than just mosquitoes. An indoor bug zapper is a great way to rid your house of houseflies, phorid flies, fruit flies, gnats, and other flying pests. Check out the MSN list, and select a good indoor bug zapper today!