Discovering cockroaches in your home can be frustrating and concerning. Fortunately, effective solutions exist to address these unwelcome visitors. To help you tackle the problem efficiently, we’ve evaluated the best roach killers for every job—from minor to severe infestations.
Here are our top recommendations to help you decide which pest control solution best suits your situation.
Top 5 Roach Killers
- Advion Pest Control Gel: Best Application Tools: Advion Pest Control Gel
- Hot Shot Ultra-Liquid Roach Bait: Best Roach Trap: Hot Shot Ultra-Liquid Roach Bait
- Raid Roach Gel: Best For Small Infestations: Raid Roach Gel
- Raid Concentrated Deep-Reach Fogger: Best Roach Fogger: Raid Concentrated Deep-Reach Fogger
- Ortho Home Defense MAX Insect Killer Spray: Best Multipurpose Killer: Ortho Home Defense MAX Insect Killer Spray
Compare Top Roach Killers
| Product | Formula | Application | Works On |
|---|---|---|---|
Advion Pest Control GelCheck Price | Gel | Four 1.06-ounce plunger tubes | German cockroaches |
Hot Shot Ultra-Liquid Roach BaitCheck Price | Food and water-attracting | Six bait stations | Cockroaches and their eggs |
Raid Roach GelCheck Price | Gel | One 1.5-ounce squeeze tube | German and American cockroaches |
Raid Concentrated Deep-Reach FoggerCheck Price | Fog | Three 1.5-ounce spray bottles | Ants, cockroaches, and spiders |
Ortho Home Defense MAX Insect Killer SprayCheck Price | Spray | Two 24-ounce spray bottles | Common household pests, including ants, cockroaches, and spiders |
Best Application Tools: Advion Pest Control Gel
Advion Pest Control Gel
This roach killer gel comes in four plunger tubes with several applicator heads, allowing you to line any areas of your home that are susceptible to cockroaches. Additionally, we like that this product contains indoxacarb, which is safe for application sites where pets, children, and other sensitive individuals and animals may come into contact with it.
Pros and Cons of Advion Pest Control Gel
- Comes with a video tutorial
- Safe for use in sensitive application sites
- Kills German cockroaches
- Recommended for use alongside other products, such as cockroach taps
- Some customers noted receiving expired products
What People Are Saying About The Advion Pest Control Gel
Positive reviews for this product noted that this cockroach gel saved their homes from large roach infestations. Many customers indicated that they had tried everything else with little to no success, but this product ended up being the fast-acting defense they needed. Negative reviews said that they received expired products from the Amazon seller.
Best Roach Trap: Hot Shot Ultra-Liquid Roach Bait
Hot Shot Ultra-Liquid Roach Bait
This roach killer draws cockroaches in using a mixture of food and water bait traps that starts working in just a few hours. Unlike other products we’ve reviewed, we found that this roach trap kills roaches and their eggs to get to the root of the infestation.
Pros and Cons of Hot Shot Ultra-Liquid Roach Bait
- Begins working in hours
- Comes with a money-back guarantee
- Uses advanced liquid bait technology
- Most expensive option in this review
- Doesn’t penetrate cracks and crevices where roaches may hide
What People Are Saying About The Hot Shot Ultra-Liquid Roach Bait
Reviews noted that this product worked quickly and effectively, with many saying that the roach traps were straightforward to use. Negative reviews we found said that their package was missing some roach traps upon arrival.
Best For Small Infestations: Raid Roach Gel
Raid Roach Gel
Our research showed that this roach gel fits in small cracks and crevices within your home to kill both German and American cockroaches. The Raid Roach Gel is ideal for killing roaches at the source where they hide and breed.
Pros and Cons of Raid Roach Gel
- Most budget-friendly option in this review
- Effective for up to 12 months
- Customers noted that a little goes a long way
- Not powerful enough for large infestations
- Only comes with enough product to cover a small room
What People Are Saying About The Raid Roach Gel
Customers noted that this roach killer product was a great value for the money, especially considering that a little bit of it went a long way. Reviews also stated that they saw results within a few days of application. We also noted that some unsatisfied customers criticized this product for not working on Florida roaches. They also said that it had a dry formula that was difficult to squeeze out.
Best Roach Fogger: Raid Concentrated Deep-Reach Fogger
Raid Concentrated Deep-Reach Fogger
Our team liked that this combo pack includes three foggers that penetrate cracks and holes in your home to kill roaches, ants, and spiders. We also like that this roach fogger also continues to work for up to two months after application.
Pros and Cons of Raid Concentrated Deep-Reach Fogger
- Kills roaches, spiders, and ants
- Doesn’t stain any surfaces its fog touches
- Doesn’t leave messy, wet residue behind
- Pets must be removed from the premises before you fog
- Requires extensive preparation work before using it
What People Are Saying About The Raid Concentrated Deep-Reach Fogger
Our team liked that this combo pack includes three foggers that penetrate cracks and holes in your home to kill roaches, ants, and spiders. We also like that this roach fogger also continues to work for up to two months after application.
Best Multipurpose Killer: Ortho Home Defense MAX Insect Killer Spray
Ortho Home Defense MAX Insect Killer Spray
Our team was impressed to learn that this roach killer provides up to three months of protection against common household pests, such as ants, roaches, spiders, stink bugs, and centipedes. In addition, this spray is formulated for both indoor and outdoor use. If you’re concerned about messy pesticides, this product is advertised as a no-residue option.
Pros and Cons of Ortho Home Defense MAX Insect Killer Spray
- Has a quick-dry, fast-acting formula
- Formulated for both indoor and outdoor use
- Provides long-lasting perimeter treatment control
- Customers noted that it wasn’t effective at killing or preventing all insects like it promises
- Must be continually reapplied
What People Are Saying About The Ortho Home Defense MAX Insect Killer Spray
Glowing customer reviews praised this product for how easy it was to use and how reasonably priced it was. Our team also found many reviews that highlighted that this product had good longevity. In contrast, negative reviews stated that the newer version of this product had a less effective formula.
Roach Killer Buying Guide
Before buying a roach killer, it’s important to understand how its design and specifications impact its user experience and performance. Here are four factors to we recommend keeping in mind before making a purchase.
Type
Roach killers come in a variety of designs, with the most popular being gels, foggers, sprays, and traps.
Cockroach gel is an effective treatment option for homeowners experiencing minor or major cockroach infestations. Gels, including the Advion Pest Control Gel, are applied to cracks, crevices, and other surfaces in your home where cockroaches are spotted for simple ease of use. They attract cockroaches in the area and kill them after being ingested. While gels are unlikely to harm pets or children, it’s suggested that they be applied to inaccessible, hard-to-reach areas of the home as a safety precaution.
The cockroach fogger comes in an aerosol can. It sprays a wide-reaching pesticide that settles onto surfaces throughout your home. Roaches are killed when they come into contact with the pesticide droplets. While foggers are affordable and easy to use, users can’t target specific areas like they can with a cockroach gel.
Similar to a fogger, roach sprays produce an insect-killing substance that sticks to surfaces around your home. While roach sprays can cover a large area like foggers, they can also be used for more precise targeting. For example, the Ortho Home Defense MAX Insect Killer Spray lets users spray small four-inch insecticide barriers to areas where cockroaches are commonly found.
A roach trap contains roach-killing bait that lures cockroaches in. While some roach traps hold onto the dead roaches for later disposal, most models like the Hot Shot Ultra-Liquid Roach Bait have poisonous bait that kills the insects on contact. These traps are placed on flat surfaces throughout your home.
Efficacy Length
The amount of time a roach killer is effective for is called its efficacy length. Most killers last for about two weeks. However, this timeframe is a rough estimate because a roach killer that’s used outside to treat a large infestation won’t last as long as a killer that’s used inside to treat a few stray cockroaches.
Some models can last longer than a few weeks. For example, the Raid Concentrated Deep-Reach Fogger keeps killing for up to two months after initial application.
Targeted Pests
Some roach killers can also target other pests. For example, the Ortho Home Defense MAX Insect Killer Spray can get rid of roaches, ants, spiders, stink bugs, and centipedes. These multipurpose killers are useful for homes experiencing a wide range of pest problems.
Safety
Most roach killers contain harmful chemicals. If you have small children or pets, take safety precautions, such as applying the killer to inaccessible areas, to prevent accidental ingestion. Some models like the Hot Shot Ultra-Liquid Roach Bait also have an enclosed insecticide to further minimize the risk of contact.
Cockroach Prevention Tips
Roaches in the home can be a major headache for homeowners. While roach killers can help you get rid of roaches once they’re already inside, our team has found that taking these steps can combat roaches in the first place.
Matain a Clean Home: Keeping a clean living environment can help keep roaches looking elsewhere. Roaches are attracted to things like food crumbs and spills. Regularly sweep, mop, and vacuum floors, and wipe down countertops and surfaces after meals.
Manage Your Trash: Keep trash in sealed bins and take it out regularly. Roaches can be drawn to the scent of garbage, so properly disposing of waste can help keep them at bay.
Seal Cracks and Gaps: Inspect your home for any cracks or gaps in walls, windows, doors, and foundation. Seal them with caulk or weatherstripping to prevent roaches from finding their way indoors.
Store Food Properly: Keep food in airtight containers made of glass or metal to prevent roaches from getting to them. This prevents roaches from accessing food sources and deters them from settling in your kitchen.
Fix Leaks: Roaches need water to survive, so fix any plumbing leaks promptly. Also, ensure that no standing water accumulates in or around your home.
Reduce or Remove Clutter: Roaches love hiding in clutter in your home, so reducing the amount of unnecessary items stored can be a major help. Keeping clutter manageable can also make cleaning your home easier.
Use Natural Repellents: Certain scents like peppermint oil, catnip, or cucumber can repel roaches. Sprinkle peppermint oil around entry points or place cucumber slices in areas where roaches might enter.
Roach Killer FAQs
What attracts roaches to my home?
While most people associate dirty homes with infestations, roaches also enter clean homes to search for shelter and water. Therefore, it’s important to not only keep a clean home, but to also remove sources of excess moisture in your home.
How do roaches get in my home?
Roaches are small insects that can enter your home through holes, baseboards, cracks, and gaps in your home’s structure. They can also enter through open doors or windows. If using roach killers doesn’t solve your roach problem, call in a professional exterminator to help solve the issue.
What are the signs of a roach infestation in my home?
Some common signs of a roach infestation include:
- Droppings
- Egg capsules
- Smear marks
- Unusual odors
Additionally, spotting just one roach in your home could indicate that more are in the surrounding area.
Our Methodology
To provide our readers with the best product recommendations possible, we rely on several key sources of information to help guide our selection process.
Initial Research: Our research process began by generating a list of products with a significant number of verified buyer reviews and an average customer review rating of 4–5 stars. We looked at positive and negative reviews alike, focusing on information from both satisfied and critical buyers.
Expert Insights: Through years of experience, we’ve learned that listening to what others have to say is key to building accurate, well-rounded articles. To complement our in-house expertise, our team looked at reviews and videos from trusted publications and independent testers, spoke with subject matter experts, and drew insights from reader contributions.
Final Product Selection: We then began fine-tuning our list by replacing older models with the latest versions and eliminating any discontinued models. From there, we pared the list down by comparing each model’s feature-set and selecting the best-in-class options for a variety of buyers, budgets, and scenarios.
Why You Can Trust Us
This Old House has empowered homeowners and DIYers for more than four decades with top-notch home improvement advice in the form of television programs, print media, and digital content.
Our team focuses on creating in-depth product and service review content. To date, we’ve published over 1,600 reviews on products for the home, from doorbell cameras and dining room decor to circular saws and snow blowers.
Once we conclude the research and testing phases, we craft a comprehensive, user-friendly article of recommended products and additional information to help our readers make the right purchase.