Best fly killer 2024: Zap, swat and catch your way to a bug-free home

It’s that time of year again where having one of the best fly killers to hand can prevent your home becoming overrun by bugs. Our homes are a welcoming source of food, water and safety for all sorts of insects, particularly in the warmer months. Opening a window for some fresh air always seems like a great idea until you find your house invaded by every winged critter in a hundred-mile radius, and getting rid of them is often a summertime struggle.

Luckily, we’ve assembled this list of the best fly killers you can buy right now, guaranteed to keep those pesky bugs at bay. To make sure you get the right fly killer for you, scroll to the end to see our buying guide, or read on for our reviews.

Best fly killers: At a glance

The best fly killers you can buy in 2024

1. Zero In Handy Bug Bat: Best traditional fly swatter

Price when reviewed: £7.53 | Check price at Amazon

• Great for… turning fly swatting into tennis
• Not so great for… long-lasting battery life

If your hand-eye coordination is up to the task, and you have some frustrations to work out, the Zero In Handy Bug Bat might just be the fly killer you need. Shaped like a small tennis racket, this swatter packs quite a punch and can kill mosquitoes, midges and flies on contact. A small button on the side of the handle activates a small electrical current, and a swift Federer-like forehand does the rest. No need to worry, though, as it’s perfectly safe to handle – the electric strings are caged in by outer ones that ensure kids won’t trap a finger in them.

The Zero In’s compact size and weight make it a great option to take on camping trips, as it will fit in a bag with ease, and it’s powered by two AA batteries, so there’s no need to carry a separate charger with you. Of course, there are other, more expensive swatters out there, but for a low-maintenance, low-budget tool you can have by your side when it’s time to battle the bugs, the Zero In is all you need.

2. Pest Police Sticky Fly Papers: Best budget fly traps

Price when reviewed: £2.85 | Check price at Amazon

• Great for… a cheap and cheerful fly fix
• Not so great for… a mess-free solution, as it leaves a sticky residue on hands & walls

Sticky fly paper is a classic method of catching flies. To make the most of them, find where the flies are regularly getting in, then simply remove a strip of Pest Police’s finest sticky paper, hang it near the relevant area and leave it to work.

You get 10 rolls of paper in one pack, with drawing pins included – a pretty great deal considering the small asking price.

3. Zero In Fly Max Fly Catcher: Best for minimal effort

Price when reviewed: £9.56 | Check price at Amazon

• Great for… those keen to avoid poison
• Not so great for… killing flies inside, as it should only be used outdoors

If you want a venus fly trap without the maintenance efforts, this is your best bet. Great for putting in the garden or outside a window that flies use to invade your home, this little trap attracts bugs from up to ten metres away with scents they will find irresistible. The concept is very simple: the flies come in through the top of the jar to get to the smells they want and then they can’t get back out.

Although the packaging says each trap can hold up to 20,000 flies, we definitely recommend emptying it out to dispose of the dead flies well before you reach that point – the smell will continue to grow stronger until you address it. Each trap is reusable, and you can buy more bait sachets that only require the addition of some water to attract the bugs. The bait is non-toxic and lasts up to four weeks before losing its effective range. You can either hang or stand these nifty little traps in a prime position, making them one of the most versatile, low-effort and cost-effective options on this list.

4. RepellShield Anti Fly Spray: Best fly-killing alternative

Price when reviewed: £13 | Check price at Amazon

• Great for… repelling all kinds of insects, including mosquitoes and fleas, naturally and harmlessly
• Not so great for… sensitive noses

If you’re not so keen on the idea of killing things, a repellent spray can be an effective alternative. This spray from RepellShield mixes vegan essential oils – such as peppermint, lemongrass and citronella – for a natural repellent that leaves no stains or toxic residue behind and, unlike many other sprays, creates fresh smells around the home. What’s more, the branding isn’t completely covered with giant, grotesque pictures of cockroaches and other bugs, like a lot of sprays you’ll see in shops.

All you need to do is spray the liquid onto potential fly hotspots, such as curtains, kitchen areas or around the bins, every two or three days to create a defensive barrier that will keep all sorts of flies, mosquitos and midges away from your indoor spaces. Thanks to being made of natural ingredients, the formula is perfectly safe for pets and humans alike and it comes in recycled packaging too.

5. KATCHY: The WMD for fruit flies

Price when reviewed: £74 | Check price at Amazon

• Great for… an absence of zapping noises
• Not so great for… catching house flies

We’re right there with you: fruit fly managed to infiltrate your kitchen, evading your mightiest swings and, in a matter of days, your countertops were totally overrun due to their accelerated breeding and the bin you forgot to empty. Sure, you managed to whittle their numbers down some, but they’re too agile and small for swatters to make any real impact.

That was a month ago.

You’re now locked in a stalemate, with casualties on both sides – including the tasty watermelon you brought home from the supermarket. You desperately need something to give you an edge – that’s where KATCHY comes in. This high-end, spare-no-expense fly trap uses UV light, a fan and tantalising scents to lure in even the most evasive fruit flies. Once inside, those tiny critters are funnelled onto sticky glue boards they won’t be able to escape.

Simply place KATCHY on a kitchen counter or an overrun area at night, turn off the lights and let it do its thing. Within two or three days the war will be won. If not, a full refund is available within a year of your purchase.

6. Zap It Bug Zapper: Best fly swatter

Price when reviewed: £20 | Check price at Amazon

• Great for… killing flies at night
• Not so great for… the loud noise and burning smell when you kill a fly

If you’re happy to spend a little more on your fly-killing tools, this zapper might be worth adding to your arsenal. Functioning in similar ways to cheaper fly swatters, this one has a long handle that gives you an impressive reach advantage, more control and an element of surprise too. The only downside is that it looks like a much older tennis racket, so maybe try not to swap out your best Federer forehand for a McEnroe tantrum.

This swatter uses USB charging and has a bright, built-in LED light that you can use to track down even the stealthiest fly that sneaks into your tent on a camping trip. It features a 4,000-volt grid in its inner strings, which will immediately eliminate mosquitos, flies and other pesky bugs.

How to choose the best fly killer for you

What are the best ways of killing flies?

Swatters are great for quick and agile fly hunters. While they require you to get up close and personal, they provide a fuss-free way of tackling the problem. Some swatters resemble small tennis rackets and carry a weak electric current that will help to vanquish your hovering foe with a single touch, but, on the whole, swatters tend to work best when your target is bigger.

Traps are also great and require minimal effort. Some will also carry an electric current, offering a quick, efficient and painless route to extermination, but you can get non-electric and reusable traps that use a more plant-like approach to trapping flies, luring them in using smells and trapping them for good in a bottle or jar. Traps are a great tool for smaller flies and bugs, especially if you don’t want to spend your life reenacting Rowan Atkinson’s Netflix series Man vs Bee.

READ NEXT: How to get rid of bed bugs

Deterrents are another solid choice – after all, violence isn’t always the answer. You might consider lighting scented candles or using sprays to fumigate spaces so the flies and bugs don’t want to come anywhere near you. More extreme measures that are often put to good use in warmer countries include nets and grates on windows, meaning you can breathe fresh air in your home without the buzzers being able to enter. Deterrents are a more humane choice for people who don’t like the prospect of killing living things and a safer option for people with allergies to certain flies, bugs, or perhaps bees. Sprays, in particular, can be very effective since you can usually find specific ones for the exact bug that’s grieving you.

Another option is to go with natural remedies. For example, some pets can keep a lot of bugs and smaller insects away, since they will fear whatever animal you’ve enlisted to help you guard your home. Alternatively, plants such as the venus fly trap are extremely efficient bug killers, and could turn out to be your best friend with only minimal upkeep efforts.

↑Return to top