I spoke to entomologists to find the 10 best ant killers that actually work

 

Weeks after moving into her new home this spring, CNN Underscored’s home editor Amina Lake Patel realized she had an ant problem. “It started out as just a few here and there in the living room but quickly turned into dozens of ant hills taking over my basement, backyard and garage too,” she said. The infestation is under control now but only after Patel hired two pest control services and treated her home and garden with multiple ant killers.

If you find yourself with an ant problem this summer, don’t panic. Below, you’ll find a comprehensive guide to ant killers, including a list of expert-approved formulas, as well as tips for protecting your home from infestations. Because best practices and products change from year to year, I’ve updated this guide for 2026, adding new products, expert insights and Patel’s firsthand experience.

Bait ant killers

Before Patel turned to professionals, she placed these ant baits in her basement and living room. It turned out to be the right move. Both companies Patel hired said Terro's baits are the best on the market and are enough to tackle most household infestations. "I ended up having the pros spray insecticide because I wanted the problem solved ASAP," she said, "but I'll definitely continue using Terro's ant killers whenever smaller problems come up in the future."

Allan Bossel, operations expert at Bed Bug Exterminator (BBE), praised Terro's outdoor ant baits too, calling them his top choice for a weather-resistant solution. "These baits, when used consistently and as directed, can be really effective,” he said. Still, consider that you don't necessarily have to eliminate the outdoor ant population. “At least for me, there is no need to try to ‘eradicate’ the ants out in the garden,” said Dong-Hwan Choe, a professor of entomology at the University of California, Riverside. “Managing ants is the better way to approach this.”