The 10 Best Fly Traps

There’s nothing worse than that one fly that just won’t leave you alone. You’re trying to cook, eat, or just relax on the patio, and it’s buzzing around your head. We’ve all been there. And when one fly shows up, you know its friends aren’t far behind.

Over the years, I’ve tried just about everything to get rid of them. From sticky tapes that get stuck in your hair to stinky bags that work a little too well. The truth is, the best fly trap really depends on where your problem is and what kind of fly you’re dealing with.

So I’ve put together a list of the fly traps that have actually worked for me and my friends. Some are for heavy-duty outdoor use, while others are discreet enough for your kitchen counter. No matter what your fly situation is, there’s a solution here that will get the job done.

 

 

Best Outdoor & All-Purpose Fly Traps

These are the workhorses for your yard, patio, and garage. They’re designed to handle larger fly populations before they ever make it inside.

 

 

DynaTrap 1/2 Acre Flying Insect Trap

This trap goes for about $50 and it’s built to last. I’ve had mine running for two seasons on our back deck, and it’s perfect for our 1/4 acre lot.

What I love about it is the silence. It uses a UV light to attract bugs and a fan to suck them into a basket where they dehydrate. There’s no loud zapping sound, so it doesn’t ruin a quiet evening. You just plug it in and let it run, and you’ll be surprised how full the basket gets.

The Downside: It’s not picky. It will catch flies and mosquitoes, but it might also trap some moths or crickets that wander too close.

 

 

Rescue! Outdoor Disposable Hanging Fly Trap

For just $8, this thing is an absolute beast for a big fly problem. If you have flies swarming around your trash cans or a compost bin, this is what you need. You just add water to the bag, hang it up, and it goes to work.

It’s disposable, which is a huge plus. Once it’s full of flies (and it will get full), you just toss the whole bag. No touching dead flies, no messy cleanup. It’s incredibly effective at reducing the fly population in a specific area.

The Downside: The smell is awful. You have to hang this far away from your house, patio, or any windows. I mean it—the odor is powerful, but that’s why it works so well.

 

 

Terro T380 Reusable Fly Magnet

The Terro Fly Magnet is a reusable option that costs around $12. This is another trap meant for serious outdoor fly issues, especially if you’re dealing with those big, nasty house flies.

The bait it uses is super potent and lasts for weeks. You just mix it with water in the durable plastic jar and hang it up. It’s a reliable set-it-and-forget-it solution that consistently traps a ton of flies.

The Downside: Just like the Rescue! trap, this one has a very strong, unpleasant odor. Place it at the far end of your yard, not near the back door.

 

 

Best Indoor Fly Traps

When flies get inside, you need a different strategy. These traps are designed to be more discreet, safer for indoor use, and targeted for common indoor pests like fruit flies and gnats.

 

 

Zevo Flying Insect Trap

A starter kit for the Zevo trap costs about $25. I keep one of these plugged in behind my fruit bowl in the kitchen, and it works wonders on fruit flies and gnats.

It doesn’t look like a bug trap at all, more like a modern nightlight. It uses a mix of blue and UV light to attract flying insects to a hidden sticky cartridge on the back. You never see or touch the bugs, you just swap out the cartridge when it’s full.

The Downside: You have to buy refills for the sticky cartridges, so there is an ongoing cost to using it.

 

 

Catchmaster Window Fly Strip Traps

A 12-pack of these is only $10, which is a great deal. These are my go-to for the windows in my garage and the sunroom where flies seem to congregate.

They’re basically just clear sticky strips that you apply directly to the corner of a window. Flies are naturally drawn to the light, so they land on the strip and get stuck. They’re almost invisible and totally silent.

The Downside: Seeing all the dead flies stuck to the strip is pretty gross, and peeling it off the window to throw it away isn’t fun.

 

 

Safer Home Indoor Plug-in Fly Trap

This plug-in trap will set you back about $20. It’s fantastic for catching the fungus gnats that seem to appear out of nowhere around my houseplants. It’s completely chemical-free, which is important to me since I have a dog.

It looks like a simple nightlight, emitting a soft UV light that attracts gnats, fruit flies, and moths. They get caught on a sticky glue card hidden behind the light. It runs 24/7 without making a sound.

The Downside: Like other traps of this style, you need to buy replacement glue cards for it to keep working.

 

 

Aspectek 20W Electric Bug Zapper

For around $30, you get some serious zapping power. This isn’t a subtle trap; this is for a persistent fly problem in a basement, workshop, or enclosed porch. It’s relentless.

It uses bright UVA bulbs to attract any flying insect that gets near it, and then… ZAP. It’s effective and cleans up easy with a removable tray at the bottom.

The Downside: The zapping is loud and can be startling. Also, the light is very bright and harsh, so it’s not something you’d want in your living room.

 

 

STEM Flying Insects Light Trap

This trap costs about $18 and is another great plug-in option for the kitchen. Good Housekeeping gave it their seal of approval, and I can see why. It’s safe, easy, and it really works.

It has a clean, simple design and plugs right into an outlet. Like the Zevo, it uses light to attract smaller pests like fruit flies and gnats onto a sticky trap. It’s been great for keeping the area around our garbage can clear.

The Downside: You’ll need to remember to buy replacement cartridges to keep it effective through the season.

 

 

Terro T2502 Ready-to-Use Fruit Fly Trap

A 2-pack of these little apple-shaped traps is about $6. If you have a sudden fruit fly infestation, these are the fastest way to get it under control. I always keep a box on hand for when the bananas on the counter get a little too ripe.

You just open it up and set it down. The liquid bait inside draws the fruit flies in, and they can’t get back out. It’s non-toxic and works for about 30 days. All the YouTube tests I’ve seen for 2026 show this one still comes out on top for fruit flies.

The Downside: The trap is see-through, so you can see all the dead fruit flies floating around inside, which is a bit unpleasant.

 

 

Catchmaster Sticky Fly Traps

You can get a huge 40-pack of these for around $15. These are the classic sticky ribbon traps you probably remember from your grandparents’ house. They might be old-school, but they still work.

You can hang them in the garage, a barn, or even from a tree branch outside. They are super sticky and will catch any fly that lands on them. They are a great, cheap supplement to other traps.

The Downside: They aren’t very strong on their own for a huge swarm. And you have to be careful where you hang them, because they will stick to anything—hair, clothes, you name it.

 

 

What To Look For in a Fly Trap

Choosing the right trap really just comes down to a few things. First, figure out where your problem is. If it’s outside by the garbage, you need something powerful and smelly. If it’s fruit flies in the kitchen, you need something small, non-toxic, and discreet.

Think about cleanup, too. Do you want something disposable you can just toss, or are you okay with a reusable trap that you have to empty and clean? The sticky plug-ins are the easiest—just throw away the old card and put in a new one.

Finally, consider any pets or kids. For inside the house, I always lean towards the non-toxic liquid baits or the light traps that keep the sticky parts covered. Safety is always the most important thing. But with the right trap, you can definitely win the war against flies this summer.