The 7 Best Ant Killers of 2026

Why We Chose This Product:

The 5.4% Borax liquid formula targets the root cause of ant problems by letting worker ants carry poison back to the nest rather than killing them on contact. Six ready-to-use stations let you cover multiple entry points along baseboards and counters, making it the most effective overall solution for eradicating indoor colonies.

Who Is It For:

Homeowners and apartment dwellers dealing with active indoor infestations of common sugar ants in kitchens or bathrooms. If you need to stop perimeter invaders outdoors before they enter, choose a bulk permethrin spray like OnGuard instead.

Why We Chose This Product:

Packing 12 pre-filled borax bait stations across two boxes gives you enough volume to protect several rooms, entryways, and floor levels at once. It uses the same colony-destroying liquid borax formula as the single pack, ensuring worker ants carry poison directly to the nest queen across spread-out infestations.

Who Is It For:

Multi-story homes or larger floor plans where ants enter from several different rooms simultaneously. If you only have a single small trail on one kitchen counter, the standard 6-pack is sufficient.

Why We Chose This Product:

STEM uses a sealed, spill-proof station design that prevents toxic liquid from leaking if curious pets or kids knock it over on the floor. Unlike basic borax trays, this formulation also targets carpenter ants while remaining safe to deploy around high-traffic home areas.

Who Is It For:

Households with pets or young children who need liquid ant baiting without open-tray spillage. If you are on a tight budget and do not have pets, standard Terro bait trays offer similar colony elimination for less.

Why We Chose This Product:

Raid delivers immediate physical knockdown on contact, making it the most direct solution when you need to stop pests instantly on baseboards or counters. Its aerosol nozzle targets narrow cracks and crevices while leaving behind a residual layer that protects treated surfaces for up to four weeks.

Who Is It For:

Homeowners needing immediate spot elimination when seeing active ants, roaches, or spiders on indoor surfaces. If you want to eliminate the underlying nest, pair this with a bait station.

Why We Chose This Product:

Ortho Home Defense Max features a specialized upside-down valve that lets you easily spray hard-to-reach entry points like low door sills, window frames, and foundation cracks. It forms a precise chemical barrier around structural entry points to stop crawling insects before they step inside.

Who Is It For:

Homeowners sealing perimeter gaps, sliding door tracks, and window thresholds against entry. If you are dealing with an established nest inside kitchen cabinets, use slow-acting bait stations instead.

Why We Chose This Product:

OnGuard Pro-Perm uses a higher 0.35% Permethrin concentration in a massive 3.78-liter volume, delivering months of 24/7 perimeter defense against ants, ticks, and roaches. It gives homeowners enough professional-grade liquid to create a continuous barrier around large house foundations and outdoor structures.

Who Is It For:

Property owners who need heavy-duty, long-term barrier protection along exterior foundations, basements, and entryways. If you do not own a trigger or hose sprayer, choose EcoGuard P-22 which includes one.

Why We Chose This Product:

This 4-pack of STEM liquid bait stations offers a compact, low-cost solution for small living spaces without forcing you to buy excess stations. Its fully spill-proof enclosure delivers fast colony elimination in tight apartment kitchens where floor space is limited.

Who Is It For:

Renters or apartment dwellers experiencing targeted indoor ant activity in a single kitchen or bathroom. If you live in a multi-story detached home, pick the 8-pack STEM or 12-pack Terro instead.