Must-Have Roach Traps to Keep Your Home Pest-Free

Best Overall

Black Flag Roach Motel

$6 at Amazon $7 at Walmart $6 at Home Depot

Earning the top spot on our list, this simple yet effective sticky trap from Black Flag uses a specialized lure to attract roaches inside. The insects become stuck in the glue and eventually die. One of the main selling points is how discrete it is: this trap is completely enclosed. This is an excellent choice if you're easily squeamish because it conceals the dead insects. 

It can eliminate multiple species of roaches, as well as other crawling insects like spiders, palmetto bugs, and crickets that have made their way into your home. Unlike roach traps that contain bait, the Black Flag Roach Motel won’t eliminate the nest, so it’s not great for a large infestation. Yet, it works wonders for those times when you find a couple of roaches in your house or your garage. 

Since this trap contains no pesticides, it’s safe to use in any area of your home, including kitchens and cabinets. It’s also safe to use around children and pets, though you should always keep it out of reach to prevent any contact with the adhesive inside. 

Unlike powder and gel formulas, these traps are a mess-free option and easily disposable. Once they’re full, you can simply throw them in the trash.     

^{Type: Sticky | Trap lifespan: Not listed | Active Ingredient: Not listed}

Best Bait Station

Hot Shot Liquid Roach Bait

$11 at Amazon $6 at Walmart $11 at Home Depot

Hot Shot’s bait stations are easy to set up and quickly and effectively eliminate small roach infestations. Roaches are attracted to the liquid bait, which contains an enticing combination of food and water. The bait also contains a lethal dose of dinotefuran, which quickly kills roaches and any eggs they carry. 

Unlike our best overall pick, which can be used on multiple types of indoor pests, Hot Shot’s liquid bait is specifically formulated for treating roach infestations. The formula is also odorless. 

Each pack contains six bait stations, costing you less than $2 per bait station. Their compact size allows for versatile and discreet placement along baseboards, in cabinets, behind plumbing fixtures, and in other areas where roaches tend to congregate. Although dinotefuran is considered a low-risk pesticide for nontarget organisms, the bait should be out of reach from curious pets and children, as it is potentially harmful in large quantities. 

These bait stations can remain effective for up to three months, but they will need to be replaced once the liquid is gone. The manufacturer recommends checking them on a monthly basis to make sure the bait is still present. Thanks to their transparent design, the bait level is easy to monitor. For added convenience, these traps come ready to use; all you need to do is pull the tab and break the seal on the bait vial before placing them on a flat surface.   

^{Type: Bait stations | Trap lifespan: Up to 3 months | Active Ingredient: Dinotefuran}

Best Gel

Syngenta Advion Cockroach Gel Bait

$35 $25 at Amazon $28 at Walmart

Advion Cockroach Gel Bait is a commercial-grade formula that can tackle heavy infestations. This product works on many species of cockroaches, even those that are averse to baits and gel. 

According to the manufacturer, one cockroach that consumes the bait can potentially poison up to 40 other cockroaches. This set includes four pre-filled syringes, one plunger, and two applicator tips, allowing for precise application in cracks, crevices, and other hard-to-reach areas. For severe infestations, the manufacturer recommends applying it in three to five locations per 10 linear feet.    

This gel is approved for indoor and outdoor use, making it more flexible than other options in our roundup. Each tube is effective for up to three years after opening (the longest on our list); for best results, you should reapply it every three months or so. 

As a forewarning, you can expect to see a lot of dead cockroaches lying around. As unsightly as they may be, you can rest assured knowing this gel bait is doing its job. Please note that this product contains indoxacarb, a chemical that should be kept out of the reach of children and pets. 

^{Type: Gel bait | Trap lifespan: Three years | Active Ingredient: Indoxacarb}

Best Spray

Raid Ant & Roach Killer

View on Amazon $6 at Walmart $6 at Target

Unlike gels and baits that typically take several days to produce results, this fast-acting formula kills cockroaches on contact. You can apply it directly onto the insects or any surface where you’ve noticed bug activity. 

This multi-purpose spray, which uses both imiprothrin and cypermethrin, can be used on other types of insects, including ants, weather wigs, silverfish, and common household spiders. Best of all, it has a residual effect for up to four weeks. Though it will deter pests from returning, it’s not the best choice for eliminating a heavy infestation because it doesn’t kill the nest.   

Keep in mind that this is a powerful chemical formula. People and pets should stay out of the treated area until the spray has fully dried. Once you’ve applied the formula, you should exit the area immediately. The good news is that it doesn’t leave behind a strong chemical odor, and there is a lavender-scented option available. 

^{Type: Spray | Trap lifespan: Up to 4 weeks | Active Ingredients: Imiprothrin, cypermethrin}

Best Fogger

Hot Shot Hot Shot No Mess! Fogger With Odor Neutralizer

$17 $15 at Amazon $15 at Walmart $15 at Lowes

This fogger creates a penetrating mist that gets into hard-to-reach areas where roaches tend to hide. Each can treat up to 2,000 cubic feet of unobstructed space, making it ideal for controlling heavy infestations. 

This product kills roaches on contact and continues to work for up to two months after application. It’s also effective on a number of other insects, including ants, fleas you might find on your carpet, mosquitoes, and spiders. We love that this clear, non-staining formula won’t leave a messy residue, making it safe to use on fabrics, upholstery, tile, wood, and many other household surfaces.  

Hot Shot Fogger contains two chemical pesticides: tetramethrin and cypermethrin (the same ingredient found in our best spray pick). The latter can be toxic to local wildlife, so it should only be used in enclosed spaces.

While effective, it’s important to note that this product requires extreme caution during application. You should cover or remove any exposed food, drinking water, toys, pets, and aquariums before fogging. Once the fog has been released, you can’t re-enter your home, structure, or treated area for two hours. 

^{Type: Fogger | Trap lifespan: Up to 2 months | Active Ingredients: Imiprothrin, cypermethrin}

Best Powder

Safer OMRI Listed Diatomaceous Earth

$16 $15 at Amazon $11 at Home Depot

If you’re an environmentally conscious consumer looking for an alternative to traditional chemical insecticides, Safer Home’s Diatomaceous Earth is a reliable, all-natural solution. This product is OMRI-listed, which means it is approved for use in organic gardening. 

It kills roaches and a variety of other crawling pests, including ants, fleas, earwigs, and bedbugs found in your home. After cockroaches come into contact with this powder, they become dehydrated and typically die within 48 hours. Note that it may take several days to eliminate a large infestation. 

This powder formula is non-staining and odorless, so you can apply it throughout your home. Like our best overall pick, this option is safe to use around children and pets. It can also be used outdoors, but be sure to repeat it after rain or watering; otherwise, it will wash away and lose its effectiveness. 

The downside to a powder formula is that it can be messy to apply and tough to clean up indoors. For best results, the manufacturer recommends applying this product with a hand duster, power duster, or other suitable tool—any of which must be purchased separately. 

^{Type: Powder | Trap lifespan: Not listed | Active Ingredient: Silicon dioxide from diatomaceous earth}