The Best Fire Ant Killers of 2024

We understand that choosing a fire ant killer can be overwhelming — especially when you have children or pets under threat of fire ant bites and stings. Options available through online retailers and brick-and-mortar stores can seem endless. You need to feel confident that the product you buy can do the job without adding stress to fire ant season.

Fire ant killers fall into two main categories: contact killers and fire ant baits. Both types can be highly effective, so personal preferences carry some weight. Like the names suggest, contact killers kill fire ants by contact after ants touch the killer and spread it through the mound. Baits work by attracting fire ants that mistake the bait for food. They take it back to other ants and their queen, which ultimately kills the whole colony. Whether you choose contact killers or bait killers, killing the queen is essential to success.

Once you get past the main differences between fire ant baits and contact killers, many other factors go into choosing the best fire ant killer for you. Considerations that rank high for us include effectiveness in killing the entire colony, how fast the product works, how long protection lasts, ease of application, quality of label instructions and precautions for pets and kids. Economy and brand reputation figure in there, too.

To help make your choice a little easier, we took a look at leading fire ant killers to see how they stack up. With the above criteria in mind, we present the Best Fire Ant Killers of 2024:

BEST OVERALL

Over'n Out!® Advanced Fire Ant Killer

Over'n Out! Advanced Fire Ant Killer
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Over’n Out! Advanced Fire Ant Killer

Over'n Out! Advanced Fire Ant Killer is a fast-acting, dual-purpose fire ant treatment you can count on to kill the queen and mounds — and keep protecting you against fire ants for up to six months.

Our Top Picks

Over'n Out! Advanced Fire Ant Killer
Best Overall
Over'n Out!® Advanced Fire Ant Killer
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Amdro Fire Ant Bait
Best Bait
Amdro® Fire Ant Bait
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Over'n Out! Advanced Fire Ant Killer
Best Contact Killer
Over'n Out!® Advanced Fire Ant Killer
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Amdro Yard Treatment Bait
Best Yard Treatment
Amdro® Kills Fire Ants Yard Treatment Bait
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Over'n Out! Advanced Mound Eliminator
Best Mound Killer
Over'n Out!® Advanced Mound Eliminator
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Ortho Orthene
Best Value
Ortho® Orthene® Fire Ant Killer1
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Spectracide Mound Destroyer
Best Price
Spectracide® Fire Ant Shield™ Mound Destroyer™ Granules
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BEST OVERALL:  Over'n Out!® Advanced Fire Ant Killer

BEST OVERALL

Over'n Out Advanced Fire Ant Killer
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Over’n Out! Advanced Fire Ant Killer

Over'n Out! Advanced Fire Ant Killer won our top spot overall based on several points: It kills the mound in just 15 minutes, kills the queen within 24 hours and a single application protects against fire ants for up to six months. Those promises are tough to beat. These ready-to-use granules are also super easy to apply, can be used for mounds and broadcast treatments and we feel comfortable using them in areas where pets and kids will play.

What We Like:

  • Ready-to-use, mess-free granules.
  • Fast-acting formula targets the entire colony.
  • One application provides control for six months.

What We Don't Like:

  • No label instructions for pets and reentry times.
  • Must be watered-in after application.
  • Bag not resealable.
"When I first received the product, I currently didn't have any fire ants. I knew they would come though. Once they appeared, this product worked like a charm, at the first sign of a mound I applied the product as directed. In no time, they were gone! It was such a relief because not only do I react horribly, but we have a dog and multiple children running through our yard. I'm glad it only took a little of the product to do the trick so we will be ready if they return." Over'n Out! consumer review submitted as part of a free sample program.
Over'n Out! Advanced Fire Ant Killer is a fast-acting, dual-purpose fire ant treatment you can count on to kill the queen and mounds — and keep protecting you against fire ants for up to six months.

BEST BAIT:  Amdro® Fire Ant Bait

BEST BAIT

Amdro Fire Ant Bait
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Amdro Fire Ant Bait

We're fans of Amdro Fire Ant Bait for several reasons: We often see its active ingredient mentioned in extension publications as one of the most effective fire ant killers you can use. We also appreciate that this one bait product works for mounds, yard treatments, home perimeters and spot treatments. Turning to one product for all our fire ant needs is a big plus in our book. The sturdy shake-or-pour container simplifies our Best Bait for 2022 choice even more.

What We Like:

  • Sturdy, easy-to-store container.
  • Dual-purpose mound or broadcast treatment.
  • Targets the queen to eliminate the entire colony.
  • No watering-in after application.

What We Don't Like:

  • No label instructions for reentry times.
  • Takes about a week to kill the queen.
"I have tried everything under the sun to kill these fire ants. I have even bought cans and cans of household fire ant spray. But this Amdro is the only thing I have found to kill them, and it will wipe out the whole colony. It will take a couple of days for them to die out, but it really works." Amdro consumer review
Amdro Fire Ant Bait is a convenient, easy-to-use fire ant bait that you can turn to for all your fire ants needs, from killing fire ant queens to destroying entire fire ant colonies.

BEST CONTACT KILLER: Over'n Out!® Advanced Fire Ant Killer

BEST CONTACT KILLER

Over'n Out Advanced Fire Ant Killer
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Over'n Out!® Advanced Fire Ant Killer

Even if Over'n Out! Advanced Fire Ant Killer wasn't our Best Overall pick for 2022 — which it is — we'd still choose this product as our top contact killer for the year. We like the ease of applying these granules, whether sprinkling mounds or broadcasting the granules with a lawn spreader. We also appreciate this product's effectiveness and speed: It controls fire ant mounds in just 15 minutes and kills the queen within a day. Add in six months of continued protection — from a single application — and that's a winning combination.

What We Like:

  • Ready-to-use, mess-free granules.
  • Fast-acting formula targets the entire colony.
  • One application provides control for six months.

What We Don't Like:

  • No label instructions for pets and reentry times.
  • Must be watered-in after application.
  • Bag not resealable.
"I can't tell you how many different brands of ant killer we've used since we bought our house last December. With two small kids who love to play outside it was really ruining a lot for us. One application and they haven't come back! My kids can finally enjoy playing outside and my husband can do yard work without being tore up!!" Over'n Out! consumer review submitted as part of a free sample program.
From convenience and effectiveness to residual protection and speed, Over'n Out! Advanced Fire Ant Killer delivers everything you need in a contact fire ant killer — guaranteed.

BEST YARD TREATMENT:  Amdro® Kills Fire Ants Yard Treatment Bait

BEST YARD TREATMENT

Amdro Yard Treatment Bait
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Amdro® Kills Fire Ants Yard Treatment Bait

Many fire ants experts recommend full yard treatments as part of optimal fire ant control. When we look at products designed especially for treating your entire yard, Amdro Kills Fire Ants Yard Treatment Bait comes out on top. This product kills all the mounds in your yard — including ones still hidden in your grass or soil — and it specifically targets the queen, so the whole colony dies. We also like the ease of no watering-in, and the zip-close shaker bag wins extra points.

What We Like:

  • Resealable, zip-close shaker bag.
  • Kills visible and hidden mounds.
  • Provides season-long control.
  • No watering-in after application.

What We Don't Like:

  • No label instructions for reentry times.
  • No time frame for how fast it works.
"This fire ant treatment works good, and the easy dispensing bag made it easy to apply. Not long after applying, I started seeing the mounds getting dormant with no further activity around them. I would recommend this product to anyone trying to get rid of their ant problem so they can continue enjoying their yard! I'll surely use it again if I need to!" Amdro customer review submitted as part of a free sample program
When you want a full yard treatment, you can trust Amdro Kills Fire Ants Yard Treatment Bait to treat visible and hidden fire ant mounds, kill queens and colonies and prevent new mounds from forming.

BEST MOUND KILLER:  Over'n Out!® Advanced Fire Ant Killer Mound Eliminator

BEST MOUND KILLER

Over'n Out! Advanced Mound Eliminator
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Over'n Out!® Advanced Fire Ant Killer Mound Eliminator

When fire ant mounds appear, we want a mound killer that kills the queen fast, goes on easy and makes life simpler down the road. Over'n Out! Advanced Fire Ant Killer Mound Eliminator does all those things and more. This easy-to-use granular contact killer works in minutes to kill existing fire ant mounds and puts an end to the queen within a day. It also keeps killing new fire ants for up to six months. When we add it all up, this product wins our top mound killer spot.

What We Like:

  • Resealable, recyclable bag.
  • Kills the mound and queen fast.
  • Keeps protecting for up to six months.
  • Money-back guarantee.

What We Don't Like:

  • No label instructions for pets and reentry times.
  • Must be watered-in after application.
"I wasn't aware of this product prior to purchasing, but I'm very impressed with the results. I live in Texas and fire ants are a huge problem, so it's a battle I'm always fighting. This product is easy to use, odorless and has a closure that is convenient for storage. Other products I've used in the past were like a powder, but this is granules, so it's easier to apply. It penetrates the mounds well after applying water. The results were quick and the ants were gone within an hour. It's been seven days and the treated mounds have not relocated, so mission accomplished. I will be repurchasing this product and have already recommended it to several neighbors."
Over'n Out! Consumer review
Over'n Out! Advanced Fire Ant Killer Mound Eliminator is a fast-acting contact killer that's guaranteed to kill your fire ants in 15 minutes, kill queens within 24 hours and keep protecting your family and pets against fire ants for up to six months.

BEST VALUE:  Ortho® Orthene® Fire Ant Killer1

BEST VALUE

Ortho Orthene
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Ortho® Orthene® Fire Ant Killer1

With all the factors that can contribute to the overall value of a fire ant killer, choosing just one winner for this title was tough. But when we ran through our criteria and did the math on Ortho Orthene Fire Ant Killer1, this contact killing powder came out on top. At first glance the product seemed spendy, but a little goes a long way: You can treat individual mounds for about 7 cents each, and this product is guaranteed to kill the queen and destroy the mound.

What We Like:

  • Sturdy, recyclable container.
  • Kills the queen and destroys the mound.
  • Should not be watered-in.
  • Built-in seal opener.

What We Don't Like:

  • Dry powder drifts easily.
  • Very strong odor.

Ortho Orthene Fire Ant Killer1 is a convenient outdoor mound treatment that kills fire ants fast by contact, destroys the mound and queen, doesn't need watering-in and offers excellent per-mound value.

BEST PRICE:  Spectracide® Fire Ant Shield™ Mound Destroyer™ Granules

BEST PRICE

Spectracide Mound Destroyer
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Spectracide® Fire Ant Shield™ Mound Destroyer™ Granules

When it comes to price alone, Spectracide Fire Ant Shield Mound Destroyer Granules have the lowest cost per bag of any fire ant killer we reviewed for 2022. But keeping initial investments as low as possible isn't our only consideration. Even inexpensive products are costly if they don't work. On top of the low price tag, this product kills the queen and colony fast. Plus it comes with a money-back guarantee. The way we see it, you can't lose with that.

What We Like:

  • Resealable bag.
  • Deep-reaching, accelerated formula.
  • Kills the queen and colony.
  • Money-back guarantee.

What We Don't Like:

  • Unpleasant smell.
  • Needs to be watered-in.
Spectracide Fire Ant Shield Mound Destroyer Granules are a fast-acting outdoor fire ant mound treatment that reaches deep to kill the queen and colony at a significantly lower price than competing products.

Final Thoughts

That sums up our top picks for the Best Fire Ant Killers of 2022. For more insights into how to manage fire ants effectively, check out our resources on identifying fire ants, comparing fire ant killers and protecting your home. We'll be updating our reviews and our Best Fire Ant Killers choices next year, so be sure and visit us often.

The opinions represented in this article are the author's. However, the author has been paid by the owner of this website, Central Garden & Pet Company.
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