10 Best Fly Repellents 2025 in the United States

The Sawyer Products SP874 Picaridin Insect Repellent Spray is a strong contender in the fly-repellent category. The active ingredient, 20% Picaridin, is highly effective at keeping flies at bay for up to 8 hours, making it suitable for extended outdoor activities like camping, hiking, and backyard gatherings. Additionally, it offers up to 12 hours of protection against mosquitoes and ticks, which is impressive for an insect repellent.

One of its major strengths is that it's fragrance-free, non-greasy, and dries quickly, ensuring a comfortable experience without causing damage to clothing or gear. This is a significant advantage for people who are sensitive to scents or don't want their outdoor equipment affected. The spray is also safe for use on the entire family, which adds to its versatility.

While it is effective and user-friendly, the product's environmental impact isn't highlighted, which might be a concern for eco-conscious users. Some users may find the need for reapplication after 8 hours for fly protection to be a slight inconvenience. The Sawyer Products SP874 is an excellent choice for those seeking reliable, long-lasting protection from various insects during outdoor activities.

Farnam Repel-X Ready-To-Use Fly Spray is a versatile insecticide and repellent designed mainly for horses and dogs, but also usable around barns and fabric items. Its active ingredient is permethrin, a common chemical effective against flies, mosquitoes, ticks, fleas, and other biting insects. This spray kills and repels multiple pests, which makes it practical for farm or stable use. The water-based formulation means it’s non-oily and ready to use without any mixing, making application easy with the included trigger sprayer or by wiping on. It has a pleasant scent, which is a nice bonus since some repellents can be strong or unpleasant-smelling. Safety-wise, it’s suitable for animals over one month old but should not be used on very young foals, and care must be taken to avoid eyes and sensitive areas. Since it contains permethrin, it’s important to follow directions closely because this chemical can be toxic to cats and some wildlife.

The product provides a decent duration of protection, though repeat applications are recommended for continuous effectiveness. It is budget-friendly, especially if buying concentrated refills, making it appealing for users managing large animals or barns. Those seeking a natural or chemical-free option might want to consider alternatives, as this is a synthetic insecticide. Farnam Repel-X is a reliable, easy-to-use fly repellent that works well for horse and dog owners who need a multi-purpose insect killer and repellent with manageable safety guidelines.

Durvet Permethrin 10%, 8oz is a highly effective insecticide concentrate, particularly suited for livestock and household use. The active ingredient, Permethrin, at a concentration of 10%, ensures a rapid kill of a wide range of pests including flies, fleas, ticks, and mites. This broad spectrum efficacy makes it versatile for use on various animals such as dairy and beef cattle, horses, sheep, goats, dogs, swine, and poultry, as well as in homes and livestock premises.

One of its standout features is its safety; while highly toxic to insects, it remains safe for use around animals and humans, which is a significant advantage for households and farms with multiple animals. Additionally, its formulation as a liquid concentrate makes it easy to mix and apply as needed, whether indoors or outdoors. Users should be cautious about its use in water bodies as it can be harmful to aquatic life.

Durvet Permethrin 10% is a robust choice for those in need of a reliable and safe insect control solution for a variety of settings.