Best Repellents

[Mike Taylor]

" 5 Best Insect Repellents of 2026, Lab-Tested and Reviewed. "
CR tests lotions, sprays, wipes, and plant-based repellents on real people using real mosquitoes.

An effective insect repellent can help you fight off the annoyance of buzzing mosquitoes, prevent itchy bites, and reduce your risk of serious bug-borne illnesses like Lyme disease and West Nile virus. Consumer Reports' testing—which involves brave volunteers putting their arms into cages of mosquitoes—can help you find the ones that work.

We have over 50 repellents in our ratings and 20 recommended ones, so it should be easy to find a way to beat the bugs that's right for you. Not all bug sprays are equally effective. One factor that matters significantly is a product's active ingredient.

"We expect that differences in formulation and how the active ingredient is incorporated into a repellent can make a large difference in how effectively it repels insects," says Chris Regan, who oversaw the testing of insect repellents for CR. "However, among the products we've tested, we have found deet, at levels of 25 to 30 percent, to afford the most reliable protection against mosquitoes and ticks."

More info at:
https://www.consumerreports.org/health/insect-repellent/best-insect-repellents-for-you-and-your-family-a4042114470/