Tick repellent quick picks
Best tick repellent: Picaridin Insect Repellent Lotion
Best tick repellent with DEET: Ben's 30% DEET Mosquito, Tick and Insect Repellent
Best tick repellent with sunscreen: Avon Skin-So-Soft Bug Guard Plus Expedition SPF 30 Insect Repellent
Best tick repellent for clothing and gear: Sawyer Products Permethrin Fabric Treatment
Tick-borne diseases have more than doubled in the United States in the past 20 years, so it’s more important than ever to choose an effective tick repellent when spending time outdoors.
These bloodsucking parasites burrow into the skin and can spread dangerous diseases such as Lyme disease, Alpha-gal syndrome and anaplasmosis.
As ticks become more prevalent in the warmer months, it’s important to wear a quality repellent whenever you spend time in nature.
We asked several entomologists for advice on choosing the most effective repellents available. This is what they told us.
How to choose the best tick repellent
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) advises that we only use repellents registered by the United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).
Check the packaging for the EPA Registration Number and look for the EPA’s Repellency Awareness Graphic. This graphic tells you how long the repellent will be effective after application.
Approved active ingredients in tick repellents are DEET, picaridin, IR3535, oil of lemon eucalyptus, para-menthane-diol or 2-undecanone.
However, the CDC warns that “oil of lemon eucalyptus products and some para-menthane-diol products should not be used on children under 3 years of age.” Always read the product labels carefully for safety information.
Dr. Angela M. Tucker, vector and vector-borne disease specialist at the University of Tennessee, says, “It is difficult to recommend one repellent or even a couple, as each person will have different needs.”
She suggests using this helpful tool on the EPA’s website to choose tick and mosquito repellents that are sure to be registered with the EPA.
“The most important item to remember is to always check yourself after you hike, walk, work or are outdoors for any reason where you may encounter ticks,” she says. “Finding and removing ticks before they feed will help reduce your risk of a tick vectored disease.”
The most tried and tested active ingredient in tick repellents is DEET. While its effectiveness is uncontested, it can damage some plastics and synthetic fabrics. It also has a strong odor some people find unpleasant, and it can feel greasy on the skin. It may also occasionally irritate those with sensitive skin.
The nongreasy, odorless alternative is picaridin, a synthetic substance that’s been available as an insect repellent in the United States since 2005.
“Studies indicate that picaridin is as effective as DEET against ticks,” says Dr. Goudarz Molaei, director of the tick and tick-borne disease surveillance program at Connecticut Agricultural Experiment Station and a clinical professor at Yale University School of Public Health.
“However, because picaridin is relatively new on the market, there is insufficient information about its potential long-term side effects and health risks. It comes down to whether we want to choose the older and more established product versus a relatively newer one,” he adds.
Molaei suggests choosing a repellent with DEET at 30% concentration or picaridin at 20%. For children, he advises choosing a 30% concentration of DEET or between 5% and 10% of picaridin.
If you find a tick on yourself, a child or a pet, refer to our expert-led guide on how to remove ticks safely.
Best tick repellents
This is one of the most long-lasting repellents on the market. The light lotion, which contains 20% picaridin, is effective for up to 14 hours against ticks and mosquitoes. The spray version is effective for up to 12 hours. The bottle is also conveniently small for airplane travel and hiking. The downside to the lotion is that it can be messy to apply while out and about, and the picaridin concentration may be too high for use on children.
This formula contains the recommended 30% concentration of DEET to repel ticks for up to eight hours. That’s 5% more DEET than the slightly less expensive Off! Deep Woods. If you don’t have sensitive skin and you're not adverse to the pungent smell, then DEET offers peace of mind from over 60 years of use and considerable research. The pump action bottle makes application easy, and it’s suitable for air travel. Ben’s also offers versions with higher DEET concentration, but Kait Chapman, urban entomologist and extension educator at the University of Nebraska–Lincoln, says that “higher percentages of DEET can offer longer protection, but anything over 30% provides no additional repellency."
This Avon formula is one of the few EPA-approved bug repellents on the market that's combined with sunscreen. It’s also water-resistant, which is great for humid, sweaty conditions or outdoor sport. It will keep mosquitoes and ticks away for up to 10 hours, but it's not suitable for children.
This product cannot be used directly on the skin. Its permethrin formula is intended for spraying onto camping or hiking gear and clothing, without damaging the materials. It can withstand up to six washes, or six weeks for items like tents that are unlikely to get washed as regularly as clothes. Follow the instructions for use very carefully because permethrin is classified as a restricted pesticide by the EPA.
How to apply tick repellent
Read the repellent label to determine how often and where you need to apply repellent, and if it’s suitable for your age and purposes. Always avoid your eyes and mouth, and do not touch either after application. Wash your hands thoroughly before eating too.
“When using sprays, do not spray directly into the face,” Jeff Landis, media communications specialist at the EPA, says. “Spray on hands first and then apply to your face. Apply sparingly around the ears.”
The CDC also advises applying your repellent after your sunscreen.
“Parents should apply this product to their children, avoiding their hands, eyes and mouth,” a spokesperson from the Ohio Department of Health says.
Molaei also advises “not using products combining repellents and sunscreen” on kids. “It is also important to wash the children’s skin with soap and water after using repellents and returning from outdoor activities,” he says.