The Best Rat Repellents to Keep Your Home Rodent-Free

Hello, my friend, hello again; today we come together to talk about The Best Rat Repellents to Keep Your Home Rodent-Free and hope the blog can help you.

Ultrasonic and scent-based rat repellents are safe and humane solutions for ridding a home of rodent invaders.

Piles of small rat droppings, scratching noises in the walls, tiny footprints on a dusty shelf, and holes chewed through food containers are all telltale signs that rats may have taken up residence in a home. Not just nasty and annoying, rats can carry and spread disease. While poisons may be an effective means for offing these pernicious pests, lethal solutions aren’t always feasible for households with pets and children. Rat repellents offer a solution that’s safer, natural, and more humane.

Pellets, packets, and sprayers drive rats away by emitting strong odors that they can’t tolerate yet don’t typically bother people. Ultrasonic repellents emit sound waves that humans and pets can’t hear but cause rats auditory distress.

This guide will outline the advantages and disadvantages of these nonlethal rodent control remedies and recommend the best rat repellent products for any property.

1. BEST OVERALL: Fresh Cab Botanical Rodent Repellent
2. BEST BANG FOR THE BUCK: Victor M756K PestChaser Rodent Repellent
3. BEST ULTRASONIC: Neatmaster Ultrasonic Pest Repeller Indoor Repellent
4. BEST SPRAY: Natural Armor Peppermint All-Natural Rodent Shield 
5. BEST FOR CAR: Loraffe Under Hood Rodent Ultrasonic Rat Repellent
6. BEST FOR INDOORS: Daliyrepal Rodent Repellent Balls
7. BEST FOR OUTDOORS: Anewnice Peppermint Oil Rodent Repellent

How We Chose the Best Rat Repellents 

We researched the most sought-after rat repellents in their respective categories and discovered that the best options are determined by their type, coverage area, longevity, ease of use, and other special features included by top brands.

After extensive product research, we included options in our list of top picks that were made with all-natural or nonlethal materials to deter rats humanely. Our top picks are either scent-based or ultrasonic and cover indoor and outdoor spaces of 8 square feet to up to 4,000 square feet to meet different user needs. As for effectiveness, some of our selections may be capable of deterring pests for as long as 5 years. When it comes to choosing an effective and eco-friendly product, Bill Swank, the founder of PestSource, an online resource for pest control strategies based in Westfield, New Jersey, says, “For eco-friendly rat repellents, select options with proven natural deterrents like peppermint oil, avoiding high essential oil concentrations harmful to pets and wildlife.” He does say that “skepticism towards ultrasonic devices is warranted,” noting that “their effectiveness remains scientifically unconfirmed.”

We were sure to select options that were easy to use; in most cases, this meant either a single application or a single plug-in unit. Plus, select options come with LED strobe lights, multiple sound settings, or built-in sprayers for added convenience and effectiveness against rat infestations.

Our Top Picks

Below are our choices for the best rat repellent products in packet, pellet, spray, and ultrasonic forms. While these products may employ different means, they will all help drive rodents from a property.

Best Overall

Fresh Cab Botanical Rodent Repellent

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Product Specs 

• Type: Scent-based
• Coverage area: 8 square feet per pouch
• Longevity: 30 days
• Ease of use: Easy

Pros

• Balsam fir essential oil deters rodents while serving as a natural air freshener for the home
• All-natural ingredients; suitable for homes with children and pets
• Each pouch can help relieve a rat infestation in an area up to 8 square feet; suitable as a repellent for 125 square feet

Cons

• Only effective for about a month; needs to be replaced more frequently than comparable options

Many rat repellents don’t just keep rats away; they’re also offensive to humans (mothballs, for instance). This botanical isn’t just an effective rodent repellent; it also functions as an air freshener. Fresh Cab Botanical Rodent Repellent’s main ingredient is balsam fir oil, which is an appealing scent to humans but encourages rodents to steer clear of a homestead. This is an all-natural rat repellent and is thus safe for use inside the home and easy on the environment.

Fresh Cab is super easy to use: Simply place a pouch or two in every room (one pouch treats about 8 square feet) to create an effective rat-repelling barrier. Although Fresh Cab is one of the more effective means of keeping a home rodent-free, it’s also one of the pricier options because it may take 20 pouches or more to protect larger homes. Fresh Cab comes in packs of four and 24 pouches.

Get the Fresh Cab rat repellent at Amazon, Tractor Supply Co., or Walmart.

Best Bang For The Buck

Victor M756K PestChaser Rodent Repellent

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Product Specs 

• Type: Ultrasonic
• Coverage area: Average-size rooms
• Longevity: 3 to 5 years
• Ease of use: Easy

Pros

• Comes with 6 units; can prevent rat infestations throughout an entire house
• Lasts for 3 to 5 years without replacement; just leave it and forget it
• Inaudible to humans; will not cause any noise pollution in a home
• Low-profile and unobtrusive; each device only requires a single electrical outlet

Cons

• No specific square footage is listed for the total coverage area

Ultrasonic sounds cannot pass through walls, which is why outfitting an entire home with plug-in ultrasonic devices for each room can get pricey. Victor’s set of six ultrasonic PestChasers offers terrific value for the money: There are enough gadgets here to outfit an average-size home, and they each have a lifespan of 3 to 5 years. This set offers very good value because it costs about the same as a single ultrasonic device from another manufacturer.

When plugged into a standard electrical outlet, each unit emits a high-frequency noise that is powerful enough to deter rats from an average-size room. The sound is inaudible to humans but irks rodents. The units are low profile, measuring less than 2 inches squared, and emit a soft blue glow—they’re essentially a rat repellent and night-light in one compact device.

Get the Victor rat repellent at Amazon or Walmart.

Best Ultrasonic

Neatmaster Ultrasonic Pest Repeller Indoor Repellent

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Product Specs 

• Type: Ultrasonic
• Coverage area: 800 to 1,200 square feet
• Longevity: Unlisted
• Ease of use: Easy

Pros

• Plugs into a standard wall outlet; low profile means it won’t take up a lot of space
• Comes with 3 integrated sound features: green (light), blue (medium), and red (heavy)
• Simply set and forget; requires little to no maintenance for treating pest problems

Cons

• The red setting is audible to humans as well as pets; may not be suitable for some homes
• Ultrasonic waves do not pass through walls; multiple units may be required for different rooms

For those who don’t want scented repellents and don’t mind spending a little more to solve their rat problems, this ultrasonic pest repeller from Neatmaster is an excellent option. It measures less than 5 inches tall and about 3 inches wide and plugs into a standard wall outlet to deter any rat problem.

One of this unit’s main advantages is that it can be set to one of three ultrasonic sound frequencies. The green and blue settings are for minor to moderate rat problems. At these levels, the Neatmaster emits sounds that are inaudible to humans. The red setting is for severe rat infestations, and the sound emitted is audible to humans and pets. Colored LED lights indicate which setting is activated. Remember that ultrasonic waves do not pass through walls, so users will need a Neatmaster device for every affected room.

Get the Neatmaster rat repellent at Amazon. 

Best Spray

Natural Armor Peppermint All-Natural Rodent Shield

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Product Specs 

• Type: Scent-based
• Coverage area: 4,000 square feet
• Longevity: Unlisted
• Ease of use: Easy

Pros

• Peppermint oil is an all-natural rat repellent; suitable for homes with children and pets
• Can be applied indoors or outdoors for added protection and convenience
• Comes with ample quantity for small- to large-scale rat infestations
• Does not leave any residue or discoloration on wooden surfaces or furnishings

Cons

• Unknown how long the effects of this product last; may need to be frequently reapplied for best results

The active ingredient of Natural Armor’s spray-on solution is peppermint oil, which drives rodents crazy but leaves a fresh aroma that many people find appealing. Applying the spray to areas where rats and mice enter the home, including doors, windows, vents, pipes, and cracks, will create an effective barrier against rats and other rodents. This product does not contain chemicals, so it’s safe to use around pets and children and isn’t harmful to the environment.

Natural Armor comes in a 128-ounce bottle, which includes a trigger sprayer for application. The 128-ounce container is enough to cover about 4,000 square feet. While this product will not stain woodwork or furnishings, it will leave an oily residue on surfaces.

Get the Natural Armor rat repellent at Amazon.

Best For Car

Loraffe Under Hood Rodent Ultrasonic Rat Repellent

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Product Specs 

• Type: Ultrasonic
• Coverage area: Unlisted
• Longevity: Unlisted
• Ease of use: Easy

Pros

• Prevents rodents from tampering with a car’s wiring or building a nest
• Dual-pronged strategy integrated; produces both a high-pitched sound and LED strobe lights to deter rodents
• Installs easily; attaches to a 12-volt battery with 2-wire installation
• Automatically shuts off when battery drops below 10.5 volts

Cons

• No longevity or coverage area is listed; may not suit some users’ preferences
• Not compatible with any hybrid electric vehicles

Rats and mice can wreak havoc on an automobile, chewing through wiring or even building a nest inside the vehicle. Loraffe’s device repels rodents by deploying a two-pronged strategy: It emits a high-pitched sound and flashes three LED strobe lights, and rats detest both the noise and the lights.

This repellent installs under the hood of a vehicle and attaches to its 12-volt battery via a simple two-wire installation. The emitter uses minimal battery power but will automatically shut itself off if it senses that the battery’s voltage has dropped below 10.5 volts. Note that this product is not suitable for hybrid electric vehicles.

Get the Loraffe rat repellent at Amazon.

Best For Indoors

Daliyrepal Rodent Repellent Balls

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Product Specs 

• Type: Granule balls
• Coverage area: 125 square feet
• Longevity: 30 to 90 days
• Ease of use: Easy

Pros

• Effective against rats in a variety of enclosed spaces, such as homes, vehicles, and storage units
• Safe and eco-friendly; harmless to humans, pets, and plants when used as directed
• Offers good longevity, only needing to be replaced every 30 to 90 days

Cons

• Less effective in open or outdoor areas compared to enclosed spaces

These rodent-repelling balls emit a long-lasting peppermint scent that’s pleasant to humans but keeps mice and rats at bay. They’re a safe and eco-friendly solution that is completely harmless to people and pets, making them ideal for homes with children. Simply place the balls at intervals of 125 square feet to offer optimal protection.

Because the granules are enclosed inside the balls, the product is perfect for use indoors as it won’t cause any mess. This also makes them incredibly easy to use, and buyers needn’t worry about household pets eating the contents. Each ball delivers protection for 30 to 90 days, making it a convenient and long-lasting solution.

Get the Daliyrepal rat repellent at Amazon.

Best For Outdoors

Anewnice Peppermint Oil Rodent Repellent

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Product Specs 

• Type: Granule pouches
• Coverage area: 120 square feet
• Longevity: 3 months
• Ease of use: Easy

Pros

• Employs powerful peppermint and other essential oils for effective, eco-friendly rodent control
• Remains effective for up to 3 months for long-lasting protection
• All-natural ingredients ensure safety for children, pets, and local wildlife

Cons

• The strong mint aroma may not appeal to everyone

These peppermint-oil rodent-repellent pouches are a versatile solution for keeping rats away and can be used both indoors and outdoors. The combination of peppermint, rosemary, corn mint, and sesame oils is unpleasant to mice and rats but is completely safe for people and animals, meaning it won’t negatively impact local wildlife if used outdoors. When used indoors, the product can also act as a natural air freshener, though some people may not love the strong minty scent.

Each purchase comes with 12 pouches, which emit their scent for up to 3 months, so they don’t need to be changed frequently. A single pouch covers an area of 120 square feet.

Get the Anewnice rat repellent at Amazon.

Or DIY Your Own Rat Repellent

Budget-conscious folks can easily make their own rat repellent rather than shell out for a commercial product. While we understand the important convenience commercial products offer, DIY is basic to our ethos here at Bob Vila, so we’re happy to provide this low-waste tried-and-true alternative rat repellent consisting of ammonia and vinegar—inexpensive ingredients likely already on hand in typical househ