DEET Insect Repellent

⚖️ Educational use only. Always read and follow the full product label — the label is the law under FIFRA. Full disclaimer → | ⚗️ Mixing Calculator →

🎯 Target Pests

Mosquitoes (all species), ticks (deer tick, dog tick, lone star), chiggers, biting flies, gnats, fleas (limited), sand flies, no-see-ums. NOT effective against: stinging insects (wasps, bees), spiders, bed bugs.

🏷️ Common Products & Brand Names

OFF! Deep Woods (25% DEET), Repel 100 (98.11% DEET), Sawyer Premium (30% DEET), Cutter Backwoods (25% DEET), Ben's 30 (30% DEET), Ultrathon (34.34% DEET, extended release). Many store brands available.

⚠️ Safety & Precautions

Safe when used as directed. Apply to exposed skin and clothing — not under clothing. Avoid eyes, mouth, and broken skin. Do not apply to children's hands (they touch their face). 10-30% concentration is sufficient for most situations. Wash off when returning indoors.

⚠️ Children: AAP recommends no more than 30% DEET for children over 2 months old. Do not use on infants under 2 months. Apply to your own hands first, then apply to child.

Can damage some plastics, synthetic fabrics, and watch crystals. Will not damage cotton, wool, or nylon.

Example

0.5 oz

per gallon

⚗️ Mixing Calculator

Enter your sprayer size and target rate — get the exact amount to pour. Backpack, hand sprayer, hose-end, or skid unit.

Open Calculator →

💡 Pro Tips & Best Practices

Concentration guide: 10% = ~2 hours, 24% = ~5 hours, 30% = ~8 hours. Higher than 30% does NOT repel better — only lasts marginally longer. For most backyard situations, 20-30% is ideal.

Application tip: Light, even coating is more effective than soaking. Reapply after swimming or heavy sweating. Can be combined with sunscreen (apply sunscreen first, then DEET).

Tick protection: For tick-endemic areas, combine DEET on skin with permethrin-treated clothing for maximum protection. This combination is the CDC-recommended approach for Lyme disease prevention.

🐛 Pests This Treats — Learn More

Click any pest to view its full identification guide, biology, and treatment options.

🐛 Ants → 🐛 Bed Bug → 🐛 Chiggers → 🐛 Deer → 🐛 Deer Tick → 🐛 Fleas → 🐛 Flies → 🐛 Gnats → 🐛 Mosquito → 🐛 No-See-Ums → 🐛 Scales → 🐛 Spiders →

🌿 Environmental & Ecological Impact

🐝 Bees / PollinatorsLOW

🐟 Fish / Aquatic LifeLOW

🐦 BirdsLOW

🐕 Mammals / PetsLOW

🦐 Aquatic InvertebratesLOW

💡 Applied to skin/clothing. Minimal environmental exposure. Can damage some plastics and synthetic fabrics.

⏱️ Residual & Re-entry Timeline

🔹

Apply

Follow label mixing and application rates

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Re-entry: N/A — applied to skin

Keep people and pets out of treated area

🟢

Effective period: 2–10 hours (on skin)

Active residual — killing or repelling target pests

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Reapply

Re-treat when pest activity returns or residual expires

🔄 Alternatives & Related Products

Same chemical class or different approaches to the same pests.

🔄

Picaridin
Same class: Repellent

↔️

Pyrethrin
Different approach: Botanical Pyrethrin

↔️

Boric Acid
Different approach: Inorganic

❓ Frequently Asked Questions

Q: Is deet safe for pets?

Follow the product label. Keep pets out of treated areas until completely dried (2–4 hours for sprays). Once dry, treated surfaces pose minimal risk to dogs and cats.

Q: Can I use deet indoors?

This is a personal repellent applied to skin or clothing — usable anywhere.

Q: How long does deet last after application?

Residual varies by formulation, surface type, weather, and UV exposure. Indoor applications last longer than outdoor. Check the product label for re-application intervals.

Q: What should I do if exposed?

Remove contaminated clothing, wash skin with soap and water. For eye contact, rinse 15–20 minutes. For ingestion or severe symptoms, call Poison Control (1-800-222-1222). Have the product label available.

📋 Safety Data Sheet (SDS)

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DEET Insect Repellent — Safety Data Sheet

View the official SDS document for this product directly on the CDMS label database.

📄 View SDS on CDMS → 🏛 Search EPA Label Database →

DEET Insect Repellent Safety Data Sheet page 1

📄 DEET Insect Repellent — Safety Data Sheet · View the complete SDS document above or download below

📄 CDMS Label & SDS Database 📄 EPA Label Search

💡 Did you know? DEET has been used billions of times over 60+ years with an excellent safety record. Despite internet myths, it does NOT melt plastic fishing line, and it's been extensively studied for safety in pregnancy (considered safe by CDC and EPA).

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Reviewed by Derek GiordanoContent reviewed by a licensed pest management professional. Last reviewed: April 2026.