8 Best Insect Nets for Your Deck and Patio | The Family Handyman

By Toni DeBella

Updated on Oct. 15, 2024

Enjoy backyard barbecues, pool parties and dinners on the deck this summer. Here are our picks for the best insect netting for outdoor living spaces.

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Summer is one of the best times to get out and enjoy the great outdoors, even just in your own backyard. However, it’s also prime time for pests, like flies, mosquitos, gnats and other flying insects who seem set on ruining the fun. But there are ways you can still enjoy the outdoors while fending off the creepy crawlies, like using insect nets to shield you and your friends and family from your unwanted six-legged guests.

Insect nets are a low-tech, eco-friendly way to keep irritating flying and biting bugs like mosquitoes, flies and gnats from ruining everyone’s outdoor fun. Generally made of fine cotton or polyester mesh, the lightweight netting allows plenty of airflow while keeping insects out. Most importantly, they can help you win the war against bugs this summer, especially on your deck, patio and more.

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No more swatting or spraying stinky insect repellent — the Best Choice Products Patio Umbrella Bug Screen shields you from the wrath of summertime bugs. The stretchy cinch-top netting attaches around most patio umbrellas and has a zippered entrance for easy in-and-out. Fill the plastic bottom tubing with sand to keep it weighted down and secure.

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The Tedderfield Premium X Large Mosquito Net is like having an anti-insect, screened-in-pool that’s portable. The perfect netting to hang over a backyard kiddie pool or whirlpool tub, the net has a single reinforced attachment point and comes with a convenient hanging kit. For keeping bugs at bay in large pool areas, screens with a frame, like these from Phifer, are the best option.

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Keep your little one safe and bite-free with the Baby Playpen Mosquito Net by Tedderfield. Great for outdoor family reunions or kiddie birthday parties, the premium quality mesh slips over any standard playpen (strollers and bassinets too), then tightens with a drawstring at the base to eliminate gaps. Just pull back the cute teddy bear zippers when nap time is over.

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Small but efficient, Coghlan’s Mosquito Net is budget-friendly bug protection. Great for traveling, it’s lightweight and comes with its own carrying bag. The single-wide, rectangular net protects against biting bugs, and it can fully enclose a sleeping bag or cot. The metal tie tabs (included) attach to anchors in the ground or to walls or bedposts.

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Create a bug-free zone with the BugPod Undercover SportPod. Moms, dads and grandparents will be clambering over this screened insect tent. It not only provides protection from bug bites, but offers shade and protection during unexpected rain storms. And it’s easy to set up and fold down. (The comfy chair is not included.)

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Made for the outdoors, the MEKKAPRO Ultra Large Mosquito Net is what every hard-core wilderness adventurer needs to avoid being eaten alive by bugs. Ultra-fine polyester in an optimal hexagon mesh design renders the net breathable yet impenetrable by insects. It includes a hanging kit with seven hooks, screws and plugs, plus extra string and a carry pouch.

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Reusable and collapsible, this six-pack of Simply Genius Pop-Up Mesh Food Covers keep insects away from open dishes of food at picnics, barbecues and other outdoor events. They’re big enough to fit over a full-size dinner plate and serving dishes up to 16 inches in diameter and 10 inches high. These nets also eliminate the need for foil, plastic wrap and paper towels, saving on undue waste. They can also be used for plant netting in your vegetable garden.

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There are lots of reasons to buy insect netting in bulk. You can lay large swaths of netting over plants for pest protection or sew a canopy to hang above your bed at night. You can also make a temporary car window screen affixed with duct tape. Mosquito Curtains offers a range of weights and mesh sizes to purchase by the linear foot. For huge DIY projects, you can order an entire roll (144 feet).

A good quality insect net can help you enjoy bug-free summer days without the threat of bites or bugs landing in your food. Insect nets are easy to use and a fairly straightforward product to buy, but if you’re looking to find one that will perfectly meet your needs and solve your insect issues, keep these things in mind before you purchase one.

Toni DeBella has been published in outlets including Family Handyman, The Telegraph, Fodor’s, Italy Magazine, DK Eyewitness Travel Guides, and Orvieto or Bust. In her writing career, she has also focused her efforts and developed expertise in home improvement and DIY, writing product guides and hands-on reviews about everything from pest control to pool cabanas, painting and container gardening. Pair that with her decade-long career in the home improvement business; you can see how her expertise translates perfectly to insect nets and many other home and DIY categories.

When selecting the best insect nets for your deck and patio, we began by researching a wide range of options available on the market, considering factors such as durability, size, ease of use and price point. To narrow down our choices, we analyzed customer reviews to understand the real-world performance and durability of each insect net. Finally, we selected insect nets that offered a balance of quality, functionality and value, ensuring that there was an option suitable for every person or situation looking to enjoy the outdoors during buggy months.

The material of the netting is going to be more important than the color when it comes to keeping insects away. However, certain colors can make you more comfortable when inside. Darker colors will be easier to see, but they will attract more heat if you’re in a sunny area, so it could get warm inside. Ultimately, the color just comes down to your personal preference.

Yes, the smaller the mesh size or pattern, the better protection the net will serve against insects. It will prevent smaller insects from passing through. Also, remember that a smaller mesh size may reduce airflow under the net and visibility.

They work wonderfully, so long as they are properly sealed. These nets are designed so that bugs can’t wiggle their way through the mesh, but fresh air can still flow in and out. However, this depends on their edges being secure and sealed. If there’s a gap where bugs can get in, you bet they’ll find their way inside. That also means bugs can get in and out whenever you open the netting up to travel in or out yourself. It’s an unfortunate factor that can’t be controlled, but it’s good to know nonetheless.

Most insect nets are made from polyester, polyethylene, or polypropylene, which are all synthetics. These materials can be effectively woven into very fine meshes and are durable and tough.

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