Electric Mouse Trap vs. Traditional Mouse Trap: Which Is Better?

Getting rid of mice in and around your home is important. They can be very destructive and can also carry dangerous diseases. If you suspect that you have even one mouse, we advise that you take steps to eliminate them before you end up with an infestation.

Most people use mouse traps to get rid of mice. A simple search online will show you a wide variety of traps with different features. They’re also available at different prices and offer different ways to solve your mouse problem.

Recently, electric mouse traps have been extremely popular. People who purchase them say that they deal with mice in a humane way and make disposal of the dead mouse easy. Are they right? Aren’t traditional mouse traps better? Let’s compare them so you can make an educated decision.

What Is Better?

The answer to which would be better between an electric mouse trap and a normal mouse depends on you. What are you looking for in a mouse trap? Do you want a trap that kills the mouse instantly and without mess? Do you have curious children and/or pets in your home that you need to consider?

Answers to questions like these will help you determine which mouse trap to use. To help you answer this question, we’ve shared some important details on how to choose the mouse trap that will best meet your needs.

Let’s start by reviewing five of the most popular traps. We’ve included traditional and electric models for your consideration.

1. Best Overall: Feeke Small Mice Trap

The Feeke Small Mice Trap is our best overall mouse trap. We chose this because it is easy to set up, comes at a great price, and is very effective. Users especially like that this trap makes it easy to get rid of dead mice without touching them and that the trap is reusable.

The Feeke Small Mice Trap works with the use of a sensitive pedal, spring, and a bait cup. To set this up, you can put a tempting bait like peanut butter in the bait cup. Then press the top of the trapper till it meets the rear. You can then put this trap in areas where you suspect mice.

Testers love this Feeke trap because it has an easy one-touch setup. This trap is also very sensitive. Only 0.03lb will set it off. Once the mouse goes for the bait, this trap will snap, and its powerful teeth design will kill it instantly. You can then dispose of the mouse in the trash by unclamping the trap.

Best Overall

Mouse Trap - 12 Pack

• Easy to set up
• Budget-friendly
• Extremely effective
• Reusable
• Easy to dispose of dead mice without touching them

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2. Best Electric Mouse Trap: Diaotec Electric Rodent Trap

Electric mouse traps work by delivering an instant shock to kill a captive mouse. You’ll appreciate this Diaotec electric trap because it is rechargeable, so you won’t have to spend extra money on batteries.

How this trap takes out mice is simple. Charge it, add bait, and turn it on. It delivers a powerful shock that kills mice instantly, leaving no mess. There is also an indicator light that turns red and blinks to alert you to the fact that a mouse has been caught.

Users, however, say that this electric trap will not shock a bigger rat to death. It will only be stunned. So, if you’re going for this model, make sure it’s for a mice problem. You can also inspect the inside of the trap to be sure the mouse is dead before disposing of it.

Best Electric Mouse Trap

Diaotec Electric Rodent Trap for Indoor Use

• Kills by delivering a powerful shock
• It's rechargeable, so no batteries are required
• Add bait, place the trap, and turn it on
• An indicator light alerts you when a mouse has been killed
• This product will only stun rats, so use it for mouse control only

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3. Best Traditional Mouse Trap: COSCOV Mouse Trap

This twelve-set mouse trap from COSCOV is easy to set and use. It also comes with a safety feature, so your fingers won’t be snapped while setting up the trap. It is sensitive and only needs about 0.025lb of weight to set it off.

Buyers like this COSCOV Mouse Trap because it is reusable and very efficient. All you need to do is place the bait and place this trap where you notice mice activity. The trap’s powerful stainless-steel spring will trigger and snap the mouse, ensuring a quick and effective kill.

You’ll also appreciate that this trap is made of durable polystyrene. This make it easy to clean as it does not absorb odors or stains. To reuse this trap, you just need to wash it and then set it up again. The 12 pack means you can put the traps wherever you suspect mouse activity. This will increase your chance of catching that mouse.

Best Traditional Mouse Trap

COSCOV Mouse Trap - 12 Pack

• Set of 12, so you can place them everywhere you see mice
• It has a safety feature so your fingers won't be snapped during setup
• Reusable
• Extremely efficient
• Easy to clean

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4. Best for Affordability: USKICH Mouse Trap

If we didn’t have the Feeke Mouse trap on this list, the USKICH would be our best overall because it is that good. It comes at a great price, and you receive 20 effective traps in the package. When you set these up, you can say goodbye to your mouse problem.

This trap comes with a safe design that allows you to put in the bait without trapping your fingers. It is also easy to set up since all you have to do is press the outside spring, and it’s ready. Once the mouse goes for the bait, the powerful spring and bite force of this trap will kill it instantly.  

The USKICH Mouse Trap is made of high-strength plastic, which is easy to clean. You also don’t need to touch the trap to remove the mouse. Just press to release. You’ll also appreciate that this sensitive trap just needs 0.03lb to trigger it.

Best for Affordability

USKICH 20-Pack Mouse Trap

• Includes 20 traps
• Effective
• Safe design won't snap your fingers during setup
• Powerful spring kills mice instantly
• Made of high-strength plastic that's easy to clean

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5. Most Humane: Victor M250S Indoor Humane Electronic Mouse Trap

This is our choice for the most humane mouse trap because it has a 100% kill rate. Mice are killed in seconds because there is no possibility of escape. Once they enter the trap, they’re on the trigger plate that immediately delivers a high-voltage shock that’s always fatal.

A green light will notify you when a mouse has been killed. The unit features a removable kill chamber that lets you dispose of the dead mouse without ever seeing or touching it.

Best Overall

Victor M250S Indoor Humane Electronic Mouse Trap

• Battery-powered -- requires four AA batteries
• One set of batteries (not included) can kill up to 100 mice
• Comes with a 100% kill guarantee
• Designed so you don't see or touch the mice
• A green light alerts you when a mouse is killed

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How to Choose the Best Mouse Trap

Now that you’ve looked at the best products in the market, it’s time to decide. Which works best for you between an electric mouse trap and a normal mouse trap? The following factors can help make this easier:

Efficiency

Electric and traditional mouse traps have different levels of efficiency. From our review, if you want to eliminate mice, an electric mouse trap is your best bet. This is because it delivers a high-power shock that kills mice instantly.

Tradtional traps can also do the same but are more apt to incapacitate and restrain the mouse, leaving it injured and alive. We choose only those that are strong enough to kill the mouse for this review, however.

Location of Infestation

You cannot use electric mouse traps outdoors. Most electric mouse traps stop working as soon as they come in contact with moisture, such as rain.

Traditional mouse traps, on the hand, can be used both indoors and outdoors. Since they have no electrical component, you can set them up on your balcony or yard. You should, however, note that there is a possibility of your trap catching more than just mice.

Are You Squeamish?

If you don’t want to see the dead mouse at all, you might be better off with an electric mouse trap. This is because most of them have a chamber that the mouse needs to get in to receive the shock. Once the mouse is dead, you can pick up the trap and place it directly into the trash without even looking at it.

With most traditional traps, however, you’ll see the dead mouse. It mostly depends on the size and design of the trap. If your normal mouse trap comes with a covered design, you may also be able to dispose of the dead mouse without seeing it.

Safety

Clearly, you should observe safety precautions when using mouse traps if you have children or pets. However, experts often advise avoiding an electric mouse trap in a house with kids altogether. Some electric traps come with safety features, but in our opinion, it’s better to be safe than sorry.

Traditional traps can also be harmful to a curious child or pet, but not as dangerous as an electric mouse trap. These traps could also come with a safety feature that makes sure only mice are harmed. The more sensitive a mouse trap is, the more careful you have to be with its use around children and/or pets.

Price

Electric mouse traps are more expensive than traditional mouse traps. Features like the instant humane kill, however, make it well worth the price. Users especially appreciated that the electric traps on our list were easy to set up and clean.

Traditional mouse traps often come in multiples for an amazing price. This usually means that you can set up many of them around your house, increasing your chances of catching mice. Most traditional mouse traps are also reusable, making them even more cost-effective.

What Attracts Mice To Your Home?

Are you tired of having to deal with mice in your home? Knowing what attracts them and dealing with that is an effective way to prevent them from coming back. Quite simply, mice come into our homes to find food, water, and shelter. If you can reduce their access to these, you won’t see mice anymore.

So, make sure you keep the food in your home in mouse-proof containers. You should also dispose of any scraps that could attract rodents to your home. Make sure your trash bin is properly covered and that you dispose of garbage properly when it’s time.

How to Determine If You Have A Mouse Infestation

A mouse infestation is a problem that must be dealt with very swiftly. To determine if you have one, watch out for the following:

• Droppings
• A foul smell
• Furniture and plastic that have been gnawed
• Mouse paths and tracks
• Mouse sightings around your home

What is the Most Effective Mouse Bait?

Both electric and traditional mouse traps utilize bait to lure the mouse. The best bait to use most times depends on the home. Take a look at what the mice are going for the most in your home and make use of that.

Peanut butter is an extremely efficient bait. This is because it is sticky, so the mouse cannot pick it up and run with it. As it tries to eat the bait, your trap has a higher chance of catching and killing the mouse.

Electric Mouse Trap vs. Traditional Mouse Trap: Pros and Cons

Electric Mouse Traps

Traditional Mouse Traps

Next Up:

• The 5 Best Mouse Traps
• The 5 Best Humane Mouse Traps for Stopping an Infestation
• 6 Things You Need To Get Rid of A Rat Infestation