Head to head

DEET vs picaridin: which should you actually use?

Two synthetics dominate effective repellents. One is the 60-year benchmark; the other quietly beats it on duration and feel. Here's the head-to-head.

We make Notch, so we're not a neutral third party. Rankings come from our published methodology, applied by code to every product the same way.

The bottom line

For most people, 20% picaridin is the better default: longer protection, better tick coverage, no odor, no plastic damage. Reach for DEET when it's what's on the shelf, when you want the single most-studied option, or in extreme conditions where 98% DEET's raw duration helps.

The tale of the tape

DEET25%

The 60-year benchmark every repellent is measured against.

Mosquitoes: 5–6 h
Ticks: 3–4 h
Odor: Noticeable
On gear: Damages plastics

Picaridin20%

The modern long-haul default that quietly beats DEET on most axes.

Mosquitoes: 8–10 h
Ticks: 7–8 h
Odor: None
On gear: Safe

Head-to-head scorecard

Dimension

DEET 25%

2 wins

Picaridin 20%

5 wins

Mosquito protection

5–6 hours at 25%

8–10 hours at 20%

Picaridin lasts longer at a lower concentration. Only 98% DEET pulls level.

Tick protection

3–4 hours, variable

7–8 hours

The gap widens in tick country, where picaridin roughly doubles DEET's window.

Odor

Distinct solvent smell

Essentially odorless

Skin feel

Oily; stings broken skin and eyes

Light, dry, near-weightless

Gear & plastics

Melts plastics, vinyl, synthetics, fishing line

Safe on gear, lenses, and fabrics

Evidence base

60+ years, the deepest record in repellents

Strong but younger (~25 years in the U.S.)

Availability

On every shelf, everywhere

Widely stocked and growing

Age guidance

2+ months (AAP)

Safety as directed

Excellent; CDC-recommended

How long each one lasts

Complete mosquito protection, by active ingredient

Hours until the first bite gets through, at typical consumer concentrations. Dark = lower bound, light = upper bound.

Picaridin 20%8–10 h· ticks: 7–8 h

DEET 25%5–6 h· ticks: 3–4 h

0h2h4h6h8h10h12h

Modeled from complete-protection-time studies in our research library. Botanical bands reflect 10% lab-tested concentrations. Most consumer botanical products use less and protect for less time.

Does a higher percentage mean more protection?

Complete mosquito protection at each tested concentration. Dark = lower bound, light = upper bound.

DEET

1–2 h

15%

3–4 h

25%

5–6 h

40%

6–7 h

98%

6–8 h

Picaridin

3–4 h

10%

5–7 h

20%

8–10 h

0h2h4h6h8h10h12h

DEET's curve flattens hard above ~30%: jumping from 25% to 98% buys barely two more hours, because concentration extends duration, not strength. Picaridin reaches longer protection at a far lower dose: 20% picaridin out-lasts every consumer DEET grade short of the 98% jungle juice. Same 12 h scale used across the site; modeled from dose-response data in our research library.

Picaridin 20%

Longest-lasting consumer option; odorless and gentle on gear.

DEET 25%

The 60-year benchmark. Higher concentrations extend duration, not strength.

Which should you pick?

Choose Picaridin if…

You want the longest hands-off protection from one application
You're in tick country (Lyme, anaplasmosis, or alpha-gal range)
You can't stand repellent odor or greasy skin
You'll wear it near sunglasses, phones, rain gear, or fishing line
It's going on kids (over 2 months) or the whole family

Choose DEET if…

It's simply what's on the shelf when you need cover now
You want the single most-studied repellent on earth
You're facing extreme biting pressure where 98% DEET's raw duration earns its keep
You already trust it and have no reason to switch

Frequently asked questions

Is picaridin or DEET better for ticks?

Picaridin at 20% holds 7–8 hours against ticks; DEET's tick protection is shorter and more variable. For tick country, picaridin (or permethrin-treated clothing) is the stronger choice.

Does picaridin last as long as DEET?

Longer, at consumer concentrations: 20% picaridin runs 8–10 hours against mosquitoes versus 5–6 hours for 25% DEET. Only very high-percentage DEET (98%) approaches it.

Is one safer than the other?

Both have strong safety records when used as directed and are recommended by the CDC. Picaridin is gentler on skin and gear, but neither presents a meaningful safety reason to choose the other.

Go deeper: read the full picaridin and deet ingredient pages, or see how we score.