Raid
Raid is an international household insect-control brand owned by SC Johnson.
Last updated October 5, 2026
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Overview
Raid is a household pest-control brand owned by SC Johnson, the privately held consumer-products company based in Racine, Wisconsin. Its products are designed to kill or repel common indoor and outdoor insects, including flying insects such as mosquitoes, flies and wasps, as well as crawling pests such as ants and cockroaches. The brand is best known for aerosol insecticides, but its portfolio has also included baits, traps, electrical devices, residual treatments and other pest-management formats. The brand was introduced in 1956 and became one of SC Johnson's principal international consumer brands. Its development reflected the postwar expansion of packaged household chemicals, when consumers increasingly sought convenient products that could be stored and used at home rather than relying only on professional pest-control services. Raid's name, packaging and advertising have generally emphasized speed, ease of use and broad household protection. Product formulations and permitted claims vary by country because insecticides are regulated differently across jurisdictions. Raid's business scope is primarily branded consumer pest control rather than agricultural chemicals or professional extermination services. The brand has been sold through supermarkets, mass merchants, hardware stores, pharmacies, e-commerce channels and other household-goods retailers. Its product range differs by market and may include sprays for flying or crawling insects, ant and cockroach baits, electric vaporizer products, insect traps, outdoor treatments and specialized products for particular pests. Availability, labeling, active ingredients and product names are not uniform worldwide. A major part of Raid's identity has been mass-market advertising. SC Johnson has used demonstrations, memorable visual devices and household-safety messaging to make pest control understandable to general consumers. Campaigns and product claims must operate within pesticide-registration, labeling and advertising requirements, and the brand has periodically faced the same scrutiny affecting the wider household-insecticide category: questions about chemical exposure, environmental effects, product efficacy and safe use. Such issues are product- and jurisdiction-specific and should not be treated as evidence that the entire brand has been found unlawful. Raid remains an active SC Johnson brand. It is distinct from SC Johnson's other household brands, including OFF!, which focuses more heavily on personal insect repellents, and from professional pest-control companies. Because SC Johnson is private and does not publish a separate public-company financial segment for Raid, standalone revenue, profit, valuation and market-share figures are not established here.
History
Raid was introduced in 1956 by SC Johnson as a branded household insecticide. Its launch came during a period when packaged cleaning and pest-control products were becoming standard consumer goods in postwar homes. Instead of presenting pest control as a specialist service, Raid helped frame it as a routine household task that could be handled with a ready-to-use product. The brand initially became associated with aerosol insecticides, a format that offered consumers a portable and comparatively simple way to treat flying and crawling insects. Over time, SC Johnson expanded Raid beyond a single spray format. The broader portfolio came to include products aimed at different pest categories and use situations, such as ant and cockroach control, flying-insect sprays, wasp and hornet products, baits, traps and electrical devices. The exact portfolio has varied by country, reflecting local consumer habits, product registrations and regulatory requirements. Raid's international growth followed SC Johnson's broader expansion outside the United States. The brand has been marketed in multiple regions under local regulatory frameworks, with differences in formulations, packaging, instructions and claims. In some markets, related pest-control products may be sold under different names or through distinct local ranges. This makes a single global product list inappropriate, even though the Raid name has broad international recognition. Advertising has been central to the brand's development. SC Johnson used demonstrations and memorable household scenarios to communicate the idea that Raid could act quickly against visible pests. The brand's communications also had to balance effectiveness with instructions concerning ventilation, food contact, children, pets and other safety considerations. As public attention to pesticide exposure and environmental impact increased, household insecticide manufacturers faced greater expectations regarding labeling, active ingredients, disposal and responsible use. Raid is still owned and marketed by SC Johnson. It operates as a consumer product brand rather than as a separately listed corporation, and SC Johnson does not routinely disclose standalone financial results for Raid. The brand's continuing presence reflects the enduring demand for household pest-control products, while its product development remains shaped by regulation, formulation science, retailer requirements and changing consumer preferences.
Products and positioning
A mass-market household pest-control brand positioned around convenient, fast and accessible protection against common insects.
Household insecticide spray · 1956
Aerosol insecticides
Raid aerosol sprays are designed for direct or room treatment against specified flying and crawling insects. Depending on the market and formulation, products may target mosquitoes, flies, ants, cockroaches, wasps or other listed pests. Directions, active ingredients, ventilation requirements and permitted claims differ by jurisdiction, so the product range should be understood as a family of market-specific registered formulations rather than one universal spray.
Baits, sprays and traps
Ant and cockroach control
These products address common crawling pests in kitchens, bathrooms, storage areas and other domestic spaces. The range can include contact sprays, bait stations and traps. Baits are intended to attract target insects and deliver control through the bait system, while sprays are generally used for direct treatment or localized surface application. Product availability and instructions vary by country.
Flying-insect insecticide
Flying-insect products
Flying-insect products are formulated and labeled for pests such as flies, mosquitoes and, in selected products, other flying insects. They may be supplied as aerosol sprays or other delivery formats. Their intended use, treatment area and safety instructions are defined by the local registration label, and consumers are directed to follow those instructions rather than applying a product outside its listed use.
Outdoor insecticide
Wasp and hornet control
Raid has marketed products for wasps, hornets and related outdoor stinging insects in some markets. These products are typically designed for targeted application at a distance and carry specific warnings concerning people, animals, nests, wind and treated surfaces. The presence and exact specification of this line depend on national registration and local assortment.
Pest-control devices
Baits, traps and electrical devices
Beyond aerosol products, the Raid portfolio has included bait stations, adhesive or other traps, and electrical or plug-in devices intended to release or distribute insect-control ingredients. These formats support longer-duration or localized use and are commonly positioned as alternatives to spraying. Their mechanics, target pests, operating duration and regulatory status depend on the particular product and market.
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