10 Spiders In Your House & What You Need to Know About Them

While spiders might give some of us (me) the creeps, they’re usually harmless and can actually be beneficial around the house, keeping flies and other insects under control. But which spiders are truly harmless and which ones should we steer clear of? These are 10 of the most common types of spiders you might find in your home.

Jorō Spiders

The jorō spider has become quite the celebrity online, thanks to its impressive size and the golden webs it spins, wide enough to rival the front of a truck. Its yellow body is up to three inches across, and accented by bluish-green and red stripes.

Originally from Southeast Asia, jorō spiders have made a newer home in the Southeastern U.S., floating in on air currents in a process known as ballooning. If you run into one, be mindful of its web—it’s hard to miss and not something you’d want to walk into!

Despite their huge size, there’s no need to fear these spiders. They’re harmless to humans and are beneficial predators in your garden, keeping insects like mosquitoes and stink bugs at bay.

American House Spiders

The American house spider, or the common house spider, might just be one of the most helpful critters you could find hiding in the corners of your home. Their colors range from yellowish-gray to brown, usually with streaked or mottled patterns, and their bodies are small, with females slightly larger than males.

This spider is widespread across the U.S. and Canada, with around 230 species within the family. They prefer the quiet life, setting up their sticky webs in undisturbed places like garage corners, behind doors, or in old logs and shed eaves.

They’re great at taking care of mosquitoes, flies, and wasps. Unless they’re causing an infestation, it’s best to let them be. To keep them from coming inside, focus on sealing up cracks and gaps around your home’s exterior.

Cellar Spiders

Cellar spiders, usually confused with daddy-long-legs (which, fun fact, aren’t true spiders), are the gangly figures of the spider world. They have long, slender legs and oval-shaped bodies that come in shades of pale yellow, soft brown, or gray.

You can find these spiders all over the U.S., but they particularly love the shadows of basements and cellars—places that are cool and damp. If you spot one, you’ll probably notice their webs stacked on top of each other, which can get pretty messy looking.

While they might give your basement a haunted house vibe, they’re harmless; their fangs are too small to bite humans. No need for eviction—unless you’re really not a fan of their home décor.

Orb Weaver Spiders

Orb weaver spiders spin their webs in perfect circles. These spiders vary in color from reddish-brown to gray and are pretty chunky, usually about 1.5 to 3 inches long. Some even have dorsal stripes.

Orb weavers are a diverse bunch, with around 2,800 species globally and about 180 in North America alone. Seeing one of their webs is pretty common. If you find one stretching across your garden path or between your plants, a simple sweep with a broom is all you need to manage them.

Hobo Spiders

Hobo spiders have had a bit of a reputation makeover. Previously tagged as dangerous, they’ve been cleared by the CDC, so they’re not the villains we thought they were. These spiders are recognized by their oblong abdomens and long spinnerets that are visible from above.

These travelers are most common in the Northwest U.S. but have hitched rides to other areas over time. They’re ground dwellers, favoring moist and dark spots like holes and cracks at ground level within your home.

If you do bump into one, it’s best to let it be; they can bite if bothered, but at worst, it’ll cause a bit of pain and a red mark. To discourage them from settling in, tidy up potential hideouts in your basements and garages.

Jumping Spiders

Jumping spiders could win a spider Olympics if there was one, thanks to their crazt leaping abilities and sharp vision. They have furry, colorful bodies, coming in shades of brown, tan, or gray and sometimes bright marks of white, yellow, red, blue, or green.

You’ll find them all over the Eastern U.S., enjoying the sun on vertical spots like tree trunks and walls. They’re outdoor lovers at heart, so they rarely venture indoors or cause issues at home.

Brown Recluse Spiders

The brown recluse spider truly lives up to its name, preferring solitude over social gatherings. These spiders are notorious for their venomous bite and are easily recognized by the violin-shaped mark on their heads. But who actually wants to getclose enough to see? Not me.

Unlike most spiders that have eight eyes, brown recluses make do with six. They’re not very big, ranging from a quarter to half an inch long.

You’ll find them mainly in the Midwest and Southern U.S., hiding under dry logs, rocks, or piles of leaves. Inside, they might sneak into your shoes or cozy up in a rarely used drawer. It’s best not to engage if you spot one; their bite can cause serious skin issues, including necrosis, as warned by the CDC.

To keep them away, seal up cracks and openings in your home, and make it a habit to shake out shoes and clothes before putting them on, just to be safe.

Grass Spiders

Grass spiders, or funnel-web spiders as some call them, make dense, silk-lined webs that act like insect-trapping burrows. Despite their similar appearance to wolf and hobo spiders, grass spiders have their own look with yellow, brown, or cream colors and two dark brown bands across their body. Their silk-spinning spinnerets are notably long, and they have a peculiar arrangement of eight eyes in three rows.

These spiders are common across North America, particularly fond of lounging in short grass or sunbathing on your windowsills. If you see one, there’s really no need to panic—they’re shy and not harmful to humans.

To keep them from moving in, regular lawn mowing and trimming of tree branches and shrubbery can help reduce their presence around your home.

Wolf Spiders

Unlike typical spiders that wait for their prey to get trapped in their webs, these guys prefer the chase. They have two rows of eyes that give them exceptional night vision—perfect for hunting in the dark.

They might give you a bit of a scare with their big, hairy bodies, looking a bit like pocket-sized tarantulas. Female wolf spiders can be about an inch long and carry their egg sacs around on their backs, with spiderlings hitching a ride post-hatch.

You’ll mostly find wolf spiders outdoors in the U.S. and Canada, making homes along stream banks, in leaf litter, or burrowing in the ground. They might pop into your house, but it’s not their preferred hangout.

If you see one, just breathe—they’re harmless and shy away from humans. I know, much easier said than done. To keep them out, try placing some non-lethal glue traps around and spraying peppermint oil around your doors and windows.

Black Widow Spiders

Black widow spiders have a bit of a bad rep. Famous for their potent venom and the myth that females often eat their mates, they’re actually more bark than bite in the spider world.

Look out for the females, marked by their sleek black bodies and the iconic red hourglass on their underbellies. They’re about 3/8 inch long. The males are smaller and not dangerous.

Black widows set up shop in warm, secluded spots like under decks or in basements, mostly in the Southern and Western U.S. They’re not aggressive, but you’ll want to avoid a close encounter—their venom is way stronger than a rattlesnake’s and can really hurt you. If bitten, heading straight for medical help is crucial.

To prevent an unwelcome visit, tidy up around your house—clear out clutter, cut back the brush, and maybe spray a mixture of water and peppermint oil around the perimeter to keep them away.