How Long Should You Burn Mosquito Coil?

Mosquito-repelling coils are one of the most popular ways to keep mosquitoes away, especially in wide open spaces. But is there even an ideal amount of time to burn a mosquito coil for?

The normal mosquito coil is intended to smoulder for 6–8 hours approximately (varying with brand, thickness and air flow). This makes it ideal for overnight or any evening outdoor use, such as dining, camping, or simply sitting on the patio. But burning the entire coil isn’t always necessary.

If you end up only needing it for a short period — for example, when you’re having a 1-2 hour al fresco meal — you can break off the coil and ignite only part of it. This saves on chemical exposure and chemical waste.

Safety is important. Coils emit smoke that includes insecticides, such as pyrethroids. Although effective against mosquitoes, there can be respiratory irritation with prolonged exposure, particularly in confined spaces indoors, for children and the elderly and for people with asthma. That’s also the reason you should never use mosquito coils indoors or without adequate ventilation.

Also make sure that the coil is put on flameless and steady base, do not place it near flammable materials and never leave it burning out of sight. Avoid getting near sleeping children, pets or anything flammable such as paper or clothes.

So, in short, burn a mosquito coil for up to eight hours at a time, only use what you need and, above all, value ventilation and safety. For indoors, opt for more secure options such as electric mosquito repellents or mosquito nets.