9 Common House Spiders in the United States (Photos, Differences)

When you see a spider nest around your home, you might freak out and start looking for exterminators. Most of these spiders are not dangerous and have some benefits. When you know what type of spiders you have on your hands, it’s easy to look at how to get rid of them.

In the United States, there is one spider known as the common house spider. And there are many more spiders that you might find in, and around, your house. Common house spiders include hobo spiders, wolf spiders, black widow, banana spiders, and more. Here’s how to tell them apart.

9 Common Spiders of the United States

Here are nine common house spiders in the United States. While not all species are visible in every state, each of them are common in homes across the country.

1. American House Spider

The most common type is the American house spider (Parasteatoda tepidariorum). These spiders have a round stomach and are usually no bigger than the size of a nickel.

They are also known as achaearanea tepidariorum and simply the common house spider.

They often have gray bodies with some soft white markings. You can also recognize them via their webs, which look messy. American house spiders are not poisonous.

2. Hobo Spider

You may come across a hobo spider, which tends to hide outside but can hide inside shoes and clothing inside.

Hobo spiders are usually light brown or tan and have thick hair on both their legs and bodies.

Their bites cause a lot of pain that occurs within 24 hours and may require medical treatment.

3. Wolf Spiders

Wolf spiders are also found in the US. Called wolf spiders because they hunt in the same way that wolves do – by going hunting rather than waiting for prey to pass by.

Wolf spiders live alone and have legs with thick hair that looks like fur on them.

Wolf spiders can resemble tarantulas and range in color from brown to black and gray. They are not venomous and would prefer to run away than attack. But as spiders go, they are aggressive.

Sometimes wolf spiders get confused with brown recluse spiders. Here’s how to tell the difference: Brown Recluse vs Wolf Spider (12 Differences)

4. Jumping Spiders

While some people think jumping spiders are cute, others find them terrifying. These spiders range in color from light to dark and can have iridescent markings or zebra stripes.

Jumping spiders often have large eyes in the front of their eyes with smaller eyes on the sides. Their bites are mostly harmless.

Do only spiders have 8 legs? Learn about the 11 types of 8-legged animals.

5. Widow Spider (Black and Brown)

There is a chance that you might see black widows, especially in your garage. More than 2,000 people report bites from black widows every year.

They are poisonous and can cause some severe symptoms when they bite. Black widows have black bodies with an hourglass symbol on their underbelly in bright red.

6. Yellow Sac Spider

If you see a yellow or pale spider, it’s likely a yellow sac spider. Found in different parts of the US, this spider has a V-shape on its body that is darker than the rest of its body.

Most people do not have a reaction to their bites, but some require medical help after suffering a bite.

7. Brown Recluse Spider

Often confused with wolf spiders, brown recluse spiders are brown spiders with long legs. You can recognize them through the violin mark they have on their back.

Brown recluse spider bites are often dangerous and can lead to infections.

Learn more about brown recluse spiders.

8. Daddy Longlegs

Though not actually a spider, daddy long legs are one of the more common insects found in American homes. They have a small body that is almost perfectly round and long legs that extend out.

Though daddy long legs do have venom, they do not have enough to harm humans.

This next species is one of many spiders known as banana spiders.

9. Golden Silk-Orb Weaver (Banana Spider)

In the US, Trichonephila clavipes are commonly known as the banana spider. The golden silk orb-weaver gets its name from the yellowis silk it spins.

These are found in the United States, and also Africa, Asia, Australia and South America.

In addition to their gold webs, they are also known for extreme sexual dimorphism, occasional cannibalism.

Are Some Banana Spiders Dangerous? While there are many spider species known as banana spiders, the one to watch for is Ctenidae (family) and Phoneutria (genus). While they are mainly found in South America, there is one species in Central America.

The bite of the wandering spider can be deadly to humans, especially children. If antivenom is available, it will likely prevent death.

Don’t like spiders in your home? Here’s how to get rid of spiders from your house.

Learn more about other tiny black bugs you might see around the home.

Here’s how to get rid of spiders using essential oils.

Your Turn

What spiders do you commonly see where you live? Do you have an addition to this list? Please add it below!