Spiders are everywhere—from quiet corners of your home to sunny garden plants. While some might seem scary at first glance, most spiders are harmless and even helpful in keeping pest insects under control. Learning to recognize a few common types can help you stay calm and curious rather than fearful.
In this guide, you’ll get to know 11 of the most common spiders found around houses, backyards, and nature trails. For each one, we’ll cover how they look, where they live, how they behave, and how to identify them quickly and easily. Let’s dive in and meet these everyday arachnids!
Common Types of Spiders
There are thousands of spider species worldwide, but a few show up more often in our daily lives. These spiders are usually harmless and often go unnoticed until they catch our attention with their webs or quick movements. Below are 11 of the most common spiders you might find indoors, in your garden, or nearby nature areas.
1. Black Widow Spider
The Black Widow Spider is one of the most recognized and common spiders found in warm, dry areas. It’s best known for its shiny black body and the red hourglass marking under its abdomen. Despite its reputation, this spider is shy and usually avoids humans unless disturbed.
Appearance:
The female Black Widow has a round, glossy black body with a bright red or orange hourglass shape on the underside. Males are smaller, lighter in color, and less noticeable.
- Size (body length): Females about 1.5 cm; males around 0.5 cm
- Color and markings: Shiny black with a red hourglass marking on the belly
- Eye arrangement: Eight small eyes in two rows
- Body shape: Smooth, rounded abdomen
- Leg features: Long, slender, dark legs with very little hair
Habitat:
This spider prefers quiet, dark areas like basements, garages, outdoor sheds, and woodpiles. It often hides close to the ground or in corners.
Behavior:
Black Widow Spiders build messy, tangled webs. They hunt at night and stay hidden during the day. Bites are rare and usually happen only when the spider feels trapped or threatened.
How to Identify:
- Glossy black body
- Red hourglass mark under the abdomen
- Irregular, messy web
- Found in hidden, low places
- Moves slowly and prefers to hide
2. Brown Recluse Spider
The Brown Recluse Spider is a common spider in many parts of the United States, especially in the south and central regions. It’s best known for its violin-shaped marking on the back and its habit of hiding in quiet, undisturbed places indoors.
Appearance:
This spider has a light to dark brown body with a noticeable violin-like marking on its head area. It looks simple and smooth, without colorful patterns.
- Size (body length): About 0.6 to 2 cm
- Color and markings: Light to dark brown with a darker violin-shaped mark on the back
- Eye arrangement: Six eyes arranged in three pairs (unusual for spiders)
- Body shape: Flat and slim
- Leg features: Long, smooth legs with no bands or heavy hair
Habitat:
Brown Recluse Spiders like closets, basements, attics, storage boxes, and behind furniture. Outdoors, they hide under rocks, logs, or in woodpiles.
Behavior:
They are very shy and only bite when they are pressed or disturbed. They hunt at night and often roam rather than stay in a web.
How to Identify:
- Brown color with violin-shaped mark
- Six eyes instead of eight
- Long, plain legs
- Prefers hiding indoors
- Rarely seen out in the open
3. Wolf Spider
The Wolf Spider is a common ground-dwelling spider that can be found across the world. It doesn’t spin webs to catch prey—instead, it hunts by running and pouncing on insects like a tiny wolf.
Appearance:
Wolf Spiders are large and hairy with a brown or gray body that often has dark stripes. They look a bit scary but are not dangerous to humans.
- Size (body length): 1 to 3 cm
- Color and markings: Brown, gray, or black with stripes or mottled patterns
- Eye arrangement: Eight eyes in three rows (two large in the middle stand out)
- Body shape: Thick and robust
- Leg features: Long, hairy legs for fast movement
Habitat:
They live on the ground under rocks, leaves, logs, or in grassy areas. Indoors, they may hide in garages, basements, or corners of rooms.
Behavior:
Wolf Spiders are active hunters and roam at night. They don’t build webs but sometimes dig small burrows. Females carry egg sacs, and after hatching, baby spiders ride on their mother’s back.
How to Identify:
- Hairy body with stripes
- Large middle eyes that reflect light
- Seen running on the ground
- Found both indoors and outdoors
- Carries babies on its back
4. Jumping Spider
Jumping Spiders are small, active, and very curious. As a very common spider around the world, they’re often seen on walls, fences, windowsills, and garden plants. Their large front eyes and quick jumps make them easy to spot.
Appearance:
These spiders are compact and chunky with short legs. They often have black, gray, or brown bodies with white, green, or red markings. Their large front eyes give them excellent vision.
- Size (body length): 0.4 to 1.8 cm
- Color and markings: Black, gray, or brown with colorful markings
- Eye arrangement: Eight eyes, including two large front eyes
- Body shape: Short and thick
- Leg features: Short, powerful legs, especially the front ones
Habitat:
They live in sunny areas—on leaves, windowsills, fences, and garden beds. They are also common indoors near windows and ceilings.
Behavior:
Jumping Spiders don’t build webs to catch food. Instead, they stalk their prey and leap to capture it. They are curious and may even turn to look at people nearby.
How to Identify:
- Large front eyes
- Small, stocky body
- Quick, bouncy movements
- Found in bright, open spots
- Sometimes follows your movement
5. Orb Weaver Spider
The Orb Weaver Spider is a very common garden spider known for spinning large, round webs. They are harmless and easy to spot in summer and fall, especially in the early morning when dew outlines their webs.
Appearance:
They have a large, rounded abdomen and come in many colors—yellow, orange, brown, or even white. Some have stripes or spotted patterns.
- Size (body length): 0.6 to 2.5 cm
- Color and markings: Varies widely—can be orange, brown, yellow, or white with patterns
- Eye arrangement: Eight eyes in two rows
- Body shape: Plump, round abdomen
- Leg features: Long legs, often banded and slightly hairy
Habitat:
Found in gardens, forests, near lights, and between buildings. They stretch their webs across open spaces between plants or posts.
Behavior:
They spin classic circular webs to trap flying insects. Most are active at night and rebuild their web daily. During the day, they may hide nearby.
How to Identify:
- Large round web
- Fat, patterned body
- Long, banded legs
- Common in gardens and near lights
- Often seen sitting in center of web
6. House Spider
The House Spider is one of the most common spiders found indoors. It helps control pests like flies and mosquitoes. Although they may look spooky in webs, they are completely harmless.
Appearance:
House Spiders are brown or tan with faint patterns on their bodies. They have small, oval-shaped abdomens and long, thin legs.
- Size (body length): 0.5 to 1.2 cm
- Color and markings: Light to dark brown with soft markings
- Eye arrangement: Eight eyes in two rows
- Body shape: Oval and slightly flat
- Leg features: Thin legs, lightly banded or plain
Habitat:
They are found in corners, closets, basements, attics, and behind furniture. Their tangled webs are often built near ceilings or windows.
Behavior:
House Spiders stay in their webs and wait for insects to get trapped. They don’t chase prey. If threatened, they retreat or play dead.
How to Identify:
- Web in corners or ceilings
- Brown body with faint markings
- Long, thin legs
- Found indoors year-round
- Web is messy, not neat
7. Cellar Spider (Daddy Longlegs Spider)
Cellar Spiders, often called Daddy Longlegs Spiders, are common household spiders known for their super-long legs and shaky movements when disturbed.
Appearance:
They have tiny, slender bodies and very long, fragile-looking legs. Their color is usually pale tan or gray.
- Size (body length): 2 to 10 mm; legs can reach several centimeters
- Color and markings: Pale tan or gray, usually plain
- Eye arrangement: Eight eyes grouped together on a small head
- Body shape: Small, tube-like body
- Leg features: Extremely long and thin, delicate appearance
Habitat:
They live in basements, garages, ceilings, and dark corners. You can also find them in sheds and under porches.
Behavior:
When disturbed, they vibrate rapidly in place, making them harder to see. They build loose, messy webs and often hang upside down.
How to Identify:
- Very long legs, tiny body
- Shaky movement when touched
- Lives in dark corners and ceilings
- Builds messy, thin web
- Common in basements and bathrooms
8. Garden Spider
The Garden Spider is a common outdoor spider known for its bold colors and large, circular webs. It’s often seen hanging in the middle of its web in late summer and fall.
Appearance:
This spider has a large, rounded body with bright yellow and black stripes on the abdomen. Its legs are long and banded with black and orange or white.
- Size (body length): Females 1.9 to 2.8 cm; males are smaller
- Color and markings: Yellow and black abdomen with striped legs
- Eye arrangement: Eight eyes in two rows
- Body shape: Plump, oval body
- Leg features: Long legs with black and orange or white bands
Habitat:
Garden Spiders are found in fields, flower beds, and near outdoor lights. Their webs are often built between tall plants or fence posts.
Behavior:
They sit in the center of their web with legs in an “X” shape. They catch flying insects and rebuild their web daily.
How to Identify:
- Yellow and black striped body
- Large round web
- Sits in center of web
- Found in sunny garden spots
- Web may have a zigzag pattern
9. Crab Spider
Crab Spiders are common spiders found on flowers and leaves. They don’t build webs to catch prey. Instead, they ambush insects that land nearby.
Appearance:
They have a flat, wide body with two large front legs held out like crab claws. Their colors often match the flower they’re sitting on—white, yellow, green, or pink.
- Size (body length): 0.4 to 1 cm
- Color and markings: Usually white, yellow, or green; may have faint patterns
- Eye arrangement: Eight small eyes in two rows
- Body shape: Broad, crab-like shape
- Leg features: Front legs are thick, curved, and used for grabbing
Habitat:
Found on flower heads, garden plants, and shrubs. They hide by blending in with petals and leaves.
Behavior:
Crab Spiders wait still for prey like bees or flies. Some species can change color to match their surroundings.
How to Identify:
- Flat, wide body
- Holds front legs out like a crab
- Often matches the flower it’s on
- No web for hunting
- Found on flowers and plants
10. Huntsman Spider
The Huntsman Spider is a common spider in warm climates, especially in homes, sheds, and garages. It looks big and fast but is not dangerous to humans.
Appearance:
It has a large, flat body and very long legs that stretch out sideways, like a crab. Its color is usually light brown, gray, or tan with dark patches.
- Size (body length): 1 to 5 cm; leg span can reach up to 15 cm
- Color and markings: Light brown or gray with darker spots or stripes
- Eye arrangement: Eight eyes in two rows
- Body shape: Flat and wide
- Leg features: Long legs that extend sideways; often banded and hairy
Habitat:
They live under bark, rocks, in wall cracks, or behind furniture. They’re often seen on walls and ceilings.
Behavior:
They don’t build webs to catch prey. Instead, they run quickly and grab insects. They may enter homes, especially in warmer regions.
How to Identify:
- Large, flat body
- Legs spread out sideways
- Fast runner
- Often seen on walls or ceilings
- Hides in quiet, dark places
11. Funnel-Web Spider
The Funnel-Web Spider is a common spider found in gardens and grassy areas, known for spinning a funnel-shaped web. While some species are venomous (like the Sydney Funnel-Web), most are harmless and stay hidden unless disturbed.
Appearance:
These spiders have a dark brown or gray body with a slightly shiny head area. Their legs are strong and hairy, and their bodies are thick and solid-looking.
- Size (body length): 1 to 3.5 cm depending on the species
- Color and markings: Brown or gray with subtle patterns
- Eye arrangement: Eight eyes in two rows
- Body shape: Thick, sturdy body with a broad front
- Leg features: Strong, hairy legs held close to the body
Habitat:
They build funnel-shaped webs in grassy lawns, garden corners, under rocks, or near walls. The spider hides at the narrow end of the funnel, ready to rush out when prey arrives.
Behavior:
Funnel-Web Spiders wait patiently inside their web tunnels. They are quick to run out, grab prey, and pull it back inside. Most are not aggressive and will retreat when disturbed.
How to Identify:
- Funnel-shaped web with silk tunnel
- Thick brown or gray body
- Hides in back of web
- Found in gardens and grassy areas
- Quick, darting movement
Frequently Asked Questions
1. Are all spiders dangerous?
No, most spiders are harmless to humans. While a few, like the Black Widow or Brown Recluse, can bite if threatened, serious reactions are rare. Many common spiders help control insect pests.
2. How can I tell if a spider is venomous?
It’s best not to rely on looks alone. Some venomous spiders like the Brown Recluse have clear markings (like a violin shape), but many don’t. If you’re unsure, avoid touching the spider and let it be.
3. Why do I find spiders in my house?
Spiders come inside searching for food, shelter, or warmth. They often hide in corners, basements, or near windows where insects are found. Keeping areas clean and sealing cracks can help reduce them.
4. Do spiders bite people while sleeping?
It’s very rare. Most spiders avoid humans and will only bite if pressed against the skin. If you wake up with a bite, it’s more likely from a mosquito or other bug, not a spider.
5. What should I do if I find a spider indoors?
If it’s not harmful, gently relocate it outside using a jar and paper. If you’re unsure about the species or it’s in a hard-to-reach spot, you can leave it alone—it’ll likely help by eating other pests.
