Harmless

Barn funnel weaver

Tegenaria domestica

Also called domestic house spider, house spider, funnel web spider (loosely)

Harmless: this fast brown spider that shows up in sinks, tubs and basement corners is shy and not considered a threat to people.

Photo: Dimitǎr Boevski, CC BY 4.0, via iNaturalist

SizeFemales 7.5–11.5 mm (about 1/3 to 1/2 inch); males 6–9 mm (about 1/4 to 1/3 inch)

Where in the houseBasement, garage, bathroom, closets, windows and walls, outside near the house

WhenYear-round indoors; wandering males are most noticed late spring through summer and again in fall.

Check these features

Reddish-brown front body with two faint darker or pale-gray bands
Pale, mottled gray-tan abdomen with darker patches or chevrons
Long legs with faint pale and dark banding
Runs very fast and often turns up trapped in sinks or bathtubs
Flat sheet web with a tube retreat, low in corners, near the floor

Bites and stings

Not known to bite people; it runs away rather than defends itself, and its fangs are unlikely to break skin. Get medical advice for any bite that becomes very red, swollen, painful or shows signs of infection.

What to do

No need to worry: trap it under a cup with a card and release it outside, or vacuum it up.
If one is in a tub or sink, give it a towel or stick to climb out, or remove it with a cup.
Vacuum webs in low corners, behind furniture and in basements.
If you live in the Pacific Northwest and want an ID, save it in a sealed jar and ask your county extension office.

Look-alikes

Hobo spiderThe hobo spider is larger (about 1/2 to 5/8 inch body), lives mainly in the Pacific Northwest and nearby mountain states, and can only be confirmed by an expert with a microscope; outside that region a funnel weaver indoors is very unlikely to be a hobo.

Giant house spiderIt looks very similar but is about twice as large, with very long legs; it is also found mainly in the Pacific Northwest.

Brown recluseA recluse is uniformly tan with no leg bands, has a dark violin mark and six eyes in pairs, and does not build a sheet-and-funnel web.

Grass spiderGrass spiders have two clear dark stripes on the front body and build bigger funnel webs outdoors in lawns and shrubs.

Why it came inside

It is an introduced spider that breeds indoors, building webs in dark, quiet corners; adult males wander in search of females and often end up in sinks and tubs they cannot climb out of.

Keep it out

Fit door sweeps and weatherstripping, and seal foundation cracks and gaps with caulk.
Reduce clutter and keep stored boxes off the floor and away from walls.
Vacuum basements, garages and corners often.
Place sticky traps along walls in basements and garages to catch wandering males, out of reach of children and pets.

What helps

Links go to Amazon search results so you can compare current options. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. Always follow the product label.

Sticky traps

Flat glue traps set along walls and in corners show what is moving through and where. Place them where pets and children can't reach.

See options on Amazon

Door sweep

Closes the gap under an exterior door. If you can see daylight under the door, bugs can get in.

See options on Amazon

Weatherstripping

Seals the gaps around doors and windows that let in drafts and bugs alike.

See options on Amazon

Caulk and sealant

Silicone or siliconized acrylic caulk closes cracks around windows, pipes and baseboards. Bigger gaps need foam backer rod or expanding foam first.

See options on Amazon

Vacuum with a hose

Lets you remove bugs, webs and egg sacs without touching them. Empty the bag or canister outside right away.

See options on Amazon

Bug catcher

A long-handled catcher moves a spider or insect outside without you having to touch it.

See options on Amazon

Sources

Checked October 18, 2026. Rating backed by 3 sources. How we rate danger.