Giant house spider vs Barn funnel weaver

These two are easy to mix up. Here's how to tell a giant house spider from a barn funnel weaver, and whether either one bites or stings.

≠The key differences

Giant house spiders are generally larger with longer legs and a more elongate body; size and proportions are the easiest field clues.

	Giant house spider	Barn funnel weaver
To humans	Mild bite	Mild bite
Size	6-18 mm body length; legspan up to 45-75 mm	Body length about 6-12 mm; legspan up to about 50 mm
Colours	Brown, Tan, Dark brown	Brown, Tan, Dark brown, Yellowish-tan
Family	Agelenidae	Agelenidae
Habitat	Human structures (houses, sheds, cellars), under eaves, in cracks and corners, occasionally in vegetation and stone walls	Human structures (houses, barns, basements, garages), cellars, woodpiles and sheltered outdoor crevices
Range	Native to Europe; similar species in the Eratigena atrica species complex have been introduced and established in parts of North America	Native to Europe; widely introduced and common in North America and other temperate regions, especially inside buildings
Active	Most active late summer to autumn (mating season); nocturnal and more active at night	Nocturnal; active year-round indoors and outdoors mainly in summer-autumn for mating and dispersal
Pest?	No	No

Large funnel-web spider with long, spindly legs and a visible funnel retreat in the web
Mottled brown abdomen with indistinct patterned markings and banded or uniformly brown long legs
Fast, smooth running when disturbed; adult legspan noticeably larger than common house spiders
Definitive species ID requires examination of genitalia (pedipalps in males, epigyne in females) by a specialist

Look for a horizontal sheet web with a funnel-shaped retreat tucked into a corner, gap or crevice.
Body tan to brown with two dark bands on the cephalothorax and a mottled, chevron-marked abdomen; long legs ringed with darker bands.
Found in undisturbed corners of basements, attics, barns and garages — typically inside human structures.
Males are more slender with proportionally longer legs and may be seen wandering in late summer.

Giant house spiders are generally larger with longer legs and a more elongate body; size and proportions are the easiest field clues.

Giant house spider: Mild bite. Barn funnel weaver: Mild bite. Not dangerous to humans. Not dangerous to humans.

Identification from photos is never certain: don't handle insects you can't identify, and get medical advice for bites, stings or allergic reactions.