Home / Pest cities research / Bed bug cities
2026 edition · City rankings & practical guidance
The Top 50 Most Bed Bug-Infested Cities in America
Find your city, check the evidence, and learn what to do before a suspected infestation spreads.
A city ranking is a starting point for awareness, not a diagnosis of your home or hotel. This guide combines a complete, searchable list with practical inspection advice, a travel checklist, and questions to ask before choosing treatment.
The complete list
Find your city in the top 50
Search by city or state. Filtering preserves the original ranks; it does not create a new ranking. A missing city is not necessarily free of bed bugs.
Showing all 50 ranked markets.
| Rank | City / market | State |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Chicago | IL |
| 2 | Los Angeles | CA |
| 3 | Detroit | MI |
| 4 | Cleveland | OH |
| 5 | Indianapolis | IN |
| 6 | Springfield | IL |
| 7 | Washington, D.C. | DC |
| 8 | Columbus | OH |
| 9 | Pittsburgh | PA |
| 10 | Grand Rapids | MI |
| 11 | Denver | CO |
| 12 | New York | NY |
| 13 | Milwaukee | WI |
| 14 | Baltimore | MD |
| 15 | Cincinnati | OH |
| 16 | Raleigh | NC |
| 17 | St. Louis | MO |
| 18 | Charleston | WV |
| 19 | Davenport | IA |
| 20 | Flint | MI |
| 21 | Atlanta | GA |
| 22 | Philadelphia | PA |
| 23 | Dallas | TX |
| 24 | Oklahoma City | OK |
| 25 | Cedar Rapids | IA |
| 26 | Hartford | CT |
| 27 | Charlotte | NC |
| 28 | Peoria | IL |
| 29 | South Bend | IN |
| 30 | Seattle | WA |
| 31 | Richmond | VA |
| 32 | Youngstown | OH |
| 33 | Greenville | SC |
| 34 | Nashville | TN |
| 35 | Buffalo | NY |
| 36 | Omaha | NE |
| 37 | San Francisco | CA |
| 38 | Dayton | OH |
| 39 | Norfolk | VA |
| 40 | Knoxville | TN |
| 41 | San Diego | CA |
| 42 | Toledo | OH |
| 43 | Las Vegas | NV |
| 44 | Syracuse | NY |
| 45 | Fort Wayne | IN |
| 46 | Tampa | FL |
| 47 | Miami | FL |
| 48 | Minneapolis | MN |
| 49 | Kansas City | MO |
| 50 | Myrtle Beach | SC |
No matching cities. Try another spelling or clear the state filter. An unlisted city can still have bed bugs.
Source: Orkin’s 2026 Bed Bug Cities release (opens in a new tab). State labels are added for navigation. The publisher’s market labels are not standardized city boundaries.
Bro’s analysis of the published entries
Which states appear most often?
States with the most listed markets
Counts of ranked entries, not statewide infestation rates
Bro’s calculations: these six states account for 21 of the 50 entries.
This comparison describes where the list’s entries are concentrated. It does not show which state has the highest proportion of infested homes, how many untreated infestations exist, or the condition of a particular lodging property.
Identify before you treat
Look for physical evidence—not bites alone
Bites alone cannot establish a bed bug infestation. Look for insects and signs near sleeping or resting areas, and get a specimen identified when possible.
Live insects
Check mattress seams, piping, tags, bed-frame joints, and headboard crevices.
Stains and dark spots
Rusty marks or small dark spots on bedding and nearby surfaces may warrant closer inspection.
Eggs and shed skins
Inspect small hiding places for eggs, eggshells, and skins left as immature bugs grow.
EPA: how to find bed bugs (opens in a new tab).
Make the inspection useful: record the room, exact location, and date of each finding. Photograph evidence before cleaning it away. Ask a pest professional or extension specialist to identify a suspected insect before selecting a product.
Before unpacking and after returning
A practical bed bug travel checklist
- Check the mattress and headboard before settling in.
- Inspect the luggage rack before using it.
- Keep luggage on a checked rack, away from the bed.
- Inspect your suitcase carefully when returning home.
- For suitable fabrics, use a high-temperature dryer; washing alone may not kill bed bugs.
- Store suitcases away from the bedroom rather than under the bed.
Based on EPA’s travel precautions (opens in a new tab). Follow garment care instructions and equipment guidance.
Secondhand furniture and shared laundry
Inspect used furniture before bringing it home. In shared laundry facilities, transport potentially infested items in sealed bags and place treated items into a clean bag. Reducing clutter and using suitable mattress encasements can also make monitoring easier.
EPA: protecting your home from bed bugs (opens in a new tab).
If you suspect an infestation
Your next steps, in order
- Confirm the pest. Save a specimen or take a clear photo for expert identification.
- Document the evidence. Keep a simple log of locations and dates.
- Coordinate in an apartment. Notify building management about confirmed activity so nearby spaces can be assessed.
- Get a written plan. Clarify preparation, treatment coverage, monitoring, and follow-up.
- Track the outcome. Keep inspection and treatment records, and continue the agreed monitoring.
EPA’s identification and control planning guidance (opens in a new tab).
Do not assume that every item needs to be discarded. Some belongings can be treated and saved, and moving infested items without a plan can spread the problem. Ask how furniture and possessions should be handled before removing them.
Understand what you are buying
Compare treatment plans, not just prices
A comprehensive approach may combine inspection, physical methods, appropriate pesticides, and monitoring. Residents and building management have an important role in preparing and following through.
EPA: integrated pest management for bed bugs (opens in a new tab).
On smaller screens, swipe the table sideways to see all columns.
| Part of the plan | What to clarify | Ask the provider |
|---|---|---|
| Inspection | Evidence, rooms inspected, and areas that could not be checked. | What confirms the identification and extent? |
| Physical methods | Whether steam, professional heat, vacuuming, or encasements fit the situation. | What items need special handling or preparation? |
| Pesticides | Products, allowed application surfaces, and reentry instructions. | Can I review the labels and household precautions? |
| Monitoring | How activity will be checked after treatment. | What findings trigger another visit? |
| Price and follow-up | Included visits, exclusions, additional charges, and warranty terms. | What is included in the written total? |
Tell the provider about children, pets, aquariums, and any preparation constraints. Ask for an experienced bed bug specialist who explains the evidence, treatment rationale, and follow-up process clearly.
Source transparency
How this report was assembled
Bro’s preserved the order of the publisher’s 50 ranked markets, added state labels for navigation, and counted entries by state. The CSV includes original rank, market, state, report year, observation dates, and source URL.
- Treatment volume is not infestation prevalence. Market size, customer coverage, and demand can influence the publisher’s totals.
- No population adjustment was made. This is not a per-household or per-capita risk score.
- The release year differs from the observation period. It is not a full-calendar-year 2026 census.
- The list cannot diagnose a property. It does not establish conditions at a specific home, hotel, or apartment.
- City names represent source market labels. Do not assume all geographic boundaries are comparable.
The underlying ranking is Orkin’s. Bro’s contribution is the searchable presentation, state-count analysis, and separately sourced guidance. This report does not use Bro’s customer or referral records.
Related research: 2026 pest-infested cities comparison · Top 50 termite cities.
Frequently asked questions
Understanding bed bug city rankings
Which city ranks first for bed bugs in 2026?
Chicago leads the cited company’s treatment ranking. That does not establish the highest household infestation rate across all cities or predict the condition of any one property.
Should I cancel travel because a city is on the list?
The ranking does not evaluate individual hotels or rentals. Use it as a reminder to inspect your room and belongings; make accommodation decisions using property-specific information.
Can bites alone confirm bed bugs?
No. EPA notes that skin marks are a poor indicator. Look for physical evidence and have a suspected insect identified.
Does washing clothes alone kill bed bugs?
Washing alone may not kill them. EPA recommends high-temperature drying for suitable items. Follow fabric care instructions and a treatment plan appropriate to the belongings.
Will one treatment solve the problem?
Do not assume a single visit will be enough. Ask how the provider will monitor activity and when follow-up or repeat treatment may be needed.
Do I have to throw away my mattress?
Not automatically. Ask whether it can be treated and encased. Avoid moving or discarding suspected infested furniture without a containment plan.
Can I download or cite this list?
Use the CSV button above. Credit Orkin for the original ranking and Bro’s for the state-count analysis and explanatory guide. Keep the source dates and treatment-volume limitation with your citation.
References
Check the original sources.
External references open in a new tab.
- Orkin’s 2026 Bed Bug Cities release (opens in a new tab) — distributed July 7, 2026.
- EPA: How to Find Bed Bugs (opens in a new tab).
- EPA: Tips for Travel (opens in a new tab).
- EPA: Protecting Your Home from Bed Bugs (opens in a new tab).
- EPA: Do-it-yourself Bed Bug Control (opens in a new tab).
- EPA: Integrated Pest Management for Bed Bugs (opens in a new tab).
- EPA: Stay Legal and Safe in Treating for Bed Bugs (opens in a new tab).
- EPA: Top Ten Prevention and Control Tips (opens in a new tab).
Suggested citation: Bro’s Pest Control. “The Top 50 Most Bed Bug-Infested Cities in America: 2026 Edition.” State-count analysis of Orkin’s ranking, with EPA-based homeowner guidance. Sources checked October 23, 2026.
Photos are illustrative images from the site’s existing media library, not documentation of activity in a ranked city.
Get help with your actual pest problem
Start with identification and an inspection.
Describe what you found and where service is needed. Bro’s helps connect customers with independent pest control providers that may serve their area.
Request bed bug helpCall 1-888-497-9069Inspection fees, availability, treatment, follow-up, and warranties vary by provider. How our referral service works.