Orkin's 2026 List Reveals the Worst U.S. Cities for Bed Bugs
'Tis the season to hit the road for some fun in the sun. Millions of American families are heading out for their annual summer vacation, hoping not to bring back any unwanted souvenirs. A recent analysis is shedding light on which cities and states in the U.S. are most likely to have a higher risk of bed bug infestations. Read on for what you need to know.
Chicago Tops the List for Greatest Risk of Bed Bugs
Pest control company Orkin recently released its latest rankings of U.S. cities with the highest rate of bed bug infestations. The rankings take into account the rate of residential and commercial bed bug treatments performed between the dates of May 12, 2025, and May 12, 2026.
For the sixth consecutive year, Chicago came in at the nation's top spot for bed bug infestations. Los Angeles slid into the number two spot. Rounding out the top five are Detroit, Cleveland, and Indianapolis. Positions five through 10 belong to Springfield, Illinois; Washington, D.C.; Columbus, Ohio; Pittsburgh; and Grand Rapids, Michigan.
What may come as a surprise to some people is that the metropolis of New York City came in just outside of the top 10 at number 12.
What is not surprising is that several popular tourist hot spots either climbed the rankings or made their debut in the top 50. This includes Tampa at number 46 and Myrtle Beach, South Carolina, at number 50.
Orkin said that the transient nature of the visitors coming in and out of these vacation destinations makes them more vulnerable to bed bug invasions. The high turnover rate at hotels and other types of vacation rentals gives the critters more opportunities to spread.
Nashville and Oklahoma City both saw a surge of bed invasions. Each of these metro areas climbed 10 spots in the rankings. Cities that entered the top 50 for the first time were Tampa, Kansas City, and Myrtle Beach.
Ohio carries the unwanted distinction of being the most heavily represented state on the list. Six Ohio cities cracked the top 50, including Cincinnati, Cleveland, Columbus, Youngstown, Dayton, and Toledo.
Another report found that Michigan is the state with the highest estimated risk of encountering bed bugs. Citing data from Casin.ca, the results of this study compiled bed bug rankings from Orkin and Teminix, in addition to results from social media posts and hotel reviews on TripAdvisor for each state's three largest cities.
The results from this more comprehensive study aligned with Orkin's findings that popular tourist spots inherently carry a higher risk of bed bug prevalence. After Michigan, the states most likely to be dealing with bed bug outbreaks are Ohio, Maryland, Pennsylvania, Wisconsin, Texas, Illinois, and New York.
How to Avoid Bringing Bed Bugs Home With You
It is easy to get complacent when away from home. The excitement that surrounds a new trip and a fresh environment naturally means that people tend to let down their guard.
According to Orkin, it is a good idea to get into the habit of inspecting hotel rooms before bringing in your luggage. It only takes a few minutes to check the mattresses and furniture for live bugs, their eggs, or shed skins. You may also notice dark stains that resemble stains when bed bugs are present.
Experts also advise keeping luggage on elevated racks located as far away from the bed as possible. You may also want to consider putting your clothes in the dryer on high for at least 30 minutes. The heat will kill any potential hitchhikers you might have picked up along the way.
It is important to remember that bed bugs rarely just go away on their own. In fact, the problem typically gets worse. This makes early detection key when controlling an outbreak. Getting rid of bed bugs is something that is best left to the professionals.
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