Bed bugs can show up in almost any American city, but some places get hit much harder than others.
If you have been wondering which city has the most bed bugs, Chicago currently takes the top spot. Orkin’s annual rankings show that Chicago has held the bed bug capital title for five straight years.
Bed bug rankings measure where exterminators are busiest, not where people are the cleanest or dirtiest.
Bed bugs spread through travel, shared housing, and secondhand items. A city’s rank can rise or fall quickly from year to year.
Orkin’s bed bug cities list shows how the top 50 bed bug cities shift as treatment volume changes.
If you want to lower your risk, it helps to know which places are trending up, what the rankings really measure, and what warning signs to watch for.
Current City Rankings And Who Holds The Top Spot
Chicago still holds the top spot in Orkin’s annual bed bug cities list. This makes Chicago the current bed bug capital in the U.S.
The rest of the top 50 bed bug cities changes every year as bed bug reports reflect new treatment patterns across the country.
The No. 1 City Right Now
Orkin ranks Chicago No. 1 again because it has performed the most bed bug treatments for five straight years.
Dense rental housing, heavy travel, and constant hotel turnover give bed bugs more chances to spread.
How The Top 10 Shifts Year To Year
The top 10 can change a lot from one year to the next.
In 2025, Cleveland, Detroit, Los Angeles, Indianapolis, Washington, D.C., Grand Rapids, Columbus, Champaign, and Milwaukee filled out the list behind Chicago.
Several Midwest cities made especially big moves.
Notable Movers And Regional Hotspots
Michigan, Ohio, and Illinois remain strong hotspots.
Milwaukee’s jump into the top 10 drew extra attention. Orkin also noted sharp moves elsewhere in the ranking, showing how fast local bed bug activity can change when travel, housing turnover, and reporting patterns shift.
What The Rankings Actually Measure
These rankings track treatment numbers, not a direct infestation census.
Orkin’s data shows where its teams performed the most work, so you see verified pest control activity rather than guesses.
How Orkin Builds The Annual List
An Orkin entomologist interprets the annual data, which combines residential and commercial bed bug treatments.
This makes the ranking useful for spotting where pressure is highest, especially in cities with lots of hotels, apartments, and shared housing.
Treatment Volume Vs. True Infestation Rate
A higher ranking can mean more bed bug infestations, more reporting, or both.
It does not always mean every home in a city has a [bed bug infestation], since treatment volume also rises when people know what to look for and call for help sooner.
Why Commercial And Residential Data Both Matter
Commercial properties spread bed bugs through hotels, offices, theaters, and transit-heavy spaces.
Homes keep the problem moving through apartments and duplexes. When bed bug treatments and broader pest control services are counted together, you get a fuller picture of where activity is showing up.
Why Some Cities See More Bed Bug Activity
Bed bugs spread where people move often and live close together.
Travel, older buildings, and apartment density can all drive higher bed bug infestations, even when the city itself is careful about bed bug control.
Travel, Hotels, And High Turnover Housing
High hotel occupancy gives bed bugs more chances to hitch a ride on luggage, coats, and furniture.
Cities with airports, conventions, college campuses, and frequent short-term stays see more activity because people and belongings keep cycling through.
Older Buildings And Multi-Unit Spread
Older buildings have more cracks, shared walls, and hidden spaces that make pests harder to contain.
In multi-unit housing, one untreated bed bug infestation can spread to neighboring units through walls, wiring, and hallways.
Why Cleanliness Is Not The Main Cause
Bed bugs are not a sign of poor housekeeping.
They hitchhike and show up in spotless homes, luxury hotels, and busy offices just as easily as anywhere else.
How Readers Can Lower Their Risk
A few habits can make a big difference.
If you learn the early signs of bed bugs and act quickly, you can often keep a small problem from becoming a full bed bug treatment situation.
Signs Of Bed Bugs To Watch For
Look for tiny dark spots on sheets, shed skins, small reddish stains, and live bugs around mattress seams and headboards.
Bites can be a clue, though they are not proof on their own.
How To Inspect Hotel Rooms Before Unpacking
When you inspect hotel rooms, start with the mattress seams, box spring, headboard, and upholstered furniture.
Keep your suitcase off the bed and floor, and use the luggage rack if the room has one.
Prevention Steps And When To Call A Professional
You can prevent bed bugs by checking secondhand furniture, washing and drying travel clothes on high heat, and staying alert after trips.
If you notice repeated bites, live bugs, or spreading stains, follow bed bug prevention tips and contact pest control services quickly.
Early bed bug treatment is much easier than dealing with a large-scale infestation.
