Washington, D.C., has once again earned an unfortunate distinction, ranking as the seventh “bed buggiest” city in the United States in Orkin’s newly released 2026 Bed Bug Cities List.
The annual report highlights the metro areas where the pest control company performed the highest number of bed bug treatments over the past year.
While the ranking doesn’t necessarily mean D.C. has more bed bugs than every other city, it does suggest the region continues to see significant demand for professional treatment services.
The capital dropped one spot from last year’s ranking, when it placed sixth on Orkin’s 2025 list.
The report arrives during peak summer travel season, when experts warn bed bugs are more likely to hitchhike home inside luggage, clothing and personal belongings.
Increased travel and frequent turnover in hotels and shared accommodations can make this time of year especially important for prevention.
Chicago retained the top spot for another year, followed by Cleveland, Detroit, Los Angeles, Indianapolis and Champaign, Illinois, with Washington, D.C. rounding out the nation’s top seven.
Why is Washington, D.C. one of America’s ‘bed buggiest’ cities?
Although Orkin’s ranking doesn’t pinpoint why individual cities place where they do, several factors can contribute to higher bed bug activity.
Washington, D.C. is one of the country’s busiest destinations for business travel, tourism, conventions and government activity, creating more opportunities for bed bugs to spread by hitching rides in luggage and personal belongings.
The metro area’s dense housing, apartment buildings, hotels and frequent visitor turnover can also make infestations more challenging to contain once they occur.
Bed bugs are excellent hitchhikers and don’t discriminate between clean or dirty environments—they simply seek out places where people sleep.
Orkin recommends travelers inspect hotel mattresses, headboards and upholstered furniture before unpacking, keep luggage off beds and floors, and wash and dry clothing on high heat after returning home if there’s any concern about exposure.
How did Orkin compile its 2026 bed bug rankings?
Orkin’s annual Bed Bug Cities List is not based on population size or government reporting.
Instead, the rankings reflect the number of bed bug treatments the company performed in each metro area over a 12-month period.
For the 2026 edition, Orkin analyzed residential and commercial bed bug treatments completed between May 15th, 2025, and May 14th, 2026.
The company says the data provides a snapshot of where demand for professional bed bug services has been highest.
Because the rankings are based solely on Orkin’s own treatment data, they should not be interpreted as a definitive measure of the total number of bed bugs in each city.
Instead, they offer a useful indicator of where infestations are generating the most professional pest control activity across the country.
