Chicago Lands the “Bed Bug Capital” Crown Again: What the Latest Report Really Says
Chicago has another unwanted distinction to add to its long list of national superlatives.
According to Orkin’s 2026 Bed Bug Cities List, Chicago ranks No. 1 in the United States for bed bug activity for the sixth consecutive year. The company’s latest ranking was released July 7, 2026, just as summer travel was getting into full swing.
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Orkin
That doesn’t mean Chicago is literally filled with more bed bugs than every other city in America, nor does it mean every Chicago hotel, apartment, or home has an infestation. The ranking is based on Orkin’s own treatment data, making it a measure of where the company performed the most residential and commercial bed bug treatments—not a comprehensive census of every bed bug in the country.
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Orkin
Still, the repeated appearance of Chicago at the top of the list is noteworthy.
And for travelers, renters, homeowners, landlords, and hotel guests, the report offers a useful reminder: bed bugs can turn an otherwise enjoyable trip into a frustrating problem if they hitch a ride home in luggage or clothing.
Chicago Holds the No. 1 Spot Again
The 2026 ranking puts Chicago at the top, followed by Los Angeles, Detroit, Cleveland, and Indianapolis.
The full top 10 are:
Chicago
Los Angeles
Detroit
Cleveland, Ohio
Indianapolis
Springfield, Illinois
Washington, D.C.
Columbus, Ohio
Pittsburgh
Grand Rapids, Michigan
Orkin says its 2026 rankings are based on bed bug treatment data from metropolitan areas where the company performed the most treatments between May 12, 2025, and May 12, 2026. Both residential and commercial treatments were included.
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Orkin
That methodology is important.
A headline such as “Chicago Is America’s Bed Bug Capital” sounds as though researchers counted every infestation in every building.
They didn’t.
Instead, the ranking reflects treatment activity recorded by one pest-control company.
That’s still useful information, particularly because the same city has repeatedly ranked near the top, but it should be interpreted accurately.
Chicago’s Long Run at the Top
Chicago’s latest No. 1 ranking isn’t an isolated event.
The city also topped Orkin’s 2025 list.
In that year’s ranking, Chicago had been No. 1 for the fifth consecutive year, with Cleveland, Detroit, Los Angeles, and Indianapolis rounding out the top five. The 2025 ranking was based on Orkin treatment data from May 15, 2024, through May 14, 2025.
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Orkin
Chicago was also No. 1 in Orkin’s 2024 ranking.
That list represented the fourth consecutive year the city had taken the top position.
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Orkin
And the pattern goes back even further.
In 2023, Chicago ranked first for the third consecutive year.
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Orkin
So while the phrase “bed bug capital” is a colorful headline, the underlying trend is real within Orkin’s rankings: Chicago has repeatedly recorded enough treatment activity to remain at or near the top.
What Does “Most Bed Bugs” Actually Mean?
This is where a little caution is needed.
Orkin’s list doesn’t establish the exact number of bed bugs living in Chicago.
It also doesn’t establish the percentage of Chicago homes with infestations.
Instead, it ranks metropolitan areas according to the number of treatments Orkin performed.
That distinction matters because treatment numbers can be affected by many factors.
For example, a city could rank highly because it has:
A large population
Many apartment buildings
Heavy tourism
High residential turnover
Numerous hotels
Significant commercial activity
Strong public awareness
High demand for professional pest control
More residents who choose professional treatment
Consequently, a high ranking doesn’t necessarily mean that every neighborhood has an unusually severe infestation problem.
It means the city’s position in Orkin’s treatment data is significant.
Why Cities Can Be Attractive to Bed Bugs
Bed bugs are remarkably effective hitchhikers.
They don’t need to travel long distances on their own.
Instead, they can move from place to place by hiding in luggage, clothing, bags, furniture, and other belongings.
That’s why places with large numbers of people moving through them can create opportunities for bed bugs to spread.
Orkin specifically points to densely populated cities and environments with substantial resident and visitor turnover—including apartments, dormitories, and hotels—as places where bed bugs can find opportunities to spread.
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Orkin
Chicago fits that description.
It’s a major urban center with large residential populations, extensive tourism, hotels, apartment buildings, universities, businesses, and transportation networks.
None of those characteristics means Chicago is dirty.
In fact, one of the most important facts about bed bugs is that cleanliness does not determine whether an infestation occurs.
Bed Bugs Are Not a Sign of Poor Hygiene
There’s a persistent misconception that bed bugs only appear in dirty homes.
That’s simply not a useful way to think about them.
Bed bugs are opportunistic pests.
They are interested in access to people and places where they can hide—not whether a home has been recently vacuumed.
A spotless luxury hotel can potentially encounter bed bugs.
So can an inexpensive motel.
A clean apartment can have them.
So can a cluttered house.
Orkin itself emphasizes that bed bugs can be found in homes and hotels regardless of whether the environment is clean or dirty.
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Orkin
This is important because shame can actually make infestations harder to address.
Someone who thinks bed bugs are evidence of personal failure may delay reporting the problem.
Early action is generally more useful.
What Do Bed Bugs Look Like?
Adult bed bugs are small, flat, oval-shaped insects.
Orkin describes adults as reddish-brown and approximately the size of an apple seed, while younger nymphs are smaller and can be much lighter in color.
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Orkin
Because they’re small and excellent at hiding, spotting one isn’t always easy.
They may hide in:
Mattress seams
Bed frames
Cracks and crevices
Upholstered furniture
Headboards
Luggage
Other sheltered areas
They are primarily nocturnal, which means people may not notice them during the day.
That can make an infestation especially difficult to identify in its early stages.
Signs to Look For
Seeing an actual bed bug is obviously an important clue.
