Bed Bug Heat Treatment: How It Works, What It Costs & Its Limits

Researched by Elia · Sources and prices checked 2026-09-23

The temperatures that kill bed bugs — sources differ

• EPA: bed bugs die when their body temperature reaches 113°F [2]; heat items or areas to at least 120°F for 90 minutes to make sure eggs are killed [1].
• Virginia Tech: thermal death point of 118°F for adults and nymphs and 122°F for eggs; slightly lower temperatures (112–115°F) kill only after consistent exposure for a number of hours. [6]
• University of Minnesota: bed bugs and eggs die within 90 minutes at 118°F or immediately at 122°F; during a professional treatment the room air is typically 135–145°F, and a treatment typically takes six to eight hours. [7]

What heat can’t do

• No residual effect — heat doesn’t keep protecting afterwards, so avoid re-introducing bed bugs. [4]
• A few survivors are common — Virginia Tech calls heat “not a simple ‘once and done’” method. [6]
• Some buildings are hard to heat — dormitories or group living facilities may have drop ceilings that give bed bugs cool refuges; trailer homes have spaces between the exterior sheathing and the interior drywall, and if bed bugs can reach them while it is cool outside, heat treatment may be futile. [6]
• Heat-sensitive items must be handled so they don’t melt, and treated with another technique. [4]

Why heat instead of spray?

Some bed bug populations have become resistant to pyrethrins and pyrethroids, common insecticide classes. [5] The EPA lists heat among non-chemical methods, while noting that controlling bed bugs by non-chemical means alone is often very difficult and potentially less effective than an integrated approach that can include pesticides. [1] The Arizona prices below include both heat and chemical options, with the guarantees each company states.

How to prepare

• Remove houseplants, pets, candles, lipstick and combustibles such as aerosol cans and cigarette lighters. [6]
• Virginia Tech’s view is that clutter removal should not be required as part of heat-treatment preparation; technicians will move items around frequently to increase air flow. [6] Follow your company’s own preparation list.

Do-it-yourself heat: the limits

• The EPA warns that do-it-yourself heat treatments might not work [3], and that raising the indoor temperature with the thermostat or space heaters won’t do the job [2].
• It does recommend drying bedding and clothing on high heat for 30 minutes [1]; steam must be at least 130°F without a forceful airflow [3].
• Black plastic bags in the sun — sources differ: the EPA says they might work for luggage or small items if the contents become hot enough, with success depending on climate [2] [3]; the University of Minnesota advises against it because it won’t get hot enough to kill all the bugs [7].

For the full do-it-yourself approach, see how to get rid of bed bugs.

How to tell it worked

If it has been three weeks since the end of a professional treatment with no signs of continuing infestation — bites, live bugs, new fecal matter or cast skins — it is likely the treatment was successful. [7]

Frequently asked questions

Sources

1. U.S. EPA, “Controlling Bed Bugs Using Integrated Pest Management (IPM)” — epa.gov
2. U.S. EPA, “Top Ten Tips to Prevent or Control Bed Bugs” — epa.gov
3. U.S. EPA, “Do-it-yourself Bed Bug Control” (updated Aug. 10, 2026) — epa.gov
4. U.S. EPA, “Safety Issues in Controlling Bed Bugs” — epa.gov
5. U.S. EPA, “Pesticides to Control Bed Bugs” — epa.gov
6. Virginia Cooperative Extension (Virginia Tech), ENTO-583, “Bed Bug Heat Treatments – What you need to know!” (Feb. 2024) — pubs.ext.vt.edu
7. University of Minnesota Extension, “Bed bug prevention and control in the home” — extension.umn.edu

PestPinpoint is not a pest control company and no company pays to appear in these tables.