Heat treatment for bed bugs
Done properly, heat kills bed bugs and their eggs in a single visit, with no spray left behind. Tell us where you are and what you have found, and we will find a heat treatment specialist who covers your area, anywhere in the UK.
A free matching service, not a pest control firm. We find you a heat treatment specialist and tell you who they are first. How it works
- 45°CDamage begins Held at 45°C, adults die in about an hour and a half. Eggs take around seven hours.
- 48°CEggs in about 72 minutes In laboratory tests, 99% of adults died as the heat rose past 48°C.
- 50°CHeld for two hours The level the BPCA gives for full control, measured where the insects hide.
- 52°CHeld for one hour A higher target lets the specialist hold it for less time.
Sources: University of Minnesota laboratory tests (Kells and Goblirsch, 2011) and the British Pest Control Association.
What heat treatment costs
Whole-home prices from UK price guides and treatment firms' published price lists, checked October 2026. Treating only the affected rooms can cost less: usually £500 to £800 for the first room. National figures; London is about 10 to 20% higher.
| Home | Heat treatment |
|---|---|
| 1-bed flat or studio | £700 to £1,100 |
| 2-bed home | £900 to £1,400 |
| 3-bed home | £1,200 to £1,800 |
| 4-bed home | £1,500 to £2,100 |
| 5-bed or larger | £1,800 to £2,500 |
A guide, not a quote. For comparison, insecticide treatments usually run £250 to £700 over two or three visits.
How heat treatment works
Bed bugs dry out and die once they are hot enough for long enough. The hard part is getting that heat into the seams of a mattress, the joints of a bed frame and the gap behind a skirting board, which is why the sensors matter more than the heaters.
Heat Treatment for Bed Bugs does not carry out treatments. We are a free matching service that finds you a specialist. How our service works
Survey
The specialist confirms it is bed bugs, finds the rooms involved, and gives a fixed price with a list of what to prepare.
Getting the rooms ready
Bedding and clothes are washed hot, clutter is cleared, and anything heat could harm is taken out. Furniture usually stays put.
Heating
Powerful heaters and fans raise each room well above 50°C. Sensors go inside the mattress, sofa and skirting gaps, and the heat is held until every one reads high enough.
Cooling and checking
The rooms cool over an hour or two. Most homes are back in use the same day, and many firms book a follow-up visit.
What do you need treated?
Most enquiries are for a home with bed bugs in one or two bedrooms. These pages cover the rest.
- Landlords, HMOs and hotels
Several rooms or units, a quick turnaround and a written record.
- Heat treatment for fleas
When the fleas keep returning after sprays and pet treatments.
- Bed bug heat treatment in London
Higher prices, flats with shared walls, and what councils offer.
- Bed bug heat treatment cost
A calculator by bedrooms, rooms affected and region.
Before you book: two lists worth having
Heat treatment is not regulated in the UK, so the quality of the job comes down to the firm. These two lists, both drawn from the BPCA's guidance, make it easier to compare firms and to be ready on the day.
Ask the firm for
- The target temperature and how long they hold it.
- A temperature log from sensors inside furniture and wall gaps.
- A written list of anything at risk from the heat, agreed before the day.
- Whether they add an insecticide, and when they come back to check.
- Membership of a trade body such as the BPCA, and their insurance.
Getting the rooms ready
- Wash bedding and clothes at 60°C, or tumble dry on hot for at least 30 minutes.
- Clear clutter from floors and under beds, but leave furniture where it is.
- Take out aerosols, candles, medicines, plants and anything that melts.
- Arrange for pets, including fish, to be out of the home.
- Do not use shop-bought sprays first; they can scatter the bugs.
Sources: British Pest Control Association, NHS: bedbugs, University of Kentucky entomology. The firm you use will give its own preparation sheet; follow that.
Questions people ask
Does heat treatment for bed bugs work?
It is one of the most effective treatments when it is done properly, because heat kills bed bugs at every stage, eggs included. The catch is that the heat must reach the hiding places, not just the room air. The British Pest Control Association also points out that no one can guarantee every bug is gone, and most professional guidance combines heat with other methods.
How much does bed bug heat treatment cost in the UK?
Typically £700 to £1,100 for a one-bed flat, £900 to £1,400 for a two-bed home and £1,200 to £1,800 for three bedrooms, with London and the South East about 10 to 20% higher. The cost calculator works out a range for your home.
How long does bed bug heat treatment take?
Usually most of a day: setting up, several hours of heating while the sensors reach temperature, and an hour or two of cooling. Larger homes can take longer.
Will heat treatment damage my belongings?
Most furniture, clothes and electronics are fine. Some things must come out first, such as aerosols, candles, medicines, plants, and pets including fish. A good firm agrees in writing beforehand which items are at risk.
Can I do bed bug heat treatment myself?
Not safely or reliably. Treating a room needs powerful heaters, fans and sensors, and the BPCA says plug-in fan heaters are not up to the job. The NHS advises washing bedding at 60°C and tumble drying on hot for at least 30 minutes, but says bed bugs are very hard to get rid of yourself. See what kills bed bugs.
Do councils offer heat treatment?
Some councils treat bed bugs, usually with insecticide over two or three visits, for roughly £150 to £380 in 2026. Not every council offers pest control, so check yours first. Heat treatment is normally carried out by private specialists.
Do I need to leave the house during treatment?
Yes. People and pets stay out of the treated rooms while they are being heated, and usually out of the home for the day. The specialist tells you when it is safe to go back in.
Get a free quote
Three short steps: where, what and who. A little detail now helps the specialist price the job without a wasted visit.
This is a free matching service, not a pest control firm. We find a heat treatment specialist who covers your area and name them to you first. Nobody calls you until you say yes.
Thanks, your enquiry is in.
- Within one working day we will email or call to tell you which heat treatment specialist covers your area.
- Your details reach that firm only if you say yes.
- They survey the property and give you a fixed price. No marketing from us, ever.