- Normal lifespan: an adult bed bug usually lives around 4 to 6 months, and can live up to a year in cooler conditions.
- Without feeding: adults commonly survive 2 to 5 months at room temperature, and longer in a cold, empty building. Young nymphs survive for less time.
- What that means for you: leaving a room empty for a few weeks will not starve them out. A sealed mattress encasement needs to stay on for at least 12 months.
When can I take my encasement off?
Based on the common advice to keep a bed bug encasement closed for at least 12 months. Many people simply leave it on permanently as prevention.
The bed bug life cycle
| Stage | Size | How long |
|---|---|---|
| Egg | About 1mm | Hatches in roughly 6 to 10 days |
| Nymph (5 stages) | 1.5mm to 4.5mm | About 5 weeks to adulthood with regular feeds, much longer without |
| Adult | 5 to 7mm | Usually 4 to 6 months, up to around a year when cool |
Each nymph must feed on blood before it can moult to the next stage. Warm rooms speed the whole cycle up, cooler rooms slow it down but also let bugs survive longer between feeds.
Can you starve bed bugs out?
Not by leaving a room or house empty. Adults can wait months for a host, longer in an unheated building. They also follow people: if you move to the sofa or a spare room, they often follow within days.
You can starve them in one place: inside a sealed mattress. A full-zip encasement locks bugs and eggs in the mattress with no way to feed. Because they can survive for months, the encasement must stay zipped for at least 12 months. Opening it early lets any survivors out.
Can bed bugs live in your sofa, clothes, car or hair?
- Sofa: yes, especially if someone sleeps on it. They hide in seams and the underside.
- Clothes: for a while, especially in piles on the floor or bed. Hot wash and dry them.
- Luggage: yes, it is the most common way they travel. See our hotel and travel checklist.
- Car: rarely. Cars get too hot or cold and nobody sleeps there, but vacuum the seats if you moved infested furniture.
- Hair or skin: no. Bed bugs feed and then go back into hiding. They do not live on people.
- Pets: rarely. They prefer people. Treat the bed, not the pet.
Frequently asked questions
How long can bed bugs live without a host?
Adults commonly survive 2 to 5 months at room temperature without feeding, and longer in cool conditions. Young nymphs survive for less time.
Can bed bugs live in an empty house?
Yes, for months, particularly in an unheated house. Do not rely on leaving a property empty to clear them.
How long do bed bugs live on clothes?
They can hide in clothes for days or longer, but they need to feed on a person to survive and breed. Hot washing and drying kills them.
How long should a bed bug encasement stay on?
At least 12 months without opening, so any bugs sealed inside die before it is removed.
Outlast them
A full-zip encasement seals the mattress for 12 months and beyond. From £149, free UK delivery.
Shop the bed bug encasement Protect the whole bedWritten by Richard Williams, founder of iDustMite, former NHS worker, guest speaker at the Allergy UK Show in 2025 and 2026, and adviser on over 1,000 one-to-one bedroom consultations. Reviewed October 2026.
