Bed Bug Heaters

In a matter of seconds, hundreds of bed bugs that were festering beneath a pillow stop moving for good.

Heat treatment used to only be available to professional pest control operators. These days, even the most affordable options do a great job.

For most, the hardest decision is choosing how much space you want.

Your heater must reach 122˚F throughout.

Owning a bed bug heater allows you to treat your luggage, purse, or duffel bag on your own schedule. They are one of the most convenient ways to protect yourself and prevent bed bugs.

Give the ThermalStrike Ranger review a look. It will single-handedly make travel worry-free.
Some items can also only be treated with a bed bug heater. For example, electronics, books, and other fragile goods can’t be tumble dried or steamed.

A heater saves you thousands in treatment costs if it prevents even one infestation.

Click any product name or picture to go to the corresponding review on this page:

	ThermalStrike Ranger	ZappBug Heater	ZappBug Oven 2	PackTite Closet	ZappBug Room
Volume	3.6 cubic feet	13.6 cubic feet	25.3 cubic feet	25 cubic feet	286 cubic feet
Heating Method	6-sided Conductive	1 Convective Air Heater	2 Convective Air Heaters	1 Convective Air Heater	4 Convective Air Heaters
Cold Spots	None	Yes	Yes	None	Yes
Materials	Insulated exterior, PVC enclosure, welded construction	Double-walled heat-reflective insulated fabric	Double-walled heat-reflective insulated fabric	Non-insulated fabric with included clothes rack	Double-walled heat-reflective insulated fabric with metal frame for hanging
Setup Time	Under 5 min	About 5 min	Under 10 min	Under 15 min	Under 20 min
Rating	96 / 100	90 / 100	92 / 100	60 / 100	96 / 100
Relative Cost	$	$	$$	$$$$	$$$$
Current Price	View	View	View	View	View

If you’re reading this as a self-treater, know that a heater is only one ingredient in the bed bug killing recipe. For guaranteed results, putting together a plan to get rid of bed bugs is the way to go.

We have a page that takes you step-by-step through the planning and treatment process. You’d be making the job much harder, if not impossible, by skipping out on making a plan.

Available at	Best offers today
	CHECK PRICE

• Volume: 3.6 cubic feet (fits most regular suitcases)
• Dimensions: Length: 18 inches, Width: 13 inches, Height: 27 inches
• Weight: 6.7 pounds unloaded
• Materials: Insulated outer layer, PVC enclosure, welded construction
• Heating Method: Conductive – heat by contact, no heater blowing air
• Power: One 120v, 365w source
• Cold Spots: None, heat comes from all six sides
• Maximum Temperature: 145˚F
• Temperature Probe: Not included. Consider purchasing one to ensure saturated heat.
• Setup: Unfold it, load items, plug and run in less than 5 minutes
• Max. Time per Load: 8 hours
• Automatic Shutoff: Yes
• Fits: Single suitcases, purses, backpacks, clothes, dense books, paperwork, shoes, many electronics

Our In-depth ThermalStrike Ranger Review

Editor’s Review:
The ThermalStrike Ranger is built for frequent travelers and other frequent users.

It’s the most compact and discreet model with zero construction required and no noisy fans to deal with. It also manages to boast 100% cold-spot-free construction thanks to its 6-sided heating system.

Sanitizing your bag is as easy as tossing your suitcase in the ThermalStrike for a cycle.

Cut your chances of ever bringing bed bugs home further by following the rest of our traveling safe plan.

This is a great option for those staying elsewhere during professional treatment. The process can involve you going an and out of your home during treatment. The ThermalStrike makes it easy to clean the clothes, shoes, and whatever else you take home.

The Ranger is one of the most affordable heaters around and an all-around good buy.

Available at	Best offers today
	CHECK PRICE
	CHECK PRICE

• Volume: 13.6 cubic feet (collapses into 13 inch cube without heater)
• Dimensions: Length: 43 inches, Width: 22.75 inches, Height: 24 inches
• Weight: 10 pounds unloaded
• Materials: Double-walled heat-reflective insulated fabric
• Heating Method: Convective – One heater blowing hot air
• Power: One 120v, 1500w source
• Cold Spots: Yes. Bed bugs try to hide in crevices of the unit
• Maximum Temperature: 145˚F
• Temperature Probe: Wireless probe included, use extra monitors for guaranteed results. Consider replacing stock batteries.
• Setup: Unfold tent, insert heaters into vents, load, plug, and run in 5 minutes max.
• Max. Time per Load: 6 hours
• Automatic Shutoff: Yes, timer and tip-over self-shutoff
• Fits: Large suitcases, odd-shaped duffels, multiple backpacks

My In-depth ZappBug Heater Review

Editor’s Review:
If you’ve considered getting a heater, you’ve likely heard of the ZappBug Heater.

The ZappBug Heater fills the role of an affordable and reliable entry-level heater.

It holds a good amount. A large duffel or trash bag will fit easily. It is always best to treat your belongings in small batches though.

Cramming it will create cold spots where bed bugs can ride out the heat treatment.

The Heater uses heating fans which can leave cold spots. You should always be diligent with your use of temperature probes and monitors.

Those who want to treat a couple of suitcase’s worth of things will love the Heater. It’s the perfect size and price for most home infestations.

It also packs down small and is quick and easy to disassemble once you’ve finished.

If you’d like to treat large objects like furniture, we recommend a steamer and vacuum over a heater.

Large heaters can be very expensive while steamers do the job at a fraction of the cost.

Available at	Best offers today
	CHECK PRICE
	CHECK PRICE

• Volume: 25.3 cubic feet
• Dimensions: Length: 39.50 inches, Width: 39.50 inches, Height: 28 inches
• Materials: Double-walled heat-reflective insulated fabric
• Heating Method: Convective – Two heaters blow hot air with extension cords
• Power: Two 120v, 1500w sources (2 different circuits necessary)
• Cold Spots: Yes. Bed bugs try to hide in crevices of the unit
• Maximum Temperature: 145˚F
• Temperature Probe: Wireless probe included, use extra monitors for guaranteed results. Consider replacing stock batteries.
• Setup: Unfold tent, insert heaters into vents, load, plug, and run in 10 minutes max.
• Max. Time per Load: 6 hours
• Automatic Shutoff: Yes, timer and tip-over self-shutoff
• Good For: Small furniture, racks of clothes, nightstands, multiple suitcases, appliances

Editor’s Review:
This is where those serious about using bed bug heaters as a core part of their treatment plan should start looking.

Serious about using bed bug heaters as a core part of your treatment plan? This size of heater is where you should start looking.

This heater can treat whole pieces of furniture without chemicals or the danger of water damage.

Once you have a ZappBug Oven 2, you can treat chairs, suitcases of any size, and large sofa cushions. It will very easily pay for itself by treating things you’d otherwise have to throw away.

When used in tandem with a steamer, you can treat anything.

The included temperature probe is a welcome bonus. Be sure to use it and leave ample room for air to circulate to cut down on cold spots.

More temperature monitors are always useful. Use them to be sure that heat gets into all the nooks and crannies in this larger unit.

Available at	Best offers today
	CHECK PRICE

• Volume: 25 cubic feet
• Materials: Non-insulated
• Heating Method: Convective – One heater blowing hot air
• Power: 120v, 1320W source
• Cold Spots: None. This is a very rare for a convective heater
• Maximum Temperature: 150˚F
• Temperature Probe: Included, use extra monitors for guaranteed results.
• Setup: Unfold, assemble rack, attach the heater to the blower, plug, load, zip, and run in 15 minutes max.
• Time per Load: 6 hours to be safe; the maximum time duration
• Automatic Shutoff: Yes
• Good For: Includes clothes rack, will fit anything the ZappBug Oven 2 fits

Editor’s Review:
PackTite’s Closet system was the only option in large consumer bed bug heaters for some time. It remains the only large heater that can boast zero cold spots.

It takes a little longer to heat up seeing as it uses a single heater. The Closet is also far more expensive than the ZappBug Oven 2, even though they have the same volume (25 cubic feet).

The Closet is not supported by the manufacturer and out of commercial production. Its saving grace is that this is the only large heater that can advertise “no cold spot,” which is a big deal.

For those that have used and trust the PackTite brand, this is an easy choice.

If you can be diligent with your heat monitoring, the Oven 2 will do the same thing at a fraction of the cost.

Available at	Best offers today
	CHECK PRICE
	CHECK PRICE

• Volume: 286 cubic feet
• Materials: Non-insulated
• Heating Method: Convective – Four heater blowing hot air with extension cords
• Power: Four 120v, 1500w sources (4 different circuits necessary)
• Cold Spots: Yes. The ZappBug Room does suffer from cold spots but four heaters reduce them greatly
• Maximum Temperature: 155˚F
• Temperature Probe: Wireless probe included, use extra monitors for guaranteed results. Consider replacing stock batteries.
• Setup: Unfold, attach and plug in four heaters, load, zip, and run in 20 minutes max.
• Max. Time per Load: 6 hours
• Automatic Shutoff: Yes, timer and tip-over self-shutoff
• Good For: Anything and everything.

Editor’s Review:
This is the only consumer heater you’ll find that can fit your entire bed! It’ll treat your mattress, box spring, and frame…at the same time!

The picture above gives you an idea of just how massive the Room is when compared to the ZappBug Oven 2.

The Room is 21x the size of the ZappBug Oven and 11x the size of the Packtite Closet. It will help you save entire sofas, tables, couches, wardrobes, and more. The sky’s the limit with so much space.

It isn’t cheap, but you can recoup its cost quickly.

Temperature monitors remain important to keep tabs on hard to reach spots. Placing a few inside furniture will ensure that bed bugs have nowhere to hide.

The ZappBug Room is the best way to safely treat your home with heat on a large scale.

Smaller units that fit a suitcase and pack away small are perfect for travelers and preventers. Larger units can treat almost anything and are great for those dealing with an active infestation.

Planting monitors in areas prone to cold spots will remove the guesswork and finger crossing.

Choose one of the following monitors to be sure that bed bugs won’t have a single safe spot in your heater.

Click any product name or picture to go to the corresponding review on this page:

	PackTite Sensors	ThermalStrike Thermal Stickers	Ambient Weather 2-Pack	RISEPRO Digital Thermometer
Reusable	No	No	Yes	Yes
Wireless	Yes	Yes	No	Yes
Size	Tiny	Tiny	Thin Probe	Thin Probe
Rating	92 / 100	88 / 100	72 / 100	86 / 100
Relative Cost	$	$	$	$$
Current Price	View	View	View	View

Available at	Best offers today
	CHECK PRICE
	CHECK PRICE

• Includes 10 sensors
• Single use
• Indicator turns black once it reaches 120°F
• Thin, allowing accurate measurement if placed in books, between objects

Editor’s Review:
PackTite manufactures a comprehensive range of bed bug products. Their ThermaSpot sensors were some of the first of their kind.

Designed for use with the heaters Packtite became famous for, they will work as advertised in any heater.

Place them between the pages of books and inside items that you expect heat will have a hard time getting into.

Available at	Best offers today
	CHECK PRICE

• Includes 21 sensors
• Single use
• Indicator turns black once it reaches 120°F
• Thin, allowing accurate measurement if placed in books, between objects
• Cheaper per sensor than Packtite’s ThermaSpot
  • Just as effective

Editor’s Review:
As with most products, a few competing manufacturers produce thermal sensors.

ThermalStrike offers the sensor in a convenient sticker form. The Dot is perfect for checking the insides of electronics, furniture, and storage containers.

They are a little cheaper compared to Packtite’s ThermaSpot. They come in larger sheets as well so you don’t have to be as picky about where you use them.

The Thermal Dot is perfect for keeping an eye on cold spots without creating airflow. This gives you an accurate reading.

Available at	Best offers today
	CHECK PRICE

• Infinite uses
• Not wireless
• Includes wired sensor to place between objects

Editor’s Review:
We scoured Amazon for the best thermometers for our bed bug hunting purposes.

This weather thermometer is very affordable and offers several key features.

It comes with 2 units which allows you to check several areas at the same time.

It also includes a wired sensor you can place inside objects like a Thermal Dot.

While not as low-profile as the Thermal Dot or ThermaSpot, this product is reusable. Once free of infestation, it can be used for cooking and weather monitoring.

This is the right choice for someone with a smaller heater like the ZappBug Heater or Oven 2. A smaller unit allows the probe to be inside while the reader is outside for easy monitoring.

Put a little tape around the point in the heater where the wire comes out to prevent any bugs from escaping.

Keep in mind that this two-pack of monitors isn’t the most precise. Aim for a temperature 5 degrees higher than required (125°F) to be safe.

Available at	Best offers today
	CHECK PRICE

• Infinite uses
• Wireless, temperature can be checked live
• Min/max temperature memory
• Includes 2 probes – one can be saved for cooking!

Editor’s Review:
The RISEPRO is the most affordable wireless thermometer that I was able to find on Amazon.

A wireless unit lets you place your probe anywhere without a wire creating a way for bed bugs to escape.

This unit features a minimum and maximum temperature memory so you don’t have to stare until it hits 125°F.

Having two probes is a nice bonus. You can’t use both at the same time, but you can keep one clean and far from bed bugs to be used for things like grilling.

The greatest advantage of this unit is that you can check the temperature live in any size of heater.

This allows you to make sure that you’ve reached the desired temperature without opening the unit and letting heat out.

While you can find DIY builds all over the internet, amateur builds end up in flames way too often. You are dealing with heating up an enclosed space afterall.

In a world where heaters are affordable and thoroughly tested, there is little reason to risk a DIY build. Every year stories break of people burning down their homes with grills, ovens, and gas lamps when they try to DIY heat treatment.

You don’t have to put yourself in danger or break the bank thanks to brands like ZappBug and PackTite.

The Ranger is one of our favorite bed bug tools to date. It also happens to be the cheapest unit.

While not as universal as heaters, steamers do a great job of treating furniture while being more affordable. Steamers similarly replace contact killing bed bug sprays.

As mentioned at the beginning of the post, a heater will not single-handedly treat your bed bugs. Take the time to put together and use a bed bug killing plan!

Having your own bed bug heater is a great way to prevent bed bug and will help keep you sleeping worry-free.