Yes, they can—but carpets are rarely their first choice.
One of the biggest myths about bed bugs is that they live deep inside carpets in the same way fleas often do.
That’s generally not how bed bugs behave.
They’re far more likely to choose hiding places close to where people sleep, such as bed frames, headboards and bedside furniture.
However, carpets can still become part of an infestation.
Where do they hide?
Bed bugs aren’t interested in the middle of the carpet.
Instead, look around the edges of the room where the carpet meets other surfaces.
Pay particular attention to:
- Carpet edges.
- Skirting boards.
- The gap beneath skirting.
- Around bed legs.
- Under furniture.
- Along carpet gripper rods if exposed.
These areas provide the narrow, sheltered spaces bed bugs prefer.
Why do people confuse bed bugs with fleas?
Because both insects can be found in bedrooms.
The difference is in how they use the room.
Fleas often develop in carpets because of pet activity.
Bed bugs use carpets mainly as a route between hiding places or as an occasional refuge if suitable cracks and gaps are available.
Understanding that difference makes inspections much more focused.
Should you lift the carpet?
Usually, no.
Unless there’s evidence suggesting bed bugs have spread underneath it, most inspections are far more productive around the bed itself.
Time is better spent checking the bed frame, mattress seams and nearby furniture before considering more disruptive inspections.
What signs should you look for?
The same evidence applies:
- Live insects.
- Black droppings.
- Shed skins.
- Eggs in sheltered gaps.
Remember, evidence around the edge of the carpet is usually more significant than evidence in the centre of the room.
🔍 Inspection Insight
When inspecting a bedroom, I don’t look at the carpet first.
I look at the bed.
Then the bed frame.
Then the headboard.
Only after that do I begin expanding the search into the rest of the room.
That’s because bed bugs almost always have a reason for choosing a hiding place—and that reason is usually proximity to the person they’re feeding on.
✅ What I’d Do Next
If you’re checking a carpet, concentrate on the perimeter rather than the centre.
Think about how a bed bug would travel from its hiding place to the bed, and inspect those routes carefully.
Related Guides
- Bed Bugs vs Fleas
- Where Do Bed Bugs Hide During the Day?
- Can Bed Bugs Live in Furniture?
- How to Check for Bed Bugs
Bed Bugs in Carpets FAQs
No. They hide in gaps around carpets rather than burrowing into the fibres.
Not compared with beds, bed frames and nearby furniture.
Usually not. Replacing flooring without treating the infestation rarely solves the underlying problem.