How Many People Are Allergic to Dust Mites? What the Data Shows

About 1 in 5 people in the United States are sensitized to dust mites. In a large national survey that tested blood samples, 20.3% of Americans aged 6 and older had antibodies to dust mites, which made them one of the most common allergy triggers tested.

Being sensitized is not quite the same as being allergic, though. A positive test means your immune system reacts to dust mites, but not everyone who tests positive has symptoms. This guide explains what the numbers mean, how they compare around the world, and how to find out whether dust mites are behind your own symptoms. For more, see our dust mite and bedding guides.

Jump to: Quick answer · Key numbers · Sensitized vs allergic · Asthma and children · The 68% figure · Do you have it? · What helps · FAQ

Quick answer

• United States: 20.3% of people aged 6 and older tested positive for dust mite antibodies in the 2005-2006 National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES).
• Europe and other developed countries: in a survey of adults aged 20 to 44 in 15 countries, the typical rate of a positive dust mite skin test was 21.7%.
• Worldwide: researchers estimate that 65 to 130 million people are sensitized to dust mites, and as many as half of people with asthma.
• People with symptoms: the Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America (AAFA) says 20 million people in the U.S. have a dust mite allergy.

Dust mite allergy statistics at a glance

The numbers differ because the studies tested different groups, in different years, with different methods (blood tests or skin tests). A 2015 review in the Journal of Allergy and Clinical Immunology notes that differences in populations, terms and end points make estimates hard to compare. Even so, the large surveys land in a similar range: roughly one in four or five people tested.

How common is dust mite allergy compared with other allergies?

Dust mites rank near the top in large surveys. In NHANES 2005-2006, grass, dust mite and ragweed were the most common allergens people were sensitized to, the same pattern seen in the earlier NHANES III survey. Overall, 44.6% of Americans aged 6 and older were sensitized to at least one of the 19 allergens tested. The American College of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology (ACAAI) calls dust mites the most common cause of allergy from house dust and one of the most common indoor allergens.

Sensitized vs allergic: why the numbers do not match

Most prevalence studies measure sensitization: whether your blood has antibodies to dust mites, or whether your skin reacts to a tiny amount of dust mite extract. An allergy means you also get symptoms, such as sneezing, a stuffy nose or asthma, when you are exposed.

The two do not always go together. A European study of more than 3,000 patients at allergy centers stressed that a positive skin prick test does not always match a person’s symptoms, so doctors need to check whether a positive result is clinically relevant. Researchers call a positive test without symptoms “silent sensitization”, and how it turns into allergic disease is still not fully understood.

This helps explain why the number of people with dust mite allergy (AAFA’s 20 million in the U.S.) is lower than the share of people who test positive. A test result on its own does not tell you that you have an allergy.

Dust mites, asthma and children

• Asthma: estimates suggest as many as half of people with asthma are sensitized to dust mites. Mayo Clinic notes that many people with dust mite allergy also have asthma symptoms, and that people with both often have trouble keeping their asthma under control. See our asthma guides.
• Children: ACAAI says dust mites are a common cause of asthma in children. Mayo Clinic lists being a child or young adult as a risk factor, since dust mite allergy is more likely to start then, along with a family history of allergies and being around a lot of dust mites, especially early in life.
• Where you live: in NHANES 2005-2006, children aged 1 to 5 living in the South were more likely to be sensitized to dust mites and cockroaches than children in other U.S. regions.

If your child’s symptoms are worse at bedtime, our guide on why kids’ allergies get worse at night may help.

What about the “68% of people” figure?

You may see a claim online that 68% of people have a dust mite allergy. That number comes from a survey by an online retailer of allergy products: 10,970 people who already had allergies answered questions as an optional part of registering for a product giveaway, and 68% of them said dust mites were a problem for them.

The survey only included people who already had allergies, and they chose to take part, so it does not tell you how common dust mite allergy is in the general population. For that, national surveys like NHANES, which test a representative sample of people, are a better guide.

How to tell if you are allergic to dust mites

Common signs

According to Mayo Clinic, dust mite allergy causes symptoms like hay fever:

• Sneezing, a runny or stuffy nose, and mucus running down the back of the throat
• Itchy, red or watery eyes, and an itchy nose, roof of the mouth or throat
• Cough and facial pressure
• In people with asthma: wheezing, chest tightness, trouble breathing, and trouble sleeping because of coughing or wheezing

Symptoms tend to be worse while you are sleeping or cleaning, when more dust mite allergen is in the air. Because dust mites are present all year, the symptoms are not tied to a season the way pollen allergy is. An ongoing dust mite allergy can also trigger a flare of eczema; our guide to allergies and dry skin explains that link.

Testing

A doctor may suspect dust mite allergy from your symptoms and questions about your home. To confirm it, Mayo Clinic describes two common tests:

• Allergy skin test: tiny amounts of allergens, including dust mite, are scratched onto the skin. A red, itchy bump after about 15 minutes shows a reaction.
• Allergy blood test: used when a skin test is not possible, for example because of a skin condition or a medicine that affects the results.

Because a positive test is not the same as an allergy, an allergist will look at your results together with your symptoms.

What helps if you are allergic

Mayo Clinic says the first treatment is to reduce your contact with dust mites as much as possible, while noting it is not possible to get rid of all of them. Its home steps include:

1. Cover mattresses, box springs and pillows in allergen-blocking covers. See our guide to mattress and pillow covers.
2. Wash bedding every week in water of at least 130°F (54.4°C). If something cannot be washed hot, Mayo Clinic says at least 15 minutes in a dryer above 130°F kills the mites, then wash and dry it to remove the allergens. Our guide on whether a dryer kills dust mites covers the details.
3. Keep indoor humidity below 50%, using a dehumidifier or air conditioner, and check it with a hygrometer.
4. Vacuum with a HEPA filter or a double-layer bag, and dust with a damp cloth. Vacuuming removes surface dust but not most mites, so if your allergy is severe, have someone else vacuum and stay out of the room for about two hours.
5. Cut down on dust collectors in the bedroom, such as clutter, wall-to-wall carpet and curtains that cannot be washed.

Allergy medicines such as antihistamines and steroid nose sprays can ease symptoms. For people whose symptoms continue, allergy shots or tablets under the tongue (immunotherapy) are an option, usually continued for 3 to 5 years. For a room-by-room plan, see how to sleep better during allergy season and how often to change your pillow.

When to see a doctor

• Your cold-like symptoms last longer than a week. Mayo Clinic notes that this may point to an allergy rather than a cold.
• Your symptoms are severe, such as a badly blocked nose, wheezing or trouble sleeping.
• You want to know exactly what you are allergic to. An allergist can test you and help plan treatment.

Get emergency care if wheezing or shortness of breath gets worse quickly, or if you are short of breath with very little activity.

Safety notes

• This guide is general information, not medical advice. Read our medical disclaimer.
• Ask a doctor or pharmacist before giving allergy medicines to a child, or before taking a decongestant if you have high blood pressure or heart disease.

Frequently asked questions

What percentage of people are allergic to dust mites?

About 20% of people in the U.S. test positive for dust mite antibodies (20.3% of people aged 6 and older in NHANES 2005-2006). Not all of them have symptoms. AAFA estimates that 20 million people in the U.S. have a dust mite allergy.

How common is dust mite allergy?

Very common. In large surveys in the U.S. and Europe, dust mites are among the most common allergy triggers, alongside pollens such as grass. ACAAI calls them the most common cause of allergy from house dust.

Is it rare to be allergic to dust mites?

No. Roughly one in five people tested in large surveys are sensitized to dust mites, which makes it one of the most common allergies.

How many people are allergic to dust?

There is no separate count for dust allergy. ACAAI says dust mites are the most common cause of allergy from house dust, so the dust mite figures above (about 1 in 5 people sensitized in U.S. surveys) are the best guide. Other things in house dust, such as cockroach particles, mold, pollen and pet dander, can also be the cause.

Is dust mite allergy more common in people with asthma?

Yes. Researchers estimate that as many as half of people with asthma are sensitized to dust mites, and dust mites are a common cause of asthma in children.

Can you test positive for dust mites and not be allergic?

Yes. A positive skin or blood test shows sensitization, but not everyone who is sensitized gets symptoms. An allergist reads the test together with your symptoms.

Is dust mite research leading to new treatments?

Immunotherapy shots and tablets are already used for dust mite allergy, and researchers are working on new approaches. Read about dust mite vaccine research.

Sources

• Salo PM, Arbes SJ Jr, Jaramillo R, et al. Prevalence of allergic sensitization in the United States: results from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) 2005-2006. J Allergy Clin Immunol. 2014;134(2):350-359.
• Arbes SJ Jr, Gergen PJ, Elliott L, Zeldin DC. Prevalences of positive skin test responses to 10 common allergens in the US population: results from the third National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey. J Allergy Clin Immunol. 2005;116(2):377-383.
• Bousquet PJ, Chinn S, Janson C, et al. Geographical variation in the prevalence of positive skin tests to environmental aeroallergens in the European Community Respiratory Health Survey I. Allergy. 2007;62(3):301-309.
• Calderón MA, Linneberg A, Kleine-Tebbe J, et al. Respiratory allergy caused by house dust mites: What do we really know? J Allergy Clin Immunol. 2015;136(1):38-48.
• Burbach GJ, Heinzerling LM, Edenharter G, et al. GA2LEN skin test study II: clinical relevance of inhalant allergen sensitizations in Europe. Allergy. 2009;64(10):1507-1515.
• Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America. Dust mite allergy. Medically reviewed July 2025.
• American College of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology. Dust allergy.
• Mayo Clinic Staff. Dust mite allergy: Symptoms and causes and Diagnosis and treatment. September 12, 2025.

Last reviewed: October 21, 2026.