Coin-operated Laundries Market Size, Share, Growth, and Industry Analysis, By Type (Washing Machines, Dryers, Laundry Management Software), By Application (Commercial Laundromats, Residential Apartments, Hotels, Universities), Regional Insights and Forecast to 2033

Coin‑operated Laundries Market Overview

The Coin‑operated Laundries Market size was valued at USD 3.13 million in 2025 and is expected to reach USD 4.63 million by 2033, growing at a CAGR of 5.02% from 2025 to 2033.

The coin‑operated laundries market comprises self-service laundry facilities equipped with washing machines, dryers, and increasingly cashless payment systems. As of 2023, approximately 35,000 laundromats operate in the United States, each averaging 10 to 15 machines per location⁻¹. Weekly machine usage averages 250 to 300 cycles, translating into over 40 million wash cycles nationwide per year⁻¹. Coin-operated washers typically consume 1.8–2.2 kWh of energy and use 40–55 liters of water per cycle⁻¹. Globally, there were an estimated 1.5 million coin‑operated laundry machines in use across North America, Europe, and Asia-Pacific in 2023⁻². Due to urban rental trends, 40% of laundromats are located in multi-unit residential buildings⁻³. Over 65% of modern facilities now offer guest Wi-Fi, and 30% have adopted cashless payment systems between 2021 and 2023⁻⁴. The average cost per load ranges from USD 2.00 to USD 4.00 for washing and USD 1.50 to USD 2.50 for drying⁻⁵. Business success is high, with a 95% five-year survival rate and 90% customer retention⁻⁶. These figures highlight a mature and technology-integrated market with consistent usage, stable consumer base, and strong operational viability.

Key Findings

Driver: Urbanization and increasing apartment living—where nearly 40% of laundromats are in multi-unit residential buildings—drive demand for coin-operated laundries.

Country/Region: North America dominates usage, averaging 250–300 machine cycles weekly, and supporting 35,000 laundromats.

Segment: Washing machines represent the core equipment segment, accounting for over 50% of laundromat lifecycle usage.

Coin‑operated Laundries Market Trends

The coin‑operated laundries industry continues to evolve, blending traditional self-service with modern technology and consumer expectations. In 2023, an estimated 35,000 laundromats across the U.S. averaged 250–300 weekly cycles, while global machine inventories exceeded 1.5 million units across major regions⁻⁰²⁻⁶. Energy and water efficiency has become a priority, with washers consuming 1.8–2.2 kWh and 40–55 liters per cycle, helping operators manage utility costs⁻¹. Many modern machines adhere to stricter energy and water regulations, indirectly improving environmental sustainability. Payment systems have shifted rapidly; 30% of laundromats added cashless options between 2021 and 2023, reducing maintenance overheads tied to coin handling⁻³. Only 11% of consumers prefer cash payments, pushing facilities to adopt card readers, mobile pay, and loyalty apps⁻¹¹. Concurrently, 65% of laundromats now offer free Wi-Fi, driving dwell time and enhancing customer convenience⁻⁴.

Operational resilience remains key: laundromats boast a 95% five‑year survival rate, supported by 90% customer repeat business⁻⁶. This indicates a loyal consumer base, particularly among renters, students, and transient populations. Multi-unit residential buildings house 40% of these facilities, underscoring a strong leaseholder dependency⁻³. Cycle costs average USD 2.00–4.00 per wash and USD 1.50–2.50 per dry⁻⁵. Price stability has kept these services accessible and profitable. Coin‑operated laundries also serve niche markets—such as hospitals, universities, and hotels—where machine counts range from 3 to 15 per site, with weekly usage between 200 and 300 cycles⁻². App integration is on the rise; 40% of sites now offer booking and mobile payment options, improving peak-time efficiency and reducing queue times by 12–15 minutes per visit⁻⁴. Smart laundry management systems also enhance machine utilization and maintenance scheduling. In summary, the coin‑operated laundries market is evolving through efficiency gains, cashless technology, connectivity, and strong resilience. Operators are responding to urban consumer demands by upgrading facilities, improving services, and deploying digital solutions to maintain high usage and loyalty.

Coin-operated Laundries Market Dynamics

DRIVER

Urban rental growth and multi-unit residential demand

Urbanization and the growth of rental apartments are key growth enablers for the coin-operated laundries market. In the United States, approximately 40% of laundromats are situated within multi-unit residential buildings, indicating high convenience demand among renters. With over 29,500 laundromats operating nationwide in 2023, each averaging 10–15 machines, densely populated urban neighborhoods rely on these facilities. As urban populations continue to expand, the demand for shared laundry infrastructure is expected to persist, driving machine utilization rates of 250–300 cycles per week per location.

RESTRAINT

High energy and water costs

Energy and water costs create operational pressures for coin-operated laundries. Modern washers consume 1.8–2.2 kWh of electricity and 40–55 liters of water per cycle, while dryers use 3.8 kWh per load. Rising utility prices cause operators to face annual energy bills exceeding USD 12,000 per site. These costs often result in slower profit margins for laundromats experiencing 95% installation longevity . Without access to subsidies or high-efficiency equipment upgrades, operators struggle amid rising energy expenses and climate regulations.

OPPORTUNITY

Adoption of smart, cashless laundries

Technological integration presents significant opportunity. Between 2021 and 2023, 30% of laundromats adopted cashless payment systems, replacing dollar coin units in favor of card readers, mobile apps, and loyalty systems. 65% now offer free Wi‑Fi to attract users, and 40% provide machine reservation apps that decrease wait times by 12–15 minutes per visit. Smart laundry platforms enhance operational efficiency and service appeal, increasing dwell time and attracting new customers .

CHALLENGE

Market saturation in developed regions

Market saturation is a challenge, especially in North America. With 29,500 to 30,000 laundromats in operation—85% independently owned—growth is limited in mature urban centers. The U.S. industry declined from 21,000 businesses in 2021 to 18,374 in 2025, experiencing slight annual contraction of 0.5%. Operators seeking expansion face fierce competition, especially where 70.8% own a single location and consumer adoption of in-unit laundry remains moderate.

Coin‑operated Laundries Market Segmentation

The coin-operated laundries market is segmented by type and application, each addressing specific customer and business needs.

By Type

• Washing Machines: Front-load and top-load washers make up over 50% of installed machines in U.S. laundromats. Locations average 10–15 washers each, representing about 350,000 washer units nationwide. Modern coin-op washers complete cycles in 28–32 minutes, perform 250–300 cycles weekly, and consume 1.8–2.2 kWh and 40–55 liters per cycle. Washers are essential revenue drivers, contributing approximately 60–65% of revenue per visit in self-service facilities.
• Dryers: Dryers account for around 30–35% of total machines, with electric units comprising 70% of sales. Coin-operated dryers use 3.8 kWh per cycle, typically housed in stacks or adjacent to washers. Average laundry centers offer 8–12 dryers, which see 200–250 cycles weekly, primarily during peak evening and weekend shifts. Dryers complement washers by increasing customer throughput and dwell durations .
• Laundry Management Software: Software—including payment systems, machine monitoring, energy controls, and mobile apps—is present in 30–40% of laundromats. Tech suites enable operators to monitor machine performance, consumer behavior, and predictive maintenance. Approximately 40% of machines now include cashless payments and reservation scheduling, reducing downtime by 10–15 minutes per user. ROI studies report software implementations boost revenue by 8–12%, enhance uptime, and facilitate operational optimization.

By Application

• Commercial Laundromats: These self-service facilities dominate industry output, comprising 70–75% of all laundromats. In the U.S., there were 29,500 such sites in 2023, averaging 10–15 machines and 250–300 cycles weekly. Additional commercial segments—hotels, hospitals, universities—use 3–15 machines per site for bespoke laundry services, aligning with business and institutional demand .
• Residential Apartments: Coin-ops in multi-unit buildings account for 40% of all laundromats. Usage is consistently high, with machines registered for 200–250 cycles per week. Locations typically house 8–10 machines serving 100–200 residents, providing dedicated laundry services within buildings and limiting external laundromat reliance .
• Hotels: Hotel laundry facilities average 5–8 machines per location and process 150–200 cycles weekly. Guests often rely on in-house facilities with traditional coin, payment kiosks, or RFID card access. Institutional standards demand fast cycle times and robust equipment performance.
• Universities: University laundries typically deploy 10–20 machines serving up to 1,000 students, recording cycle usage between 200 and 300 per week per site. Many campuses ensure continuous access, with facilities open at least 6 days per week, enabling effective logistics in student housing .

Coin‑operated Laundries Market Regional Outlook

• North America

the coin‑operated laundries segment is highly mature and densely developed. The United States alone supports approximately 35,000 commercial laundromats, each typically outfitted with 10–15 machines, collectively accounting for over 1.5 million machines in operation across the region. Weekly usage averages 250–300 cycles per machine, translating to upwards of 40 million wash cycles per week. Canada contributes a further 3,500 facilities, with machine counts growing by 4–6% annually. Technologies including cashless payment systems and Wi‑Fi access have penetrated over 60% of North American sites, reflecting strong adoption. Urban density and rental housing—with 40% of laundromats located inside multi‑unit residential structures—continue to underpin steady equipment utilization of 1.8–2.2 kWh and 40–55 liters of water per wash cycle.

• Europe

hosts approximately 22,000 coin‑operated laundry facilities, concentrated in urban centers of the UK, Germany, France, and Spain. Most European laundromats house 8–12 machines, with weekly usage rates between 200 and 250 cycles per machine. Cashless systems are present in over 50% of sites, while free Wi‑Fi appears in nearly 48%. Efficiency upgrades have resulted in newer washers consuming 10–15 liters less water per cycle, reducing average usage to 45–50 liters. Energy consumption is consistent with global norms at 1.8–2.2 kWh per wash and 3.8 kWh per dry. Regulatory incentives across the EU have triggered refurbishment of more than 1,200 laundromats between 2021 and 2023, and adoption of smart laundry management systems rose by 22% over the same period. University and hotel laundries—typically holding 5–8 machines each—contribute to peak usage loads.

• Asia‑Pacific

region is in a phase of rapid expansion, with over 180,000 commercial laundry machines installed in urban multi‑residential and mixed‑use properties. Major metropolitan areas like Tokyo, Seoul, Shanghai, Mumbai, and Jakarta have seen laundromat density double in key districts since 2019. Typical coin‑op sites offer 6–10 machines, with weekly usage ranging from 150 to 200 cycles. Cashless payment systems entered approximately 22% of sites by 2023 and are expected to hit 40% adoption by 2025. Water and energy efficiency equipment is deployed in around 28% of new installations, while franchised and mixed‑use developments now constitute 18% of new builds. Investment in software and mobile-ap-enabled laundries grew by 33% year-over-year through 2023, reflecting rising middle-class demand and urban density pressures.

• Middle East & Africa

coin‑operated laundries show emerging potential, with approximately 25,000 machines and 2,500–3,000 facilities predominantly in urban centers like Cairo, Lagos, and Dubai. Most Laundromats include 4–8 machines, averaging 100–150 cycles per week per machine. Cashless payments have been implemented in 18% of sites, and free Wi‑Fi is present in 22%. Efficiency upgrades are underway: newer washer models using 40–45 liters per cycle have replaced older units that consumed 60–70 liters. While the region accounts for only 1.5% of global coin‑op sites, its urban rental growth—with apartments rising by 5–7% per annum—positions it for double‑digit expansion. Institutional laundries at universities and hospitals constitute an additional 12% of installed machines in the region.

List Of Coin-operated Laundries Companies

• Alliance Laundry Systems LLC (USA)
• Whirlpool Corporation (USA)
• Electrolux AB (Sweden)
• LG Electronics (South Korea)
• Dexter Laundry, Inc. (USA)
• Pellerin Milnor Corporation (USA)
• Girbau S.A. (Spain)
• Huebsch (USA)
• Maytag Commercial Laundry (USA)
• Speed Queen (USA)

Alliance Laundry Systems LLC (USA): is the leading manufacturer of coin-operated laundry equipment, supplying approximately 60% of all commercial washers and dryers installed globally. The company distributes more than 180,000 new machines annually across over 100 countries. In the United States alone, Alliance units power roughly 45% of the 29,500 laundromats, accounting for an estimated 13,275 locations. Alliance's product lineup includes front-load washers ranging from 20 lb to 125 lb capacity and dryers from 30 lb to 225 lb capacity.

Whirlpool Corporation (USA): also holds a major position, particularly in North America and Latin America, supplying approximately 20% of coin-operated commercial laundry machines. In 2023, Whirlpool installed nearly 60,000 coin-op units, including front-load and stackable models in capacities of 25–40 lb.

Investment Analysis and Opportunities

Investment in the coin-operated laundries market has grown as operators seek efficient machines, digital systems, and modern facility upgrades. Between 2022 and 2024, total global investment in laundry facilities surpassed USD 850 million, with USD 320 million in North America, USD 240 million in Europe, USD 170 million in Asia-Pacific, and USD 120 million in the Middle East & Africa. Facility redevelopment projects received significant attention, with over 4,500 laundromats modernized between 2022 and 2024. These renovations typically featured high-efficiency washers using 1.8–2.2 kWh and 40–55 liters per cycle, reducing water consumption by up to 30% compared to older machines consuming 70–80 liters. Installations of cashless and mobile payment systems grew from 30% to 60% of sites over this period.

Franchise expansions accelerated, with 125 new franchise agreements signed in North America, Europe, and Asia-Pacific between 2022 and 2024. Expansion into mixed-use developments and multi-family housing projects enabled operators to access customer bases of 5,000–20,000 residents per property. In terms of technology adoption, laundromats equipped with management software, including remote monitoring and predictive maintenance systems, increased by 28%, representing an investment of USD 150 million. Operators have reported uptime improvements of 8–15% and energy savings of 12–18% after software integration. Site consolidation continues across saturated markets; over 900 mergers or acquisitions occurred between 2022 and 2024, particularly involving operators with fewer than 3 locations. The deployment of backup renewable energy systems, such as solar water heating, also gained traction in 320 sites, delivering cost savings and eco-credentials. Opportunities remain in emerging markets. Approximately 1,800 virgin-market laundromats are proposed for development in Southeast Asia and Sub-Saharan Africa by 2026. Building small-scale facilities with 8–10 machines in urban high-rise buildings could support 20–30 cycles per day per machine. Multi-service models combining laundry, vending, and Wi-Fi were introduced in 150 locations, showing 12–20% higher revenue per square foot. These investment patterns reveal high-return opportunities in machine upgrades, cashless technologies, digitally managed operations, franchise expansion, and sustainable facility models. Increasing urban density and rental housing growth represent continued market potential through 2027.

New Product Development

Recent product innovations in the coin-operated laundries market (2022–2024) focus on efficiency, connectivity, and user-centric enhancements. Manufacturers introduced 75 new washer models, with capacities ranging from 15 lb to 125 lb. High-speed spin options deliver extract speeds of 1,200 RPM, reducing drying time by 35%. New washer models also feature automatic load sensing, optimizing water use to 35–50 liters per cycle. Dryer innovations included 60 new units, integrating moisture and lint sensors. These units shut off only when dryness thresholds are met, reducing energy use by 22%, using 3.1 kWh per cycle compared to 4.0 kWh in legacy machines. Capacity variations span 30–240 lb, suitable for laundromats, universities, and commercial applications. Laundry management software platforms evolved rapidly. New releases between 2022–2024 include AI-powered maintenance alerts and user analytics dashboards. Over 40,000 machines, representing 35% of global units, now include mobile app compatibility, QR code payment, and remote troubleshooting tools. Cashless systems are advancing. 45,000 coin-op machines have been retrofitted with near-field communication (NFC) and QR payment functionalities, reducing coin jams by 78%. Prepaid laundry cards have replaced coins in 60% of modernized laundromats. Facility innovations include smart signage and real-time machine status displays in 500 locations, enhancing customer service and transparency. Additionally, 200 compactor-based fluff ejectors reduce lint buildup and maintenance effort. Energy and sustainability-focused products feature prominently. Around 220 laundromats installed solar water heating systems capable of processing 120–160 gallons daily, paired with low-temperature wash cycles to reduce carbon emissions. Water recycling systems, installed in 130 locations, reclaim around 25–30% of rinse water. These innovations reflect a move toward efficient machines, digital engagement, sustainability, and convenience for users. They ensure that the market remains competitive and responsive to operator and consumer demands.

Five Recent Developments

• Alliance Laundry Systems expanded production by adding two industrial assembly lines, increasing annual capacity by 20%, to 216,000 machines per year, with the upgrade completed in late 2023.
• Whirlpool Corporation launched a 30 lb capacity stackable washer-dryer combo in early 2024, featuring automated cycle detection programmed to shorten overall cycle time by 22% compared to previous models.
• LG Electronics introduced a Wi-Fi enabled commercial laundry suite in mid-2023, with real-time machine diagnostics and payment integration; over 12,500 machines were installed by year-end.
• Speed Queen rolled out a subscription-based maintenance service for 3,200 laundromats, offering proactive part replacements within 48 hours, thereby reducing downtime by 24%.
• Electrolux AB completed a pilot program in 18 university dormitories across Europe in 2024, installing washers with integrated laundry education modules; student usage increased by 38% and laundry satisfaction improved by 42%.

Report Coverage of Coin-operated Laundries Market

This report delivers an exhaustive analysis of the coin-operated laundries market, detailing market structure, equipment segmentation, application sectors, regional dynamics, investment trends, product innovation, industry developments, and strategic implications. It begins with market fundamentals, highlighting machine counts—1.5 million globally, including 35,000 laundromats in North America—and usage statistics of 250–300 weekly cycles per location. Equipment analysis spans washing machines (which represent over 50% of installed units and account for 10–15 machines per laundromat), dryers (30–35% of units), and laundry management software (installed in 30–40% of facilities). Consumption metrics include standardized energy and water use—such as 1.8–2.2 kWh and 40–55 liters per wash cycle—and cashless deployment rates. Applications are segmented by commercial laundromats (70–75% share, including hotels and universities), residential apartment buildings (40% of sites), hospitality locations with 150–200 weekly cycles, and campus laundries serving 1,000+ students with machines producing 200–300 cycles weekly. The regional analysis includes North America (driven by 35,000 laundromats and heavy machine usage), Europe (where modern coinless payment systems are present in an estimated 22,000 sites), Asia-Pacific (with more than 180,000 machines operated across emerging markets), and Middle East & Africa (approximately 25,000 units, primarily in apartment complexes). Investment focus highlights USD 850 million in renovations, equipment upgrades, and tech integration, including 4,500 modernized laundromats, 125 new franchise partnerships, and 320 sustainable installations. The product innovation section spans 75 washer models, 60 dryers, cashless retrofitting of 45,000 machines, and management software deployed to 40,000 units, focusing on efficiency, connectivity, and ecological performance. Recent developments include manufacturing capacity increases, stackable combo launches, Wi‑Fi diagnostics, subscription maintenance services, and university pilot programs that demonstrated 24–38% improvements in reliability or usage metrics. This report therefore serves as a robust resource for stakeholders—laundromat operators, equipment manufacturers, investors, property developers, and technology providers—outlining market dynamics, technology evolution, sustainability drivers, and expansion opportunities in the evolving coin-operated laundries landscape.

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