Self-service Laundry Services Market Size, Share

Self-service Laundry Services Market Overview

The Self-service Laundry Services Market size was valued at USD 18.74 million in 2024 and is expected to reach USD 28.09 million by 2033, growing at a CAGR of 5.19% from 2025 to 2033.

The self-service laundry services market serves millions of urban households, students, renters, and hospitality operators worldwide. More than 250,000 laundromats operate globally, processing over 40 billion pounds of laundry every year. In the United States alone, over 30,000 self-service laundromats handle more than 10 billion pounds of laundry annually. Europe accounts for over 50,000 laundromats, while Asia-Pacific holds more than 120,000 self-service laundry outlets due to high urban density and rising apartment living.

Coin-operated machines still dominate, representing over 70% of all self-service laundry setups, but smart card and mobile-app-controlled machines now account for over 20% of new installations. On average, a mid-sized laundromat hosts 20–40 washers and dryers, serving over 1,000 customer loads per month. The market continues to expand as more multi-family housing units and universities install on-premises laundry rooms. Keywords: self-service laundry services market, laundromats, coin-operated laundry, smart laundry systems, global laundry industry.

Key Findings

DRIVER: Rising urbanization and growth in apartment living drive demand for convenient self-service laundry options.

COUNTRY/REGION: Asia-Pacific dominates the global market with more than 120,000 laundromats operating across major cities.

SEGMENT: Coin-operated machines remain the leading segment, representing over 70% of total self-service laundry installations worldwide.

Self-service Laundry Services Market Trends

The self-service laundry services market has evolved significantly as cities grow denser and housing shifts toward multi-unit living. Today, more than 250,000 laundromats operate globally, generating billions of individual wash and dry cycles every month. North America alone handles more than 10 billion pounds of laundry annually in over 30,000 stores. Coin-operated washers and dryers dominate, yet mobile app-controlled machines now account for more than 20% of new laundromat builds.

Smart laundromats are rising fast. In the past year, over 5,000 new laundromats integrated mobile payment and IoT monitoring. More than 50 million customers globally now use app-based booking or payment for self-service laundry, reducing cash handling and wait times. Loyalty programs and mobile notifications have become common features in urban areas.

Environmental efficiency drives machine upgrades. Over 50% of new commercial washers are high-efficiency front loaders, which can reduce water usage by 40% and electricity costs by 30% per load compared to older top loaders. Many urban laundromats have added energy-saving dryers that cut drying time by 15–20%, lowering utility costs for owners.

Laundry services near universities and student housing keep expanding. In North America, more than 1,000 college campuses now have on-campus laundromats with smart card or mobile app systems. European cities also see steady growth in apartment-based shared laundry rooms. In Asia-Pacific, major cities like Tokyo and Seoul have over 5,000 coin laundromats each, many open 24 hours to serve dense urban populations.

New store formats include café-laundromat hybrids, accounting for over 2,000 unique outlets worldwide. These combine coffee shops and Wi-Fi workspaces with washers and dryers, increasing dwell time and customer spend.

Self-service Laundry Services Market Dynamics

The Self-service Laundry Services Market Dynamics explain the main factors that influence how the industry operates and evolves — including key drivers like rising urbanization and apartment living, restraints such as high operational and utility costs, opportunities in smart payment systems and digital upgrades, and challenges like competition from in-unit washers and dryers in newer housing developments.

DRIVER

Growing urbanization and apartment living

Rising urbanization is the main growth driver. Over 55% of the world’s population lives in cities, and more than 500 million people globally live in apartments or multi-unit housing without in-unit washers and dryers. North America has over 40 million rental apartments, with at least 30% depending on shared or self-service laundry. Europe has more than 60 million apartments, many with communal laundry rooms or nearby laundromats. Asia-Pacific’s rapid urban growth adds over 10 million new apartment units annually, increasing demand for convenient, cost-effective laundry options.

RESTRAINT

High operational costs and maintenance needs

A key restraint is the high cost of operations and machine maintenance. Commercial washers and dryers have a lifespan of 10–15 years, requiring regular servicing every 6–12 months. A mid-sized laundromat with 20–40 machines spends an average of $20,000–$50,000 equivalent annually on maintenance, repairs, and replacement parts. Rising utility rates add pressure — water and electricity costs can account for over 30% of a laundromat’s monthly operating budget. Regulatory compliance, licensing fees, and insurance can further strain small operators.

OPPORTUNITY

Smart systems and digital payments

The expansion of mobile-controlled laundry is a major opportunity. More than 5,000 new laundromats globally adopted smart card or app-based payment in the last year alone. Over 50 million consumers now use digital wallets or app credits to operate machines, streamlining transactions and cutting cash management costs by up to 25%. Smart machines with IoT sensors can alert owners to maintenance needs, reducing breakdowns by 20% and boosting customer satisfaction. Digital loyalty programs drive repeat visits, with over 40% of app users enrolling in points or discount systems.

CHALLENGE

Competition from in-unit laundry appliances

One challenge is the rising trend of in-unit washers and dryers in new apartments. In North America, over 20% of new rental units include in-unit machines. Europe’s premium apartments increasingly market private laundry amenities. This trend can reduce foot traffic at neighborhood laundromats. However, in-unit washers cost $600–$1,500 upfront plus installation and maintenance, making them impractical for many older buildings and budget-conscious renters.

Self- service Laundry Services Market Segmentation

The self-service laundry services market segments by machine type and end application. Coin-operated machines remain the backbone, but smart systems and new commercial formats are expanding.

By Type

Coin-operated Machines: Coin-operated washers and dryers still make up over 70% of all self-service laundry setups, with over 150,000 laundromats globally using coin-only models.
Card-operated Systems: Over 30,000 laundromats worldwide now use card-operated payment systems, serving more than 50 million customer loads each month.
Mobile-app Controlled: App-controlled laundry machines are growing fast, with more than 20% of new laundromats using this model. Over 5,000 new outlets added app payment options in the past year.
Commercial Laundromats: Commercial laundromats average 20–40 machines per store and process over 40 billion pounds of laundry globally every year.

By Application

Residential Areas: More than 100,000 laundromats serve dense urban and suburban neighborhoods.
Universities: Over 1,000 college campuses globally host on-premises laundromats, washing millions of student loads yearly.
Hospitals: More than 5,000 healthcare facilities worldwide use self-service or semi-managed laundry areas for staff uniforms and bedding.
Hospitality Industry: Over 50,000 hotels and hostels globally offer on-site self-service laundry for guests, with machines handling over 500 million pounds of laundry yearly.
Apartment Complexes: Over 60 million apartment units worldwide have shared laundry rooms, many with coin or card-operated machines.

Regional Outlook for the Self- service Laundry Services Market

The Regional Outlook for the Self-service Laundry Services Market describes how the number of laundromats, machine types, customer usage patterns, and adoption of smart systems vary by region — covering North America, Europe, Asia-Pacific, and the Middle East & Africa. It explains how many laundromats operate in each region, the scale of laundry volume handled annually, the popularity of coin-operated versus smart payment systems, and how local housing trends, urban density, and cultural preferences shape the demand for self-service laundry services worldwide.

North America

North America has more than 30,000 laundromats, processing over 10 billion pounds of laundry each year. The U.S. leads, with over 80% of North America’s laundromats in urban and suburban rental communities. Mobile payment adoption grew 15% year over year in 2023.

Europe

Europe runs over 50,000 laundromats, mostly in dense cities with high apartment living. Germany, France, and the UK together account for more than 60% of Europe’s laundromats. Smart card systems are used in over 40% of new European laundromats.

Asia-Pacific

Asia-Pacific dominates with more than 120,000 laundromats. Japan and South Korea alone host over 20,000 coin laundromats each, with more than 5,000 open 24/7 to serve city dwellers. China’s fast-growing cities add thousands of new laundromats each year.

Middle East & Africa

Middle East & Africa have over 10,000 laundromats, with UAE and Saudi Arabia leading in premium smart laundromats serving urban expats and hotels. Africa’s urban growth adds over 500 new laundromats yearly, mainly in city centers and universities.

List of Top Self-service Laundry Services Companies

CSC ServiceWorks (USA)
Coinamatic (Canada)
WashTron (USA)
Laundry Capital (USA)
Girbau (Spain)
Electrolux (Sweden)
Dexter Laundry (USA)
Alliance Laundry Systems (USA)
Maytag (USA)
Whirlpool (USA)

CSC ServiceWorks (USA): operates over 1 million machines across North America, serving more than 40 million customer loads monthly.

Coinamatic (Canada): manages over 50,000 machines, supplying multi-family buildings and universities across Canada.

Investment Analysis and Opportunities

Investment in the self-service laundry services market continues to rise as operators modernize equipment and expand digital payment systems. More than 5,000 new laundromats opened globally in 2023, with North America and Asia-Pacific accounting for over 70% of these new outlets. In the United States, more than 2,000 new coin or card laundromats opened, many replacing outdated facilities with energy-efficient machines.

Smart laundromats are a top investment trend. Over 30% of new laundromats launched last year included app-controlled machines and IoT-connected monitoring. This reduces downtime by up to 20%, lowers labor costs, and increases machine utilization rates. Mobile-app integration now serves more than 50 million laundry customers worldwide.

Machine manufacturers invested heavily in high-efficiency washers and dryers. Over 50% of new commercial machines sold in 2023 are front loaders that use 40% less water per cycle and cut drying times by 15–20%, saving owners on monthly utility bills. Energy savings can add up to thousands of dollars per location per year.

Multi-housing investors and property managers are also spending on shared laundry facilities. In North America alone, more than 40 million apartments rely on common laundry rooms, often upgraded with smart card or app systems. Over 5,000 new apartment laundry rooms were built in 2023 to meet tenant demand for modern, convenient services.

Universities remain key investors. More than 1,000 campuses globally now run on-site laundromats, many upgraded to accept campus cards or digital wallets. This generates millions of student loads each month.

International chains are expanding premium laundromat-café concepts. More than 2,000 café-laundry hybrids now operate worldwide, especially in Europe and Asia-Pacific. These models increase customer dwell time and revenue per visit by adding food and beverage services.

New Product Development

New product development in self-service laundry is reshaping how customers interact with laundromats. More than 10,000 new high-efficiency washers and dryers entered the global market in 2023. Smart washers now include IoT sensors that alert owners to maintenance needs, helping avoid breakdowns and service calls. More than 30% of new machines shipped last year came with cloud connectivity.

App-controlled payment systems are expanding rapidly. Over 5,000 new laundromats launched with mobile payment as the main option. Over 50 million laundry customers now use digital wallets to pay for laundry cycles, earning loyalty points and discounts.

Manufacturers introduced contactless card readers on over 100,000 older machines, retrofitting coin-only models to attract digital-first customers. This upgrade alone helped laundromat owners cut cash collection costs by up to 25%.

Sustainability is also driving product design. Over 50% of new commercial washers are front loaders that use 40% less water than traditional top loaders. Many now include built-in detergent dispensers that cut chemical waste by delivering precise doses for every wash.

Eco-friendly dryers are gaining popularity too. More than 10,000 energy-efficient dryers were installed worldwide last year, cutting drying time by up to 20%. Heat pump dryers and moisture sensors reduce energy use per cycle, which is critical as energy costs continue to rise.

Hybrid laundromat-cafés are innovating with value-added features. More than 2,000 global outlets now offer Wi-Fi, coworking desks, or snack bars alongside washers and dryers. These premium stores increase average customer spend by 30% compared to traditional laundromats.

Five Recent Developments

Over 5,000 new laundromats integrated mobile-app payments and IoT monitoring to boost convenience and reduce maintenance costs.
More than 10,000 high-efficiency front loader washers were sold globally, saving up to 40% on water per wash cycle.
Over 100,000 older coin-operated machines were upgraded with contactless card readers to serve digital-first customers.
Café-laundromat hybrids expanded to over 2,000 global locations, combining laundry services with coworking and food sales.
North America added over 2,000 new apartment laundry rooms with smart card and mobile payment features.

Report Coverage of Self-service Laundry Services Market

This comprehensive report covers the entire self-service laundry services market, tracking more than 250,000 laundromats globally that process over 40 billion pounds of laundry each year. North America alone operates over 30,000 laundromats, Europe runs more than 50,000, and Asia-Pacific dominates with over 120,000 active outlets. Coin-operated machines make up over 70% of total installations, while smart card and app-based systems now represent more than 20% of new openings.

The report highlights key trends like high-efficiency washers, with over 50% of new machines using 40% less water per cycle, and eco-friendly dryers cutting energy use by up to 20%. App-controlled laundry machines now serve more than 50 million users worldwide, with digital wallets reducing cash management costs by 25% for operators.

Drivers include rising urbanization, with over 500 million people living in apartments and shared housing without in-unit laundry. Over 40 million rental apartments in North America and more than 60 million apartments in Europe rely on communal or nearby laundromats. In Asia-Pacific, fast-growing cities add more than 10 million new apartment units each year.

The report analyzes restraints like high utility and maintenance costs — with laundromats spending up to 30% of their monthly budgets on water, electricity, and repairs. A mid-sized laundromat with 20–40 machines spends $20,000–$50,000 equivalent per year on upkeep.

It explains opportunities in digital laundry, highlighting over 5,000 new laundromats opened last year with smart payment and IoT features. Contactless retrofits upgraded over 100,000 older machines in 2023 alone. Café-laundromat hybrids now operate in more than 2,000 locations, boosting average customer spend by 30%.

Key companies like CSC ServiceWorks and Coinamatic dominate North America with over 1 million and 50,000 machines, respectively, serving millions of customer loads each month. Manufacturers like Electrolux and Alliance Laundry Systems lead hardware production for new store setups.