Laundry Facilities & Dry Cleaning Services
Description
Companies in this industry operate self-service laundry facilities or provide dry cleaning, specialty cleaning, and full-service laundering services. Major US companies include CSC ServiceWorks (owner of Coinmach, Mac-Gray, and other brands), EVI Industries (owner of DryClean USA), and Huntington Cleaners (owner of Martinizing and other brands).
Global dry-cleaning and laundry services market size is expected to grow at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 8.81% from 2025 to 2030, according to Mordor Intelligence. While the US was the largest country in the global market that year in terms of revenue, Asia-Pacific was the largest region. Opportunities exist for companies to expand to emerging markets such as India, where consumers are looking for affordable, hygienic places to do laundry.
The US laundry facilities and dry cleaning services industry includes about 31,000 establishments (single-location companies and units of multi-location companies) with combined annual revenue of about $12 billion. About 21,000 establishments provide retail laundry and dry cleaning services and account for about 65% of industry revenue; about 11,000 establishments operate laundromats and account for the remaining 35% of revenue.
Commercial and industrial laundry services are covered in the Linen and Uniform Supply Services industry profile.
COMPETITIVE LANDSCAPE
Demand depends on consumer spending. The profitability of individual companies depends on efficient operations and favorable store locations. Large dry cleaning companies can achieve economies of scale by using centralized cleaning operations to serve multiple retail locations. Small companies can compete successfully by owning favorable locations or providing special services. The US coin-laundry segment is fragmented: the 50 largest firms generate about 40% of revenue. The US dry-cleaning segment is highly fragmented: the 50 largest firms generate less than 10% of revenue.
New competitive pressure for companies in the industry is coming from high-touch services, such as door-to-door delivery, and new technologies, including mobile apps, robust online interfaces, and specialized fabric restoration.
PRODUCTS, OPERATIONS & TECHNOLOGY
Major services by laundry and dry-cleaning agency services include uniform and linen supply services, which accounts for about 75% of the industry revenue. Commercial laundry account for about 15%. Other services account for about 10%.
Retail dry cleaning operations consist of collecting, inspecting, and tagging clothing, operating dry cleaning machinery either on the retail premises or at central facilities that serve a number of stores, and pressing, bagging, and returning clothing to customers. Coin- or card-operated laundries (laundromats) provide washers and dryers for people who don't have laundry facilities in their own home. Laundromats are typically between 1,000 and 5,000 square feet. In addition to operating retail locations, companies install and service laundromats in private buildings such as apartment complexes or college dorms under long-term contracts (so-called "laundry routes"). Operations mainly consist of money collection and maintenance.
Equipment is the largest investment for both dry cleaners and laundromats, and includes washer-extractors, finishing and ironing machines, folders, computer systems, and dryers. Usually leased or financed from manufacturers or distributors, equipment is less expensive if rebuilt rather than new, and several equipment companies specialize in rebuilding machines for resale. Typical laundromat washers and dryers cost $500 to $20,000 each, depending on model and capacity. Laundromat owners also pay municipal water districts for sewer and water connections.
Global dry-cleaning and laundry services market size is expected to grow at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 8.81% from 2025 to 2030, according to Mordor Intelligence. While the US was the largest country in the global market that year in terms of revenue, Asia-Pacific was the largest region. Opportunities exist for companies to expand to emerging markets such as India, where consumers are looking for affordable, hygienic places to do laundry.
The US laundry facilities and dry cleaning services industry includes about 31,000 establishments (single-location companies and units of multi-location companies) with combined annual revenue of about $12 billion. About 21,000 establishments provide retail laundry and dry cleaning services and account for about 65% of industry revenue; about 11,000 establishments operate laundromats and account for the remaining 35% of revenue.
Commercial and industrial laundry services are covered in the Linen and Uniform Supply Services industry profile.
COMPETITIVE LANDSCAPE
Demand depends on consumer spending. The profitability of individual companies depends on efficient operations and favorable store locations. Large dry cleaning companies can achieve economies of scale by using centralized cleaning operations to serve multiple retail locations. Small companies can compete successfully by owning favorable locations or providing special services. The US coin-laundry segment is fragmented: the 50 largest firms generate about 40% of revenue. The US dry-cleaning segment is highly fragmented: the 50 largest firms generate less than 10% of revenue.
New competitive pressure for companies in the industry is coming from high-touch services, such as door-to-door delivery, and new technologies, including mobile apps, robust online interfaces, and specialized fabric restoration.
PRODUCTS, OPERATIONS & TECHNOLOGY
Major services by laundry and dry-cleaning agency services include uniform and linen supply services, which accounts for about 75% of the industry revenue. Commercial laundry account for about 15%. Other services account for about 10%.
Retail dry cleaning operations consist of collecting, inspecting, and tagging clothing, operating dry cleaning machinery either on the retail premises or at central facilities that serve a number of stores, and pressing, bagging, and returning clothing to customers. Coin- or card-operated laundries (laundromats) provide washers and dryers for people who don't have laundry facilities in their own home. Laundromats are typically between 1,000 and 5,000 square feet. In addition to operating retail locations, companies install and service laundromats in private buildings such as apartment complexes or college dorms under long-term contracts (so-called "laundry routes"). Operations mainly consist of money collection and maintenance.
Equipment is the largest investment for both dry cleaners and laundromats, and includes washer-extractors, finishing and ironing machines, folders, computer systems, and dryers. Usually leased or financed from manufacturers or distributors, equipment is less expensive if rebuilt rather than new, and several equipment companies specialize in rebuilding machines for resale. Typical laundromat washers and dryers cost $500 to $20,000 each, depending on model and capacity. Laundromat owners also pay municipal water districts for sewer and water connections.
Table of Contents
- Industry Overview
- Quarterly Industry Update
- Business Challenges
- Business Trends
- Industry Opportunities
- Call Preparation Questions
- Financial Information
- Industry Forecast
- Web Links and Acronyms
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