the laundromat market | United States

1.1 Definition and presentation

The laundromat (or self-service laundry) market is part of the wider laundromat retail market.

A self-service laundry consists of making washing machines and dryers available to the public for occasional use for a fee per kilo or per piece. A distinction is therefore made between coin-operated laundry and dry-cleaning; the latter is a service provided by individuals where someone carry out dry-cleaning and/or ironing of clothes. Unlike dry-cleaning, laundromat facilities sometimes offer additional services such as internet access or a snack area.

The global market is stable and driven by population increase and higher per capita income. In the US, coin laundries can range in market value from $50,000 to more than $1 million, and can generate cash flow between $15,000 and $300,000 per year. [CL] The US market is fragmented with many local and independent suppliers of washing services. About 33,000 single location companies are operating in the U.S. laundry facilities & dry-cleaning service market, about 22,000 of them offers retail solutions. [Grandview]

Amongst the largest players, there are Whirlpool Corporation, Samsung Electronics, LG Electronics, and Electrolux AB.