Coin-operated Laundries NAICS 812310

Oct 16, 2025 - Coin Laundry Growth Holds Steady Amid Market Shifts

• The 2025 American Coin-Op Distributor Survey indicates that 2024 was a stable year for coin-operated laundromats, with half of distributors reporting performance on par with 2023 and 30.4% noting growth. New self-service laundries averaged 2,903 square feet, featuring 28.5 front loaders, 28.7 dryer pockets, and a declining presence of top loaders (1.1 per store). The shift reflects evolving consumer preferences and operational efficiency trends. The average store sold for $749,000, down from 2023, suggesting moderated investment levels. The results suggest a steady market outlook, with 40% of distributors anticipating improved sales in 2025.
• Consumers are signaling sustained economic unease, as both confidence and sentiment indexes remain at multi-year lows with inflation and job concerns top of mind. In September 2025, the Consumer Confidence Index from the Conference Board fell to 94.2, with job optimism down (only 26.9% said jobs were “plentiful”) and inflation expectations high. Buying intentions dropped for cars and travel, while interest in homes and smartphones rose. Confidence declined across most age and income groups, especially among households earning $25K–$35K and over $200K. The consumer sentiment index held at 55.0 in October 2025 from the previous month, and was down 22% year-over-year, according to the University of Michigan Surveys of Consumers. Overall, the data signals cautious consumer sentiment, which could dampen spending heading into the holiday season.

• According to the Consumer Price Index released by the BLS, the cost of laundry and dry cleaning services increased 4.8% in August 2025 compared to a year ago and grew 0.4% from the previous month. Employment and wage costs for coin-operated laundries and dry cleaners increased in July 2025, year over year, according to recent data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS). Employment by coin-operated laundries and dry cleaners rose 5.3% in July 2025 compared to a year ago, per the BLS. In the past decade, employment by coin-operated laundries and dry cleaners was up 19.1%, faster than the 13% growth in overall private employment in the same period. Average wages for nonsupervisory employees at dry cleaning and laundry services increased 5.6% in July 2025 compared to a year ago. Wages were up 8.3% over the past three years, though lower than the 13.4% overall private wage growth.
• Coin-operated laundromats are increasingly expanding into commercial laundry services, offering pickup and delivery to businesses such as hotels, gyms, medical clinics, and dry cleaners, according to a report in Planet Laundry. The move leverages existing staff and equipment to drive revenue growth. Success requires a robust wash-dry-fold (WDF) operation, online ordering systems, and commercial-grade washer programming. Operators must define their service radius, identify target markets, and actively promote their services through direct outreach, social media, networking, and local advertising. By tailoring solutions to business needs and building strong community relationships, laundromats can position themselves as cost-effective, high-quality alternatives to traditional commercial providers. For the coin-operated laundromat industry, the shift represents an evolution from passive self-service models to active, revenue-generating service hubs. It enables laundromats to diversify income, optimize equipment usage, and compete in the broader garment care market.