How Much Do Laundromats Make? Laundromat Profit Margins & Valuation

Most laundromats generate $5,000 to $25,000+ per month gross revenue, with well-operated stores in dense markets exceeding $40,000 per month.

Typical net profit margins range from 20% to 35% depending on rent, utilities, labor, model, and service mix. A 2,500 sq. ft. store in the wrong lease can struggle at $18K/month. A 1,800 sq. ft. store with smart pricing and pickup & delivery can outperform it.

In this blog, we’ll break down:

Average laundromat revenue (self-service vs. full-service)
Realistic profit margins in 2026
How laundromats are valued
How to estimate income before buying
Why some stores thrive — and others quietly bleed cash

Average Laundromat Revenue (2026 Benchmarks)

Store Type	Monthly Revenue	Annual Revenue
Small (1,000-1,500 sq. ft.)	$5K-$12K	$60K-$144K
Mid-Size (1,500-3,000 sq. ft.)	$12K-$25K	$144K-$300K
Large/High-Density Urban	$25K-$50K+	$300K-$600K+

Important: These are gross revenue numbers before expenses.

How to Value a Laundromat in 2026

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Laundromats are typically valued using a multiple of net operating income (NOI) or seller’s discretionary earnings (SDE).

Current Industry Multiples

3.0x – 4.5x SDE (most common range)
Higher multiples for:
- Long-term favorable lease
- Modern equipment
- Strong wash-and-fold program
- Documented card/app payment reporting

If a laundromat generates:

$300,000 annual revenue
$90,000 NOI

At a 4x multiple:

$90,000 x 4 = $360,000 valuation

That equates to a 25% return before debt service.

Laundromat Revenue: How to Estimate Income Accurately

1. Calculating washer income

You can get an estimation of any laundromat's income with a fairly simple math equation.

[# of washing machines x vend price x turns x days in the month = estimated income]

"Turns" refers to the average number of times a machine is used each day. The average turn per day is around 3, so we'll use 3 to estimate our income. I also use 30.4 as days in the month, as that's the average number of days per month (365/12).

If you want to estimate the washer income of a laundromat, you'll need to gather the 2 missing variables in our equation: the number of each size of washing machine and the vend price of each size of the washing machine. Let's look at an example.

Say you do some recon work on a laundromat and find out that a laundromat has 10-20lb washers, 6-40lb washers, 4-60lb washers, and 2-80lb washers. The vend prices are $3, $5, $7, and $9, respectively. Here's how we would calculate the estimated washer income for the 20 lb machines:

10 x $3.00 x 3 x 30.4 = $2,736

When we use this equation for all the washing machines in our laundromat, we can estimate our total income from the washing machines to be about $9,666 per month.

How Many Turns Per Day is Realistic?

The “3 turns per day” benchmark still works for estimates, but actual turns vary:

Low-density markets: 2-3 TPD
Stable suburban: 3-4 TPD
Dense urban: 4-6+ TPD

If you’re underwriting a purchase, calculate:

Conservative case (2.5 TPD)
Expected case (3.5 TPD)
Upside case (4.5 TPD)

2. Calculating dryer income

We're able to calculate an estimate of the dryer income using the same formula for the washer income that we calculated above. The typical dryer income is usually between 33% and 50% of the washer income. In most cases, I use 33% in my calculations as I find it generally more accurate. Our estimated dryer income, then, is:

$9,666 x .33 = $3,190

3. Estimate total income

Now that we have our estimated washer and dryer income, we can estimate our total income. In our example, our estimated income of the laundromat we're considering is:

$9,666 + $3,190 = $12,856

I want to emphasize that this is an estimate, but it will give you an idea of how much money a laundromat is making. Now you know how to estimate any laundromat’s income quickly and easily!

Before you buy a laundromat, it’s important to conduct proper due diligence. This checklist will guide you through it to save you money.

How much revenue does a laundromat generate monthly?

The monthly revenue of a laundromat varies widely based on factors such as location, size, and pricing. On average, laundromats generate between $5,000 and $25,000+ per month.

To estimate a specific laundromat’s revenue, use this formula:

Washer Income+Dryer Income+Additional Services=Total Monthly Revenue

Washer Income: Calculated based on the number of machines, pricing, and daily usage (turns per day).
Dryer Income: Typically 33-50% of washer income.
Additional Services: Services like wash-and-fold, dry cleaning, vending, or pickup/delivery can significantly boost revenue.

For example, a laundromat with 10 small washers, 6 medium washers, 4 large washers, and 2 extra-large washers could generate around $12,000–$15,000 per month just from self-service laundry. Adding wash-and-fold services could increase revenue by an additional 20-40%.

How Much Does Wash-And-Fold Add to Revenue?

Full-service laundry is often the difference between a lifestyle business and a scalable asset.

In 2026, many operators generate:

20%–40% of total revenue from wash-and-fold
40%+ in dense metro markets
Higher margins than self-service (if labor is controlled)

Example:

Self-Service Revenue: $15,000/month

Wash & Fold: $6,000/month

Pickup & Delivery: $4,000/month

Total: $25,000/month

That diversification:

Improves valuation
Increases multiple
Reduces seasonality risk

Laundromat Profit Margin: Why Laundromats Are a High-ROI Business

Laundromats make great cash-flowing investments. With an average, unleveraged return of 30-40%, the average laundromat investment is far superior to the average real estate investment, which will produce between 7-10%. The average dividend yield for the financial sector is just 4.7%. The return from laundromats outperforms just about every other investment average.

Let's dig into why laundromats have high cash flow.

1. Laundromats are a stable business

Every person has a few essential needs to maintain a basic level of life, and without them, the quality of life dramatically decreases. Those essential needs include food and water, shelter, and clean clothes. Laundromats provide essential clean clothes to their customers. The essential nature of clean clothes ensures an ongoing need for a way to wash clothing no matter the state of the economy or what is going on in the world.

If stability is your main focus, be sure to explore laundromat franchise options.

2. Laundromats produce high cash flow

What is the average laundromat profit margin?

The average laundromat profit margin ranges between 20-35%, making it one of the most lucrative small business investments. A laundromat’s revenue is primarily determined by its location, pricing strategy, and operational efficiency. By understanding how to value a laundromat and improve laundromat revenue, investors can maximize profitability.

What factors impact laundromat profit margins?

Rent: 15-25%
Utilities: 20-30%
Labor (if staffed): 15-30%
Maintenance: 3-7%

Margins compress when:

Lease exceeds 25% of gross
Utilities spike without machine efficiency upgrades
Labor is unmanaged in wash-and-fold

Margins expand when:

Pricing is optimized annually
Equipment is energy-efficient
Technology reduces shrinkage and improves tracking

3. Laundromats are a relatively simple business

As far as businesses go, laundromats can be on the simple end of the spectrum. Laundromats have a few qualities that make them much simpler to operate than most other small businesses. First, some laundromats generally don't carry too much inventory, if any at all.

Second, laundromat customers generally pay upfront - depending on your operations. This may mean there is no invoicing, following up on missed payments, tracking down delinquent clients, etc. Card payment systems and integrated business solutions make processing customer payments simple and easy as well.

Third, laundry businesses usually have relatively few employees.

4. Laundromats can be improved

One of the great things about laundromats is that they can be improved. By adding new equipment, raising prices, implementing better marketing, and managing the business better, laundromats can increase their cash flow output to the wise investor. Implementing a laundromat management software can stabilize a failing business, increase laundromat revenue, or even scale your business.

5. Laundromats can utilize the power of leverage

Laundromats are powerful, profitable assets, but that power is compounded through the use of leverage. You can leverage your money by taking out loans for the acquisition of your laundromat or the purchase of new equipment.

Why some laundromats don't make money

While laundromats can be incredibly lucrative investments, not all are successful. It comes down to one (or more) of these:

Overpaying at acquisition
Signing a bad lease
Ignoring utility efficiency
No pricing strategy
Poor management discipline

The laundromat model works, but operators who treat it like passive mailbox money often underperform.

Want to increase your laundromat’s profit margin?

Grow, Manage, Understand your business guide Top-performing operators focus on three things:

Revenue diversification
Cost control
Data-driven decision making

If you want to see exactly where your store stands — and where you’re leaving money on the table — explore how modern laundromat operators are scaling smarter.

Download this whitepaper today to get started on your road to success and financial freedom at your laundromat!

Frequently Asked Questions

Is owning a laundromat passive income?

It can be semi-passive if systems are in place, but most successful operators treat it as an actively managed asset — especially when offering wash-and-fold or pickup & delivery.

How long does it take to recoup investment?

Most buyers target a 3–5 year payback period based on purchase multiple and reinvestment strategy.

Do laundromats do well during recessions?

Historically, laundry is considered a recession-resistant service because clean clothing is a basic necessity.

What increases laundromat value the most?

Long-term lease (10+ years remaining)
Verified digital revenue tracking
Growing wash-and-fold program
Updated equipment under 7 years old

How Much Do Laundromats Make in 2026?

Average Laundromat Revenue (2026 Benchmarks)