How Much Does a Load of Laundry Cost at the Laundromat?

Many people find themselves unable or unwilling to do their laundry at their homes, so they choose to go to a laundromat and wash their clothes instead. Still, there are a lot of people who ask themselves: How much does a load of laundry cost at the laundromat?

This article will go over the average laundromat costs in the US so that you know whether it is worth the investment or not.

How Much Does a Load of Laundry Cost at the Laundromat?

The cost of a load of laundry at the laundromat is anywhere between $2 and $8 per load. If you also need to use a commercial dryer, then the cost for these services is also about $2 to $8, which means that the total cost will be $4 to $16 per load. Of course, these prices will depend on the location you choose and the time it takes for the process to complete.

Expect additional fees for longer times for washing and/or drying. Other factors that influence the cost of your load of laundry are the washing machine quality, the laundromat’s quality, and so on.

Laundromats are an accessible and comfortable place where people can wash their clothes if they don’t have a washer or dryer at home or simply don’t want to use theirs for one reason or another. Most people consider that the small fee they pay to use these machines to remove small imperfections from their apparel is totally worth it.

Is Doing Laundry at a Laundromat More Expensive Than at Home?

Most people consider doing laundry at the laundromat more expensive than having this done at home. But is this really the case? Doing this job at home is far from free, even though it is less expensive than using a laundromat.

Before you can enjoy lower prices by washing your clothes at home, you will still have to purchase a washer and dryer. Depending on their quality, most models are priced between $650 and $5,000.

You will also have to consider the price of electricity and water you will be using. Energy costs somewhere between $.14 and $.50 per load, while water will also set you back around $.90 per load. Expect to spend about $300 per year if you do an average of four loads of laundry per week.

So as long as you already have the washer and dryer, it will be cheaper to do your laundry at home. That’s a fact. Still, commercial cleaners offer several benefits you should consider before making a decision.

Benefits of Laundry Services at a Laundromat

Washing your clothes at a laundromat comes with several important advantages compared to using at-home washers and dryers. Many people prefer going to a commercial cleaner due to one or more of these advantages. Here are some of the most important benefits of using a laundromat to do your laundry.

You might also like our articles about the cost of laundry detergent and fabric softener, laundry services, or starting a laundromat.

You Can Do Multiple Laundry Loads at Once

The fact that you are able to do several loads of laundry at the same time is one of the biggest advantages of commercial laundromats. As laundromats have a lot of machines in one location and they are usually bigger than the at-home washers and dryers, it will be very easy to get rid of multiple loads in one go.

You can put more clothes in a single appliance or use multiple appliances at the same time and put different loads in each appliance, which will cut down the time needed to complete this process and will make it more efficient.

And if you have to wash an oversized blanket or a comforter, then you surely know that most residential washers and dryers can’t work with bulky or heavy items. If you choose to wash these types of items in your residential washer and dryer can cause the appliance to break, which will cost hundreds of dolars to repair or even replace.

Laundromat machines on the other hand, are made to handle bulky items with ease, which means you can take your favorite comforter there without risking damaging the machine.

Save on Water and Energy Bills

If you’re one of the people who want to limit their water and residential energy consumption as a way of reducing your monthly payments, then using a laundromat might be a great choice.

It isn’t uncommon for an at-home washer to use 30 gallons of water for one load, which can, over the course of weeks, take a toll on the home’s water bill. A large family with active children will do six loads or more of laundry each week, which makes washing their clothes at a laundromat cheaper.

So simple math tells us that you should go to a laundromat as a way of saving water and energy if you need to do more than four loads of laundry weekly. Some commercial machines are also more environmentally friendly, as they use up to half as much water as your traditional residential washer.

Get Time to Yourself

If you’re a busy parent, you surely know that it’s pretty hard to find the time for yourself. Browsing the internet or watching your favorite Netflix show is almost impossible as you often have a very strict schedule to follow. Many parents choose to do their laundry at a laundromat as a way of getting some of their time back, allowing them to read a book, watch their favorite show, and so on.

You can access the internet through all kinds of devices in a laundromat as most of them have free Wi-Fi. Some also make it a lot easier for you to wait for your laundry to finish, providing accommodations like coffee machines. So although the average cost of a laundromat run is usually more expensive than using your home washer and dryer, for some people, the features are worth the additional costs.

Laundromats Are More Efficient

You will find all the needed equipment for a successful laundry job in one place at most laundromats. Most of them have folding areas and ironing boards so you can handle the whole process easily. You don’t have to go from one room to another to iron, dry, wash, and fold your laundry.