CHICAGO — For an industry that has navigated inflationary pressures, labor challenges and evolving consumer expectations, the latest data suggests a resilient core.
According to results from this year’s American Coin-Op State of the Industry survey, more than 70% of self-service laundry owners and operators report that their business improved over the past year — a notable signal of momentum as the industry moves through 2026.
The annual report offers a detailed snapshot of operating conditions across the U.S., providing benchmarks that store owners and investors can use to measure their own performance against peers. This year’s polling examines business conditions, vend pricing strategies, equipment profiles, turns per day and other key operating metrics that shape profitability and long-term value.
While the survey is an unscientific online poll of American Coin-Op readers who operate stores — and some totals may not equal 100% due to rounding — the results nonetheless paint a revealing portrait of an industry that continues to adapt, invest and grow.
WHAT A WASH COSTS
We asked participating store owners to report how much they charge for a variety of base washes.
Slightly more than 48% of operators surveyed offer top loaders at their store(s), compared to 42% in last year’s poll. The price range for a top-load wash is $2.00 to $5.00.
Here are the popular top-load prices, followed by the shares of respondents charging them:
1. $3.00 (18.8%)
2. $4.00 (12.5%)
3. $2.00, $2.75 or $3.25 (9.4%, tie)
The most popular prices for some of the small front loaders are:
• 18 pounds: $4.00
• 20 pounds: $3.50
• 25 pounds: $4.50
The lowest price reported in this group was $2.00 (20 pounds) while the highest price was $7.50 (25 pounds).
The price range for a 30-pound wash is $3.00 to $9.00. Following are the favored 30-pound prices, along with the percentage of operators who charge them:
1. $5.00 (19.6%)
2. $4.00 or $4.50 (13.0%, tie)
4. $4.75 (10.9%)
Prices for a 35-pound wash currently range from $4.75 to $10, based on the survey results.
The price range for a 40-pound wash is $4.50 to $12.00. Following are the trendy 40-pound prices, along with the percentage of operators who charge them:
1. $6.00 (19.6%)
2. $5.50 (12.5%)
3. $6.50 (8.9%)
Prices for a 50-pound wash currently range from $4.75 to $11.00. For the 55-pounder, it’s from $6.00 to $10.00.
The price range for a 60-pound wash is $6.50 to $14.00. Following are the most popular 60-pound prices, along with the percentages of operators who charge them:
1. $8.00 (17.6%)
2. $6.75 (9.8%)
3. $7.00 or $9.50 (7.8%, tie)
The price range for an 80-pound wash is $8.50 to $17.00. Following are the favored 80-pound prices, along with percentages of operators who charge them:
1. $10.00 (12.5%)
2. $9.00, $9.25 or $11.00 (9.4%, tie)
Prices that operators charge for a 90-pound basic wash today range from $9.50 to $16.00.
Prices reported for machines of 100 pounds or larger ranged from $12.00 to $18.00.
Respondents were asked to provide vend prices for front loaders of 15 traditional capacities, plus they had the option to list others. Among all the washer capacities, the 60-pounder (22 prices), 40-pounder (19 prices) and 80-pounder (19 prices) have the broadest pricing among operators surveyed.
DAILY MACHINE TURNS
Turns per day refers to the number of cycles (turns) that each of a store’s machines completes daily, which is a useful metric for illustrating a store’s busyness and efficiency.
For each machine class (top loader or front loader), you can calculate this using total cycles for a one-week period divided by the total number of machines in the class, then dividing by seven.
At present, the average turns per day for top loaders among respondents is 3.8, compared to the 4.3 turns logged last year.
For front loaders, the average number is 5.1 turns per day, compared to the average of 4.8 registered in 2025.
AVERAGE DRYER PRICING
Respondents were asked to express their current prices for their dryers as “25 cents for X minutes.” We’re accustomed to seeing a variety of responses, and this year’s result was no surprise.
There was a tie between two popular prices — 25 cents for 4 minutes and 25 cents for 5 minutes — with each being charged by 20.3% of store owners polled. Coming in third is 25 cents for 6 minutes (18.8%). Fourth is 25 cents for 8 minutes (14.1%).
OPERATING UTILITIES EXPENSE
Operators were asked to share their 2025 utilities cost (as a percentage of gross). The responses ranged from 3% (?) to 60%. Collectively, respondents paid an average of 19.5%, up from 18.2% in last year’s survey.
The most common individual response — for the fourth straight year! — was 20%. Whereas 68.6% reported a utilities cost of 20% or less last year, 62.5% reported the same this year.
Coming in Thursday’s conclusion: Raising prices, purchasing choices and the 2026 forecast
Miss an earlier part: Part 1 — Part 2
Have a question or comment? E-mail our editor Bruce Beggs at [email protected].
