Laundromat Equipment: What You Need and What It Costs

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A laundromat needs commercial washers and dryers, a way to take payment, hot water, and a handful of fixtures such as carts and folding tables. In published prices we checked on November 14, 2026, new vended machines ranged from $1,558 for a Speed Queen coin-drop top-load washer to $28,180 for a 110-pound washer-extractor, and new stack dryers ran from about $11,700 to $13,600. Refurbished machines cost less but have less service life left.

Last updated: November 14, 2026.

This guide lists what to buy, what it costs at published prices, how long each piece is expected to last, and how to choose a mix for your customers. For the full startup budget, see how much it costs to open a laundromat. Our other owner guides are on the coin laundry and laundromats page.

Laundromat equipment checklist

Washers. Usually a mix of small top-load or front-load machines and larger front-load washer-extractors for bedding and big family loads.
Dryers. Stacked dryers save floor space; large single-pocket dryers handle comforters and big loads.
Payment system. Coin boxes and coin acceptors, a card or app system, or a hybrid.
Bill changers. Needed if customers pay with coins or need coins for vending.
Water heating. Commercial water heaters or a boiler, often with storage tanks.
Fixtures. Rolling carts, folding tables, seating, signage, lighting, and security cameras.
Extras. Vending machines for detergent and snacks, and shelving or bagging stations if you offer wash-dry-fold.

Commercial washer prices

The table below lists new vended or coin-ready washers at published online prices. Prices change, and many distributors quote by phone, so treat these as examples rather than the price you will pay. Freight, installation, and coin boxes are not always included.

Machine	Capacity	Listed price	Seller
Speed Queen commercial top-load washer, coin drop (SWNNC2SP116TW01)	3.19 cu. ft. tub	$1,558	OEM Laundry Parts & Equipment
Speed Queen front-load washer, coin operated, pump drain (SFNNCASP115TW01)	22 lb	$2,378	OEM Laundry Parts & Equipment
Speed Queen stack washer-dryer, coin drop, gas (STGNCASP116TW01)	Washer and dryer in one unit	$4,315	OEM Laundry Parts & Equipment
B&C Technologies HX vended washer	20 lb	$8,810	Laundry Owners Warehouse
B&C Technologies HX vended washer	35 lb	$12,195	Laundry Owners Warehouse
B&C Technologies HX vended washer	65 lb	$17,960	Laundry Owners Warehouse
B&C Technologies HX vended washer	85 lb	$24,595	Laundry Owners Warehouse
B&C Technologies HX vended washer	110 lb	$28,180	Laundry Owners Warehouse

Small coin top-loaders and 22-pound front-loaders are often sold for apartment laundry rooms. One seller, Midwest Laundries, notes on its listing for the same Speed Queen top-loader that it offers that model only for multi-housing installations. For a retail laundromat, ask a distributor which models and controls they will sell and support for vended store use.

Commercial dryer prices

Machine	Capacity	Listed price	Seller
B&C Technologies DE vended dryer	35 lb	$7,200	Laundry Owners Warehouse
ADC AD-50V vended dryer	50 lb	$6,588	Laundry Owners Warehouse
Maytag vended dryer (MDG36PDAWW)	35 lb	$6,999	Laundry Owners Warehouse
ADC AD-78 vended dryer	75 lb	$8,540	Laundry Owners Warehouse
ADC AD-333 stack dryer	30 lb per pocket, two pockets	$11,677	Laundry Owners Warehouse
ADC AD-444 stack dryer	45 lb per pocket, two pockets	$13,591	Laundry Owners Warehouse

Dryers bring their own installation needs. Dexter’s published specifications for its 30-pound vended stack dryer, shown on a distributor’s spec page, list 90,000 BTU per hour of gas use on 60 Hz models, an 8-inch exhaust, 18 inches of clearance behind the machine, and 1.5 square feet of make-up air. Each dryer you add increases the gas supply, venting, and fresh-air requirements of the building. Our guides to dryer vent cleaning and dryer venting explain why vents need regular attention.

Bill changers and payment systems

Coin stores need a dependable bill changer. Suncoast Changer Service listed bill changers from about $2,230 for a small single-hopper model to $13,670 for a large four-hopper unit, with a Standard Change-Makers SC62 at $3,930. Size the changer to how many coins your store dispenses on a busy day, so it does not run empty between fills.

Card and app systems replace or supplement coins. CLA’s step-by-step guide tells new owners to plan the payment system (card, app, coin, or hybrid) at the same time as the equipment. That matters because machines are ordered with specific controls, such as coin drop or card-ready. Our guide to converting coin laundry to card covers the trade-offs.

New vs. refurbished equipment

Refurbished machines can cut the equipment bill. Midwest Laundries listed these rebuilt washers on November 14, 2026:

Refurbished washer	Capacity	Listed price
2017 Speed Queen SCN020WCVXU3001	20 lb	$2,900
2017 Speed Queen SCN040WCVXU2002	40 lb	$4,800
2005 Dexter WCAD75KCS-12EC T1200	75 lb	$6,500
2010 Huebsch HCN080HCFX1101	80 lb	$8,500
2013 Speed Queen SCN100WCVX12001	100 lb	$10,800

The trade-off is remaining life and warranty. The 2017 Speed Queen 40-pound listing, for example, came with a three-month parts warranty and a one-year bearing warranty, and did not include coin boxes. Compare that with the warranty on a new machine, and check the age of any used unit against the service-life standards below.

How long laundromat equipment lasts

CLA, The Laundry Association, publishes an accepted standard of useful life for commercial coin laundry equipment in its industry overview:

Equipment	Useful life (CLA)
Top-load washers (12 to 14 lb)	5 to 8 years
Front-load washers (18 to 50 lb)	10 to 15 years
Dryers (30 to 60 lb)	10 to 15 years
Heating systems	10 to 15 years
Coin changers	10 to 15 years

CLA notes that actual life varies with usage, sales volume, and maintenance, and that useful life for accounting or tax purposes may differ. This table is also handy when you are buying an existing laundromat, because machines near the end of their life will need replacing soon after you take over.

Choosing the right equipment mix

The best mix depends on who will use the store. CLA’s white paper on demographic analysis and site selection says age, income, household size, and number of children can help determine machine size and mix. It gives examples: a population with many seniors may need more small machines and top-loaders, while a denser area with more children and larger working households may need more large machines. A store that serves both groups may need some of each.

Balance dryers against washers, too. CLA says dryer income generally runs between 40 and 60 percent of washer income, and that it depends partly on the number of dryers relative to washers and on dryer size. Too few dryers create lines; too many sit idle. A distributor can model this for your floor plan.

CLA’s step-by-step guide recommends choosing high-efficiency, large-capacity washers and putting weight on distributor support, since parts and service matter as much as the purchase price over a machine’s life.

Efficiency and utility costs

Utilities are one of a laundromat’s biggest ongoing expenses. Gold Coin Laundry Equipment says in its FAQ that with water- and energy-efficient commercial machines, utility costs often average 15 to 25 percent of monthly gross income, while older, less efficient equipment can push utilities beyond 30 percent. ENERGY STAR says certified commercial clothes washers are on average 9 percent more efficient and use about 45 percent less water than standard models. Ask your distributor for water use per cycle and gas use per hour for each model you consider.

Financing equipment

Many owners finance machines rather than paying cash. The SBA’s 7(a) loan program lists purchasing and installing machinery and equipment among its allowed uses. Distributors and equipment lenders also offer loans and leases. Compare the total cost over the term, not only the monthly payment, and confirm who is responsible for repairs during a lease.

Frequently asked questions

How much does laundromat equipment cost in total?

It depends on the number and size of machines. Using the listed prices above, a store with dozens of washers and dryers can easily need six figures in equipment before installation, freight, and payment hardware. Get a written equipment proposal for your floor plan from at least two distributors.

Which brands do laundromats use?

Common commercial brands include Speed Queen, Dexter, Huebsch, Electrolux, Continental Girbau, Wascomat, Maytag Commercial, ADC, and B&C Technologies. The better choice is usually the brand your local distributor services well.

Can I use home washers in a laundromat?

Home machines are not built for the number of cycles a laundromat runs or for vended payment. Commercial machines are designed for heavy use and have coin or card controls. Check your equipment warranty, because home-use machines in commercial service may not be covered.

Can I lease laundromat equipment?

Yes. Distributors and lenders offer leases and loans. Compare the total payments with buying, and ask what happens at the end of the lease term.

When should machines be replaced?

CLA’s service-life standards are a starting point: 5 to 8 years for small top-loaders, and 10 to 15 years for front-load washers, dryers, heating systems, and coin changers. Rising repair costs, frequent downtime, and customer complaints are signs a machine is near the end of its useful life.