Laundromat Business Trends: Large-Capacity Commercial Washers and Dryers

Vended laundry businesses profit from high-capacity machines by charging customers premium rates for the convenience of multi-load washing and drying. Larger machines bring big business opportunities for card- and coin-operated laundromat owners who want to increase sales without expanding their footprint. Customers will pay more for the convenience of doing all their laundry at once. Our specialists weigh in on what's driving this trend and how laundromat owners can benefit from updating to larger vended washers and dryers.

Laundromat Industry Trends

For the past several years, the laundromat industry has been heading toward a preference for bigger machines, offering fewer top-loading washers and 30-lb. dryers. Here's how we've been watching this laundromat trend develop:

In 2020, Planet Laundry, the magazine of the Coin Laundry Association, reporting an increasing emphasis on 60-lb. washers and above.
Just one year later, the magazine stated in their article "Go Big" that "large-capacity washers are the most important element in any vended laundry today — and every store owner should have at least two of each unique capacity."
Fast-forward to 2024, when laundromat owners echoed these sentiments, with one stating, "The addition of larger-capacity washers and dryers has been particularly impactful," when discussing laundromat experience improvements.
A 2025 article confirmed that some "key money-makers for many laundry owners are large equipment and wash-dry-fold-services."

Customer preferences continue to drive owners to adopt higher capacity machines or rish the laundromat's future growth.

4 Benefits of High-Capacity Machines for Laundromat Owners

Upgrading to larger machines isn't just about hopping on the latest laundromat trends. The undeniable attraction of large-capacity machines results in an expanded customer base, more revenue, and great efficiency for more successful laundromats. Soon, the answer to the question of which is the best washing machine for a laundromat may be "the biggest one you can afford."

1. Maximize Laundromat Profits

These days, maximizing a laundromat's profit requires upgrading to larger-capacity machines to increase the throughput without running out of floorspace or overextending your utilities. With Western State Design's support, laundry businesses can optimize profits with a machine mix that maximizes every square inch.

2. Enhance the Customer Experience

Commercial washers with 60 lb, 80 lb, and 120 lb capacity translates to 6 to 10 residential-size loads, giving customers who choose these machines hours back in their days. The convenience of washing and drying your family's clothes twice a month in one fell swoop is driving even owners of residential washer/dryers to the laundromat.

3. Expand Your Customer Base

Marketing a modern coin laundry and introducing the home market to the capabilities of high-capacity commercial washers and dryers can attract new clientele, increasing your customer base and your laundry business' profits. Homeowners with washers and dryers may not have considered the ease of multi-load linen processing or that laundering a week's worth of laundry in a single cycle is possible. Offering this crowd a solution they cannot easily replicate at home can draw in new customers eager to benefit from modern coin-operated laundry machines.

WSD's laundromat owner clients report that more than a few of their customers own their own laundry equipment at home. These customers give various reasons for going to their local laundromat and using the large machines:

They want to get all their laundry done at once, to save time — and also, utility costs
They have bulky items such as comforters, duvets and bedspreads that don’t fit in their small residential laundry machines
Top-rated Dexter commercial washers and dryers clean and sanitize their laundry more effectively than their home machines—an important point in the age of Covid-19.

4. Optimize Laundromat Operations

Upgrading to larger, modern coin-operated laundry machines can increase customer throughput without taxing your utilities. Because Dexter vended laundry machines are efficient, laundromat business profits won't be spent on utilities for bigger loads. In addition, the big machines tend to be faster and quieter, allowing for more paying customers in a more pleasant environment.

Full-service laundromats can also benefit from larger equipment. When you're equipped to process larger loads, you can add services like wash-dry-fold that add value to your laundromat. Completing customer orders in fewer loads streamlines operations and allows staff to focus on customer service and other enhancements.

Setting Your Laundromat Up for Future Success

Business owners have reported that up to 50% of their weekly profits come from large-capacity commercial washers and dryers. This trend confirms that the future of laundromats will demand that businesses provide a selection of traditional and oversized equipment to meet every customer's needs.

Adding large capacity commercial laundry equipment to the mix in your laundromat will set you apart from competitors who still rely on slower, less efficient top-loading or 20-lb machines. As mentioned above, the bigger machines also make quick work of comforters, rugs, sleeping bags, and other bulky items that overload home washers or top-loading commercial washing machines.

Machines for Modern Coin and Card Laundry Operations

If you're ready to set yourself up for the future, browse Western State Design's selection of the industry's best modern coin- and card-operated laundry machines. Following these laundromat trends not only pleases customers but also provides new opportunities for profitable growth.

Explore these high-capacity equipment options, then contact a WSD Laundry Specialist to schedule your delivery and installation:

High-Volume Vended Washers: With remote access technology and efficient operations, Dexter commercial washers in 90-lb-to 120-lb. models can increase your processing capacity and profits.
Large Capacity Laundromat Dryers: Increase your drying capabilities to complement high-capacity washers with Dexter commercial dryers in 50-lb. and 80-lb. capacities.
Space-Saving Laundry Machines: Profits come down to throughput. With fast, space-saving Dexter reversing dryers, customers can launder sheets, towels, and comforters with ease and efficiency, increasing turnover rates.

While it's not a new trend for laundry businesses to strive for profits, the revenue drivers have changed. Owners now let the machines do the work, enhancing customer satisfaction with quick, quiet, multi-load processing. Prepare your laundromat for thge future and upgrade your equipment today. Contact a WSD Laundry Specialist for a price quote and specifications for your store to maximize your operations' efficiency and meet customer demands.