By Carole · Published April 2026 · Last Updated April 16, 2026
I’ll be honest — I calculated my laundromat spending for the first time after two years of going every week. It was over $600 a year. I bought a portable washer the same week. It paid for itself in six months.
It was a Tuesday evening when I finally added it up. I’d been going to the laundromat twice a week for two years, spending what felt like $5–7 at a time, barely registering it as a cost. When I sat down and multiplied it out — $6 per trip, twice a week, 52 weeks — the number was $624. For a machine I’d never own.
That’s exactly why most renters never run the real number on laundry at home vs laundromat cost. Small payments don’t feel expensive, but they add up quietly. The real number, when you calculate it, tends to surprise people.
This post runs the actual math: what a laundromat costs per year, what a portable washing machine costs over the same period, and exactly when one becomes cheaper than the other. The numbers are more decisive than most people expect.
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What the Laundromat Actually Costs Per Year
| Cost Category | Per Load | Per Week (2 loads) | Per Year |
|---|---|---|---|
| Washing (standard machine) | $2.50–$4.00 | $5–$8 | $260–$416 |
| Drying (30–40 min cycle) | $1.00–$2.50 | $2–$5 | $104–$260 |
| Detergent (on-site or brought) | $0.25–$0.75 | $0.50–$1.50 | $26–$78 |
| Total (2 loads/week) | $3.75–$7.25 | $7.50–$14.50 | $390–$754 |
The national average per-load cost (wash + dry combined) is approximately $5.25 in 2026. The annual total lands between $390 and $754 depending on your market. These numbers don’t include transportation or time. The average laundromat trip takes 60–90 minutes — at 2 trips per week, that’s 104–156 hours per year spent specifically on laundry logistics. According to ENERGY STAR washer efficiency data, certified washers use about 14 gallons per load versus 20 gallons for a standard machine — meaning laundromat machines are also less efficient than a quality portable.
The reason most renters underestimate laundromat costs is simple: no single trip feels significant. $6 twice a week is just part of the routine. $520 a year for the same routine is a different conversation entirely.
READ: How to do laundry in an apartment with no hookup and Best portable washing machines for apartments in 2026
What a Portable Washing Machine Costs Per Year
| Cost Category | Per Load | Per Week (4 loads) | Per Year |
|---|---|---|---|
| Electricity (portable washer) | $0.10–$0.20 | $0.40–$0.80 | $21–$42 |
| Water per load | $0.10–$0.25 | $0.40–$1.00 | $21–$52 |
| Detergent (bulk, HE formula) | $0.10–$0.20 | $0.40–$0.80 | $21–$42 |
| Drying (rack + fan, no dryer) | $0.02–$0.05 | $0.10–$0.20 | $5–$10 |
| Total running costs | $0.32–$0.70 | $1.30–$2.80 | $68–$146 |
This table uses 4 loads per week — not 2. At home, most renters do more frequent, smaller loads because the cost per load is near zero. The comparison is realistic: similar or greater total laundry volume, at a fraction of the annual cost.
The Breakeven Calculation
| Machine Cost | Annual Laundromat Cost | Annual Home Cost | Annual Savings | Breakeven |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| $150 (budget portable) | $520/year | $107/year | $413/year | ~4.5 months |
| $250 (mid-range portable) | $520/year | $107/year | $413/year | ~7 months |
| $350 (full-featured portable) | $520/year | $107/year | $413/year | ~10 months |
Using a middle-case laundromat cost of $520/year and mid-range home running costs of $107/year: a $250 portable washer pays for itself in approximately 7 months and saves $413/year every year after that. After the breakeven point, every week you use the laundromat is money you’re losing. Over 3 years in the same apartment, the cumulative savings are approximately $1,000.
Most renters who switch to a portable washer don’t go back — not primarily because of the savings, but because doing laundry at home on your own schedule removes the time cost entirely. The financial case is strong. The time case is often stronger.
When the Laundromat Actually Makes More Sense
Bulky items: comforters, pillows, rugs
Portable washers handle regular clothing loads well, but most can’t fit a full comforter or large blanket. A laundromat with large-capacity machines ($4–8 for an oversized load) is genuinely useful for these items a few times per year. This doesn’t make the laundromat a weekly destination. It makes it a specific tool for specific items that don’t fit at home.
Short-term renters (under 6 months)
If you’re in an apartment for less than 6 months, the breakeven timeline may not be reached before you move — unless a portable washer moves with you to the next apartment, which changes the calculation entirely.
No available water connection
Portable washers connect to a standard kitchen or bathroom faucet. In rare cases where no accessible faucet exists, a portable washer isn’t practical. This is the exception where the laundromat wins by default.
The Hidden Cost Nobody Counts: Time
The financial comparison above is already decisive. But it doesn’t include the most significant cost of all. The average laundromat trip takes 60–90 minutes. For a renter doing 2 trips per week, that’s 120–180 minutes per week — 2–3 hours spent specifically on laundry logistics. Over 52 weeks, that’s 104–156 hours per year. Even if you don’t value your time in dollars, that’s 4–6 entire days per year given to laundry trips.
Doing laundry at home with a portable washer takes 5–10 minutes of active time per load. The machine runs while you do anything else. For the fastest drying setup once you have a portable washer, see our guide on how to dry clothes fast in a small apartment.
READ: How to dry clothes fast in a small apartment and Why clothes smell after drying indoors
FAQ — Laundry at Home vs Laundromat Cost
Is it cheaper to do laundry at home or at a laundromat?
At home is significantly cheaper once you see the full annual cost. The average laundromat costs $5.25 per load in 2026, or approximately $520/year for 2 loads per week. Running a portable washer at home costs $0.32–$0.70 per load, roughly $107/year for the same volume. A $250 portable washer hits breakeven in approximately 7 months and saves around $413/year after that.
How much does a laundromat cost per month in 2026?
For a single person doing laundry twice a week: approximately $43–$63/month. This includes washing ($2.50–$4.00 per load), drying ($1.00–$2.50 per load), and basic supplies. Urban markets are at the higher end. This doesn’t include transportation or the time cost of the trip.
Is a portable washing machine worth it for an apartment renter?
For most renters doing laundry regularly, yes. A mid-range portable washer ($200–$300) hits breakeven within 6–10 months of regular use, then saves $350–$450/year after that. The time savings — eliminating 1–2 laundromat trips per week — adds significant value that doesn’t appear in the financial comparison.
What is the cheapest way to do laundry in an apartment with no washer?
A portable washing machine connected to a faucet, combined with a drying rack and fan for air drying, is the lowest ongoing cost available. The per-load cost is $0.30–$0.70 versus $3.75–$7.25 at a laundromat. The upfront machine cost ($150–$350) is recovered within 4–10 months.
What does a portable washing machine save you per year?
Approximately $350–$450/year compared to regular laundromat use, not counting time savings. Over 3 years in the same apartment, cumulative savings are approximately $1,000–$1,350 after the cost of the machine.
Bottom Line
Before: $5–7 per trip, twice a week, 90-minute round trip, laundromat scheduling your weekend. It feels manageable because no single payment is significant. The annual cost — $400–$750 — only becomes visible when you calculate it.
After: portable washer at home. $0.32–$0.70 per load. 5–10 minutes of active time. Laundry runs while you do something else. The machine pays for itself in 7 months. Every year after that is $400+ recovered, plus 100+ hours of your time returned.
For the specific portable washers that work best in apartments without hookups, see our guide on the best portable washing machines for apartments. For the full laundry system without a washer-dryer setup, see how to do laundry in an apartment with no washer or dryer hookup.