Running a dry cleaning or laundrette business involves some of the most energy-intensive processes in the service industry. Whether using gas-powered dryers, electric washing machines, steam boilers, spotting equipment, or pressing stations, energy consumption is consistent, high, and heavily influenced by business size, operating hours, equipment age, and customer volume. Understanding monthly energy cost helps owners budget accurately, improve efficiency, and evaluate whether switching suppliers or tariffs could reduce bills.
Typical energy usage for a dry cleaning or laundrette business
Small or medium-sized laundrette premises typically use between 8,000 and 22,000 kWh of electricity per month, whereas larger dry cleaning sites with industrial machines, chemical cleaning systems, and steam finishing equipment may consume up to 30,000 kWh. Gas usage ranges from 12,000 to 55,000 kWh monthly, depending on whether tumble dryers, boilers, water heaters, and presses are gas-fired.
Typical monthly energy consumption ranges
| Business size | Electricity (kWh/month) | Gas (kWh/month) |
|---|---|---|
| Small (shop with 6–8 machines) | 8,000–12,000 | 12,000–20,000 |
| Medium (10–15 machines, steam press, ironing) | 13,000–21,000 | 20,000–38,000 |
| Large (industrial dry cleaning, boilers, high throughput) | 22,000–30,000+ | 40,000–55,000+ |
Monthly energy cost estimates for a dry cleaner or laundrette
| Business size | Estimated electricity cost | Estimated gas cost | Total monthly energy cost |
|---|---|---|---|
| Small | £2,088–£3,168 | £1,116–£1,836 | £3,204–£5,004 |
| Medium | £3,276–£5,502 | £1,836–£3,426 | £5,112–£8,928 |
| Large | £5,742–£7,740+ | £3,600–£5,085+ | £9,342–£12,825+ |
These cost ranges include standing charges and reflect current average business tariff rates. Businesses using SteamSpotting and chemical-based processes (such as Perchloroethylene systems) tend to be at the upper end of these ranges due to drying and heating requirements.
Key factors influencing energy spend
Operational hours
Laundrettes commonly operate between 12 and 14 hours daily, with some open 7 days a week. Longer operating hours significantly increase both electricity and gas usage.
Machine type and efficiency
Newer commercial machines use up to 35% less energy than older models. High-spin washers reduce drying time, lowering gas consumption.
Load volume and throughput
Higher turnover means more wash, dry, and press cycles. A busy laundrette processing 200+ customer loads daily could consume 25% more energy compared to a modest business.
Steam-based dry cleaning
Dry cleaning machines using PERC or hydrocarbon solvents can consume an additional 3,000–5,000 kWh per month for heating and solvent distillation.
Hot water systems
Water heating accounts for 15–25% of total energy usage. Installing heat recovery and insulated tanks lowers gas consumption.
How to reduce energy cost for a dry cleaner or laundrette
| Strategy | Typical saving potential | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Install heat recovery ventilators | 10–15% | Captures dryer exhaust heat |
| Upgrade to energy-rated washers/dryers | 15–35% | Many suppliers offer leasing with lower running costs |
| Switch to business fixed tariff | 8–12% | Protection from price volatility |
| Use LED lighting and smart timers | 5–7% | Reduces non-machine electricity usage |
| Maintain dryers and clean filters | 10–20% | Poor airflow increases energy use significantly |
| Off-peak operation (if possible) | 5–10% | Time-of-use tariffs can reduce costs |
Why energy matters in this industry
Energy is typically the second highest operating cost in dry cleaning and laundrette businesses after rent. Energy costs represent between 10% and 22% of monthly turnover, particularly for small premises in high street locations. Energy-efficient equipment and competitive tariffs have a direct impact on profit margins.
How to get cheaper business energy
Using a business energy comparison service is the quickest way to find fixed-rate business tariffs specifically for high-usage sectors like laundrette and textile cleaning. Some suppliers specialise in hospitality and service-based businesses and offer flexible contracts with discounts based on seasonal usage.
If you run a dry cleaning or laundrette business and want to understand your cost-per-load, explore renewable heating options, or get bespoke quotes based on actual usage, EnergyCosts.co.uk can help you compare suppliers and improve profitability through smarter energy management.
FAQ
A small laundrette normally uses between 8,000 and 12,000 kWh of electricity per month. At an average business rate of 26p per kWh, plus a standing charge, this results in a monthly cost of around £2,088 to £3,168 depending on machine type, operating hours, and efficiency levels.
A traditional dry cleaning shop with gas-powered dryers, boilers, and water heaters tends to use between 20,000 and 38,000 kWh of gas each month. At an average of 9p per kWh, this equates to £1,836 to £3,426 per month, excluding any additional demand for steam spotting or solvent distillation.
Wet laundry typically uses more electricity due to frequent washing and drying cycles, while dry cleaning uses more gas for heating and steam generation. Large dry cleaning operations using solvent recovery systems can consume 5,000 kWh more electricity and up to 10,000 kWh more gas per month than wet-only laundrettes.
Energy costs start to rise noticeably once throughput exceeds around 180 customer loads per day. At this point, additional dryers often run simultaneously, water heating demand intensifies, and steam pressing or finishing stations operate continuously, increasing both electricity and gas usage by 20% or more.
Yes. Commercial units use up to four times more energy per cycle than domestic machines, but they operate substantially faster and process larger loads. A standard commercial 14 kg washer may consume 1.1–1.6 kWh and 20–30 litres of hot water per wash, while a domestic model handles only a fraction of the load.
Energy typically accounts for between 10% and 22% of monthly operating costs in laundrette and dry cleaning businesses. Shops that rely heavily on gas-fired dryers, steam boilers, or solvent cleaning have higher energy cost ratios, especially when operating seven days per week.
High-spin washers, gas-transfer dryers with heat recovery, and direct-fired steam boilers with insulated tanks offer the best efficiency gains. These technologies can reduce energy usage by 25% to 40% compared to older vented models, while speeding up turnaround times.
Yes. Businesses can use solar PV to offset electricity use, and renewable business gas tariffs can reduce the carbon footprint of gas boilers and dryers. Some premises also use air source heat pumps for water heating and space warming, although performance depends on premises layout.
Most laundrette owners benefit from fixed business tariffs because they provide price certainty and allow accurate budgeting. High usage makes these businesses more exposed to wholesale price fluctuations, so fixed deals can reduce annual energy costs by 8% to 12% on average.
You can reduce energy demand by maintaining dryer airflow, cleaning lint filters daily, insulating hot water tanks, using smart timers for lighting and signage, and installing low-cost heat recovery units. These measures typically reduce energy bills by between 10% and 15% with minimal investment.