Rex says
Money math without the spreadsheet headache. Plug in your numbers and I'll show you exactly where the dollars land.
Try a scenario
Click to load — tweak from there.Inputs
Result
Payback period
21.9
Monthly profit from this machine
$434
Annual profit from this machine
$5,212
Net profit per turn
$3.40
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How to use this
- 1Enter machine cost + installation ($).
- 2Enter average price per turn ($).
- 3Enter utility + maintenance cost per turn ($).
- 4Enter turns per day.
- 5Read your payback period on the right — it updates as you type.
- 6Hit Share to keep the scenario or send it to someone.
About this calculator
Buying commercial laundry equipment is a capital decision that should be judged the same way as any other equipment purchase: net cash generated per period against the upfront cost. This calculator takes a machine's purchase and installation price, its average revenue per turn, daily turns, and per-turn operating cost (water, gas or electric, detergent if house-supplied, and a maintenance reserve), and computes net daily profit, then divides the machine cost by that to get a payback period in months. Most commercial laundromat equipment is underwritten to pay back within 24-36 months; anything beyond 48 months usually isn't worth the capital given typical 10-12 year machine life and financing costs.
Worked example
Using the values the calculator loads with:
Inputs
- Machine cost + installation: 9500 $
- Average price per turn: 4.5 $
- Utility + maintenance cost per turn: 1.1 $
- Turns per day: 4.2
Results
- Payback period: 21.9
- Monthly profit from this machine: $434
- Annual profit from this machine: $5,212
- Net profit per turn: $3.40
What each field means
Inputs
- Machine cost + installation ($)
- The machine cost + installation used in the calculation, measured in $. Starts at 9500 $ so you have a working example on load.
- Average price per turn ($)
- The average price per turn used in the calculation, measured in $. Starts at 4.5 $ so you have a working example on load.
- Utility + maintenance cost per turn ($)
- The utility + maintenance cost per turn used in the calculation, measured in $. Starts at 1.1 $ so you have a working example on load.
- Turns per day
- The turns per day used in the calculation. Starts at 4.2 so you have a working example on load.
Results
- Payback period
- Returned as a decimal number and shown as the headline result. It recalculates instantly whenever you change an input, so you can compare scenarios without reloading.
- Monthly profit from this machine
- Returned as a money amount in US dollars. It recalculates instantly whenever you change an input, so you can compare scenarios without reloading.
- Annual profit from this machine
- Returned as a money amount in US dollars. It recalculates instantly whenever you change an input, so you can compare scenarios without reloading.
- Net profit per turn
- Returned as a money amount in US dollars. It recalculates instantly whenever you change an input, so you can compare scenarios without reloading.
FAQ
What's a normal payback period for a new washer?
20-36 months for a standard top-load or front-load washer at typical urban utilization. Large-capacity machines (60-80 lb) often pay back faster in dollar terms because they carry higher prices per turn, even though the machine itself costs more upfront.
Does this include financing cost?
No, this is a cash payback calculation on the sticker price. If you finance equipment, add the monthly loan payment to the cost side of the ledger or compare payback period against your loan term to make sure cash flow stays positive throughout.
How much should I budget for maintenance per turn?
Plan on $0.15-$0.40 per turn set aside for a maintenance reserve on top of actual utility cost, more for older or coin-mechanism machines. Card-based payment systems reduce coin-related mechanical failures but add a per-transaction processing fee that should also go into cost per turn.
Should I buy new or refurbished machines?
Refurbished commercial machines cost 40-60% of new and can cut payback time in half if reliability holds, but they typically carry a shorter remaining service life and a shorter warranty. Run this calculator with both price points and compare payback against expected years of remaining service, not just months.
Accuracy and limitations
- Results are estimates before tax, fees, and inflation unless an input explicitly covers them.
- Rates are treated as fixed for the whole period — variable-rate products will drift from this projection.
- This is educational maths, not financial advice. Check anything contractual with the lender or your accountant.
Related tools
Laundromat Turns Per Day Calculator
Estimate daily washer turns and revenue based on operating hours and cycle time.
Laundromat Utility Cost Per Load Calculator
Break down water, sewer, gas, and electric cost for a single wash-dry cycle.
Laundromat Monthly Revenue Projection Calculator
Project monthly revenue, expenses, and net profit for a coin or card laundromat.
Cite this calculator
Writing about this topic? Grab a citation — every link helps keep these tools free.
RevenueLab. (2026). Laundromat Machine Payback Calculator. Retrieved from https://www.revenuelab.fyi/toolbox/laundromat-machine-payback
<p>Source: <a href="https://www.revenuelab.fyi/toolbox/laundromat-machine-payback" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Laundromat Machine Payback Calculator — RevenueLab</a> (2026).</p>
Source: [Laundromat Machine Payback Calculator — RevenueLab](https://www.revenuelab.fyi/toolbox/laundromat-machine-payback) (2026).