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Dry Cleaners in the US - Market Research Report (2015-2030)

Lucy Tang Lucy Tang New York, United States Last Updated: January 2025 NAICS 81232

Revenue

$9.4bn

2025

$9.5bn

Past 5-Year Growth

Profit

$XXX.Xm

Employees

105k

Businesses

25,775

Wages

$X.Xbn

Dry Cleaners in the US industry analysis

The dry cleaning sector has shifted in recent years, responding to evolving consumer behaviors and external market pressures. Businesses adapting their models to embrace contactless services have seen increased favorability as customers prioritize cleanliness and minimal interaction. Conversely, the traditional model of brick-and-mortar operations faces heightened challenges amid the growing mainstream trend of home laundering. Many consumers now prefer their washers and dryers, contributing to reduced customer footfall for professional cleaning services. Local laundromats also present cheaper alternatives, further diminishing the need for dry cleaning services. To maintain relevance, companies must embrace innovation in material and emphasize what distinguishes their services from at-home solutions, particularly in convenience and eco-friendliness. Industry revenue is expected to fall at a CAGR of 2.6% to $9.4 billion over the past five years, with a rise of 1.0% in 2024 alone.

Trends and Insights

  • Contactless services are gaining traction in the dry cleaning industry. As customers prioritize safety and convenience, businesses offering locker systems and delivery options stand out by aligning with these evolving expectations.
  • Households earning over $100k drive the dry cleaning market. They're the biggest spenders, favoring professional care for their quality clothing, while those earning less consider dry cleaning more of a luxury.
  • There’s a notable correlation between business locations and the dispersion of the US population. Dry cleaners congregate in areas with dense, white-collar populations like urban centers and suburbs.
  • In the dry cleaner industry, both buyers and suppliers exert considerable power over dry cleaners. Consumers are price-sensitive, while suppliers control machine pricing, pressing businesses to balance competitive pricing and managing expenses.

Access hundreds of data points and trends

  • Market estimates from 2015-2030
  • Critical performance data and rankings
  • Detailed analysis of competitive forces and the external environment
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Industry Statistics and Trends

Market size and recent performance (2015-2030)

Industry revenue has declined at a CAGR of 2.6 % over the past five years, to reach an estimated $9.4bn in 2025.

Trends and Insights

Contactless services are more favorable

  • Over the past five years, the industry has seen a downturn driven by changing consumer habits and external disruptions caused by the pandemic and the following inflation. The impact pushed many small businesses out because of their limited capacity to adapt to these challenges.
  • Additional trends and insights available with purchase
Dry Cleaners in the US
Revenue (2015-2030)
IBISWorld Logo Source: IBISWorld

Industry outlook (2025-2030)

Market size is projected to grow over the next five years.

Trends and Insights

Demand from the commercial market is expected to increase

  • Dry cleaners increasingly focus on commercial clients, such as hospitals, restaurants and hotels, rather than residential customers. These clients require efficient pick-up and delivery services for uniforms, towels, linens and tablecloths.

Biggest companies in the Dry Cleaners in the US

Company
Market Share (%)
2024
Revenue ($short_0)
2024
Profit ($short_0)
2024
Profit Margin (%)
2024

There are no companies that hold a large enough market share in the Dry Cleaners in the US industry for IBISWorld to include in this product.

Products & Services Segmentation

Dry Cleaners in the US
Products & Services
IBISWorld Logo Source: IBISWorld

Industry revenue is measured across several distinct product and services lines, including Retail dry cleaning services, Commercial full-service laundry and Commercial dry cleaning services. Retail dry cleaning services is the largest segment of the Dry Cleaners in the US.

Trends and Insights

Retail dry cleaning and laundry services continue to account for the largest share of revenue

  • Dry cleaning services clean clothing and textiles use chemical solvents instead of water. Traditionally reliant on perchloroethylene (PCE), businesses now explore alternatives because of environmental and health concerns surrounding PCE.
  • More insights available in the full report

Table of Contents

About this industry

Industry definition

Operators in this industry provide dry cleaning and laundering services. Companies may also provide drop-off and pick-up sites for customers. In addition, establishments may also offer specialty cleaning services for garments and textiles such as fur, leather, suede, wedding gowns, draperies and pillows.

What's included in this industry?

Full-service dry cleaningFull-service laundry

Companies

Purchase this report to view all major companies in this industry.

Related Terms

DRY CLEANINGWET CLEANINGPERCHLOROETHYLENE (PCE)

Industry Code

NAICS 2017

NAICS 81232 - Dry Cleaners in the US

Performance

Get an indication of the industry's health through historical, current and forward-looking trends in the performance indicators that make or break businesses.

Analyst insights

Contactless services are gaining traction in the dry cleaning industry. As customers prioritize safety and convenience, businesses offering locker systems and delivery option...

In this chapter (4)

  • Current Performance
  • Outlook
  • Volatility
  • Life Cycle

Key metrics

  • Annual Revenue, Recent Growth, Forecast, Revenue Volatility
  • Number of Employees, Recent Growth, Forecast, Employees per Business, Revenue per Employee
  • Number of Businesses, Recent Growth, Forecast, Employees per Business, Revenue per Business
  • Total Profit, Profit Margin, Profit per Business

Charts

  • Revenue, including historical (2015-2024) and forecast (2025-2030)
  • Employees, including historical (2015-2024) and forecast (2025-2030)
  • Businesses, including historical (2015-2024) and forecast (2025-2030)
  • Profit, including historical (2015-2025)
  • Industry Volatility vs. Revenue Growth
  • Industry Life Cycle

Detailed analysis

  • Trends in supply, demand and current events that are driving current industry performance
  • Expected trends, economic factors and ongoing events that drive the industry's outlook
  • Key success factors for businesses to overcome volatility
  • How contribution to GDP, industry saturation, innovation, consolidation, and technology and systems influence the industry's life cycle phase.

Products and Markets

Learn about an industry's products and services, markets and trends in international trade.

Analyst insight

Households earning over $100k drive the dry cleaning market. They're the biggest spenders, favoring professional care for their quality clothing, while those earning less con...

In this chapter

  • Products & Services
  • Major Markets

Key metrics

  • Largest market segment and value in 2025
  • Product innovation level

Charts

  • Products & services segmentation in 2025
  • Major market segmentation in 2025

Detailed analysis

  • Trends impacting the recent performance of the industry's various segments
  • Innovations in the industry's product or service offering, specialization or delivery method
  • Key factors that successful businesses consider in their offerings
  • Buying segments and key trends influencing demand for industry products and services

Geographic Breakdown

Discover where business activity is most concentrated in an industry and the factors driving these trends to find opportunities and conduct regional benchmarking.

Analyst insights

There’s a notable correlation between business locations and the dispersion of the US population. Dry cleaners congregate in areas with dense, white-collar populations like u...

In this chapter (1)

  • Business Locations

Charts

  • Share of revenue, establishment, wages and employment in each state
  • Share of population compared to establishments in each region in 2025

Tables

  • Number and share of establishments in each state in 2025
  • Number and share of revenue each state accounts for in 2025
  • Number and share of wages each state accounts for in 2025
  • Number and share of employees in each state in 2025

Detailed analysis

  • Geographic spread of the industry across North America, and trends associated with changes in the business landscape
  • Key success factors for businesses to use location to their advantage

Competitive Forces

Get data and insights on what's driving competition in an industry and the challenges industry operators and new entrants may face, with analysis built around Porter's Five Forces framework.

Analyst insights

In the dry cleaner industry, both buyers and suppliers exert considerable power over dry cleaners. Consumers are price-sensitive, while suppliers control machine pricing, pre...

In this chapter (4)

  • Concentration
  • Barriers to Entry
  • Substitutes
  • Buyer & Supplier Analysis

Key metrics

  • Industry concentration level
  • Industry competition level and trend
  • Barriers to entry level and trend
  • Substitutes level and trend
  • Buyer power level and trend
  • Supplier power level and trend

Charts

  • Market share concentration among the top 4 suppliers from 2020-2025
  • Supply chain including upstream supplying industries and downstream buying industries, flow chart

Detailed analysis

  • Factors impacting the industry’s level of concentration, such as business distribution, new entrants, or merger and acquisition activity.
  • Key success factors for businesses to manage the competitive environment of the industry.
  • Challenges that potential industry entrants face such as legal, start-up costs, differentiation, labor/capital intensity and capital expenses.
  • Key success factors for potential entrants to overcome barriers to entry.
  • Competitive threats from potential substitutes for the industry’s own products and services.
  • Key success factors for how successful businesses can compete with substitutes.
  • Advantages that buyers have to keep favorable purchasing conditions.
  • Advantages that suppliers have to maintain favorable selling conditions.
  • Key success factors for how businesses can navigate buyer and supplier power.

Companies

Learn about the performance of the top companies in the industry.

Analyst insights

There are no major companies in the dry cleaning industry. The service-based industry is highly fragmented, with companies focusing on delivering personalized and convenient ...

In this chapter

  • Market Share Concentration
  • Companies
  • Company Spotlights

Charts

  • Industry market share by company in 2021 through 2025
  • Major companies in the industry, including market share, revenue, profit and profit margin in 2025

Detailed analysis

    External Environment

    Understand the demographic, economic and regulatory factors that shape how businesses in an industry perform.   

    Analyst insights

    The EPA has implemented strict regulations on the industry. The chemical perchloroethylene has been found to be hazardous to both humans and the environment and the agency ha...

    In this chapter

    • External Drivers
    • Regulation & Policy
    • Assistance

    Key metrics

    • Regulation & policy level and trend
    • Assistance level and trend

    Charts

    • Regulation & Policy historical data and forecast (2015-2030) 
    • Assistance historical data and forecast (2015-2030) 

    Detailed analysis

    • Demographic and macroeconomic factors influencing the industry, including Regulation & Policy and Assistance
    • Major types of regulations, regulatory bodies, industry standards or specific regulations impacting requirements for industry operators
    • Key governmental and non-governmental groups or policies that may provide some relief for industry operators.

    Financial Benchmarks

    View average costs for industry operators and compare financial data against an industry's financial benchmarks over time. 

    Analyst insights

    Differentiation and operation size holds the key to profitability. Larger companies and those serving commercial clients tend to be more profitable, suggesting smaller player...

    In this chapter

    • Cost Structure
    • Financial Ratios
    • Key Ratios

    Key metrics

    • Profit margin, and how it compares to the sector-wide margin
    • Average wages, and how it compares to the sector-wide average wage
    • Largest cost component as a percentage of revenue
    • Industry average ratios for days' receivables, industry coverage and debt-to-net-worth ratio

    Charts

    • Average industry operating costs as a share of revenue, including purchases, wages, depreciation, utilities, rent, other costs and profit in 2025
    • Average sector operating costs as a share of revenue, including purchases, wages, depreciation, utilities, rent, other costs and profit in 2025
    • Investment vs. share of economy

    Data tables

    • Industry Multiples (2018-2023)
    • Industry Tax Structure (2018-2023)
    • Income Statement (2018-2023)
    • Balance Sheet (2018-2023)
    • Liquidity Ratios (2018-2023)
    • Coverage Ratios (2018-2023)
    • Leverage Ratios  (2018-2023)
    • Operating Ratios (2018-2023)
    • Cash Flow & Debt Service Ratios (2015-2030)
    • Revenue per Employee (2015-2030)
    • Revenue per Enterprise (2015-2030)
    • Employees per Establishment (2015-2030)
    • Employees per Enterprise (2015-2030)
    • Average Wage (2015-2030)
    • Wages/Revenue (2015-2030)
    • Establishments per Enterprise (2015-2030)
    • IVA/Revenue (2015-2030)
    • Imports/Demand (2015-2030)
    • Exports/Revenue (2015-2030)

    Detailed analysis

    • Trends in the cost component for industry operators and their impact on industry costs and profitability 

    Key Statistics

    Industry Data

    Data Tables

    Including values and annual change:

    • Revenue (2015-2030)
    • IVA (2015-2030)
    • Establishments (2015-2030)
    • Enterprises (2015-2030)
    • Employment (2015-2030)
    • Exports (2015-2030)
    • Imports (2015-2030)
    • Wages (2015-2030)

    Top Questions Answered

    Unlock comprehensive answers and precise data upon purchase. View purchase options.

    What is the market size of the Dry Cleaners in the US industry in United States in 2025?

    The market size of the Dry Cleaners in the US industry in United States is $9.4bn in 2025.

    How many businesses are there in the Dry Cleaners in the US industry in 2025?

    There are 25,775 businesses in the Dry Cleaners in the US industry in United States, which has declined at a CAGR of 3.4 % between 2020 and 2025.

    Has the Dry Cleaners in the US industry in United States grown or declined over the past 5 years?

    The market size of the Dry Cleaners in the US industry in United States has been declining at a CAGR of 2.6 % between 2020 and 2025.

    What is the forecast growth of the Dry Cleaners in the US industry in United States over the next 5 years?

    Over the next five years, the Dry Cleaners in the US industry in United States is expected to grow.

    What does the Dry Cleaners in the US in United States include?

    Full-service dry cleaning and Full-service laundry are part of the Dry Cleaners in the US industry.

    How competitive is the Dry Cleaners in the US industry in United States?

    The level of competition is high and increasing in the Dry Cleaners in the US industry in United States.

    Related Industries

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    Competitors

    • There are no industries to display.

    Complementors

    • There are no industries to display.

    View all industries in United States

    Methodology

    How are IBISWorld reports created?

    IBISWorld has been a leading provider of trusted industry research for over 50 years to the most successful companies worldwide. With offices in Australia, the United States, the United Kingdom, Germany and China, we are proud to have local teams of analysts that conduct research, data analysis and forecasting to produce data-driven industry reports.

    Our analysts start with official, verified and publicly available sources of data to build the most accurate picture of each industry. Analysts then leverage their expertise and knowledge of the local markets to synthesize trends into digestible content for IBISWorld readers. Finally, each report is reviewed by one of IBISWorld’s editors, who provide quality assurance to ensure accuracy and readability.

    IBISWorld relies on human-verified data and human-written analysis to compile each standard industry report. We do not use generative AI tools to write insights, although members can choose to leverage AI-based tools within the platform to generate additional analysis formats.

    What data sources do IBISWorld analysts use?

    Each industry report incorporates data and research from government databases, industry-specific sources, industry contacts, and our own proprietary database of statistics and analysis to provide balanced, independent and accurate insights.

    Key data sources in the US include: 

    • US Census Bureau
    • US Bureau of Labor Statistics
    • US International Trade Commission

    Analysts also use industry specific sources to complement catch-all sources, although their perspective may focus on a particular organization or representative body, rather than a clear overview of all industry operations. However, when balanced against other perspectives, industry-specific sources provide insights into industry trends.

    These sources include:

    • Industry and trade associations
    • Industry federations or regulators
    • Major industry players annual or quarterly filings

    Finally, IBISWorld’s global data scientists maintain a proprietary database of macroeconomic and demand drivers, which our analysts use to help inform industry data and trends. They also maintain a database of statistics and analysis on thousands of industries, which has been built over our more than 50-year history and offers comprehensive insights into long-term trends.

    How does IBISWorld forecast its data?

    IBISWorld’s analysts and data scientists use the sources above to create forecasts for our proprietary datasets and industry statistics. Depending on the dataset, they may use regression analysis, multivariate analysis, time-series analysis or exponential smoothing techniques to project future data for the industry or driver. Additionally, analysts will leverage their local knowledge of industry operating and regulatory conditions to impart their best judgment on the forecast model.

    IBISWorld prides itself on being a trusted, independent source of data, with over 50 years of experience building and maintaining rich datasets and forecasting tools. We are proud to be the keystone source of industry information for thousands of companies across the world.

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