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Industrial Laundry & Linen Supply in the US - Market Research Report (2014-2029)

Vaughan Immerwahr Vaughan Immerwahr New York, United States Last Updated: December 2024 NAICS 81233

Revenue

$19.6bn

2024

$19.6bn

Past 5-Year Growth

Profit

$X.Xbn

Employees

113k

Businesses

1,813

Wages

$X.Xbn

Industrial Laundry & Linen Supply in the US industry analysis

The industrial laundry and linen supply industry has demonstrated resilience amid changing economic conditions. Recent performance underscores the industry's adaptability, particularly through the diversity of its clientele across sectors such as healthcare, hospitality and manufacturing. This diversification has cushioned revenue losses during sector-specific downturns. Growing consumer spending has also pushed more revenue and activity into laundry and linen suppliers' core customer base, boosting their need for industry services and supplies. Over the past five years, revenue increased at a CAGR of 0.3% to $19.6 billion, with an estimated growth of 0.7% by the end of 2024.

Trends and Insights

  • Laundry and linen supply outsourcing stayed in demand despite disruptions to core markets. Diversified companies fared better, as sectors like healthcare helped offset revenue losses from hospitality and food service.
  • Diversified end markets limit industrial launderers’ exposure to volatility. Diversification has enabled industrial launderers to feel less vulnerable during the pandemic, as losses were offset by a faster growth rate in another market.
  • Quick turnaround time is essential for industrial launderers. Laundry facilities are strategically located near downstream markets to reduce delivery times and costs.
  • Specialization limits market share concentration and reduces the potential for any single entity to dominate the market. Most industrial launderers are small, independent companies catering to specific downstream markets, leading to a fragmented industry.

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  • Market estimates from 2014-2029
  • 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 (2014-2029)

Industry revenue has grown at a CAGR of 0.3 % over the past five years, to reach an estimated $19.6bn in 2024.

Trends and Insights

Diversification has minimized potential revenue loss

  • Industrial launderers with clients across multiple sectors have navigated the economic turbulence of the past five years more effectively. As hospitality and food service industries faced substantial downturns early in the current period, the strong demand from the healthcare sector mitigated revenue losses. The ongoing need for clean linens and uniforms in healthcare provided a crucial buffer during this challenging period.
  • Additional trends and insights available with purchase
Industrial Laundry & Linen Supply in the US
Revenue (2014-2029)
IBISWorld Logo Source: IBISWorld

Industry outlook (2024-2029)

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

Trends and Insights

Domestic production and rising demand will fuel laundered linen and apparel industry

  • Industrial activity is set to rise as global tensions and trade conflicts push for increased domestic production. This shift towards local manufacturing will likely drive demand for industrial uniforms and apparel supply services.

Biggest companies in the Industrial Laundry & Linen Supply in the US

Company
Market Share (%)
2024
Revenue ($m)
2024
Profit ($m)
2024
Profit Margin (%)
2024
Cintas Corporation
7,020.6
1,513.4
21.6
Aramark Corp
2,813.9
362.7
12.9
Unifirst Corporation
2,055.4
151.5
7.4

To view the market share and analysis for all 4 top companies in this industry, view purchase options.

Products & Services Segmentation

Industrial Laundry & Linen Supply in the US
Products & Services
IBISWorld Logo Source: IBISWorld

Industry revenue is measured across several distinct product and services lines, including Linen supply, Uniform supply and Other services. Linen supply is the largest segment of the Industrial Laundry & Linen Supply in the US.

Trends and Insights

Uniform supply adjusts to economic changes and increasing demand for safety and branding

  • This segment includes the supply and laundering of uniforms and other related work garments on a rental or contract basis.
  • More insights available in the full report

Table of Contents

About this industry

Industry definition

Companies in this industry supply laundered items, such as uniforms, gowns, coats, table linens, bed linens, towels, cleanroom apparel and treated mops, to various industries. These items are provided on a rental or contract basis. Typical clients include industrial, healthcare, food service and hospitality establishments.

What's included in this industry?

Uniform supplyLinen supplyLaundry services

Companies

Cintas CorporationAramark CorpUnifirst Corporation

Purchase this report to view all 4 major companies in this industry.

Related Terms

TUNNEL WASHEROUTSOURCENONYLPHENOL ETHOXYLATE (NPE)CLEANROOM GARMENTCLEANROOM

Industry Code

NAICS 2017

NAICS 81233 - Industrial Laundry & Linen Supply 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

Laundry and linen supply outsourcing stayed in demand despite disruptions to core markets. Diversified companies fared better, as sectors like healthcare helped offset revenu...

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 (2014-2023) and forecast (2024-2029)
  • Employees, including historical (2014-2023) and forecast (2024-2029)
  • Businesses, including historical (2014-2023) and forecast (2024-2029)
  • Profit, including historical (2014-2024)
  • 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

Diversified end markets limit industrial launderers’ exposure to volatility. Diversification has enabled industrial launderers to feel less vulnerable during the pandemic, as...

In this chapter

  • Products & Services
  • Major Markets

Key metrics

  • Largest market segment and value in 2024
  • Product innovation level

Charts

  • Products & services segmentation in 2024
  • Major market segmentation in 2024

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

Quick turnaround time is essential for industrial launderers. Laundry facilities are strategically located near downstream markets to reduce delivery times and costs.

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 2024

Tables

  • Number and share of establishments in each state in 2024
  • Number and share of revenue each state accounts for in 2024
  • Number and share of wages each state accounts for in 2024
  • Number and share of employees in each state in 2024

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

Specialization limits market share concentration and reduces the potential for any single entity to dominate the market. Most industrial launderers are small, independent com...

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 2019-2024
  • 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

A few major industrial launderers shape the trajectory for industrial laundry and linen suppliers. Leading the pack, Cintas serves over one million businesses across various ...

In this chapter

  • Market Share Concentration
  • Companies
  • Company Spotlights

Charts

  • Industry market share by company in 2020 through 2024
  • Major companies in the industry, including market share, revenue, profit and profit margin in 2024
  • Overview of Cintas Corporation's performance by revenue, market share and profit margin from 2018 through 2024
  • Overview of Aramark Corp's performance by revenue, market share and profit margin from 2018 through 2024
  • Overview of Unifirst Corporation's performance by revenue, market share and profit margin from 2018 through 2024
  • Overview of revenue, market share and profit margin trend for one additional company

Detailed analysis

  • Description and key data for Cintas Corporation, and factors influencing its performance in the industry
  • Description and key data for Aramark Corp, and factors influencing its performance in the industry
  • Description and key data for Unifirst Corporation, and factors influencing its performance in the industry
  • Description, key data and performance trends for one additional company

External Environment

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

Analyst insights

Proper use, storage and disposal of cleaning chemicals and solvents used by industrial launderers is overseen by the EPA. Since these chemicals contain toxic chemicals that p...

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 (2014-2029) 
  • Assistance historical data and forecast (2014-2029) 

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

Automation boosts productivity and lowers reliance on labor. Industrial launderers that have increasingly adopted automated processes enjoy a higher profit.

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 2024
  • Average sector operating costs as a share of revenue, including purchases, wages, depreciation, utilities, rent, other costs and profit in 2024
  • Investment vs. share of economy

Data tables

  • Industry Multiples (2017-2022)
  • Industry Tax Structure (2017-2022)
  • Income Statement (2017-2022)
  • Balance Sheet (2017-2022)
  • Liquidity Ratios (2017-2022)
  • Coverage Ratios (2017-2022)
  • Leverage Ratios  (2017-2022)
  • Operating Ratios (2017-2022)
  • Cash Flow & Debt Service Ratios (2014-2029)
  • Revenue per Employee (2014-2029)
  • Revenue per Enterprise (2014-2029)
  • Employees per Establishment (2014-2029)
  • Employees per Enterprise (2014-2029)
  • Average Wage (2014-2029)
  • Wages/Revenue (2014-2029)
  • Establishments per Enterprise (2014-2029)
  • IVA/Revenue (2014-2029)
  • Imports/Demand (2014-2029)
  • Exports/Revenue (2014-2029)

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 (2014-2029)
  • IVA (2014-2029)
  • Establishments (2014-2029)
  • Enterprises (2014-2029)
  • Employment (2014-2029)
  • Exports (2014-2029)
  • Imports (2014-2029)
  • Wages (2014-2029)

Top Questions Answered

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

What is the market size of the Industrial Laundry & Linen Supply in the US industry in United States in 2024?

The market size of the Industrial Laundry & Linen Supply in the US industry in United States is $19.6bn in 2024.

How many businesses are there in the Industrial Laundry & Linen Supply in the US industry in 2024?

There are 1,813 businesses in the Industrial Laundry & Linen Supply in the US industry in United States, which has declined at a CAGR of 0.5 % between 2019 and 2024.

Has the Industrial Laundry & Linen Supply in the US industry in United States grown or declined over the past 5 years?

The market size of the Industrial Laundry & Linen Supply in the US industry in United States has been growing at a CAGR of 0.3 % between 2019 and 2024.

What is the forecast growth of the Industrial Laundry & Linen Supply in the US industry in United States over the next 5 years?

Over the next five years, the Industrial Laundry & Linen Supply in the US industry in United States is expected to grow.

What are the biggest companies in the Industrial Laundry & Linen Supply in the US market in United States?

The biggest companies operating in the Industrial Laundry & Linen Supply market in United States are Cintas Corporation, Aramark Corp and Unifirst Corporation

What does the Industrial Laundry & Linen Supply in the US in United States include?

Uniform supply and Linen supply are part of the Industrial Laundry & Linen Supply in the US industry.

Which companies have the highest market share in the Industrial Laundry & Linen Supply in the US in United States?

The company holding the most market share in United States is Cintas Corporation.

How competitive is the Industrial Laundry & Linen Supply in the US industry in United States?

The level of competition is high and steady in the Industrial Laundry & Linen Supply in the US industry in United States.

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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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