There is no standard laundry price in South Africa. A useful laundry services price list therefore has to show more than the advertised rate per kilogram: two businesses can publish almost the same rate but give you very different totals once minimum loads, collection, delivery, colour separation and express service are added.
To make the prices comparable, we checked the public price pages of 13 South African laundry operators on 4 August 2026. Twelve published a directly comparable wash, dry and fold rate.
The useful short answer is:
- Wash, dry and fold: R34 to R62.50 per kg, with a median published rate of R45 per kg.
- Washed and ironed packages: R39.99 to R85 per kg, with a median of R55 per kg.
- Ironing only: R34.99 to R62.50 per kg, with a median of R45 per kg.
- One self-service example: R58 to wash plus R28 to dry, or R86 per machine load before any detergent cost.
- Duvets: roughly R110 to R400 per item in the published per-item prices we found, depending on size, filling and service level.
These are observed advertised prices, not a regulated tariff or a quote for your order. Most of the inspected operators are in Gauteng and the Western Cape, so this is a practical market snapshot rather than a statistically representative survey of every province.
Laundry services price list at a glance
| Service | Observed public price | Middle published rate | What can change the total |
|---|---|---|---|
| Wash, dry and fold | R34–R62.50/kg | R45/kg | Minimum load, colour separation, collection and express turnaround |
| Washed and ironed package | R39.99–R85/kg | R55/kg | Whether drying, folding and hangers are included |
| Iron only | R34.99–R62.50/kg | R45/kg | Minimum weight and whether pricing is per kg or per garment |
| Self-service wash and dry | R86/machine at one inspected branch | Not enough data for a median | Machine capacity, detergent and extra drying cycles |
| Duvet or comforter | R110–R400/item | Not calculated | Size, synthetic versus feather filling and drying time |
| Blanket | R70–R350/item | Not calculated | Size, thickness, fabric and whether it is an electric blanket |
| Pickup and delivery | Free/included to R210 in published examples | Not calculated | Suburb, order value, route and whether both trips are included |
The “middle published rate” is the median of comparable prices in this sample. It is not a claim that every South African laundry should charge that amount.
What 13 laundry operators actually advertise
The wording matters. A “wash and iron” service may not describe folding, packaging or delivery, while a 5 kg “basket” may include collection and delivery. The table keeps each operator’s service wording and important conditions visible.
| Operator and area | Everyday clothing rate | Ironed service | Important condition |
|---|---|---|---|
| Wash n Fold, Johannesburg and East Rand | Wash and fold R45/kg | Wash and iron R60/kg; iron only R45/kg | R500 minimum on per-kg services; standard collection and delivery included |
| Sorted Laundry, Johannesburg | Wash, dry and fold R55/kg | Wash, dry and iron R60/kg; iron only R45/kg | Household items and dry cleaning are priced separately |
| PureStart Laundry, Johannesburg | Wash and fold R38/kg | Wash, iron and fold R53/kg; iron only R35/kg | Published turnaround is 24–48 hours |
| Laundry G, Pretoria | Wash and dry R29.99/kg | Wash and iron R39.99/kg; iron only R34.99/kg | Per-kg prices apply above 5 kg; pickup and drop-off total R99.98 after the first free trip |
| Rubida, Pretoria | Wash, dry and fold R48/kg | Wash, dry and iron R53/kg; iron only R45/kg | Published pickup and delivery charge is R210 |
| Marissa’s Laundry, Pretoria | Wash and fold R42/kg | Wash and iron R46/kg; iron only R40/kg | Prices include VAT; collection and delivery are free in and around Montana |
| 24 Hour Laundry, Edward Street, Western Cape | Drop-and-go wash, dry and fold R37.50/kg | Ironing R37.50/kg | 5 kg minimum for wash, dry and fold; self-service is priced per machine |
| Mr. Laundry, Western Cape | Wash, dry and fold R45/kg | Wash, dry and iron R55/kg; iron only R45/kg | Duvets, pillows and blankets are priced per item |
| Luxury Laundry, Cape Town | Wash and fold R55/kg | Wash, iron and fold R85/kg | Collection is free over R300, otherwise R70; same-day service adds R200 |
| I Love My Laundry, Cape Town | Wash, dry and fold R34/kg; 0–5 kg costs R170 | Ironing is priced per item | Express wash, dry and fold is R60/kg; delivery depends on location |
| Wosh, Cape Town | R250 per 5 kg basket, equivalent to R50/kg | R390 per 5 kg ironed basket, equivalent to R78/kg | Online prices include collection and delivery; walk-in prices may differ |
| Right & Bright, Modderfontein | Wash, dry and fold R38/kg | Wash, dry and iron R45/kg; iron only R39/kg | Minimum load is 4 kg |
| SafiLaundry, Johannesburg | Wash, tumble dry and fold R62.50/kg | Wash, tumble dry and iron R68.50/kg; iron only R62.50/kg | Everyday wash is described as a 30°C service; bedding is handled separately |
Laundry G’s R29.99/kg wash-and-dry price is not included in the wash–dry–fold range because the published service does not say that folding is included.
How much does a 5 kg, 7 kg or 10 kg laundry load cost?
Using the observed wash–dry–fold range of R34 to R62.50/kg, the basic arithmetic looks like this:
| Laundry weight | Low end of observed range | At the R45/kg median | High end of observed range |
|---|---|---|---|
| 5 kg | R170 | R225 | R312.50 |
| 7 kg | R238 | R315 | R437.50 |
| 10 kg | R340 | R450 | R625 |
Those figures are the laundry charge before a minimum order, delivery fee or express surcharge.
For example, Wash n Fold advertises R45/kg, but it also has a R500 minimum for per-kilogram services. A 5 kg bag would calculate to R225 and still be charged at the R500 minimum. By contrast, I Love My Laundry publishes a R170 flat price for 0–5 kg, while Wosh charges R250 for a 5 kg online basket that includes collection and delivery.
This is why the cheapest rate per kilogram is not automatically the cheapest total.
Laundry prices per basket versus per kg
“One basket” is not a standard unit. Wosh defines its basket as 5 kg. I Love My Laundry prices 0–5 kg at R170. Other laundries weigh the bag at collection or at the shop, and some impose a minimum weight even when your bag is lighter.
Before comparing basket prices, ask four questions:
- How many kilograms does the basket include?
- Is the basket weighed again, and what happens if it is over the limit?
- Are detergent, drying and folding included?
- Does the price include collection and return delivery?
If a laundry cannot tell you the basket weight, you cannot make a fair per-kilogram comparison.
What should wash, dry and fold include?
At its most basic, wash, dry and fold should mean that everyday machine-washable clothing is washed, fully dried and returned folded. However, the details are not standardised.
Some operators explicitly include detergent, softener, colour sorting, packaging and delivery. Others publish only the service name and rate. I Love My Laundry warns that colour separation below 8 kg can be charged as two loads. SafiLaundry describes its everyday service as a 30°C wash and handles towels and bedding through a different service.
Ask the operator to confirm:
- whether whites, darks and colours are separated;
- whether separation creates a second minimum load;
- whether detergent and fabric softener are included;
- whether clothes are tumble-dried or line-dried;
- whether folding and packaging are included;
- whether delicate fabrics, wool, linen or hand-wash items cost extra; and
- how stains and permanent marks are handled.
Do not put dry-clean-only garments into an ordinary per-kilogram bag. Check the care labels first and separate anything that needs a quotation.
How much does ironing cost?
In the inspected sample, per-kilogram ironing-only rates ran from R34.99 to R62.50, with a median published rate of R45/kg.
Ironing may also be charged per garment. I Love My Laundry, for example, lists R20 for a shirt or pair of trousers, R35 for a dress and separate prices for sheets, pillowcases and duvet covers. Per-item pricing can be cheaper for a few work shirts but expensive for a mixed family load.
For laundry that still needs to be washed, the published washed-and-ironed packages ranged from R39.99 to R85/kg. Check whether this includes drying, folding, hangers and delivery; the service labels do not promise exactly the same result.
Self-service laundromat prices
The clearest live self-service price we found was at 24 Hour Laundry’s Edward Street branch:
- R58 per machine wash;
- R28 per machine dry; and
- R86 for one wash and one dry cycle in total.
That is a branch-specific example, not a national range. Your real cost may be higher if the load needs a second drying cycle or if detergent and softener are bought separately. Machine capacity also matters: R86 for a larger machine can be better value than a cheaper but much smaller load.
Self-service is usually worth comparing when you have one or two loads and can wait at the laundromat. A collected wash–dry–fold service becomes more attractive when travel time, folding and delivery matter more than the lowest cash price.
Duvet, blanket and household laundry prices
Bulky household items are often priced per item rather than per kilogram.
Across the inspected per-item lists:
- duvets and comforters ran from about R110 to R400;
- ordinary blankets ran from about R70 to R350; and
- pillows ran from about R55 to R200.
The lower end generally applies to a smaller or standard item. Larger queen- and king-size items, feather filling, double layers and premium handling sit toward the higher end. Electric blankets can cost more and require a laundry that accepts them.
Do not compare a R110 single or three-quarter duvet price with a R390 queen or king duvet price as though they were the same service. Confirm all of the following:
- duvet or blanket size;
- synthetic, feather or down filling;
- single or double layer;
- whether drying is included;
- whether stains or pet use change the price; and
- expected turnaround time.
Luxury Laundry states that it does not accept pet-related laundry. Other operators may accept it but apply separate handling rules, so disclose this before collection.
Collection, delivery and same-day fees
“Free delivery” often comes with a condition.
Published examples in this sample include:
- free standard collection and delivery with a R500 minimum at Wash n Fold;
- R49.99 for pickup plus R49.99 for drop-off at Laundry G after the first free trip;
- R210 for pickup and delivery at Rubida;
- free local collection and delivery around Montana at Marissa’s Laundry;
- free collection above R300, otherwise R70, at Luxury Laundry; and
- collection and delivery included in Wosh’s online basket prices.
Express service also changes the comparison. Wash n Fold publishes a same-day surcharge of R150 plus R15/kg. Luxury Laundry adds R200. I Love My Laundry’s express wash, dry and fold rate is R60/kg rather than its R34/kg standard rate.
When requesting a quote, give the suburb, estimated weight, required return time and any bulky items. A useful message is:
Please quote for approximately [weight] kg of wash, dry and fold from [suburb]. Please include the minimum order, collection, return delivery, VAT, detergent and any express fee. I also have [item and size]. Is that charged separately?
That question is more likely to produce a usable total than simply asking, “How much per kg?”
How to choose a laundry service without comparing price alone
Price matters, but losing or damaging a work shirt will wipe out a small saving quickly. Before handing over a full bag, check:
- whether the operator records the bag’s weight and sends a total before washing;
- the promised turnaround time and what happens if it is missed;
- how missing or damaged items are handled;
- whether loads are mixed with other customers’ laundry;
- how special instructions are recorded;
- recent reviews for consistency, communication and returns; and
- whether you receive an invoice or collection record.
For a first order, test the service with ordinary clothing rather than expensive garments, heirloom fabrics or items with unusual care requirements.
What these prices mean for a small laundry business
For someone testing a laundry side hustle, the market is not simply “R45 per kg.” The inspected operators compete through different combinations of price, minimum order, collection, turnaround, ironing and specialist handling.
The R45/kg median is a benchmark, not a recommended selling price. A new operator still needs to calculate the cost of:
- water and electricity;
- detergent, stain treatment and fabric softener;
- labour for sorting, loading, folding, ironing and packing;
- bags, labels, hangers and packaging;
- collection and delivery time, fuel and vehicle wear;
- re-washes, damaged items and customer complaints; and
- equipment maintenance and downtime.
A low per-kilogram price can work for a walk-in business with efficient machines and dense loads. It can fail quickly when it includes two delivery trips across a wide area. The established operators in this sample use minimum loads, order thresholds and express surcharges to protect the economics of convenience.
Frequently asked questions
How much do laundry services charge per kg in South Africa?
The 12 directly comparable wash–dry–fold rates in this sample ranged from R34 to R62.50/kg. The median published rate was R45/kg. Your total can still be higher because of a minimum load, delivery charge, express service or special handling.
How much is a 5 kg basket of laundry?
At the observed wash–dry–fold rates, 5 kg calculates to R170–R312.50, with R225 at the sample median. Published basket examples include R170 for 0–5 kg at I Love My Laundry and R250 for Wosh’s 5 kg online basket with collection and delivery included.
Is laundry cheaper per kg or per basket?
Neither format is automatically cheaper. Convert a basket price to a price per kilogram, then add delivery and check the minimum. A R250 basket defined as 5 kg is R50/kg; an undefined basket cannot be compared accurately.
How much does it cost to wash and iron clothes?
The inspected per-kilogram washed-and-ironed packages ranged from R39.99 to R85/kg, with a median of R55/kg. Some laundries charge ironing per garment instead, which may suit a small number of shirts or trousers.
How much does self-service laundry cost?
At the inspected 24 Hour Laundry Edward Street branch, one machine wash was R58 and one dry was R28, making R86 before detergent or an extra drying cycle. Prices and machine sizes vary by branch.
How much does it cost to wash a duvet?
The published per-item duvet and comforter prices we inspected ran from roughly R110 to R400. Size, filling, layers and care requirements matter, so ask for the exact price for your duvet rather than relying on a “from” price.
Is pickup and delivery normally free?
Sometimes, but often only within a local area or above a minimum order. In this sample, published charges ranged from included or free to R210. Ask whether the quoted fee covers both collection and return.
