Shop Towels
How Much Does a
Towel Cleaning Service Cost?
ITU AbsorbTech’s pricing guide reviews shop towel and wiper costs for buying in bulk vs. using a towel cleaning service.
Cost Comparison
Towels are a staple when it comes to cleaning up spills, wiping down surfaces, and other industry maintenance. But with the rise of environmental concerns, many businesses are considering switching from disposable to reusable towels. While disposables may seem convenient and cost-effective, they can actually end up costing more in the long run, both financially and environmentally. On the other hand, reusable towels and towel services save you money while also reducing waste and promoting sustainability.
To determine the true towel service cost and how it compares to buying disposables, you need to look at the full picture—not just the price tag on the box. In this article, we’ll answer two simple questions:
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How much does a towel cleaning service cost?
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Does it cost more or less than buying disposable rags in bulk?
If you want to explore what our industry-leading towel service includes and why it might be the smart choice for your business and the environment, you can find our shop towel services page here.
Now, let’s get started with some typical prices.
Shop Rags or Wipers Purchased in Bulk
A quick web search will tell you the cost of purchasing shop towels or wipes.
Here are the price ranges we found from some of the leading rag/wipe e-commerce sites.
- Red shop rag (new) = $.15 – $.60 per towel (sizes vary)
- Paper wipers (new) = $.07 – $.25 (sizes and thickness vary)
You can purchase scrap towels or rags by the pound or by towel count. The most common size is a 25 lb. box, which contains around 300 towels. However, keep in mind that the number of towels you get in a pound can vary due to differences in towel thickness, material, size, etc.
To keep things simple, we list prices “by the towel.”
Purchasing also requires an investment in proper waste disposal. Disposal of oily shop rags can be highly regulated by the EPA, your state environmental agency, and your municipality. Waste requirements can vary based on your geography, the type of oil/solvent being used, the storage and handling of the towels, etc.
Please refer to our blog article: The Ultimate Guide: How to Dispose of Used Rags and Oil Absorbents for more information.
Here are your disposal options.
Towel Cleaning Service
Rental pricing for a shop towel cleaning service may (but does not always) include the following:
- Price per towel turned in, or price per towel in inventory ($.03 – $.20 per towel)
- Auto replacement charge ($.25 – $.75 per towel for 3%-6% of towel inventory)
- Service fees (delivery, laundry bag, drum, loss, etc.)
Let’s break these out:
Price per towel turned in
This is the price per towel turned in for cleaning.
Price per towel in inventory
Inventory refers to the total amount of towels needed to service a facility. These towels exist in three different stages at any given time: in use, in storage, or being laundered. For example, you may have 3 towels in storage, 3 towels being used, and 3 towels turned in for cleaning. The total inventory in this example is 9.
Towel inventory works similarly to renting uniforms for work. You don’t just rent one uniform – you rent at least 3. One being worn, one in your locker for the next day, and one in the soil bin ready to be washed.
Auto replacement charge
Shop towels often end up in the trash or get carried home in a worker’s back pocket. Workers usually do this unintentionally, but it still results in a dwindling inventory.
Customers generally will lose 1%-6% of towel inventory in a year. Service providers typically account for this loss with an “auto replacement fee” of 3%-6% of the towel inventory per service pick-up. This fee is commonly noted by an “R”, “REPL” or “ARC” on the invoice.
The auto replacement fee per towel can be significantly higher than the towel unit cost because the service provider is charging you the full cost of the towel to be replaced. For example, if your towel usage charge is $.25 per towel, your auto replacement fee might be up to $.75 per towel.
Service fees
Service fees can vary by provider. They are typically charged per service visit and can include a service fee, delivery fee, minimum service fee, laundry bag fee, drum fee, environmental fee, towel loss fee, etc. Ask these questions up-front:
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- What are all the service fees?
- How will we be charged for each?
- How will fees be shown on our invoice?
How Many Towels Do I Need?
You should also consider how many towels it will take to complete a job. As you would expect, you need more disposable wipes to get the job done compared to a laundered shop towel.
We conducted absorbency testing on two of the leading brands of disposable wipes and compared the absorbency to our Ultra™ Red Shop towel. Water was introduced to the towels in 1/4 oz. to 1 oz. increments until total saturation was achieved.
The maximum fluid absorbed ranged from 66% to 233% more for the Ultra™ Red laundered shop towel compared to a variety of disposable wiper alternatives.
Using these absorbency numbers, here are some approximate conversions:
5 rental shop towels = 8 – 17 disposable rags/wipes
5 rental shop towels = 1 lb. disposable rags/wipes
Why Choose a Professional Towel Cleaning Service?
Should you buy in bulk or use a towel cleaning service? Consider these factors when deciding what’s best for your facility:
- Total Cost – Beyond the cost of the towels, consider costs to dispose of the towels, purchasing time, warehouse storage, and inventory associated with purchasing towels.
- Performance – You need more single-use wipers to get the job done compared to rental towels.
- Environmental impact – Consider the impact of disposable towels/wipes going to landfill. A cleaning service is a more environmentally responsible choice.
- Compliance – A lot of time and expertise may be needed to handle single-use soiled shop towels. EPA and other state and municipal agencies heavily regulate the disposal of oil and solvent-soaked rags.
Refer to Disposable wipes vs reusable towels: Get the Facts for more information.
What to Look for in a Towel Service
After you decide to use a towel cleaning service, your next task is to compare service programs carefully. However, to make the right choice, you need to look beyond just the promise of clean rags and look specifically at the towel service cost structure. If you don’t pay attention to how you are billed, those monthly invoices may be more than you expected.
ITU AbsorbTech has a different pricing model compared to most towel service providers, specifically designed to eliminate the guesswork from your budget.
We found that traditional towel cleaning service customers were unhappy with invoices that fluctuate wildly from month to month due to a “pay-as-you-go” rate based on usage. While a low per-rag price might look good on paper, this unpredictable model makes the total towel service cost difficult to manage.
Consumers also expressed deep dissatisfaction with surprise service fees sneaking onto their invoices, such as auto replacement fees for “lost” towels and hidden delivery fees. These extra charges complicate the invoice and make budgeting for the complete and total cost of the program difficult—often resulting in a final bill that is significantly higher than the quoted rate.
As a result, ITU AbsorbTech adopted a philosophy of towel billing called StraightUp!™, which ensures a transparent and predictable bill each month for its towel service. Instead of wondering what hidden fees will show up, you get a consistent, flat rate that covers your service in full.
Furthermore, we ensure that stabilizing your towel service cost never comes at the expense of running out of inventory. ITU AbsorbTech automatically sends (at no additional cost) extra towels above and beyond the pick-up count with each delivery. This approach makes it very unlikely that a customer will run out of shop towels, ensuring you never face downtime or emergency last-minute orders that inflate your expenses.
Below is a comparison chart depicting the difference between a typical shop towel rental service and ITU AbsorbTech’s StraightUp!™ program.
| ITU AbsorbTech Ultra™ Towel Program | Comparison Category | ABC Towel Service Company |
|---|---|---|
StraightUp!™ BillingRepresented as a StraightUp!™ cost per service based on total towel inventory, ensuring a simple and predictable bill each month. |
Towel Price |
Price Per Towel Turned InTypically a “pay-as-you-go” rate based on towel turn-in count, which can result in bills that fluctuate from month to month. |
No Auto Replacement FeeWe automatically send a quantity of towels above the pick-up count with each delivery. These extra towels never appear on a customer’s bill, ensuring customers rarely run out of Ultra™ Shop Towels. |
Auto Replacement |
3–6% Auto Replacement FeeLoss and damage charges are automatically added to each bill as an auto-replacement fee. Typically 3–6% of the towel turn-in count and often a much larger portion of the total rental cost. |
No Service FeesNo delivery fee or additional service charges. The only extra charge on the bill is a nominal environmental service charge. |
Service Fees |
Ancillary FeesAdditional fees can quickly add up and may include delivery fees, laundry bag fees, drum fees, loss fees, and other service charges. |
Conclusion
Do your research. If you are deciding between buying in bulk vs a cleaning service, make sure you’ve gathered all your facts about the environmental impact, disposal costs, towel processing, etc.
If you decide to go the environmentally preferred route of a towel rental service, ask a lot of up-front questions from the service provider so there are no surprises after you’ve signed the service agreement.
In general, a towel cleaning service is more cost-effective and better for the environment compared to purchasing shop towels in bulk.
Resources:
Frequently Asked Questions: Towel Cleaning Service Costs
How much does a towel cleaning service cost?
The cost of a professional towel cleaning service typically ranges from $0.03 to $0.20 per towel, depending on the provider, service frequency, and towel inventory size. Additional fees may apply for delivery, inventory management, or replacement towels.
Many providers structure pricing based on either price per towel turned in for cleaning, or price per towel in your service inventory.
What factors affect the cost of a shop towel service?
Several factors influence the total cost of a towel cleaning service, including number of towels in your inventory, frequency of pick-up and delivery, replacement rates for lost or damaged towels, and service fees (delivery, environmental, or laundry container fees). Because every facility uses towels differently, most companies customize pricing based on usage and operational needs.
What is a towel inventory in a towel rental program?
A towel inventory refers to the total number of towels needed to maintain a continuous service cycle. At any given time, towels may be either in use on the shop floor, in storage at your facility, or they’re being laundered by the service provider. This rotating inventory ensures your facility always has clean towels available while others are being cleaned.
What is an auto replacement charge for shop towels?
Some towel service providers charge an auto replacement fee to account for towels that are lost, discarded, or damaged during normal operations. Typically, 1–6% of towels are lost annually, and replacement fees can range from $0.25 to $0.75 per towel depending on the program. Businesses should always ask providers how replacement charges are calculated and shown on invoices.
Are reusable shop towels cheaper than disposable wipes?
In many cases, reusable shop towels are more cost-effective than disposable wipes. Reusable towels are designed for multiple uses and industrial laundering, meaning fewer towels are required to complete the same cleaning tasks.
Testing has shown reusable shop towels can absorb 66% to 233% more fluid than some disposable alternatives, reducing overall usage and waste.
What service fees should I expect with a towel cleaning service?
Common service fees may include delivery or service visit fees, laundry bag or container fees, environmental or compliance fees, and replacement towel charges. Before signing a service agreement, it’s important to ask providers for a full breakdown of all potential charges and how they appear on invoices.
How many shop towels does a facility typically need?
The number of towels required depends on your facility size, processes, and cleaning needs. Most programs maintain a rotating inventory so workers always have clean towels available while others are being washed.
A service provider can help determine the appropriate inventory based on your usage patterns and service schedule.
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