What Time Do Laundromats Open and Close? (Typical Hours by Type)
By the Laundromat By Me editorial team · Published
The short answer: a typical American laundromat opens between 6 and 8 AM and closes between 9 and 11 PM, seven days a week. The longer answer depends on whether the store is attended, where it is, and what day it is. Here's how to predict a laundromat's hours before you drag a full hamper across town — and how to find one that's open right now.
Typical laundromat hours at a glance
| Type of laundromat | Usual opening | Usual closing | Last wash |
|---|---|---|---|
| Attended neighborhood laundromat | 6–8 AM | 9–10 PM | 60–90 min before close |
| Large "superstore" laundromat (50+ machines) | 6–7 AM | 10–11 PM | 60 min before close |
| Unattended / card-only laundromat | Often 24 hours | Often 24 hours | None (but plan to finish drying) |
| Laundromat with wash & fold counter | 7–8 AM | 7–9 PM (counter closes earlier) | Drop-off cutoff mid-afternoon for next-day |
| Hotel / apartment laundry room | 24 hours or 7 AM | 24 hours or 10 PM | — |
Why "closing time" and "last wash" are different
A washer cycle takes 25–40 minutes and drying takes another 30–45. If a store closes at 10 PM, the attendant can't let you start a washer at 9:45 — your clothes would still be wet at lock-up. That's why most attended laundromats post a last wash time, usually 60 to 90 minutes before closing. If you arrive after last wash, you'll typically be turned away even though the sign says "open."
Plan backwards from the posted close: arrive at least 90 minutes early for a normal two-load trip, and two hours early if you're washing comforters or a week's worth of family laundry.
Hours by day of the week
Weekday mornings (roughly 8–11 AM) and mid-afternoons are the quietest times to visit. Evenings after 6 PM and all day Saturday and Sunday are the busiest — machines fill up and drying queues form. Because weekends are the busy period, most laundromats keep their normal hours on Saturday and Sunday rather than shortening them. Holiday hours are the exception: many stores close early or entirely on Thanksgiving, Christmas Day and New Year's Day.
Regional differences
Laundromats in dense cities (New York, Chicago, Los Angeles, Philadelphia, Boston) tend to open earlier and stay open later, and a larger share run 24 hours because rent is high and machines need to earn around the clock. Suburban and small-town laundromats more commonly run 7 AM–9 PM. In hot climates (Texas, Arizona, Florida) some stores open at 5 or 6 AM so customers can finish before the afternoon heat.
How to find a laundromat that's open right now
Use our laundromats near me search: it lists the closest locations to you with hours where owners or mappers have reported them, and tags the ones open 24 hours. If it's late, go straight to the 24-hour laundromat list for your state. Where hours aren't listed, the phone number is — a 20-second call beats a wasted trip.
If you keep missing the window
Missing last wash repeatedly is the single most common reason people switch to drop-off. Wash & fold counters take your bag during business hours and hand it back clean the next day, and pickup & delivery services remove the hours problem entirely — you schedule a pickup window that fits your day and the laundry comes back folded within 24–48 hours.
Frequently asked questions
What time do most laundromats close?
Most attended laundromats close between 9 and 11 PM, and stop accepting new washes 60–90 minutes before that so every load can finish drying. Unattended 24-hour laundromats never close but often lock the door or shut off machines for a short cleaning window overnight.
What time do laundromats open in the morning?
Typically 6–8 AM. Laundromats near hospitals, colleges or shift-work employers tend to open earliest; strip-mall laundromats in suburban areas more often open at 7 or 8 AM.
Are laundromats open on Sundays and holidays?
Almost all laundromats are open seven days a week. Many shorten hours on major holidays (Thanksgiving, Christmas, New Year’s Day) or close entirely, so check the listing or call ahead on a holiday.
What is the "last wash" time?
The last wash time is the cutoff after which the attendant will not let you start a new washer, usually 60–90 minutes before the posted closing time, so your clothes have time to dry before the store locks up.