One of the most common questions we hear from business owners is: 'What does linen service actually cost?' The answer depends on your industry, the types of textiles you need, your delivery frequency, and your volume. This guide breaks down real-world pricing so you can budget accurately and compare quotes with confidence.

Restaurant Linen Service Pricing

Most restaurants pay between $200 and $800 per month for linen service, depending on seating capacity and menu style. A 50-seat casual restaurant using only napkins and bar towels might pay $200–350/month. A 120-seat fine dining restaurant with tablecloths, napkins, chef coats, and kitchen towels typically runs $500–800/month.

Typical per-item costs:
• Tablecloths: $0.75–$1.50 per use
• Cloth napkins: $0.15–$0.35 per use
• Chef coats: $2.50–$4.00 per use
• Kitchen towels/bar mops: $0.10–$0.20 per use

Hotel Linen Service Pricing

Hotel linen service costs vary dramatically by property size. A 50-room boutique hotel might pay $2,000–4,000/month, while a 300-room full-service property could spend $10,000–25,000/month. Pricing is heavily influenced by occupancy rates, thread count preferences, and whether pool/spa linens are included.

Typical per-item costs:
• Sheet sets: $1.50–$3.00 per set
• Bath towels: $0.50–$1.00 per towel
• Pool towels: $0.75–$1.50 per towel
• Robes: $3.00–$6.00 per robe

Healthcare Linen Service Pricing

Healthcare linen carries a premium due to strict processing requirements. Small clinics typically pay $500–1,500/month, while hospitals and large facilities can exceed $50,000/month. HLAC accreditation, chain-of-custody tracking, and specialized processing all factor into pricing.

Typical per-item costs:
• Patient gowns: $1.00–$2.50 per gown
• Scrubs: $2.00–$4.00 per set
• Lab coats: $3.00–$5.00 per coat
• Thermal blankets: $1.50–$3.00 each

Factors That Affect Your Price

Volume: Higher volume = lower per-item cost. This is the single biggest pricing lever.

Delivery frequency: 2x/week costs more than 1x/week, but prevents linen shortages.

Product mix: Basic items (towels, bar mops) cost less than specialty items (tablecloths, chef coats, robes).

Location: Urban areas with more competition tend to have lower prices. Rural areas may carry a delivery surcharge.

Contract terms: Providers offering no-contract service (like us) may price slightly higher, but you avoid costly early termination fees.

Linen Service vs. Buying Your Own

Many business owners wonder if they should buy linens and wash them in-house. Here's the math: a commercial washer costs $15,000–40,000, a commercial dryer $12,000–30,000, plus water, gas, detergent, labor, and maintenance. Most businesses break even on in-house laundry only if they process over 5,000 lbs per week — that's a large hotel or hospital. For everyone else, outsourcing to a linen service is significantly cheaper.

How to Get the Best Price

1. Get 3 quotes: Compare at least 3 providers
2. Ask about minimums: Some providers have minimum order amounts
3. Negotiate per-item pricing: Not just the monthly total
4. Watch for hidden fees: Delivery charges, fuel surcharges, lost linen fees
5. Avoid long contracts: Providers who lock you in for 3–5 years often raise prices after year 1
6. Request a free trial: Many services offer a trial period