A commercial washing machine in Australia costs anywhere from around $8,000 for a small hard-mount washer extractor to well over $100,000 for a large industrial machine — and the honest answer to “how much?” depends on five things: capacity, mounting type, controls, heating and what the installation involves. This guide sets out realistic price ranges and what moves a machine from one end of the range to the other, written by the team at Spencer Systems, who supply, install and service commercial laundry equipment across Australia.
The quick answer: price ranges by size
Treat these as indicative ex-GST ranges for new, genuinely commercial washer extractors from established brands. Every machine we sell is quoted for the site, because utilities and installation change the total — more on that below.
| Capacity | Typical use | Indicative price range (ex GST) |
|---|---|---|
| 8–14 kg | Small on-premise laundries: motels, clinics, childcare, salons; everyday laundromat machines | $8,000 – $15,000 |
| 16–28 kg | Laundromats, aged care, hotels, boarding schools | $15,000 – $30,000 |
| 30–60 kg | Larger laundromats (doonas and bulk loads), hospitals, serious on-premise laundries | $30,000 – $60,000 |
| 60–120 kg+ | Commercial linen services and industrial laundries | $60,000 – $150,000+ |
Two things surprise people about this table. First, the jump from a domestic machine is large — and justified, as we’ll explain. Second, the machine itself is often only part of the spend: installation, services and accessories can add meaningfully to the total, and that part varies more between sites than the machine price does.
What actually drives the price
1. Capacity — but not linearly
Price rises with drum size, but not in a straight line. A 20 kg machine does not cost twice a 10 kg machine, which is why bigger machines usually win on cost per kilogram washed. The right question is rarely “what’s the cheapest machine?” but “what mix of sizes washes my daily load with the fewest labour hours?” — a calculation we run for every laundry we plan.
2. Hard-mount vs soft-mount
A hard-mount (rigid) machine bolts to a concrete plinth and spins at moderate extraction speeds. A soft-mount (suspended) machine has internal suspension, reaches much higher G-force extraction, and can be installed on suspended floors and upper storeys without a massive plinth. Soft-mount machines typically cost more than the equivalent hard-mount — but they spin more water out, so drying is faster and cheaper every single load for the life of the machine. On sites where the plinth itself would be expensive (or impossible), soft-mount can be the cheaper total.
3. Controls and connectivity
Entry-level controls run fixed programs. Full programmable controls handle chemo-thermal disinfection washes (essential in aged care and healthcare), connect to automatic chemical dosing, and support remote monitoring. The Fagor machines we supply include Fagor Connect remote monitoring at no charge — on some other brands the equivalent is a paid extra, which is worth checking when you compare quotes.
4. Heating
Machines can heat their own water electrically, take hot water from the building, or (on larger machines) use steam. Electric heating adds to the machine price and to the power supply the site needs; the right answer depends on what your site already has, which is one of the first things we look at.
5. Vended or on-premise
Laundromat (vended) versions add coin, card or app payment systems and simplified user controls. Payment hardware adds to the machine cost, and the choice of payment system is a store-level decision as much as a per-machine one — see our guide to setting up a laundromat in Australia.
Does country of origin matter? Europe vs Asia
Where a machine is built moves the price more than almost anything else on this page, and it deserves a straight answer. For decades the rule of thumb was simple: European-built machines were the premium choice, and everything else was a compromise. That is no longer the whole story. The best Asian factories now build heavy-duty commercial machines to specifications that stand alongside the European marques — with a very different price tag.
A concrete example at the big end of the market: a 100 kg washer extractor from a European brand typically sells in Australia in the range of $80,000 to $110,000. A premium Asian-built machine of the same capacity — such as our own Infinity range — sells in the range of $40,000 to $50,000. That is roughly half the capital cost for a machine doing the same daily work.
| 100 kg washer extractor | Indicative price (ex GST) |
|---|---|
| European-built brand | $80,000 – $110,000 |
| Premium Asian-built (e.g. Infinity) | $40,000 – $50,000 |
So why would anyone pay the difference? Sometimes there are good reasons: a particular European machine may carry a specific feature, control system or heritage the buyer wants, and European brands have long resale familiarity. But for most commercial laundries the questions that actually decide whether a machine is a good buy are not about the flag on the box: What is the frame, bearing and motor duty rating? Are parts stocked in Australia? Who services it, and how quickly? What does the warranty really cover? A premium machine is only premium if it is supported.
One caution: “Asian-built” covers an enormous range. Below the premium tier sits a genuinely cheap import tier — machines with no Australian parts stock, no trained technicians and doubtful compliance, sold on price alone. Those machines are cheap for the life of their first bearing. The distinction that matters is not Europe versus Asia; it is supported versus unsupported.
Spencer Systems supplies both ends of the quality market: Fagor machines built in Europe, and our own Infinity range at the large-capacity end — premium Asian manufacture, specified by us, with parts on the shelf and serviced by our own technicians Australia-wide. Which one we recommend depends on your budget, your workload and your site, and we’re happy to walk you through the comparison for your numbers.
Why not just buy a domestic machine?
The most common expensive mistake in small commercial laundries. A domestic machine in commercial use typically fails early — commercial duty means multiple loads every day, and most domestic warranties exclude commercial use, so the site ends up owning a dead machine with no cover. A commercial washer extractor is built around a heavier frame, bigger bearings, industrial motors and valves, and is designed to run tens of thousands of cycles over 10–15 years or more, with parts availability and technicians who service it in the field. Over its life, the commercial machine almost always costs less per wash — and it’s the only option that keeps you compliant where disinfection standards apply.
The costs people forget to budget
- Plinth and installation. Hard-mount machines need an engineered concrete plinth. We fabricate custom plinths and installation systems in-house, which is one of the reasons installs go smoothly — but it’s a line on the budget.
- Power. Most commercial washers want three-phase power. If the site only has single phase, allow for an electrical upgrade.
- Water and drainage. Commercial machines fill and dump fast; supply and drainage have to keep up.
- Chemical dosing. Automatic dosing gives consistent results and cuts chemical use; budget for pumps and setup.
- Delivery and positioning. A 60 kg washer does not walk down a corridor. Tight sites, stairs and upper floors are all solvable — we’ve craned machines onto rooftops — but tell your supplier about access before they quote.
Depending on the site, these items can range from a couple of thousand dollars to well beyond ten, which is why two identical machines can carry very different installed totals on different sites.
Running costs matter more than sticker price
Over a decade of daily use, what you spend on water, energy, chemicals and maintenance outweighs the difference between two purchase prices. The things that move lifetime cost most: extraction speed (higher G-force means less moisture into the dryer, and drying is usually the biggest energy cost in the room), automatic dosing (consistent chemistry, no waste), and programmed maintenance (a machine that is down is not earning, and emergency repairs cost more than scheduled ones). When we quote a laundry we’ll talk about cost per kilogram washed, not just the machine price — it’s the number that actually determines what your laundry costs to run.
New or used?
Used commercial machines exist and can suit a tight budget, but go in with open eyes: bearings and seals are the expensive wear items, hours and cycle counts matter more than age, and a machine with no local parts or service support is cheap for a reason. If the budget is the constraint, it’s also worth asking about finance and rental options on new equipment before settling for someone else’s worn machine — the monthly cost is often closer than people expect.
How to get an exact price
To quote a machine properly, a supplier needs to know: what you wash and how many kilograms a day, what power, water, drainage and (for dryers) gas the site has, whether the floor can take a hard-mount machine, and what access looks like for delivery. With those answers we can quote an installed price, not just a machine price — and flag anything about the site that will cost money before it surprises you.
Spencer Systems supplies Fagor washer extractors from 10 kg to 120 kg under exclusive Australian distribution, alongside our own Infinity range at the large-capacity end, and installs and services them with our own technicians Australia-wide. Call 1300 70 69 70 or tell us about your laundry for a site-specific price.
Frequently asked questions
How long does a commercial washing machine last?
A quality commercial washer extractor is designed for 10–15 years or more of daily use with programmed maintenance. Lifespan is measured in cycles as much as years — which is why duty rating matters more than brand slogans.
What size commercial washer do I need?
Work backwards from kilograms washed per day and the hours available to wash them, then allow headroom for peaks. As a rule, fewer larger machines beat many small ones on labour, but a mix protects you when one machine is down. We size this for you as part of a quote.
What’s the difference between hard-mount and soft-mount?
Hard-mount machines bolt to a concrete plinth and cost less; soft-mount machines have internal suspension, spin faster (cutting drying time and cost), and can go on suspended floors. Which is cheaper overall depends on the building and the workload.
Are European washing machines better than Asian ones?
Not automatically, any more. European brands carry a deserved reputation, but premium Asian-built machines now match the duty specifications at roughly half the price at large capacities. What separates a good machine from a bad one is duty rating, local parts stock and service support — not the country on the nameplate. The tier to avoid is the unsupported cheap import, wherever it’s built.
Can I run a commercial laundry on domestic machines?
You can, briefly. Domestic machines fail early under commercial duty, usually void their warranty in commercial use, and can’t run the disinfection processes aged care and healthcare require. For anything beyond the lightest use, commercial machines cost less over their life.