Coin vs Card vs App: How to Pay at a Laundromat

Most laundromats now take more than quarters: in the LaundroMaps directory, more than 3,200 of the 4,673 listings that report payment methods accept credit or debit cards, more than 3,100 accept coins, and more than 2,000 take both, as of October 2026 (LaundroMaps directory data). Cards are the easiest; coins avoid card fees and work when a reader is down.

A card surcharge is only allowed on credit, never on debit, and Visa caps it at 3% (Visa). Carry a few quarters or a debit card as a backup either way.

Key takeaways

More than 3,200 laundromats in our directory take cards and more than 3,100 take coins; more than 2,000 take both (October 2026).
More than 850 listings that report payment methods are still coin-only, so check before you go.
A card surcharge can apply to credit cards only, never to debit or prepaid cards, and is capped at 3% under Visa's rules.
Card-only stores usually sell a reloadable laundry card at a kiosk that takes cash, cards and phone wallets.
Phone apps start machines over Bluetooth or a tap and can alert you when the cycle ends.

How do coin, card and app payment compare?

Each method starts the same machines, but they differ in fees, backups and what you need to carry. The table sums up the rules from the card networks and the payment makers, with directory counts from October 2026 (LaundroMaps directory data; Visa; Laundroworks; PayRange).

What matters	Coins	Credit or debit card	Laundry card	Phone app
Laundromats that take it (directory)	3,100+	3,200+	1,000+	1,600+ (phone wallets)
Extra fee	None	Credit only, up to 3%; never on debit	Set by the store	Set by the app or store
What you need	Quarters or a changer	A card, or a phone wallet at tap readers	The store's card, loaded at its kiosk	A smartphone and the app
When the internet drops	Works	Depends on the reader	Readers keep working	Bluetooth apps talk to the machine directly
Spending record	None	Bank statement	Store account, if registered	In-app history

Federal law lets a store offer a discount for paying by cash or debit (the Federal Reserve Board). Visa requires a credit surcharge to be posted at the door, at the machine or kiosk, and on the receipt (Visa).

Do laundromats still only take quarters?

No, most no longer rely on quarters alone. Of the 4,673 listings in our directory that report payment methods, more than 850 are coin-only, while more than 1,500 list no coins at all (LaundroMaps directory data). Laundromats were one of the main ways coins flowed back to banks, and the Federal Reserve's coin study recorded a significant rise in card use at laundry machines after the 2020 coin shortage.

During that shortage the Mint raised coin production by about 25%, and in June 2020 the Federal Reserve rationed coin orders from banks (the Federal Reserve's coin study). CLA, The Laundry Association described the shift away from coin-only stores as already underway in 2026.

Are all laundromats cash only?

No. Cash-only, in practice coin-only, is now the smaller group: more than 3,200 directory listings take cards, against more than 850 that take coins and nothing else (LaundroMaps directory data). In card systems, bills go into the kiosk, not the machine (Laundroworks).

Do laundromats have ATMs?

Some do. More than 600 laundromats in our directory list an ATM as an amenity, as of October 2026 (LaundroMaps directory data). In card systems, the kiosk takes your card or cash directly (Laundroworks).

If you're stocking up on coins, our guide to how many quarters you need for a laundromat covers where to get them.

Can you pay with a card at a laundromat?

Yes, at most laundromats today. More than 3,200 of the directory listings that report payment methods take credit or debit cards (LaundroMaps directory data). How you use the card depends on the system the store installed.

A reader on each machine: tap, insert or swipe at the washer or dryer itself; many hybrid systems keep the coin slot too (Laundroworks).
A kiosk and a laundry card: you pay the kiosk with a card, cash or a phone wallet, it loads a store card, and you tap that card on the machines (Laundroworks).
An app: you add your card to the app once, then pay each machine from your phone (PayRange).

Do most laundromats take debit cards now?

Our directory records credit and debit together as one card option, reported by more than 3,200 listings (LaundroMaps directory data). Debit is also the cheaper card to use, because Visa's rules forbid a surcharge on debit and prepaid cards, even if you choose "credit" at the terminal (Visa).

Is there a fee or a minimum for paying by card?

There can be both. Visa lets merchants surcharge credit cards only, up to their card cost or 3%, whichever is lower, and only with notices at the entry, at the point of sale and on the receipt (Visa). Visa lists Connecticut, Maine, Massachusetts and Oklahoma among the states that prohibit surcharging (Visa).

A minimum is legal too: federal law lets a merchant set a credit card minimum of up to $10, as long as it applies to every card brand (the Federal Reserve Board). That's why some stores sell laundry cards in fixed amounts instead of charging your card machine by machine. Our guide to paying by credit card at a laundromat covers card-only stores in more detail.

How do laundry cards and kiosks work?

A laundry card is a store's reloadable card that holds your balance. In the system Laundroworks describes, a wall-mounted kiosk sells new cards and reloads old ones with cash, credit, debit, Apple Pay or Google Pay, and you tap the card on each machine.

Buy or reload the card at the kiosk, choosing the amount to add (Laundroworks).
Register it to your name or phone number if the kiosk offers it, so a lost card can be replaced with the balance intact (Laundroworks).
Tap the card on the washer or dryer reader to start the cycle (Laundroworks).

More than 1,000 laundromats in our directory list a loyalty card as a payment method, as of October 2026 (LaundroMaps directory data). Owners use these cards to run loyalty bonuses and promotions, which CLA, The Laundry Association covers as a reason stores switch.

What if the internet goes down?

Laundroworks says its machine readers keep working and the kiosk still takes cash reloads when the store's internet is out (Laundroworks). Other systems differ, so ask an attendant or keep a backup payment.

A loaded balance lives in that store's own payment system (Laundroworks). Load what you'll use, and register the card so the balance isn't lost with it.

How do you pay for laundry with your phone?

You pay either through a laundry app or with a phone wallet at a contactless reader. PayRange connects your phone to the machine over Bluetooth: you add funds in the app, pick the machine and swipe to pay. Laundroworks' app taps your phone on the reader by NFC instead (Laundroworks).

Cycle alerts: PayRange sends a notification when your laundry is done, so you don't have to wait at the machine (PayRange).
More ways to fund it: PayRange accepts EBT for app top-ups in some states, including California, Florida and New York (PayRange).
One more download: an app works only on machines fitted for its system, so a store with another system may need a different app (Laundroworks; PayRange).

Can I use Apple Pay or Google Pay at a laundromat?

Yes, wherever the machine or kiosk has a contactless reader. Apple says to look for the contactless payment symbol and hold the top of the iPhone near the reader (Apple). More than 1,600 directory listings report phone wallet payment, as of October 2026 (LaundroMaps directory data).

Phones are now common at checkout in general: the the Federal Reserve found phones were used for 11% of in-person purchases in 2024. For a rundown of laundry apps, see our guide to the best laundry apps.

Which payment method should you use?

Pick by what matters most to you, and carry a backup. The the Federal Reserve found that 66% of cash payments are made by people who prefer cards, which is cash working as the fallback it is at a laundromat.

Lowest cost: coins or a debit card, since neither can carry a card surcharge under Visa's rules (Visa).
No quarters to hunt for: a card at a machine reader, or a laundry card loaded at the kiosk (Laundroworks).
No smartphone: coins, a card, or a laundry card; kiosks take cash too (Laundroworks).
Tracking what you spend: a card or an app, which leaves a statement or an in-app record (PayRange).
Not waiting around: an app with end-of-cycle alerts (PayRange).

Cash still matters for many people. Households earning under $25,000 a year used cash for 24% of payments in 2024, and adults 55 and older for 19% (the Federal Reserve). Laundromats that keep coins, or a kiosk that takes bills, serve them best.

Want to know what a load will cost before you go? Our laundromat price guide covers washer and dryer prices.

How do you find a laundromat that takes cards?

Check the listing first. When you find a laundromat near you on LaundroMaps, each listing shows the payment methods the laundromat reports; 4,673 listings report them as of October 2026 (LaundroMaps directory data).

Look for the symbol: a contactless symbol on a machine or kiosk means a tap reader, which also takes phone wallets (Apple).
Look for a kiosk: a wall unit near the entrance usually means a laundry card system that takes cards and cash (Laundroworks).
Call ahead if the listing doesn't say, and ask whether there's a card minimum or a credit surcharge (the Federal Reserve Board; Visa).

If you prefer quarters, a coin laundry keeps machines that take them; more than 3,100 directory listings accept coins (LaundroMaps directory data).

Frequently asked questions

How much cash should I bring to a laundromat?

It depends on the posted prices and how many loads you have, so check the price board or the listing first. Carry enough coins or a debit card to finish your loads even if a card reader is down. Many stores also have a kiosk or changer that turns bills into credit or quarters.

Do laundry machines take cards?

Many do. Some machines have a card reader built in, others use a store laundry card loaded at a kiosk, and some are paid through an app. More than 3,200 laundromats in our directory take credit or debit cards.

Is it cheaper to pay with coins or a card?

Coins and debit cards can't carry a card surcharge under Visa's rules. A credit card can, up to 3%, and the store must post it at the entry, at the point of sale and on the receipt. Some stores also price coin and card cycles differently, so read the machine.

Do laundromats take cash?

Most take coins, and many card systems have a kiosk that turns bills into a laundry card balance. Few machines take bills directly. More than 600 laundromats in our directory also list an ATM.

How we researched this

We read the Federal Reserve's 2025 Diary of Consumer Payment Choice and its coin circulation study, the Federal Reserve Board's guide to card minimum rules, Visa's merchant surcharge rules, and the makers' own pages for a laundry card system, a laundry payment app and Apple Pay; 8 sources in all, plus a count of payment methods across the LaundroMaps directory taken on October 15, 2026 (the Federal Reserve; the Federal Reserve's coin study; the Federal Reserve Board; Visa; Laundroworks; PayRange; Apple; CLA, The Laundry Association; LaundroMaps directory data). Directory counts cover only listings that report payment methods, so they aren't shares of all US laundromats. We don't name a best payment brand, and state surcharge laws change, so check your state's current rules.