Did You Overpay for a Laundry in Paris?

Laundry in Paris follows the classic European self-service model, and the city still has a healthy network of laveries automatiques despite rising rents. A standard wash cycle (7–8 kg machine) costs €4–€6, with larger machines (12–15 kg) at €8–€12. Dryer cycles run €1–€2 per 10-minute increment, meaning a full dry costs €3–€6 depending on the load. Total cost per load: €7–€12 for wash and dry.

Paris laveries are concentrated in residential neighborhoods where apartments lack washing machines—which is more common than tourists expect. The 10th, 11th, 18th, and 20th arrondissements have the highest density of self-service laundromats. In the 1st through 8th arrondissements (the central tourist zone), laveries are rarer and charge premium prices: €6–€8 per wash compared to €4–€5 in residential areas.

Most Parisian laveries are unmanned and operate from roughly 7am to 10pm, though hours vary. Machines accept coins (€1 and €2 pieces) and some accept contactless payment through centralized terminals. The change machine is your lifeline—and it's frequently broken or empty. Bring a supply of coins, especially on weekends when there's no nearby tabac to break a note.

Drop-off laundry services (pressing) in Paris are surprisingly expensive. A traditional pressing charges by the piece: shirts €3–€5, trousers €5–€7, dresses €8–€15. For a full bag of casual travel clothes, expect €25–€50. These services are designed for Parisians who need professional garment care, not for backpackers washing t-shirts and jeans. Unless you need items pressed, the self-service laverie at a quarter of the cost is the rational choice.

App-based laundry delivery has arrived in Paris through services like Cleanio, Washmen, and Lavoir Moderne. Collection-and-delivery washing starts at €15–€25 per bag, which is double the self-service cost but saves an hour of waiting time. For time-strapped visitors trying to maximize museum and sightseeing time, this trade-off occasionally makes sense.

Hotel laundry in Paris maintains the European tradition of eye-watering per-item charges. A mid-range hotel near the Opéra will charge €6–€8 per shirt and €4–€6 per pair of underwear. A Marais boutique hotel might charge €8–€12 per shirt. At these rates, a week's laundry exceeds €60—more than a month of actual Parisian laundry costs. Even the most exhausted traveler should consider the laverie two streets over.

Detergent in Parisian laveries is dispensed from machines for €1–€1.50 per dose. Alternatively, single-dose pods from Monoprix or Carrefour Express cost €0.30–€0.50 each when bought in a multi-pack. Fabric softener is available at some machines for an additional €0.50 but is unnecessary for most travel laundry.

One seasonal note: Paris apartments and Airbnbs with washing machines rarely have dryers. Air-drying on a rack works well from May through September but is very slow in the damp Parisian winter. If you're visiting November through March, either use a laverie's dryer or plan an extra day for air-drying.