Commercial Washing Machine Sizes Explained: Which Do You Need?

Choosing the right size of a commercial washing machine is a critical decision for any business that handles laundry, whether you’re in hospitality, healthcare, housing, or leisure. At GA Commercial, we supply, install, and service a broad range of commercial laundry equipment. In this guide, we’ll explain the difference between small, medium, and large commercial washing machines, help you understand which size is best for different industries, and how to evaluate the right machine for your operation. 

Why Size Matters in Commercial Washing Machines

Commercial washing machines are not simply scaled-up domestic machines. The size relates to drum capacity, thoroughput volume, energy usage, space requirements, and suitability for your workload. Choosing the wrong size can lead to inefficiencies: over-sized machines mean wasted energy and space, under-sized machines may bottleneck your operation, cause delays, or increase labour. 

At GA Commercial, we work across sectors such as hotels, care homes, holiday parks, schools, and more. We’ve seen firsthand how selecting the correct machine size improves both productivity and cost-effectiveness. 

Small Commercial Washing Machines

In the commercial laundry equipment world, a small machine would typically be a drum capacity of roughly 6kg to 15kg. These are machines that still have commercial grade durability, control, and throughput, but are suitable for lower loads of laundry.

Features & Advantages

•    Smaller footprint, ideal for sites with limited space
•    Lower water, energy, and detergent usage per cycle compared to larger machines
•    Faster cycles and quicker turnaround for smaller loads
•    Ideal for flexible or multi-use environments
•    Lower upfront cost and simple infrastructure requirements

Best Suited Industries

•    Boutique hotels, guesthouses, or small B&Bs where laundry loads are moderate
•    Small care homes or assisted living facilities with fewer residents
•    Holiday cottages or self-catering units where the laundry requirement is lighter
•    Smaller companies, start-ups, or satellites of larger site operations

Medium Commercial Washing Machines

Medium size commercial washing machines typically have capacities in the region of 15kg to 30kg. These machines are designed for heavier usage, multiple cycles per day, and the need for a higher throughput. 

Features & Advantages

•    Larger drum capacity supports more laundry per load, which improves operational efficiency
•    Often come with advance features: higher spin-speeds, robust build for daily use, better control systems, more flexibility in programmes
•    Good balance between equipment cost and output capacity
•    Suitable infrastructure: drainage, water, electricity, steam, often available in midsize sites.

Best Suited Industries

•    Mid-sized hotels (50-150 rooms), resorts, or holiday parks with moderate laundry demand
•    Larger care homes, assisted living estates, or retirement villages
•    Student accommodation blocks, multi-unit housing associations
•    Leisure clubs, gyms, or spa facilities with in-house laundry
•    Corporate on-site laundries, satellite units of larger operations. 

Large Commercial Washing Machines

Large commercial washing machines are heavy-duty, high-capacity units often in the range of 30kg upwards. These machines are built for continuous usage, high throughput, and large-scale operations. 

Features & Advantages

•    Maximum throughput: processes large loads in fewer cycles, saving time and labour
•    Designed for durability with robust components, high spin-speeds, strong build quality and heavy usage
•    Often integrated into a complete laundry line: washers, large dryers, and finishing equipment
•    Best suited where laundry operations are critical, continuous, and high volume

Best Suited Industries

•    Large hotels, resort chains, conference centres, or cruise ships with large volumes of laundry daily
•    Hospitals, healthcare centres, large care complexes, or nursing homes with heavy laundry demand
•    Commercial laundries and industrial laundries
•    Universities, military bases, or large housing estates with internal laundry departments

How To Choose The Right Size Commercial Washing Machine For Your Business

The following are key factors GA Commercial recommends when selecting machine size:

1.    Work Out Your Laundry Volume

Estimate the number of items or kilograms of laundry you process per day or per week. How many cycles will you run? Do you need high turnover or is there a flexible schedule?

2.    Consider Spaces & Infrastructure

Larger machines require more space and stronger utility infrastructure. Evaluate your footprint, ceiling height, services access, and load path logistics.

3.    Match Cycle Speed & Throughput

A medium machine might process what two smaller machines do, faster. But if your usage is low today and moderate tomorrow, flexibility matters. Choosing a machine with the right cycle time and capacity is important. 

4.    Annual Running Cost & Efficiency

Larger machines might cost more to run if not utilised efficiently. Consider water, electricity, detergent, maintenance, and potential downtime. A machine too large for your volume means wasted resources.

5.    Future Growth & Flexibility

If your business is growing, consider sizing up or choosing a machine that offers modular expansion or flexibility.

6.    Service & Maintenance

Choosing a supplier who offers service, maintenance, and part access is vital. At GA Commercial, beyond supplying washers we provide installation, maintenance, and nationwide repair service. 

You Might Find Useful

•    Our guide on Choosing The Right Commercial Equipment For Care Homes.
•    Our guide on What’s Important When Designing A Commercial Laundry Room.
•    Our guide on What’s The Difference Between Commercial & Domestic Washing Machines.

Choosing the right size of commercial washing machine isn’t just about picking the largest capacity you can afford. It’s about matching machine size to your volume, space, budget, growth plans and service requirements. Whether you need a small machine for a boutique hotel, a medium machine for a growing care facility, or a large industrial solution for high-volume throughput, GA Commercial has you covered.

If you’d like expert support choosing the right model, understanding utilities and infrastructure implications, or arranging installation and maintenance, get in touch with GA Commercial today. Your laundry operation depends on reliable, efficient equipment, let us help you make the right choice.