How much does laundry cost per kg in South Africa in 2026?
A clear breakdown of laundry prices per kilogram, what is included, and how to estimate your own bag before you book.
Most laundry services in Gauteng price everyday washing by weight rather than per item. It is faster, fairer and easier to check. Here is what the numbers look like in 2026 and how to work out what your own bag will cost.
Typical prices per kilogram
Across Midrand and the northern suburbs of Johannesburg, wash, dry and fold usually lands between R55 and R75 per kilogram. Adding ironing pushes that up by R5 to R10 per kilogram. At Express Clean, wash, dry and fold is R68.00 per kg and wash, dry and iron is R73.00 per kg, with collection and delivery priced separately from R45.00.
What is included in the per kg price
- Sorting by colour and fabric
- Washing with quality detergent and fabric softener
- Tumble drying at the right temperature for the fabric
- Folding, or ironing if you chose that option
- Packing so it arrives neat and ready for the wardrobe
How heavy is a normal load?
A useful rule of thumb: a standard laundry basket full of everyday clothes weighs four to six kilograms dry. A week of clothes for one adult is usually around three to four kilograms. Bedding adds up quickly, so a double duvet cover and two sheets can be two kilograms on their own.
| Bag | Rough weight | Wash, dry and fold |
|---|---|---|
| One adult, one week | 3.5 kg | R238 |
| Couple, one week | 6 kg | R408 |
| Family of four, one week | 10 kg | R680 |
Why weight is fairer than counting items
Per item pricing punishes small things like socks and underwear and rewards nobody. Weighing means a bag of light summer clothes costs less than the same number of heavy jeans and hoodies, which is how it should be. The only condition is that you should be able to see the scale, which is why we send a photo of it with your price before you pay.
Items that are priced individually
Shirts on hangers, dry cleaning, duvets, blankets and curtains are priced per item because the work is different. The full price list shows every one of them, with our R8 service margin already included so there are no add ons at the end.
Want a number for your own bag? The booking form estimates it as you go, and the scale confirms it later.
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