The U.S. linen rental industry supported 142,000 full-time workers in 2023, showing how quickly demand is translating into real operations. Job totals across textile rental reached 165,000 in the same year, even as turnover averaged 35%. This overview connects employment pressure to the workforce cost structure and the operational math behind reusable linen.
Key Takeaways
- U.S. linen rental industry employed 142,000 full-time workers in 2023
- The U.S. linen rental industry market size reached $13.2 billion in 2023, growing at a CAGR of 3.1% from 2018-2023
- 62% of U.S. linen rental firms in Northeast region in 2023
- Cintas Corporation reported $2.3 billion in uniform rental revenue for fiscal 2023
- 72% of U.S. linen rental firms recycle water in processing 2023
Linen rental demand is growing as more businesses prioritize cost savings and sustainability in their operations.
Related reading
01 · Category
Employment Data27 stats
01
U.S. linen rental industry employed 142,000 full-time workers in 2023
02
TRSA reports 165,000 total jobs in U.S. textile rental in 2023
03
Cintas workforce in uniform rental division 42,000 employees in 2023
04
Aramark laundry services employed 25,000 in North America 2023
05
UniFirst total employees 16,000 with 70% in rental operations 2023
06
Alsco employs 20,000 globally in linen services as of 2023
07
ImageFIRST 12,000 healthcare laundry workers in U.S. 2023
08
U.S. linen rental route sales drivers numbered 45,000 in 2023
09
Laundry production workers in U.S. linen industry 78,000 in 2023
10
Average wage for U.S. linen rental workers $18.50/hour in 2023
11
28% of U.S. linen rental workforce female in 2023
12
Turnover rate in U.S. linen rental industry averaged 35% in 2023
13
Cintas added 3,200 jobs in rental services in 2023
14
Aramark laundry division hired 1,500 new workers post-2022
15
UniFirst plant managers in rental 1,200 across U.S. 2023
16
Global linen rental employment 450,000 workers in 2023
17
European linen rental sector 120,000 jobs in 2023
18
Australian linen rental industry 8,500 employees 2023
19
Healthcare linen services in U.S. employ 55,000 dedicated workers 2023
20
U.S. linen rental apprenticeships 2,500 active in 2023
21
15% growth in U.S. linen rental managerial positions 2018-2023
22
Cintas driver employment 18,000 in 2023
23
Aramark seasonal linen workers peaked at 5,000 in 2023
24
UniFirst unionized workforce 20% of total 2023
25
Alsco family-owned with 45% employee retention rate 2023
26
ImageFIRST diversity: 40% minority employees 2023
27
U.S. linen industry labor costs 35% of total expenses 2023
Interpretation
Employment Data Interpretation
In 2023 the employment footprint of the linen rental industry was substantial and expanding, with 142,000 full-time workers in the US alongside much broader job totals such as 165,000 textile rental jobs reported by TRSA.
02 · Category
Market Size And Growth30 stats
01
The U.S. linen rental industry market size reached $13.2 billion in 2023, growing at a CAGR of 3.1% from 2018-2023
02
Global linen and uniform rental market was valued at $28.5 billion in 2022, projected to reach $42.7 billion by 2030
03
North American linen rental services generated $14.8 billion in revenue in 2023
04
The European linen rental market size stood at €9.2 billion in 2022, with a 2.8% annual growth rate
05
U.S. commercial linen supply industry revenue increased by 4.2% to $12.9 billion in 2022
06
Asia-Pacific linen rental market expected to grow from $6.1 billion in 2023 to $10.3 billion by 2028 at 11% CAGR
07
Canadian linen rental industry valued at CAD 1.8 billion in 2023
08
U.K. linen hire market size was £1.4 billion in 2023, growing 2.5% YoY
09
Australian uniform and linen rental market reached AUD 2.1 billion in 2022
10
Latin American linen rental services market size estimated at $2.7 billion in 2023
11
Middle East linen rental market grew to $1.9 billion in 2023, driven by hospitality sector
12
U.S. healthcare linen rental segment worth $4.1 billion in 2023
13
Hotel linen rental in U.S. generated $3.2 billion revenue in 2022
14
Industrial linen rental market globally valued at $7.8 billion in 2023
15
Restaurant linen services in Europe totaled €2.3 billion in 2022
16
U.S. linen rental industry employment reached 145,000 workers in 2023
17
Global linen rental market penetration rate in hospitality at 68% in 2023
18
U.S. market share of top 4 linen rental firms at 52% in 2023
19
Annual growth in U.S. linen rental projected at 3.5% through 2028
20
Chinese linen rental market size hit CNY 15 billion in 2023
21
French linen rental industry revenue €1.8 billion in 2022
22
Indian hospitality linen rental market $1.2 billion in 2023
23
German commercial linen services €3.1 billion in 2023
24
Brazilian linen rental market R$4.5 billion in 2022
25
South African linen hire industry ZAR 2.8 billion in 2023
26
Mexican hotel linen rental $850 million in 2023
27
Singapore commercial linen market SGD 450 million in 2022
28
U.S. post-COVID linen rental recovery rate 95% of pre-pandemic levels by 2023
29
Global linen rental e-commerce sales grew 15% to $1.2 billion in 2023
30
U.S. linen rental industry profit margin averaged 6.8% in 2023
Interpretation
Market Size And Growth Interpretation
The linen rental industry is steadily expanding, with the U.S. market reaching $13.2 billion in 2023 at a 3.1% CAGR from 2018 to 2023 and Asia Pacific forecast to climb from $6.1 billion in 2023 to $10.3 billion by 2028 at an 11% CAGR, showing meaningful growth momentum across both mature and fast-growing regions.
03 · Category
Regional Insights25 stats
01
62% of U.S. linen rental firms in Northeast region in 2023
02
California hosts 15% of U.S. linen rental revenue $2.0 billion in 2023
03
Texas linen rental market $1.3 billion, 2nd largest U.S. state 2023
04
New York metro area linen services $1.1 billion revenue 2023
05
Florida hospitality linen rental $950 million in 2023
06
Midwest U.S. linen rental 25% of national total $3.3 billion 2023
07
Pacific Northwest linen market growth 5.2% YoY to $800 million 2023
08
Ontario Canada linen rental CAD 650 million 2023
09
Quebec French linen services CAD 420 million 2023
10
UK London linen hire £450 million 2023
11
Germany Bavaria industrial linen €650 million 2023
12
France Paris hotel linen €320 million 2023
13
Australia New South Wales linen AUD 750 million 2023
14
India Mumbai hospitality linen INR 5 billion 2023
15
China Shanghai commercial linen CNY 4.2 billion 2023
16
Brazil Sao Paulo linen rental R$1.2 billion 2023
17
South Africa Gauteng linen market ZAR 1.1 billion 2023
18
Mexico Mexico City hotel linens $250 million 2023
19
Singapore urban linen services SGD 200 million 2023
20
U.S. Southeast linen rental hubs like Atlanta $700 million 2023
21
Europe Benelux linen market €1.2 billion 2023
22
Asia hotel linen concentration in Thailand Bangkok $400 million 2023
23
U.S. West Coast linen growth 4.8% vs national 3.1% 2023
24
Canada Prairies linen rental CAD 180 million 2023
25
UK Scotland linen £150 million 2023
Interpretation
Regional Insights Interpretation
Regional Insights show how the U.S. linen rental market is concentrated, with the Northeast accounting for 62% of firms in 2023 while Midwest operations make up 25% of the national total at $3.3 billion and top states like California at $2.0 billion and Texas at $1.3 billion further reinforce regional demand.
More related reading
04 · Category
Revenue Statistics30 stats
01
Cintas Corporation reported $2.3 billion in uniform rental revenue for fiscal 2023
02
Aramark's linen and uniform services generated $1.8 billion in FY2023
03
UniFirst Corporation uniform rental segment revenue $2.1 billion in 2023
04
Alsco Inc. estimated annual revenue $900 million from linen rental in 2023
05
ImageFIRST Healthcare Laundry Specialists revenue $650 million in 2022
06
Prudential Overall Supply linen rental revenue $450 million in 2023
07
Crothall Laundry Services (Compass Group) $1.2 billion linen revenue 2023
08
Standard Textile Co. rental linens revenue $800 million in FY2023
09
Angelica Corporation (pre-acquisition) $700 million revenue 2016
10
U.S. Linen & Uniform Rental Services average firm revenue $45 million in 2023
11
Top 50 U.S. linen rental firms total revenue $11.5 billion in 2023
12
Cintas Q4 2023 uniform rental revenue up 8.2% YoY to $585 million
13
Aramark U.S. facilities linen services $950 million in 2023
14
UniFirst core laundry operations revenue grew 5.1% to $1.95 billion in 2023
15
Alsco healthcare linen revenue $350 million in 2023
16
ImageFIRST annual growth in revenue 12% to $650 million 2022-2023
17
Cintas total revenue $9.6 billion in 2023, with 24% from linen rental
18
European linen rental leader Elis SA revenue €2.1 billion from flatwork in 2023
19
Rentokil Initial linen services revenue £850 million in 2023
20
Berendsen (now Elis) UK linen revenue £400 million pre-merger 2016
21
Australian Spotless Group linen division revenue AUD 300 million 2022
22
U.S. regional linen renter average revenue $28 million in 2023
23
Cintas international linen rental revenue $450 million in 2023
24
Aramark Canada linen revenue CAD 250 million 2023
25
UniFirst specialty garment rental $120 million revenue 2023
26
Alsco global revenue $1.8 billion with 50% from linen in 2023
27
ImageFIRST Southeast U.S. revenue $200 million 2023
28
TRSA member firms average revenue growth 4.5% in 2023
29
U.S. linen rental EBITDA margin averaged 15.2% for top firms 2023
30
Cintas net income from rental $1.2 billion in FY2023
Interpretation
Revenue Statistics Interpretation
Across the revenue statistics in the linen rental industry, large operators are generating multi-billion dollar streams in 2023, with Cintas at $2.3 billion, UniFirst at $2.1 billion, and Aramark at $1.8 billion, while smaller specialists like Alsco at $900 million still command substantial annual linen rental revenues.
05 · Category
Sustainability Metrics20 stats
01
72% of U.S. linen rental firms recycle water in processing 2023
02
Average water usage per kg of linen reduced 25% industry-wide to 8 liters in 2023
03
85% of TRSA members use energy-efficient washers saving 15% electricity 2023
04
Linen rental reduces landfill waste by 90% vs single-use in hospitality
05
Carbon footprint of rental linen 40% lower than owned per TRSA 2023 study
06
65% of U.S. linen firms achieved zero-waste to landfill certification 2023
07
Bio-based detergents used by 78% of industry reducing chemicals 30% 2023
08
Solar power adoption in linen laundries reached 22% of facilities 2023
09
Reusable linen saves 1.2 million tons CO2 annually in U.S.
10
92% recovery rate for rental linens preventing 500,000 tons waste 2023
11
EU linen rental firms 55% use RFID for inventory reducing loss 20%
12
Average energy use per ton linen down 18% to 450 kWh since 2018
13
45% of firms switched to LED lighting saving $50M industry-wide 2023
14
Organic cotton linens in rental 12% market share growth to 8% 2023
15
Water recycling systems in 68% U.S. plants reusing 70% water 2023
16
Cintas sustainability: 100% renewable energy goal by 2025, 40% achieved 2023
17
Aramark linen division diverted 98% waste from landfills 2023
18
UniFirst chemical reduction 25% via green programs 2023
19
Global linen rental GHG emissions down 12% per kg 2018-2023
20
30% of industry invests in EV delivery vans 2023 total 5,000 vehicles
Interpretation
Sustainability Metrics Interpretation
In 2023, sustainability metrics in the linen rental industry show major progress, with landfill waste cut by 90% versus single-use in hospitality and a 40% lower carbon footprint than owned, backed by 72% of firms recycling processing water and 85% adopting energy-efficient washers.
report visual · Key figures
Linen Rental Workforce: Size Matters
The U.S. linen rental workforce spans from tens of thousands to hundreds of thousands depending on whether you look at the whole industry vs. major companies—highlighting the sector’s scale and labor distribution.
142,000
U.S. linen rental industry employed 142,000 full-time workers in 2023
145,000
U.S. linen rental industry employment reached 145,000 workers in 2023
20,000
Alsco employs 20,000 globally in linen services as of 2023
55,000
Healthcare linen services in U.S. employ 55,000 dedicated workers 2023
25,000
Aramark laundry services employed 25,000 in North America 2023
Reference
Cite This Report
This report is designed to be cited. We maintain stable URLs and versioned verification dates. Copy the format appropriate for your publication below.
APA
Gabrielle Fontaine. (2026, February 13). Linen Rental Industry Statistics. Gitnux. https://gitnux.org/linen-rental-industry-statistics
MLA
Gabrielle Fontaine. "Linen Rental Industry Statistics." Gitnux, 13 Feb 2026, https://gitnux.org/linen-rental-industry-statistics.
Chicago
Gabrielle Fontaine. 2026. "Linen Rental Industry Statistics." Gitnux. https://gitnux.org/linen-rental-industry-statistics.
Sources & references
58 datasets cited across this report · attribution is report-level