When you ask for a commercial laundry quote, you will usually be offered pricing per kilogram or per piece. They are not interchangeable, and the better deal depends on what you actually send. This article explains how each model works, where each one wins, and how to compare quotes without getting caught out.
How does per kg pricing work?
Per kilogram pricing charges by the weight of soiled linen you send, regardless of item count. It suits high-volume, mixed loads where counting every piece would be slow and where items are roughly similar in weight. Hotels with steady bulk linen often find the laundry cost per kg simple to forecast.
How does per piece pricing work?
Per piece pricing assigns a rate to each item type, so a bedsheet, a pillowcase, and a surgical gown each carry their own price. It rewards you when your mix is light or predictable, and it makes garment-level tracking easier. The trade-off is more detailed counting and reconciliation on both sides.
Which model fits your linen mix?
The right model follows your mix, not the other way around. Heavy, wet, or bulky items can make per kg expensive, while a few light items can make per piece cheaper. Look at what you send most and let that drive the choice.
- →Per kg suits bulky mixed bulk linen at volume
- →Per piece suits light, predictable, trackable items
- →Heavy or water-retaining items push per kg up
- →Itemised garments favour per piece accountability
What hidden factors change the real cost?
Weight can be measured dry or wet, and a wet weight inflates your bill, so always confirm which is used. Minimum charges, reject and rewash handling, and how lost items are settled all shift the true cost beyond the headline rate. Two quotes with the same per kg figure can land very differently once these terms are clear.
How do you compare quotes on a fair basis?
Take a typical week of your real linen and price it under both models using the actual quotes. The model that gives the lower total for your genuine mix is the right one, not the one with the lower unit rate. Arifa processes up to 25 tonnes a day across two JB factories, so we can talk through your mix and show which structure fits before you commit.