THE TRUE COST OF COTTON TOWELS IN UK HAIR SALONS

Last Updated: July 2026

Introduction

Most salon owners know how much they pay to buy a towel. Very few know how much it costs every time that towel is used. The purchase price is only one small part of the total cost. Every reusable towel must be collected, washed, dried, folded, stored and eventually replaced. Whether a salon uses a commercial laundry service or washes towels in-house, every stage carries a real cost in both money and staff time. This report compares reusable cotton towels with DHB Disposable Towels using illustrative UK cost models and professional salon equipment specifications.

Executive Summary

These figures are estimates based on a defined set of assumptions. See Methodology below.

How These Figures Were Calculated

This report uses illustrative UK cost models together with professional salon equipment specifications. Calculations include: commercial laundry pricing model, electricity, water, laundry chemicals, equipment depreciation, labour, cotton towel purchase cost, and average towel lifespan. The aim is to estimate the true cost of using one towel, not simply the cost of buying it.

Scenario 1: Commercial Laundry

Assumptions

• Cotton towel size: 50×85 cm
• Weight: 153g
• Reference commercial laundry rate: GBP 3.45/kg (illustrative, per-kilogram pricing model)
• Estimated towel lifespan: 100 washes
• Purchase cost: GBP 2.83

Scenario 2: In-house Laundry

Professional equipment reference: commercial-grade washing machine and heat pump dryer.

Example Salon

• 20 clients per day
• 26 working days per month
• 520 towels used each month

Hidden Costs Most Salons Never Calculate

Most businesses only think about electricity and detergent. However, reusable towels also require: collecting dirty towels, sorting, washing, drying, folding, storing, replacing damaged towels, organising laundry collections, and checking stock levels.

All of these activities consume valuable staff time.

Why More Salons Are Switching to Disposable Towels

The biggest benefit isn’t simply the cost. It’s the simplicity. Instead of managing laundry every day, your team can focus entirely on clients. With DHB Disposable Towels you receive:

• Fresh towel for every client
• No washing, no drying, no folding
• No dirty laundry or storage of used towels
• Consistent hygiene
• More time for treatments
• Order before 2pm for Next Working Day Delivery across the UK

Final Comparison

Methodology: How We Calculated the Costs

The purpose of this comparison is to estimate the true cost of using one salon towel under typical UK business conditions. Rather than comparing only the purchase price of towels, we considered the full operating cost throughout the towel’s lifecycle.

Disposable Towels

Calculations are based on our bestselling product: DHB 70×40 Basic SMOOTH Disposable Towels – 45gsm. The cost per use is calculated directly from the current selling price of one pack divided by the number of towels supplied.

Commercial Laundry

To estimate the cost of outsourcing laundry, we used an illustrative per-kilogram pricing model reflecting how UK commercial laundry providers typically charge for towel laundry. The calculation is based on: a per-kilogram commercial laundry pricing model, the weight of a standard cotton salon towel (50×85 cm, 360gsm), the purchase price of a professional cotton towel, and an estimated service life (number of washes before replacement).

In-House Laundry

The in-house calculation is based on washing towels using professional commercial equipment rather than domestic appliances. The calculation includes: electricity consumption of a professional washing machine and heat pump dryer based on published equipment specifications, reference UK non-domestic electricity pricing, water consumption per wash cycle based on reference UK water and wastewater charging rates, professional laundry detergent and fabric care products, depreciation of professional washing and drying equipment over its expected service life, purchase cost of the cotton towel spread across its expected lifespan, estimated staff time based on a reference UK wage rate and a defined time allowance per towel, and a reasonable allowance for towel replacement due to staining, wear or damage.

Why Labour Is Included

Many comparisons ignore staff time. In reality, someone still needs to collect dirty towels, load the washing machine, transfer towels to the dryer, fold clean towels, organise storage, and monitor stock levels. Even when the washing process itself is automated, these tasks require paid working time and therefore form part of the true operating cost. Our labour estimate is based on a reference UK wage rate applied to a defined time allowance per towel, covering the tasks listed above.

Data Sources

The calculations presented in this report are based on publicly available reference data, including: per-kilogram commercial laundry pricing models used across the UK laundry industry, published specifications for professional washing and drying equipment, reference UK non-domestic electricity and water pricing, reference UK wage rates, and professional cotton towel specifications and typical market prices. Rates and reference data reviewed: July 2026. The figures presented in this report are estimates based on publicly available reference data and a defined set of assumptions. Actual operating costs will vary depending on business size, equipment, energy contracts, labour rates and local commercial laundry pricing.