66% of car owners that live in the U.S. will get their vehicle washed anywhere from one to two times every month.
Here you’ll find new car wash statistics related to:
- How often Americans get their cars washed
- How many car washes are in the US
- Car wash industry revenue, size, & growth
- How profitable is a car wash
- And a whole lot more
Let’s dive right in.
Key Car Wash Statistics and Trends:
- 66% of car owners that live in the U.S. will get their vehicle washed anywhere from one to two times every month.
- The car wash industry generated $5.8 billion in revenue in 2021.
- The car wash industry is worth $13.1 billion in 2021.
- 8 million cars get washed every day in car washes.
- There are 113,000 car wash establishments globally in 2021.
- Roughly 38 gallons of water are used each time a single car is washed.
- 304 million gallons of water are used for car washes per day, globally.
- With a whopping $1.6 billion in revenue, California is the leading state in the United States when it comes to the revenue received from all types of car washes.
- 32% of all car wash revenue comes from vehicles being washed in winter, 25% comes from the sprint and summer months, and 18% comes from washes in the fall.
- A smaller car wash can have an annual profit of $55,000 to $100,000 per year for a self-service car wash.
- Self-serve car washes do not make as much money as tunnel car washes or in-bay automatic car washes, but they can still generate up to $41,000 a year on average.
- The average profit margin per car is approximately 29%, which for the average $15 ticket is $4.35.
- Most cars on average last for 12 years, which has changed over the years. However, this is just an average because some cars can last up to 20 years if they are properly maintained.
Car Wash Industry Statistics
The car wash industry is growing rapidly because of the need and want for cleaner vehicles. This is a growing industry, and here are some of the car wash industry statistics that might shock you as a consumer, car wash employee or owner.
Overview Of The Car Wash Industry
The car wash industry generated $5.8 billion in revenue in 2021.
The car wash industry is worth $13.1 billion in 2021.
How many cars do car washes wash a day?
In the United States, approximately 8 million vehicles are washed at car washes every day.
This number has increased over the years, as more people have grown to prefer having their vehicles washed professionally instead of taking the time to do it at home.
How many car washes are there?
There are 113,000 car wash establishments globally in 2021.
How many times per month do Americans get their car washed?
In the United States, around 66% of car owners will get their vehicle washed anywhere from one to two times every month, depending on the various factors.
However, the answer to this question can vary based on where someone lives and the type of terrain that people are forced to drive on regularly.
Roughly 38 gallons of water are used each time a single car is washed.
304 million gallons of water are used for car washes per day, globally.
What U.S. state has the most car washes?
California has the highest number of car washing businesses available for citizens when it comes to car washes in the United States.
Less than 2 years ago, the total car wash sales from California were approximately $1.6 billion, and that is projected to increase in the next few years.
However, based on population size, the District of Columbia actually had a higher average sales than California.
There are 350,000 car wash employees globally in 2021.
What is the car wash service market growth?
Overall, the car wash service market has been increasing over the last few years by approximately 3%, and it is expected to continue growing at this rate until 2028.
However, this is an estimate. It could be higher or slightly lower from year to year, but it is still expected to grow.
How competitive is the car wash industry?
The car wash industry is a very competitive market. Unlike with other industries, this market is capable of making way for smaller businesses that want to get in on the industry because it isn't controlled by a single or small larger group of businesses.
This makes it easier for smaller businesses to get on the ground floor of the industry without being taken over. It is also competitive because there are other services that you can offer at a car wash that can increase your customer count on a regular basis, like auto-detailing.
In order to be successful in this type of business, there are various things that you need to consider before opening up.
For instance, are you going to open a self-service or a full-service car wash? Also, what is the average price per gallon of water in your area?
Although there are a number of factors that you need to consider, there are numerous ways for you to ensure that you are competitive in the industry and can make it work for you.
What is the most popular season for car washes?
The most popular season for having a vehicle washed at a car wash is in winter.
Approximately 32% of yearly revenue in the car wash industry is generated during the winter, and this is closely followed by spring and summer that both make up 25% each.
Car Wash Profitability Statistics
Just like in any industry, profitability is extremely important, otherwise, the industry would not be worth taking a risk on for new business owners. Here are the most important profitability statistics that come from the car wash industry.
How profitable is a car wash?
The profitability of a car wash depends on the type of car wash that you are looking at.
For instance, an in-bay automatic car wash is capable of washing approximately 20,000 cars annually, and this yields an annual profit of about $86,531.
However, a self-serve car wash only yields about $30,000 in profit, but a tunnel car wash can reach well over $500,000 in profits each year.
These figures are just averages for the industry, but there are a lot of factors that go into these numbers.
Location is one of the biggest factors because the larger the population in the area, the higher the revenue chances for the car wash.
How much money do car washes make per year?
Just like the profitability of car washes, the amount of money that a car wash can generate depends on where it is located and the type of services that the car wash provides.
For instance, self-serve car washes do not make as much money as tunnel car washes or in-bay automatic car washes, but they can still generate up to $41,000 a year on average.
This is the lowest car wash revenue generator, and the tunnel car wash is the most profitable and generates the most revenue annually at an average of $686,250.
So, there is definitely money to be made in the car wash industry.
How much do car wash owners make?
The answer to this question can be a little difficult to determine because it depends on the type of car wash that is provided, the location of the car wash, and the amount of money that the car wash charges per car.
However, a smaller car wash can have an annual profit of $55,000 to $100,000 per year for a self-service car wash.
However, a full-service car wash business can actually make anywhere from $500,000 to $900,000 annually in profits.
These numbers are vastly different, but it makes sense because these two types of car washes take different resources, both in materials and labor, which can account for the difference in these numbers.
So, all in all, car wash owners can definitely profit from their business and live comfortably.
Are self service car washes profitable?
Although self-service car washes are not as profitable as in-bay or full-service car washes, they are an excellent way to generate a passive stream of income with little to no effort.
Due to it being a self-service business, the owner can cut costs and increase their profits by running and checking on everything themselves.
On average, depending on the location, a self-service car wash can make close to $1,500 a day, but it is more realistic to expect $250 to $750 per day.
What is the average car wash profit margin?
The average profit margin per car is approximately 29%, which for the average $15 ticket is $4.35. Obviously, the more the ticket price for the car wash the higher the average profit margin will be more.
When looking at a profit margin it can be difficult to calculate, depending on the size of the business.
When calculating these numbers, some of the things that should go into calculating this average are the daily traffic count, price per car, the number of days the car wash is open, the cost of materials and maintenance, and the cost of labor if it requires it.
The average ticket price for a car wash is approximately $15 and after all of the costs that go into running the car wash.
Car Auto Detailing Industry Statistics
Car auto-detailing businesses are often coupled with car washing businesses, but in general, auto-detailing businesses provide higher profit margins.
However, it can cost more to run these businesses because of the extra labor and materials that are needed to run them properly. Here are a few statistics about the auto detailing industry.
How many years do cars last?
In the past, cars lasted longer than some of the newer models, but that is part of choosing to drive a car with higher technology than was available in the past.
Currently, most cars on average last for approximately 12 years, but this is just an average.
There are many cars that are capable of lasting even longer, but it is better to expect the average than think it could last longer.
Do consumers prefer to get their cars washed professionally or at home?
This is entirely based on the preference of the consumer because some people prefer to do the work on their car at home, but others like the idea of having a professional take care of their car to ensure the best results.
In North America alone, there are more than 2 billion cars washed by professional car washes every year.
Not to mention, people who are concerned about the environment tend to go to car washes.
Due to proficiency, professional car washes are faster than washing cars, which means that they are less of a drain on the environment. They are capable of minimizing the amount of water than someone washing their car at home, which is an important distinction for the environment.
Plus, they often use environmentally friendly materials to wash cars that consumers appreciate like phosphate-free and biodegradable cleaners that consumers might not have access to when washing their own cars.
What percentage of consumers are willing to pay more for eco-friendly services?
Approximately 77% of Americans are concerned about the environment and take this into consideration when purchasing products.
According to statistics, 75% of millennials and 57% of boomers take note of this sort of thing, and they will generally pay more for a car wash that is professionally done as long as it is done with eco-friendly materials and services.
What US cities have the highest concentration of detailing businesses?
There are a lot of excellent detailing businesses throughout the United States, and currently, the following cities are the five cities that have the highest concentration of detailing businesses:
- Glendale, Arizona
- East Honolulu, Hawaii
- Silver Spring, Maryland
- Knik-Fairview, Alaska
- Waipahu, Hawaii
What US cities have the lowest concentration of detailing businesses?
The cities that have the lowest concentration of detailing businesses are generally smaller towns and areas that have less pollen count than other cities, which require the need for as many car washes and detailing businesses.
It's important to keep these types of statistics in mind when you are planning on opening a detailing business because it can directly affect the amount of business that you will have to contend with in the area.
What are the annual sales of chemicals in the car wash market?
There are a lot of different types of chemicals that are used in detailing businesses and car washes, and it's important to take the cost of these chemicals into account when you are considering opening your own detailing business.
On average, car washes and auto detailing businesses can use anywhere from $5,000 to $20,000 worth of chemicals annually.
However, this depends on the size of the business and the frequency of cars that go through the business on a daily basis.
Companies that use eco-friendly products do spend more on their chemicals, but these businesses are also able to sell their services for more than if they were using other types of chemicals in their business.
What is the average price of car detailing services in the US?
Many people do not realize that regular car washes are different than car detailing services. The average price for a regular car wash is approximately $15, but the average detailing price in the United States runs about $160.
There are several types of services that come with car detailing, and many businesses have different packages that people are capable of choosing from to provide a variety of services for different income budgets, which can allow them to work with people from all income brackets.
How much do American car detailers make per year?
On average in the United States, car detailers make about $12 an hour, and for those that are willing to work overtime, they will get approximately $4,000 in extra pay a year.
Currently, they make an annual average of $27,735, but this is just an average.
Car detailers that work in larger cities or for larger companies tend to make more, and if they do a good job, they often are able to generate their own client base, which can help to increase their annual income.
Car Wash Water Usage Statistics
When it comes to washing cars, one of the biggest statistics that people take into account is water usage. This goes for business owners and their customers.
Business owners need to pay for the water usage, and their customers like to know that they are doing business with an eco-friendly conscious business, which includes the amount of water that they use.
Here are some water usage statistics you've probably never seen before.
How much water does an average car wash use?
There are all types of car washes, and depending on the type of car wash, the amount of water usage can vary.
Some car washes only use approximately 35 gallons of water per vehicle, but there are other car washes that can use up to 70 gallons of water per vehicle like a high-pressure touchless car wash.
So, when you are thinking of getting your car washed or if you are planning on opening your own car wash business, you will want to consider the water cost before making a decision on the type of car wash that you will open or use.
Water usage is one of the most expensive expenses that you have to consider in this business. So you will want to consider the price of water usage to be able to set your prices properly so that you still get an ample profit per car to ensure the business will be successful.
How many gallons of soap does a car wash use?
After you consider the water usage that your business will require, you will want to consider the amount of soap that will be used.
Most car washes will use 1 ounce of car wash solution per gallon of water. Therefore, you have to consider the type of car wash you want to run here, as well.
For instance, some car washes only use 30 gallons of water per car, and therefore, it will lower the gallons of soap that you will need to use per car.
However, if you use the higher-pressure car wash type, you could use up to 70 gallons of water. Therefore the amount of soap solution that you will need to use will be doubled, as well.
Conclusion
Finally, this industry is an excellent one to go into by a smaller business owner because the industry is not locked down by just a few larger companies, which means there is potential to grow for smaller car washes.
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