Selecting the best commercial washing machine for your business requires careful consideration and forethought. You want a reliable, built-to-last machine that is both easy to use and equipped with the kind of time-saving features that your laundry needs to thrive.
But with lots of commercial laundry equipment manufacturers on the market, landing on the perfect-fit washer for your business can be challenging. That’s why we’ve enlisted the help of our laundry experts to offer an impartial guide to the best heavy-duty commercial washers that money can buy in 2026.
How we chose these top-rated washing machines
Based on the priorities of our customers, we’ve identified the core attributes that businesses like yours focus on when purchasing new laundry equipment. This, ultimately, helped to inform our shortlist of recommended commercial washers for 2026, with our selection criteria based on the following factors.
- Durability: As illustrated in our domestic vs commercial washing machine guide, the main benefit of choosing commercial laundry equipment is the increased durability it affords. Thus, we prioritised a machine’s expected lifespan when shortlisting the UK’s best professional washers.
- Energy rating: The JLA Energy SMART Hub continues to prove one of the most-visited areas of our site, suggesting that this is a key priority for laundry professionals. As such, the energy rating of each machine was a key priority as part of our selection process.
- Servicing and parts availability: While commercial washers need to be reliable, issues and faults can arise. So, knowing that you can get your machine back up and running with minimal downtime is essential; that’s why servicing and the availability of replacement parts is something we prioritised.
That’s not an exhaustive list of the attributes and factors that informed our list of the best commercial washing machines for 2026. However, it should provide a steer on the core priorities that most businesses typically look for when sourcing new laundry equipment. Be sure to check out our commercial washing machine buying guide for more advice on the features and capabilities to consider.
The best commercial washing machines by business type
Naturally, the needs of your on-site laundry will differ greatly by business type, so there’s rarely a one-size-fits-all solution. For example, gym owners will have very different laundry care requirements to, say, a care home or health facility, so you should invest in the washing machine that best suits your business.
With that in mind, here’s a quick comparison chart covering different business types and the recommended washing machine features that they should consider.
Small businesses
Key features:
- Small overall footprint
- Stackable for increased convenience
- Effortless, day-to-day functionality
Suggested models:
- JLA 98 Washing Machine
Hospitality
Key features:
- Fast cycle speeds
- Large drum capacity
- Automated dosing controls
Suggested models:
- JLA 98 washing machine
Gyms and sports clubs
Key features:
- High G-force spin speeds
- Enhanced sanitisation features
- Large capacity
Suggested models:
- JLA SMART washing machines
Healthcare
Key features:
- Advanced infection control
- Flexible preset cycle programs
- Outstanding durability
Suggested models:
- JLA barrier washers
Care homes
Key features:
- Advanced infection control
- Sluice cycles
- JLA SMART washing machines
Launderettes
Key features:
- Flexible payment options
- Easy coin-op controls
- Long-lasting durability
Suggested models:
- Coin-operated SMART CW washing machines
Lease vs subscription vs purchase: How to get a new commercial washing machine
If your biggest priority when setting out to procure a new commercial washing machine is cost, remember that there are multiple ways to get the equipment you need beyond making an upfront purchase.
Purchasing a new commercial washer outright has the potential to cost your business thousands. Of course, this may be the best option in some cases, but many of our customers are switching to leasing and subscription-based procurement to get the equipment they need with no upfront cost.
Recognising the move towards equipment leasing, we developed Total Care, our flagship all-inclusive equipment rental plan. With Total Care, you can get the washing machine you need along with a range of other benefits like on-demand servicing and repairs, all for a fixed monthly cost with nothing to pay upfront.
We hope that this guide to the best commercial washing machines for 2026 proves useful. If you’re interested in any of the JLA machines featured in our shortlist, contact our team today for more help and information.
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