Two quotes for the same linen can look wildly different, and usually the difference is not margin — it is the unit. Understanding which model suits your load is the difference between a contract that works and one you renegotiate in six months.
Per kilogram
You are charged on weight processed. This suits mixed, high-volume, relatively uniform loads — hospital ward linen, hostel bedding, factory workwear — where counting individual pieces would be impractical and the mix is consistent.
- Works well when your load is bulky and consistent, and you care about throughput more than per-item finish.
- Watch for wet weight versus dry weight. These are not the same number and the difference is significant. Clarify which is being weighed, and where.
- Watch for heavy items skewing the bill — a few soaked mattress protectors can distort a weight-based invoice.
Per piece
You are charged per item, usually at different rates by item type. This suits loads where finish quality matters and item types vary a lot — hotel linen, uniforms, chef coats, table linen, cleanroom garments.
- Works well when you need predictable per-room or per-cover costing and consistent presentation.
- Watch for how a "piece" is defined. A duvet cover and a pillowcase are not equivalent work, and a flat per-piece rate across both favours one party.
- Watch for whether pressing and finishing are included or extra.
What actually moves the rate
| Factor | Effect on rate |
|---|---|
| Volume and consistency | Higher, steadier volume reduces the per-unit rate — routing and plant loading both improve. |
| Turnaround required | Faster commitments cost more, because they constrain how loads can be batched. |
| Soil level | Heavily soiled workwear needs pre-treatment and longer cycles than lightly used room linen. |
| Finish required | Flatwork pressing, hanger finishing and individual packing each add labour. |
| Collection frequency | Daily collection costs more to run than twice-weekly, but lets you hold less linen. |
| Segregation and documentation | Healthcare and pharma streams carry real process cost — this is where suspiciously cheap quotes usually cut. |
The questions to ask before signing
- Is the quoted rate on wet or dry weight, and where is the weighing done?
- What is included — collection, delivery, pressing, packing, replacement of lost items?
- What is the committed turnaround, and what happens when it is missed?
- How are shortages and damage handled, and who bears the cost?
- What triggers a rate revision, and with how much notice?
- Is there a minimum volume or minimum monthly commitment?
We quote against your actual load rather than a published rate card, because the same linen genuinely costs different amounts to process depending on volume, turnaround and finish. Send us your volumes and requirements and we will show you the working behind the number.
