In 2025, the majority of homes started featured laundry connections on the first floor (70%), according to the Census’s Survey of Construction. Laundry located on the second floor or higher was the second most prevalent at 27%. The basement, garage, and other locations all had a 1% or lower share.  

In NAHB’s What Home Buyer’s Really Want, home buyers are surveyed on where they would like their laundry located. While the first floor remained the most desired location for laundry at 58%, preferences diverged significantly for other locations. The basement was the second most popular choice at 19%, followed by the garage at 16%, and only 7% for the second floor or higher. 

This comparison highlights a possible disconnect between what builders are offering and what buyers are seeking. While builders are largely opting for laundry connections on the first or second floor, a notable portion of buyers prefer the basement or garage. This variance is shown in the chart below.  

Across all Census Divisions, the first floor remains the most common location for laundry. Nevertheless, some regional differences exist. In the West South Central division, 93% of homes had a laundry area on the first floor, compared to just 49% in the New England. Meanwhile, a second-floor laundry was most popular in New England at 41%, and least common in the West South Central at 6%. 

Not surprisingly, laundry connections in basements are more common in areas of the country where basements themselves are more common: primarily in the northern regions. The West North Central division led with 13% of homes featuring a basement laundry, followed by New England at 9%.  

Among age-restricted homes, where accessibility and main-level living are key design priorities, 89% featured laundry on the first floor. 

Multifamily Laundry Trends 

For multifamily units completed in 2025, 87% of apartments included an individual laundry, while 13% offered shared or no laundry facilities. This share has remained relatively stable since 2015, reflecting continued renter demand for in-unit laundry. 

Regionally, the Northeast has the highest shared or no laundry facilities percentage at 37%. In contrast, shared or no laundry facilities remained far less common elsewhere: 16% in the West, 10% in the Midwest, and 4% in the South.