01A deceptively simple question
"How many towels should we buy?" sounds like a question with a simple answer. Owners often ask a supplier, a friend who runs another gym or the internet, and get a confident number. Then they buy it and discover, a few weeks in, that the reception stack is empty by seven in the evening on Mondays, or that the storeroom is overflowing with towels that never get used.
The reason is that the right number depends on things that are specific to each gym: how many members visit on the busiest day, how many of them take a towel, how many towels each one takes, whether there are separate towels for the gym floor, showers, pool and spa, and how long towels are away being washed. Change any one of these and the answer changes.
This guide sets out a straightforward method to work out your own number, with worked examples for a neighbourhood gym, a boutique studio and a club with a pool. It also covers how to collect the figures you need, how to adjust for growth and seasons, and what to do when you run short.
What you need to know
- Visits on your busiest normal day, not the record-breaking New Year day.
- What share of visitors take a towel, and how many each.
- Which types of towel you provide: small workout towels, shower towels, pool or spa towels.
- When used towels are collected or washed, and when clean ones come back.
- How many towels you lose or retire each month.
02Step one: find your peak day
Towel stock has to cover your busiest normal day, because that is when running short is most likely and most visible.
Use your check-in data
Most gyms record member check-ins. Look at a few typical weeks and find the day with the highest visits. For many gyms it is Monday or Tuesday; for studios it may be Saturday morning. Ignore unusual spikes such as the first week of January, or plan for them separately.
Peak hours matter too
Even within the busiest day, towels are used in waves. A gym that sees half its daily visits between five and eight in the evening needs enough clean towels on the shelf at five, not just enough across the day.
03Step two: towels per visit
Not every member takes a towel, and some take more than one.
| Towel type | How to measure use |
|---|---|
| Workout towel | Taken at reception or from floor stacks per day |
| Shower towel | Taken in changing rooms per day |
| Pool or spa towel | Taken at wet-area entrance per day |
| Mat towel | Taken per class |
Measure it
For a week, count towels taken from reception or dispensed each day, and divide by visits. That is towels per visit. If you provide several towel types, count each separately.
Typical patterns
In gyms where towels are included for everyone, many members take a small workout towel and some take a shower towel too. In gyms with a paid towel service, fewer members take towels. In hot yoga or spin studios, many members take two towels: one for the mat or bike, one for the face. Your own count is far more useful than any rule of thumb.
04Step three: how long towels are away
Once a towel is used, it is out of action until it comes back clean. The longer that takes, the more towels you need.
With a laundry
Write down your collection and return days. If towels collected on Monday come back on Wednesday, and those collected on Thursday come back on Saturday, used towels spend two to three days away, plus however long they wait in the bin before collection.
With on-site washing
If towels are washed on site, the time away depends on how many loads your machines can handle and how quickly towels are dried. Busy gyms often find towels wait several hours for a free machine, and longer for a free dryer.
The longest gap
Use the longest normal gap, often over a weekend. That is the gap your stock has to bridge.
05Step four: the calculation
The basic idea: you need enough towels for the peak day's use, multiplied by the number of days towels are tied up away from you, plus the towels on the shelf for today, plus a safety margin.
In words
Towels needed = towels used on peak day × (days away + 1) + safety margin
The safety margin
A margin of around 20 to 30 per cent of peak-day use covers towels held back for stains, unusually busy days, late returns and losses. Gyms with very variable traffic need a larger margin.
06Example: a neighbourhood gym
This example is illustrative.
| Figure | Value |
|---|---|
| Peak-day visits | 600 |
| Workout towels per visit | 0.7 |
| Workout towels on peak day | 420 |
| Laundry collections | Three times a week, two-day return |
| Longest days away | 3 |
| Multiplier (days away + 1) | 4 |
| Base stock | 1,680 |
| Safety margin (25%) | 105 |
| Workout towels to own | about 1,790 |
The same gym also provides shower towels for about a third of visits. Repeating the calculation for those gives a separate figure. Keeping the two towel types separate in the calculation stops the gym running short of one while the other piles up.
07Example: a boutique studio
This example is also illustrative.
A yoga studio runs eight classes a day of 25 people at peak, with two towels per person: one for the mat and one for the face. That is 400 towels on the busiest day. Towels are washed on site, with the last load of the day dried the next morning, so towels are away for about a day. Multiplier: 2. Base stock: 800. Safety margin at 30 per cent of peak use, because classes vary: 120. Towels to own: about 920.
If the studio switched to a laundry with collection twice a week, the days away would rise and so would the stock needed, unless collections were more frequent.
08Example: a club with a pool and spa
This example is illustrative too.
A club with a gym floor, pool and small spa provides three towel types. Peak-day use is 300 workout towels, 250 large pool towels and 80 spa towels. Collection is daily with next-day return, so days away is about 2 and the multiplier 3.
| Towel type | Peak use | Base stock | Margin | To own |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Workout | 300 | 900 | 75 | 975 |
| Pool | 250 | 750 | 65 | 815 |
| Spa | 80 | 240 | 25 | 265 |
Large pool towels are heavier and slower to dry, so the club also makes sure its laundry can return them reliably; otherwise, it would need a bigger margin.
09Collecting the figures
The calculation is only as good as the numbers that go into it. A week or two of simple counting is enough.
- Count clean towels put out at reception each morning and at each restock.
- Count towels left at closing.
- The difference is the day's use.
- Record visits from your check-in system.
- Note the laundry's collection and return times, or your machine schedule.
- Repeat for a few weeks to smooth out quiet and busy days.
Counting by bags
If towels go to a laundry, the laundry's counts for each collection are a useful cross-check, as long as you know which days each collection covers.
10Signs you have too few towels
- The reception stack runs out during peak hours.
- Staff put towels out before they are fully dry.
- Towels are rushed back from the laundry or rewashed on site in a hurry.
- Members complain or start bringing their own towels.
- Towels wear out unusually quickly because each one is washed so often.
11Signs you have too many
- Shelves are always full, even after the busiest day.
- Some towels have never been used and are yellowing in storage.
- Storage space is taken up that could be used for something else.
- Losses are hard to spot because there are always plenty of towels.
12Seasons and peaks
Gym traffic follows a familiar pattern: a surge in January, steady spring, a summer dip in some gyms and a rise in others, and an autumn return.
January
Many gyms see their busiest weeks of the year in January. Plan for it separately: either buy extra stock in advance, increase collection frequency for those weeks, or both.
Summer
City gyms near offices may get quieter as people go on holiday, while gyms with outdoor pools or near parks may get busier. Recalculate with your own summer figures.
Events and challenges
Membership drives, challenges and new class launches can push traffic up suddenly. Check towel stock before launching anything that will bring more visits.
13How collection frequency changes the answer
Collection frequency is the biggest single lever on towel stock. More frequent collections reduce the number of days towels are away, which directly reduces how many you need.
| Collections per week | Typical days away | Effect on stock |
|---|---|---|
| Daily | 1 to 2 | Lowest stock |
| Three times | 2 to 3 | Moderate stock |
| Twice | 3 to 4 | Higher stock |
| Once | 6 to 7 | Highest stock |
Trading stock for collections
More collections may cost more in delivery charges, but they save money on towels and storage. Compare the cost of extra collections with the cost of the extra towels you would otherwise need.
14Storage space
London gyms rarely have spare space. Before buying a large stock, check where it will go.
- Measure shelving for clean towels and estimate how many fit.
- Keep used towels in a separate area, ideally ventilated.
- If space is very tight, more frequent collections reduce the stock you need on site.
- Keep clean towels away from humid changing rooms.
15Allowing for losses
Towels go missing in gyms: taken home in gym bags, left in lockers, used as floor mats, thrown away when badly stained. If you do not allow for losses, stock slowly drops below what you need.
Measure losses
Count towels out to the laundry and back, and do a full stock count once a month. The difference over time shows monthly losses.
Reorder to cover them
Order enough each month or quarter to replace average losses, so stock stays at your target.
16Stock for a new gym or studio
A new gym has no check-in history, so the first stock has to be estimated.
- Estimate peak-day visits from membership targets and expected attendance.
- Assume a towel-per-visit figure based on your towel policy.
- Agree the laundry schedule or on-site washing plan before opening.
- Buy a little more than the calculation suggests to cover the unknowns of opening weeks.
- Measure real use from week one and adjust within the first two months.
Opening weeks
Launch periods are often busier than normal, with free trials and open days. Plan towel stock for those weeks on top of the normal figure.
17How your towel policy changes the numbers
The towel policy is the second biggest lever on stock, after collection frequency.
Free towels for all
When towels are included for everyone, use is highest. Members take towels they may not need, and some take two.
Towels on request
When members have to ask at reception, use drops noticeably. Members who do ask usually need a towel.
Paid towels
A small charge per towel, or a premium membership tier with towels included, reduces use further and helps fund the service.
Workout towels only
Some gyms provide small workout towels but ask members to bring shower towels. Small towels are cheaper, lighter to wash and quicker to dry.
Changing policy
If you change the policy, recount towels per visit for a few weeks afterwards and recalculate stock.
18Towel sizes and weights
The size and weight of towels affect how many you can store, how fast they dry and what they cost to wash.
| Towel | Typical use | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Small workout towel | Wiping sweat on the gym floor | Light, quick to dry, cheap to wash |
| Hand towel | Changing rooms, studios | Middle option |
| Bath or shower towel | After showers | Bulky, slower to dry |
| Large pool towel | Pool and spa | Heaviest; needs good drying capacity |
| Mat towel | Yoga and Pilates mats | Usually microfibre or cotton; non-slip versions |
Mixing sizes
Using smaller towels where possible reduces storage, washing weight and drying time. Many gyms find members are happy with a workout towel on the floor and a larger towel only in the changing rooms.
19On-site washing or a laundry
The washing method changes how long towels are away and how many you need.
On-site washing
Towels can be back on the shelf within hours, which keeps stock lower. But machines and dryers have limited capacity, and if they fall behind at peak times, towels pile up and stock needs rise. Staff time and machine maintenance are real costs.
Laundry collection
Towels are away for longer, so stock is higher, but staff are freed up and results are consistent. Choosing a collection schedule that fits your peaks keeps stock manageable.
Mixed
Some gyms wash small workout towels on site and send larger towels to a laundry, or use a laundry for weekday collections and wash on site at weekends.
20If you run short today
Even with good planning, a busy evening or a late return can leave reception empty.
- Check every storage area, studio and changing room for clean towels.
- Prioritise shower towels over workout towels, or the other way round, depending on what members need most.
- Put up a polite sign and apologise at reception.
- Ask the laundry about an urgent delivery.
- Afterwards, record what happened and adjust stock or collections.
Never put towels out damp
It is tempting to put towels out before they are fully dry when the shelf is empty. Damp towels smell quickly and members notice. A short wait is better.
21Budgeting for towel stock
Towels are a significant cost for gyms, but running short has costs too.
Initial purchase
Your calculated stock, multiplied by the price per towel, for each type.
Ongoing replacement
Gym towels are washed hot and often, so they wear out faster than towels in most settings. Budget for regular replacement, based on your monthly losses and retirements.
Washing costs
Laundry costs are driven by use, not stock. Use your peak and average daily use to estimate weekly washing costs.
The cost of too few
Running short damages member experience, and towels that are washed too often wear out faster, so a too-small stock is not as cheap as it looks.
22Planning for peak hours, not just peak days
Daily totals hide an important detail: towels are not used evenly through the day. A gym near offices might see a burst at seven in the morning, a smaller one at lunchtime and the biggest from half past five to eight in the evening. A studio might run back-to-back classes on Saturday morning and very little in the afternoon.
The reception stack
What matters to members is whether there is a towel on the shelf when they walk in. If the morning delivery has to last until the evening rush, the stack at five o'clock must hold enough for the busiest three hours. Plan restocking from the storeroom around those peaks, and make sure the storeroom holds enough to refill the stack at least once.
Restocking rota
Put restocking on the staff rota at set times: before the morning rush, after it, before the evening rush and mid-evening. A quick check that takes two minutes stops the shelf running bare.
Hourly counts
If you are not sure when towels run out, count the reception stack every hour for a few days. The pattern shows exactly when stock is under pressure.
23Class-based studios
Yoga, Pilates, barre, spin and boxing studios plan towels around classes rather than open gym visits.
Per class, not per day
Count towels per person per class and multiply by class capacity. Then add up the classes on your busiest day. A full timetable on Saturday morning may use more towels in four hours than a quiet weekday uses in a whole day.
Mat towels
Yoga and hot yoga studios often provide mat towels as well as hand towels. Mat towels are larger and slower to dry than hand towels, and some are microfibre with non-slip backing that needs gentler washing. Count them separately.
Back-to-back classes
When classes run back to back, towels from the first class are still in the bin when the second class starts. The stock on the shelf must cover several classes in a row, not just one.
24When members bring their own towels
Some gyms encourage members to bring their own towels, or require it. That reduces stock dramatically, but some towels are still needed.
- Keep a small stock to sell or lend to members who forget.
- Provide paper towels or wipes for equipment cleaning.
- Remind members to keep their own towels clean and dry between visits.
Hygiene expectations
If members bring their own towels, the gym still has a role in keeping benches and mats clean. Many gyms provide wipes and ask members to wipe equipment after use.
25Organising the towel storeroom
A well-organised storeroom makes it obvious when stock is getting low and makes restocking quick.
- Shelve towels by type: workout, shower, pool, spa, mat.
- Stack in counted bundles, for example tens, so stock can be checked at a glance.
- Put new deliveries at the back or bottom and take from the front or top.
- Mark a minimum level on each shelf; when stock drops below it, tell the manager.
- Keep used towels out of the storeroom entirely.
Minimum levels
A minimum level marked on the shelf, perhaps a strip of tape at the height of half a day's use, gives staff a simple visual warning. It turns stock control into something anyone can do.
26Gyms inside hotels, offices and residential buildings
Many London gyms sit inside other buildings: hotel fitness rooms, office gyms and residents' gyms in apartment blocks. Their towel needs follow the same method, with a few twists.
Hotel gyms
Hotel guests often bring a room towel to the gym, or take a gym towel back to their room. Decide whether gym towels and room towels are separate, and count them separately if they are. Hotel gyms usually have quieter, more spread-out traffic than public gyms, but a conference group can fill the gym at seven in the morning.
Office gyms
Office gyms peak sharply before work, at lunchtime and after work, and are nearly empty in between. Stock must cover the morning rush. Office holidays and hybrid working patterns change traffic from week to week, so reviewing figures regularly matters.
Residents' gyms
Residents' gyms in apartment buildings are often unstaffed. Towels may be provided in a cabinet, with a bin for used ones. Without staff to restock, the cabinet must hold enough for a full day or more, and the bin must be emptied by building staff or the laundry on a fixed schedule.
How ArkLaundry helps
Busy gyms can book collections more than once a week, so stock levels stay manageable. Gym towels are £0.90 each, excluding VAT.
