In 2023, the majority of homes started featured laundry connections on the first floor (72%), according to the Census’s Survey of Construction. Laundry located on the second floor or higher was the second most prevalent at 26%. 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 60%, preferences diverged significantly for other locations. The basement was the second most popular choice at 17%, followed by the garage at 15%, and only 7% for the second floor or higher. 

This comparison highlights a 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.

There are also regional differences in where laundry is placed. The first floor was the most prevalent across every division but ranged from 91% in West South Central to 59% in the South Atlantic. Second-floor laundry was highest in the Pacific division at 43% but was lowest in the West South Central at 8%.  

The West North Central had a 13% share of homes with the laundry room in the basement, the only division with a share above 5%; They are also the only division with most homes having a full or partial basement. No regions had over a 2% share of laundry located in the garage.