Market rankings · Alabama
Car washes and detailers in Alabama
Every metro area, small-town market and county in Alabama, ranked by the Groundwork market score for car washes and detailers, with competitor counts and household spending for each.
- Listings
- 815
- 210 chain locations (26%)
- Official establishments
- 279
- +43.1% since 2019
- Household spending a year
- $1.9B
- On vehicle maintenance and repairs
- Listings per 10k households
- 4.1
- 8% above the U.S.
- Spending per listing
- $2.3M
- 10% below the U.S.
- Rank among states
- #27 of 51
- Market score 49 · Lower middle
A site report maps the car washes and detailers on map listings around any address in Alabama by name and distance, and the spending within reach.
Free10 actions over 3 days, no cardSurvey estimates 2020–2024 · population estimates 2025 · official business counts 2023 · map listings September 2026 · Data credits · How we measure
What this means
Alabama has 815 car washes and detailers on map listings as of September 2026. Chain locations make up 26% of them, against 23% across the U.S. Per 10,000 households, that is 4.1, 8% above the U.S. rate of 3.8.
Household spending on vehicle maintenance and repairs in Alabama comes to about $1.9B a year: $929 per household, 3% below the U.S. average. Spread across 815 car washes and detailers, that is $2.3M per location, 10% below the U.S. figure of $2.5M. The spending figure covers all vehicle maintenance and repairs, not only car washes and detailers.
Official counts show 279 businesses with payroll classed as car washes in Alabama in 2023, up 43.1% from 2019. That is one for every 7,159 households, against one for every 6,523 across the U.S. Across the U.S., the count rose 16.7% over the same years. Since fiscal 2022, 17 SBA-backed loans worth $26.1M have gone to businesses classed as car washes in Alabama.
Among the 50 states and DC, Alabama ranks #27 for car washes and detailers, with a Groundwork market score of 49 (lower middle). Of the 13 scored metro areas in or partly in Alabama, the Daphne-Fairhope-Foley metro area scores highest (80). Of the 11 scored small-town markets in or partly in Alabama, the Enterprise area scores highest (70).
Every market in Alabama for car washes and detailers
Download the ranking (CSV)Numbered by Groundwork market score among the markets based in Alabama, highest first; the U.S. rank compares each market with every other of its kind. A metro area that crosses a state line is listed in each state it reaches, and numbered only in the state its page is under. How the score works.
Metro areas
| Market | Score | Listings | Per 10k households | Spending per listing | Population growth | U.S. rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1Daphne-Fairhope-Foley, AL | 80 | 29 | 2.9 | $3.3M | +14.8% | #4 of 387 |
| 2Auburn-Opelika, AL | 78 | 21 | 2.7 | $3.4M | +7.1% | #9 of 387 |
| 3Tuscaloosa, AL | 63 | 37 | 3.5 | $2.6M | +2.9% | #102 of 387 |
| 4Decatur, AL | 52 | 25 | 4.0 | $2.6M | +2.5% | #179 of 387 |
| 5Huntsville, AL | 49 | 97 | 4.7 | $2.1M | +12.5% | #205 of 387 |
| 6Birmingham, AL | 48 | 191 | 4.1 | $2.3M | +1.4% | #211 of 387 |
| 7Montgomery, AL | 37 | 67 | 4.4 | $2M | +0.9% | #299 of 387 |
| 8Dothan, AL | 36 | 26 | 4.3 | $2.1M | +3.4% | #304 of 387 |
| 9Florence-Muscle Shoals, AL | 31 | 32 | 5.0 | $1.9M | +3.5% | #337 of 387 |
| Columbus, GA-AL | 30 | 53 | 4.2 | $2M | −1.3% | #341 of 387 |
| 10Anniston-Oxford, AL | 29 | 24 | 5.3 | $1.7M | −0.3% | #344 of 387 |
| 11Gadsden, AL | 28 | 22 | 5.6 | $1.7M | +0.4% | #347 of 387 |
| 12Mobile, AL | 27 | 70 | 4.3 | $2M | −0.7% | #349 of 387 |
Small-town markets
| Market | Score | Listings | Per 10k households | Spending per listing | Population growth | U.S. rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1Enterprise, AL | 70 | 8 | 3.8 | $2.6M | +6.3% | #74 of 441 |
| 2Cullman, AL | 65 | 13 | 3.7 | $2.9M | +6.7% | #103 of 441 |
| LaGrange, GA-AL | 65 | 13 | 3.2 | $2.8M | +3.0% | #104 of 441 |
| 3Talladega-Sylacauga, AL | 62 | 11 | 2.9 | $3.2M | 0.0% | #123 of 441 |
| 4Fort Payne, AL | 58 | 12 | 4.6 | $2.1M | +3.4% | #154 of 441 |
| 5Scottsboro, AL | 55 | 10 | 4.6 | $2.1M | +3.3% | #177 of 441 |
| 6Alexander City, AL | 52 | 6 | 3.5 | $2.6M | −0.8% | #197 of 441 |
| 7Albertville, AL | 44 | 27 | 7.4 | $1.4M | +6.0% | #276 of 441 |
| 8Ozark, AL | 38 | 10 | 5.1 | $1.8M | +1.3% | #317 of 441 |
| 9Troy, AL | 35 | 6 | 4.8 | $1.7M | +2.4% | #341 of 441 |
| 10Russellville, AL | 26 | 9 | 7.5 | $1.2M | +1.1% | #403 of 441 |
| Selma, AL | Not scored | 4 | 2.5 | $2.8M | −7.9% | |
| Eufaula, AL-GA | Not scored | 4 | 3.9 | $2.1M | −1.2% |
Counties
| Market | Score | Listings | Per 10k households | Spending per listing | Population growth | U.S. rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1Chilton County, AL | 78 | 5 | 2.8 | $3.6M | +5.9% | #74 of 1,451 |
| 2Baldwin County, AL | 78 | 29 | 2.9 | $3.3M | +14.8% | #79 of 1,451 |
| 3Lee County, AL | 78 | 20 | 2.9 | $3.3M | +8.6% | #80 of 1,451 |
| 4Shelby County, AL | 73 | 33 | 3.8 | $2.8M | +6.5% | #167 of 1,451 |
| 5Limestone County, AL | 72 | 17 | 4.2 | $2.6M | +18.0% | #191 of 1,451 |
| 6Autauga County, AL | 70 | 6 | 2.6 | $3.8M | +5.1% | #226 of 1,451 |
| 7St. Clair County, AL | 64 | 13 | 3.7 | $2.8M | +7.1% | #365 of 1,451 |
| 8Coffee County, AL | 64 | 8 | 3.8 | $2.6M | +6.3% | #372 of 1,451 |
| 9Cullman County, AL | 60 | 13 | 3.7 | $2.9M | +6.7% | #458 of 1,451 |
| 10Tuscaloosa County, AL | 59 | 37 | 4.1 | $2.2M | +3.8% | #500 of 1,451 |
| 11Blount County, AL | 55 | 10 | 4.5 | $2.4M | +1.8% | #599 of 1,451 |
| 12Talladega County, AL | 52 | 11 | 3.3 | $2.8M | +0.3% | #670 of 1,451 |
| 13Covington County, AL | 52 | 5 | 3.4 | $2.7M | +1.2% | #677 of 1,451 |
| 14DeKalb County, AL | 50 | 12 | 4.6 | $2.1M | +3.4% | #727 of 1,451 |
| 15Elmore County, AL | 49 | 20 | 6.1 | $1.7M | +4.2% | #761 of 1,451 |
| 16Madison County, AL | 48 | 80 | 4.8 | $2M | +11.0% | #786 of 1,451 |
| 17Colbert County, AL | 47 | 9 | 3.7 | $2.5M | +3.8% | #797 of 1,451 |
| 18Jackson County, AL | 47 | 10 | 4.6 | $2.1M | +3.3% | #805 of 1,451 |
| 19Tallapoosa County, AL | 46 | 6 | 3.5 | $2.6M | −0.8% | #817 of 1,451 |
| 20Morgan County, AL | 46 | 21 | 4.3 | $2.3M | +2.6% | #822 of 1,451 |
| 21Chambers County, AL | 40 | 5 | 3.7 | $2.4M | −0.9% | #979 of 1,451 |
| 22Marshall County, AL | 39 | 27 | 7.4 | $1.4M | +6.0% | #1,020 of 1,451 |
| 23Russell County, AL | 35 | 11 | 4.6 | $1.8M | −0.6% | #1,101 of 1,451 |
| 24Calhoun County, AL | 35 | 24 | 5.3 | $1.7M | −0.3% | #1,103 of 1,451 |
| 25Mobile County, AL | 34 | 70 | 4.3 | $2M | −0.7% | #1,114 of 1,451 |
Show all 67 counties
| Market | Score | Listings | Per 10k households | Spending per listing | Population growth | U.S. rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 26Etowah County, AL | 34 | 22 | 5.6 | $1.7M | +0.4% | #1,121 of 1,451 |
| 27Houston County, AL | 34 | 22 | 5.1 | $1.7M | +2.8% | #1,122 of 1,451 |
| 28Jefferson County, AL | 33 | 115 | 4.3 | $2M | −1.3% | #1,142 of 1,451 |
| 29Walker County, AL | 32 | 13 | 5.1 | $1.9M | 0.0% | #1,164 of 1,451 |
| 30Montgomery County, AL | 32 | 41 | 4.5 | $1.8M | −1.1% | #1,167 of 1,451 |
| 31Lauderdale County, AL | 32 | 23 | 5.9 | $1.6M | +3.3% | #1,175 of 1,451 |
| 32Dale County, AL | 31 | 10 | 5.1 | $1.8M | +1.3% | #1,188 of 1,451 |
| 33Pike County, AL | 29 | 6 | 4.8 | $1.7M | +2.4% | #1,228 of 1,451 |
| 34Marion County, AL | 29 | 6 | 5.7 | $1.7M | −0.3% | #1,229 of 1,451 |
| 35Franklin County, AL | 21 | 9 | 7.5 | $1.2M | +1.1% | #1,356 of 1,451 |
| Dallas County, AL | Not scored | 4 | 2.5 | $2.8M | −7.9% | |
| Escambia County, AL | Not scored | 4 | 3.1 | $2.6M | 0.0% | |
| Lawrence County, AL | Not scored | 4 | 2.9 | $3.7M | +2.3% | |
| Geneva County, AL | Not scored | 3 | 2.8 | $3.2M | +3.2% | |
| Cherokee County, AL | Not scored | 3 | 2.9 | $3.4M | +5.8% | |
| Barbour County, AL | Not scored | 4 | 4.4 | $1.9M | −1.4% | |
| Winston County, AL | Not scored | 3 | 3.2 | $3.3M | +1.4% | |
| Clarke County, AL | Not scored | 3 | 3.6 | $2.4M | −4.2% | |
| Randolph County, AL | Not scored | 3 | 3.2 | $3M | +4.8% | |
| Bibb County, AL | Not scored | 2 | 2.6 | $3.9M | +0.4% | |
| Monroe County, AL | Not scored | 1 | 1.4 | $6.4M | −3.8% | |
| Marengo County, AL | Not scored | 1 | 1.3 | $6.3M | −5.0% | |
| Pickens County, AL | Not scored | 0 | 0.0 | n/a | −3.9% | |
| Macon County, AL | Not scored | 1 | 1.4 | $5.9M | −6.8% | |
| Butler County, AL | Not scored | 1 | 1.3 | $6.4M | −4.8% | |
| Henry County, AL | Not scored | 1 | 1.4 | $6.4M | +7.1% | |
| Fayette County, AL | Not scored | 0 | 0.0 | n/a | −2.8% | |
| Cleburne County, AL | Not scored | 0 | 0.0 | n/a | +6.0% | |
| Washington County, AL | Not scored | 1 | 1.7 | $6.6M | −3.3% | |
| Hale County, AL | Not scored | 0 | 0.0 | n/a | +2.9% | |
| Clay County, AL | Not scored | 0 | 0.0 | n/a | −0.1% | |
| Lamar County, AL | Not scored | 3 | 5.9 | $1.5M | −2.6% | |
| Crenshaw County, AL | Not scored | 2 | 3.8 | $2.3M | 0.0% | |
| Choctaw County, AL | Not scored | 0 | 0.0 | n/a | −5.7% | |
| Sumter County, AL | Not scored | 1 | 2.1 | $4.2M | −5.0% | |
| Conecuh County, AL | Not scored | 0 | 0.0 | n/a | −5.7% | |
| Coosa County, AL | Not scored | 0 | 0.0 | n/a | −1.7% | |
| Wilcox County, AL | Not scored | 1 | 2.6 | $3.1M | −8.3% | |
| Bullock County, AL | Not scored | 0 | 0.0 | n/a | −4.5% | |
| Lowndes County, AL | Not scored | 0 | 0.0 | n/a | −9.0% | |
| Perry County, AL | Not scored | 0 | 0.0 | n/a | −12.2% | |
| Greene County, AL | Not scored | 0 | 0.0 | n/a | −8.2% |
Markets with fewer than 5 car washes and detailers on map listings, and counties under 10,000 people, aren’t scored; they’re listed last in each table.
Questions
How many car washes and detailers are in Alabama?
Map listings as of September 2026 show 815 car washes and detailers in Alabama. 210 of them (26%) are chain locations. The listings count car washes and detailers. Official counts show 279 businesses with payroll classed as car washes in 2023, up 43.1% from 2019.
How much do households in Alabama spend on vehicle maintenance and repairs?
About $1.9B a year, or $929 per household. That is 3% below the U.S. average (an index of 97, where 100 is the U.S. average). Spread across the 815 car washes and detailers on map listings, it comes to $2.3M per location. That spending covers all vehicle maintenance and repairs, which car washes and detailers share with other businesses in the trade. It is estimated from the incomes of the 1,997,247 households in Alabama and national spending patterns by income.
How does Alabama compare with the U.S. for car washes and detailers?
Alabama has 4.1 car washes and detailers per 10,000 households, 8% above the U.S. rate of 3.8. Spending per location is $2.3M, 10% below the U.S. figure of $2.5M. At the U.S. ratio of car washes and detailers to household spending, Alabama would have about 736, against 815 on map listings. There is one business with payroll in the industry for every 7,159 households, against one for every 6,523 across the U.S. The official count rose 43.1% from 2019 to 2023, against +16.7% for the U.S.
Which market in Alabama has the highest market score for car washes and detailers?
Among 13 scored metro areas in or partly in Alabama, the Daphne-Fairhope-Foley metro area scores highest, at 80 (high). Among 11 scored small-town markets in or partly in Alabama, the Enterprise area scores highest, at 70 (upper middle). Among 35 scored counties in Alabama, Chilton County scores highest, at 78 (high). Scores compare each market with others of its kind across the U.S.
What is the Groundwork market score?
The Groundwork market score runs from 0 to 100 and compares a market with others of its kind for one business type: states with states, metro areas with metro areas, small-town markets and counties with their own. It weighs household spending per competitor (35%), households per business with payroll (25%), population growth (20%) and spending power (20%), each ranked against those peers. A higher score means that, taken together, the market has more household spending and more households for each business already there, faster population growth and more spending per household than similar markets. It describes a market, not any one site or deal. Alabama scores 49 for car washes and detailers (lower middle), #27 of the 50 states and DC.
How can I see the market around a specific site?
Run a Groundwork site report on an address in Alabama. It maps the car washes and detailers on map listings near the site and sizes the households and spending within the distance you choose. New accounts get 10 actions over 3 days, no card.
Car washes and detailing in other states
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Top markets for car washes and detailers across the U.S. · All business types in Alabama
Related business types in Alabama
- Auto repair and car care7,287 listings
- Auto repair shops4,218 listings
- Collision repair and body shops579 listings
- Tire shops1,124 listings
- Oil change and quick lube132 listings
- Gas stations3,668 listings
- Insurance agencies3,236 listings
Screening a site or an acquisition in Alabama?
A site report maps the competitors on map listings near an address and sizes the households and spending around it.
This product uses the Census Bureau Data API but is not endorsed or certified by the Census Bureau.
Figures are estimates for research only. Not investment or real estate advice.