Skip navigation
Reports & Analysis Custom Research Research Subscriptions
Sign In / Create Account Cart
Sign In / Create Account Cart
  • Reports & Analysis
  • Custom Research
  • Research Subscriptions

Resources

  • Analyst Buzz
  • Press Releases
  • Blog
  • Resources & Downloads

The Freedonia Group

  • Contact
  • About
  • Our Staff
  • Help Center
  • Career Opportunities
Freedonia Market Research Freedonia Group US Manufacturing Wipes

US Manufacturing Wipes

Industry Reports, United States

Report Overview

Learn why dry wipes continue to dominate the market.

This Freedonia industry study analyzes the $570 million US manufacturing wipes industry. It presents historical demand data (2011, 2016 and 2021) and forecasts (2026 and 2031) by application (general purpose, special purpose, surface application, cleanroom, printing, other), and type (wet, dry). The study also evaluates company market share and competitive analysis on industry competitors including 3M Company, Kimberly-Clark, and Nice-Pak.

Featuring 25 tables and 15 figures – available in Excel and Powerpoint! Learn More

Table of Contents

    • $323.44

    • $697.81

      • $323.44

      • $323.44

      • $417.77

    • $2,291.67

      • $323.44

      • $605.64

        • $323.44

        • $323.44

        • $323.44

      • $323.44

      • $323.44

      • $323.44

      • $323.44

      • $410.88

        • $323.44

        • $323.44

      • $323.44

    • $1,619.21

      • $323.44

      • $323.44

      • $1,175.05

        • $323.44

        • $323.44

        • $323.44

        • $323.44

        • $323.44

        • $323.44

    • $805.87

      • $323.44

      • $323.44

      • $323.44

      • $323.44

      • $323.44

    • $2,918.13

      • $323.44

      • $333.55

      • $2,660.96

      • $323.44

      • $323.44

      • $323.44

      • $323.44

      • $1,169.55

        • $323.44

        • $323.44

        • $323.44

        • $323.44

        • $323.44

        • $323.44

        • $455.39

Play Video: Manufacturing Wipes

Demand for manufacturing wipes is expected to advance 2.5% per year to $646 million in 2026, driven primarily by unit growth as prices moderate from inflation- and supply chain-related highs in 2021 and 2022. Unit growth will be supported by:

  • consistent increases in manufacturing activity precipitated by industries returning to pre-pandemic levels of operation
  • continued adoption of wipes - as manufacturers recognize their cost and performance benefits - within many industries

Dry Wipes Continue to Dominate the Market

Dry wipes have historically been more widely used in manufacturing settings due to their versatility and ability to be used in conjunction with solvents applied on site. This trend will continue despite improvements in wet wipe technology. Dry wipes are particularly favored in special purpose manufacturing applications, such as surface preparation and printing uses.

General Purpose Wipes Maintain Favorable Market Share

General purpose wipes accounted for 63% of manufacturing wipes sales in 2021, despite the continued popularity of specialty wipes. General purpose wipes are valuable as they can be used in a variety of industrial settings to cost effectively remove soils from manufactured products as well as from machinery, tools, and other equipment. Market growth going forward will be boosted by an acceleration in unit sales growth as US manufacturing activity continues to rebound. Additionally, general purpose wipes usage will benefit from the continued implementation of the EPA's Wiper Rule, which eases regulations surrounding their disposal.

Historical Market Trends

Sales of manufacturing wipes depend on a variety of market trends, as well as on macroeconomic and demographic factors. Manufacturing wipes markets primarily rely on economic growth, as it supports the revenues of businesses and other operations and can affect their investment in wipes over alternative products.


During the 2016-2018 period, the US experienced steady manufacturing growth. This trend is reflected by notable gains in both unit and value terms for manufacturing wipes, with most of the gains coming from general purpose wipes.

Overall, 2020 and 2021 were volatile years for the manufacturing wipes industry. General purpose and most special purpose wipes experienced diminished demand at the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, but it rebounded in 2021. Industry demand for manufacturing wipes – most notably general purpose wipes – dropped the manufacturing wipes market nearly 8% from 2019 to 2020. Businesses had lesser need for manufacturing wipes as a whole during extended shutdowns, even as concerns over transmission of the virus supported demand for surface cleaning wipes.

Demand then rose as manufacturing rebounded in tandem with the economy in 2021 to erase losses. In addition, non-consumer outlets also increased their usage of wipes in disinfecting and cleaning operations.

Surface Disinfectant Manufacturing Wipes

These wipes are well suited to industrial disinfectant applications. In high-traffic, industrial spaces, many of the same surfaces (e.g., doorknobs and handles, stairway handrails, or machinery) are touched. Thorough cleaning of these surfaces is likely to occur a limited number of times during the day, as it can disrupt the use of spaces and amenities. Making wipes available in manufacturing spaces encourages more regular use of disinfectants since it becomes incumbent on individuals to protect themselves from infection.

Unit sales gains will be supported by:

  • increasing awareness of the potential spread of disease through contact with communal surfaces and the ability of wipes to maintain sanitary conditions in high-traffic, public spaces

  • continued adoption of wipes in certain manufacturing settings, such as food processing spaces

  • growing manufacturing activity

However, growth will be limited by competition from disinfectant spray cleaners – including those wiped up with some sort of paper towel or cloth – and no-wipe spray cleaners based on their lower cost.

Competitive Products

In most applications, wipes compete against broad ranges of conventional cleaning applicators and chemicals. Competitive products include tissues, paper towels, washcloths, cotton balls, swabs, sponges, rental shop towels, woven fabrics, rags, and even consumers’ own hands. All of them can be used to apply, distribute, absorb, and dry a variety of fluids on skin, floors, furniture, glass, metal, hard surface counters, industrial machines, medical instruments, and other consumer and industrial market surfaces. Competition is based on the offsetting criteria of cost, performance, convenience, time and labor expenditures, disposability, and environmental impact.
Purchase Options

Purchase Report

Select your license:

  • $2,900.00
  • $4,400.00
  • $5,900.00
  • — —
    Section prices in Table of Contents

Free Sample Report

A free sample report is available.

Subscription Options

License by subscription

Check to see if this report is available through our subscription services.

Subscription Pricing
Already have a subscription? Log in.

Questions & Assistance

Email us

Share This Report

Copied to clipboard. Could not copy to clipboard.

Download a Free Sample Report Now

Sample Reports include examples of all the tables, charts, infographics and topics included in this study.
We are providing this product sample both to illustrate the nature of our product and to collect contact information for future marketing purposes. If you do not provide your marketing consent we reserve the right not to deliver the product sample.
The Freedonia Group needs the contact information you provide to us to contact you about our products and services. You may unsubscribe from these communications at any time. For information on how to unsubscribe, as well as our privacy practices and commitment to protecting your privacy, please review our Privacy Policy.

Use Licenses

The Single User License (SUL) authorizes a single individual to use the electronic study acquired. Agreement to the SUL is required in order to purchase the study. If you require more than one user a Departmental Site License or Global Site License should be purchased. 

The Departmental Site License (DSL) authorizes up to five users to share the study acquired. Agreement to the DSL is required in order to purchase the study. If your organization requires more than five users, the Global Site License should be purchased.

The Global Site License (GSL) allows everyone in your organization to share the study intelligence. Agreement to the Global Site License terms is necessary in order to purchase it. 

FAQs

A wipe is a paper or nonwoven substrate that is soaked or otherwise infused with water or chemical additives (wet or dry) for the purpose of cleaning, disinfecting, sanitizing, chemical delivery, and other functions that are carried out on surfaces such as skin, countertops and floors, tools and parts, and many others.
The average price for manufacturing wipes is expected to increase less than 1.0% per year from a high 2021 base to 3.2 cents per wipe in 2026.
Manufacturing wipes demand is forecast to increase 2.5% per year to $646 million in 2026, an acceleration from the 2016-2021 period driven by increases in unit demand as manufacturing activity, motor vehicle production, and the economy continue to rise from 2020 lows.
The leading suppliers of manufacturing wipes include 3M, Kimberly-Clark and Nice-Pak.
;

Related Reports and Studies

  • Global Disposable Medical Supplies

    Industry Reports

    This study provides historical data (2007, 2012, 2017) and demand forecasts for 2022 for disposable medical supplies in millions of US dollars (including inflation) by type, market, region, and major countries.

    January 2019 420 pages
    Free sample available
  • US Foodservice Single-Use Products

    Industry Reports

    This study examines the US market for foodservice single-use (disposable) products. For the purposes of this study, “single-use” products refers to items used in the service of food and beverages that are intended to be disposed of after use.

    February 2023 415 pages
    Free sample available
  • Nonwovens

    Industry Reports

    This study covers the United States nonwovens industry, defined here to include materials made from fibers, filaments, and films, which are arranged into webs, batts, or sheets, then bonded together using mechanical, thermal, or chemical means.

    November 2020 240 pages
    Free sample available
  • US Converted Flexible Packaging

    Industry Reports

    Demand for converted flexible packaging is forecast to increase 3.0% annually to $30.6 billion in 2026.

    November 2022 341 pages
    Free sample available
View More

Have unique research needs?

Freedonia Custom Research listens intently to your needs and objectives. Then we work diligently to define a service offering to meet them.
Learn About Our Custom Research Services

Stay informed with Freedonia

Receive periodic updates about new market research in areas relevant to your business. Have the convenience of Freedonia research at your fingertips when you need it.
The Freedonia Group needs the contact information you provide to us to contact you about our products and services. You may unsubscribe from these communications at any time. For information on how to unsubscribe, as well as our privacy practices and commitment to protecting your privacy, please review our Privacy Policy.
  • Contact
  • About
  • Help Center
  • Career Opportunities
  • Press Contact
  • User Agreement
  • Privacy Policy
  • Site Map

Additional Resources

  • Market Size Resources
  • Lawn & Garden Market Research
  • Roofing Market Research
  • Pet Products Market Research
  • Countertops Market Research
  • Power Tools Market Research
  • Publishing for the PreK-12 Market Research
  • Insulation Market Resaerch
  • Cabinets Market Research
  • Flooring Market Research
  • Pet Supplements Market Research
  • Agricultural Equipment Market Research
  • Open Access Publishing Market Research
  • Silicones Market Research
  • For Legal Inquiries, contact Cohen & Cohen
Copyright © 2025 The Freedonia Group, Inc. All rights reserved.