When it comes to uniform rental services, Cintas and Unifirst are two of the biggest names in the industry. Both companies offer comprehensive uniform programs, first aid and safety products, and other facility services for businesses across North America.
But when you’re looking for the best uniform rental provider for your company, how do you choose between these two giants? In this comprehensive guide, we’ll compare Cintas Vs. Unifirst across key factors like services offered, costs, customer satisfaction, and more. Read on to see how these top uniform rental companies stack up.
A Brief Comparison Table
| Factor | Cintas | Unifirst |
| Company Size | Larger (40,000+ employees) | Smaller (14,000+ employees) |
| Headquarters | Cincinnati, OH | Wilmington, MA |
| Revenue | $7.1 billion | $1.81 billion |
| Core Services | Uniform rental, facility services, first aid/safety, fire protection | Uniform rental, facility services, first aid/safety |
| Industry Focus | Manufacturing, healthcare, hospitality | Auto repair, warehousing, processing |
| Contract Terms | 3-5 years | More flexibility |
| Customer Service | Mixed reviews | Highly rated |
| Uniform Selection | 900,000+ options | Smaller selection |
| Geography | Stronger in US | Stronger in Canada |
| Eco-Friendly | Limited initiatives | Recycling programs, hybrid delivery |
| Sample Pricing | Uniforms $20-$40/week per employee | Uniforms $25-$50/week per employee |
Overview of Cintas
Founded in 1968, Cintas Corporation is the largest uniform rental company in North America. They design, manufacture, and implement corporate identity uniform programs as well as provide entrance and safety mats, restroom supplies, promotional products, first aid, safety, and fire protection products and services.
Some key facts about Cintas:
- Headquarters: Cincinnati, OH
- Employees: Over 40,000
- Revenue: $7.1 billion (2019)
- Services: Uniform rental and facility services, first aid and safety equipment, fire protection, promotional products
- Customers: Over 1 million in various industries including automotive, food services, gaming, manufacturing, oil and gas, retail, and more
Overview of Unifirst
Unifirst Corporation is another large player in the uniform rental and facility services industry. Founded in 1936, the company employs over 14,000 people throughout the United States, Canada, and Europe.
Some key facts about Unifirst:
- Headquarters: Wilmington, MA
- Employees: 14,000+
- Revenue: $1.81 billion (2019)
- Services: Uniform rental and facility services, first aid and safety equipment, fire protection, restroom and hygiene products
- Customers: 300,000+ in industries like manufacturing, hospitality, healthcare, mechanical, and more
Also Read: Comparison Between Haverdash And Rent The Runway
Key Differences Between Cintas And Unifirst Coorporation
1. Comparing Services: What Do Cintas and Unifirst Offer?
One of the biggest considerations when choosing a uniform rental and facility services provider is the range of services offered. Both Cintas and Unifirst offer standard uniform rental along with amenities like floor mats, restroom supplies, and first aid products. Here’s a more detailed overview of their offerings:
Cintas Services
- Uniform programs: rental, designing, manufacturing, delivery
- Facility services: entrance and safety mats, restroom supplies, promotional products, lockers, fire protection
- First aid and safety: AEDs, compliant first aid cabinets and supplies, safety training
- Fire protection services: testing, inspection, maintenance, installation
Unifirst Services
- Uniform programs: rental, design, manufacturing, cleaning, delivery
- Facility services: floor mats, mops, restroom supplies, hand soaps, air fresheners
- First aid and safety: eyewash stations, compliant first aid kits, AED rentals, safety training
- Fire protection services: fire extinguisher sales, testing, repair
The range of services is quite similar between the two uniform giants. One standout difference is that Unifirst offers more specialized floor care services like daily mopping and buffing, while Cintas places more emphasis on ancillary products like promotional items and lockers.
2. Comparing Quality: Which Provider Has Better Service?
More than just looking at the types of services, it’s important to consider the quality of service you’ll receive from Cintas Vs. Unifirst. Factors like attention to detail, responsiveness, delivery, invoicing, and contract flexibility can impact your satisfaction.
Cintas
Cintas gets mixed reviews when it comes to customer service and satisfaction. Some positives include:
- Large team of local service representatives for each customer
- Route drivers provide regular visits for delivery and inventory
- Easy online ordering for ancillary products
Potential downsides:
- Communication issues like unclear billing and inconsistent pricing
- Slow response times for issues like damaged uniforms or missed deliveries
- Contracts can be rigid if uniform needs change
Unifirst
Unifirst earns high marks for customer service based on factors such as:
- Dedicated account managers for each customer
- Flexibility to increase/decrease uniform quantity each week
- Fast turnaround times for alterations or replacing damaged items
- Clear invoicing and responsive communication
Downsides are relatively few but can include:
- Varying service levels between local plants
- Limited ability to make quick changes to uniform designs
- Less uniform garment options compared to competitors
Overall, reviews indicate UniFirst delivers reliable, high-quality service while Cintas customer satisfaction is less consistent. However, service can vary locally.
3. Cintas Vs. Unifirst Pricing
Cost is often one of the most important factors when choosing a uniform rental company. However, pricing can be challenging to compare directly between Cintas and Unifirst.
Cintas Pricing
Cintas does not provide general price lists or quotes, instead preferring to offer custom pricing based on each client’s needs. Their prices depend on factors like:
- Industry
- Number of uniforms required
- Types of uniforms and accessories needed
- Additional facility services and products chosen
As an approximate range, Cintas customers can expect to pay:
- Base uniform rental: $20-40 per week per employee
- Mat rental: $50-150 per month
- Restroom supplies: $50-200 per month
Unifirst Pricing
Unifirst also offers custom quotes based on individual needs but is generally more transparent about sample pricing. Average costs for Unifirst customers include:
- Standard uniform rental: $25-50 per week per employee
- Floor mats: $1 per day per mat
- Restroom services: $180 per month for twice weekly cleaning
- First aid supplies: $1.50 per week per employee
Published price lists are also available for common items like uniform shirts, pants, floor mats, mops, towels, and more.
For both Cintas and Unifirst, facility services like mats and restroom supplies are often offered as bundled add-ons to uniform rental programs. Required contract lengths can also impact per-week rental costs.
Watch this review video:
4. Additional Factors Impacting Choice of Provider
Beyond the major factors already discussed, there are a few other variables that could sway your decision between these top uniform rental companies:
- Contract terms: Cintas requires 3-5 year contracts while Unifirst offers more flexibility. Shorter or no-term contracts may be available.
- Geographic coverage: Cintas and Unifirst have facilities across North America but Cintas has a larger footprint in the US while Unifirst is more prominent in Canada.
- Industry expertise: Cintas specializes more in sectors like manufacturing, healthcare, and hospitality. Unifirst has deep experience in auto repair, warehousing, and processing.
- Eco-friendly options: Unifirst focuses more on sustainability initiatives like eco-friendly cleaning chemicals, Recycle My Uniform program, and hybrid vehicles.
- Uniform selection: Cintas claims to offer more than 900,000 uniform options while Unifirst has a smaller but high-quality selection.
Consider which factors are most important for your uniform rental needs as you compare the two providers.
Read More: Comparison Between Haverdash And Nuuly
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Still trying to decide between Cintas and Unifirst? Here are answers to some of the most common questions about how these uniform rental giants stack up:
Unifirst is considered Cintas’ biggest competitor in the uniform rental space. Other top competitors include Aramark, Alsco, and G&K Services. But Unifirst matches up closely with Cintas in terms of market share, range of services, number of customers, and geographies covered.
For businesses considering Unifirst, the most common alternative option is Cintas. The two companies are very similar in services offered, prices, and markets served, with Cintas having a slight edge in terms of size and number of customers.
No, there are currently no pending acquisitions or mergers between Cintas and Unifirst. The companies remain independent competitors. Cintas previously acquired G&K Services in 2017 but there have been no public discussions of Cintas acquiring Unifirst.
For first aid, safety, and fire protection services specifically, Cintas competes with companies like:
Unifirst: Offers complimentary first aid kits with uniform rental and stocks AEDs.
Aramark: Provides safety supplies, equipment maintenance, compliance services.
Medline: Major distributor of first aid products, supplies, and training.
Red Cross: Trusted provider of health and safety courses like first aid, CPR, AED usage.
Honeywell: Leading manufacturer of safety equipment like fire extinguishers, smoke alarms, PPE.So companies like Unifirst, Aramark, and Medline offer first aid products combined with related services, while organizations like Red Cross and Honeywell focus specifically on training and equipment.
Also Read: Comparison Between Conn’s and Rent-A-Center
Final Thought
When comparing the top uniform rental brands Cintas and Unifirst, keep these key facts in mind:
- Services offered are similar, with differences like Cintas’ promotional products and Unifirst’s specialized floor care.
- Unifirst is generally rated higher for customer service satisfaction.
- Pricing is customized for each client but fairly comparable between the two.
- Other factors like contract terms, geographic reach, and eco-initiatives differentiate the brands.
- Consider your own industry, service needs, and priorities like costs or flexibility.
Both Cintas and Unifirst have decades of experience meeting businesses’ uniform rental and facility services needs. By evaluating your specific requirements, weighing pros and cons, and gathering quotes from both providers, you can determine the better uniform rental partner for your organization.