How to use the cloth vs disposable diaper cost calculator
- Enter the cost of a cloth diaper set (diapers, covers and bags) and the laundry cost per week.
- Enter the price of one disposable diaper, the changes per day and the months of use.
- Optionally add other weekly cloth costs, such as a diaper service, and the resale or reuse value at the end.
- Read the total for each option, the difference, the day when cloth catches up and the cost table over time.
Formula
disposable cost per day = price each x changes per day
cloth running cost per day = (laundry per week + other per week) / 7
cloth total = set cost - resale value + running cost per day x days
disposable total = cost per day x days
break-even day = (set cost - resale value) / (disposable per day - cloth per day)
A month is counted as 30.4375 days, the average length of a month. If the cloth running cost is not lower than the disposable cost, cloth never catches up.
Two years of diapers
A set of $300, laundry at $4.00 a week, disposables at $0.28 each and 7 changes a day over 24 months (730.5 days): disposables cost $1.96 a day, so $1,431.78 in total. Cloth costs $300 plus $0.571 a day, so $717.43. The difference is $714.35 in favor of cloth. Cloth catches up after $300 / ($1.96 - $0.571) = 216 days, about 7.1 months. A day-by-day loop in Python found the first day at which cloth was no more expensive was day 217.
The cost table shows the early months, when cloth costs more. After 3 months cloth is $352.18 and disposables $178.97, so cloth is $173.21 behind. After 12 months cloth is $508.71 and disposables $715.89. If laundry were $30 a week, the running cost of cloth would be higher than disposables and break-even would be never.
What the numbers leave out
Every number here is an example you can change. Real costs depend on how often you wash, your water and energy costs, how many diapers you own and how long the child needs them. The tool does not price your time, the comfort of the child, travel, or the difference in leaks and rashes, which are matters of choice. Reusing the set for a second child can change the picture, which is what the resale or reuse value is for.
Related decisions
Diapers are one of many costs of raising a small child. For a bigger decision, see the Childcare vs Staying Home Calculator. To keep track of feeds and changes, print the Baby Feeding and Diaper Log.
More everyday money and school tools
For related everyday calculations, try the Reading Fluency WCPM Calculator and Babysitter Pay Calculator.
Assumptions and limits
- Changes per day, laundry cost and prices stay the same through the whole period.
- A month is 30.4375 days.
- The cloth set lasts the whole period, with no replacement except what you enter under other cloth costs.
- The resale value is what you get back at the end, and it is taken off the cloth total.
- Every price, count and length of time in the form is an example to replace with your own.
Frequently asked questions
Does the tool say which option is better?
It only compares the cost. Many families choose for reasons other than money, so the page reports the numbers and leaves the choice to you.
Why does cloth cost more at first?
You pay for the whole set at the start, while disposables are paid for a few at a time. Cloth then catches up as the running costs are lower, which is the break-even point.
How do I estimate the laundry cost?
Multiply the extra loads per week by the cost of one load, which includes water, energy and detergent. Your utility bills and the machine's data give a starting point.
What if I use cloth part time?
Enter an average. For example, if a quarter of the changes use cloth, reduce the changes per day for each option to match and add the two results.