Cloth vs Disposable Diaper Calculator
Most comparisons ignore laundry. This one includes it, so you get the real break-even point.
Wash cost covers water, electricity and detergent. Excludes your time. Landfill figure assumes disposables are not composted or recycled.
Frequently asked questions
Do cloth diapers really save money?
Usually yes, but the saving arrives late. A cloth stash costs $300-600 up front against roughly 25 cents per disposable. Most families break even somewhere between months 8 and 14, which means cloth saves most for people who start early or reuse the stash for a second child.
Does washing wipe out the savings?
No, but it is not free. Two to three extra loads a week at $0.50 to $1.50 per load (water, electricity, detergent) runs roughly $80-230 a year. This calculator includes it, which many comparisons leave out.
How many diapers a day should I expect?
Newborns average 10-12 a day, dropping to about 6 by six months and 5 by toddlerhood. Averaged over the whole diapering period, 7 a day is a reasonable planning figure.
What about a second child?
This is where cloth wins decisively. The stash is already bought, so the second child costs only washing. Reusing a stash effectively halves the per-child cost.
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