The cost comparison of using disposable diapers versus cloth diapers is a topic of debate among parents—especially in the comment sections on my Tik-Tok videos.
So what is the real cost of cloth diapering in 2023?
Sure, disposable diapers are more convenient, but they are also more expensive. A typical family can expect to spend between $2,000 and $3,000 per child for two to three years of disposable diapers. If you choose "eco-friendly" disposable diapers, which are biodegradable and not bleached with chlorine, you'll pay about $1,000 more depending on the number of diaper changes per day and the brand you choose to use.
Or, you could opt for cloth diapers. And take control of your finances.
The average family will spend around $800-$1000 for a full set of cloth diapers. This one time investment, while a lot up front, will carry a family into potty training. And for families that intend to have more than one child, the cost savings multiply because cloth diapers can be used across multiple children when cared for properly.
If you’re a numbers person, stick around. We’ve run the numbers for what it costs to use traditional disposable diapers verses modern cloth diapers, so that you don't have to.
Digging deeper into the data:
A newborn baby will soil an average of eight to twelve diapers a day—sometimes more. While every baby is different, for the first few weeks—maybe months—your newborn baby is going to need a lot of diaper changes.
A 45 pack of newborn diapers from the brand Parent’s Choice, Walmart’s store brand, is currently $4.98. That’s about eleven cents a diaper. If we estimate that the baby will use 12 diapers a day, for 30 days. At $0.11 per diaper, you can expect to spend at least $39 dollars for 300 diapers that first month.
Choosing a more premium brand, like Pampers or Millie Moon, will double the cost of diapering your newborn baby. Millie Moon diapers cost approximately twenty-three cents per diaper, while Pamper Swaddlers have an even higher price tag of twenty-eight cents a diaper. Following the same math, we can estimate a thirty day diapering cost of about $82 and $100 respectively.
As your baby grows, they will require less diapers per day. By the time your baby is 6 months old, they may only need 8 disposable diapers per day, on the high end. But, while the number of diapers your baby needs per day decreases, the cost of a single disposable diaper tends to increase as your baby goes up in size. This means that even though you're buying less diapers, the cost per month you spend on diapers, tends to be pretty similar.
For example, a newborn diaper by the brand Parent’s Choice is only eleven cents per diaper. While the size 5 diaper from the same brand is twenty four cents per diaper. By the time your baby is in size five diapers, you’re using less diapers per day, but the cost per month is going to be very similar as the cost per diaper increases.
By contrast, the cost of cloth diapering your baby as they grow is unlikely to increase—especially if you choose a one size system like pocket diapers. You may choose to add different styles of reusable diapers to your rotation as your preferences change and you become more comfortable and confident cloth diapering. However, adding to your cloth diaper collection is optional and not required in order to be successful.
The Estimated Cost of Disposable Diapers from Birth to Potty Training by Brand:
Parents Choice:
| Baby's Age | Diaper Size | Diapers/Day | Cost/Diaper | Cost/Mo | Cost/Stage |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 0-3 Mo | NB | 12 | .11 | 39.6 | 118.8 |
| 3-6 Mo | 2 | 10 | .11 | 33 | 99 |
| 6-9 Mo | 3 | 8 | .13 | 31.2 | 93.6 |
| 9-12 Mo | 4 | 7 | .14 | 29.4 | 88.2 |
| 12-18 Mo | 5 | 6 | .16 | 28.8 | 172.8 |
| 18-24 Mo | 5 | 5 | .16 | 24 | 144 |
| 24-30 Mo | 6 | 6 | .2 | 30 | 180 |
| 30-36 Mo | Trainers | 3T | .27 | 24.3 | 145.8 |
| 36-42 Mo | Trainers | 3T | .27 | 24.3 | 145.8 |
| 42 Mo Cost | 1188 |
Millie Moon:
| Baby's Age | Diaper Size | Diapers/Day | Cost/Diaper | Cost/Mo | Cost/Stage |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 0-3 Mo | NB | 12 | .23 | 82.80 | 248.40 |
| 3-6 Mo | 2 | 10 | .26 | 78.00 | 234.00 |
| 6-9 Mo | 3 | 8 | .28 | 67.20 | 201.60 |
| 9-12 Mo | 4 | 7 | .33 | 69.30 | 207.90 |
| 12-18 Mo | 5 | 6 | .37 | 66.60 | 399.60 |
| 18-24 Mo | 5 | 5 | .37 | 55.50 | 333.00 |
| 24-30 Mo | 6 | 6 | .45 | 67.50 | 405.00 |
| 30-36 Mo | Trainers | 3T | .38 | 34.20 | 205.20 |
| 36-42 Mo | Trainers | 3T | .38 | 34.20 | 205.20 |
| 42 Mo Cost | 2439.90 |
Pampers:
| Baby's Age | Diaper Size | Diapers/Day | Cost/Diaper | Cost/Mo | Cost/Stage |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 0-3 Mo | NB | 12 | .28 | 100.80 | 302.40 |
| 3-6 Mo | 2 | 10 | .31 | 93.00 | 279.00 |
| 6-9 Mo | 3 | 8 | .33 | 79.20 | 237.60 |
| 9-12 Mo | 4 | 7 | .38 | 79.80 | 239.40 |
| 12-18 Mo | 5 | 6 | .44 | 79.20 | 475.20 |
| 18-24 Mo | 5 | 5 | .44 | 66.00 | 396.00 |
| 24-30 Mo | 6 | 6 | .54 | 81.00 | 486.00 |
| 30-36 Mo | Trainers | 3T | .37 | 33.30 | 199.80 |
| 36-42 Mo | Trainers | 3T | .37 | 33.30 | 199.80 |
| 42 Mo Cost | 2815.20 |
The cost of Disposable Diapers vs. Cloth Diapers
But how does this compare to the cost of cloth diapering? Many families that choose to use primarily cloth diapers from birth to potty training will want to have 30-40 cloth diapers in their collection, or as we call it in the cloth diapering community your "stash."
When purchasing in bulk (10 or more), one basic pocket style cloth diaper shell from Kinder Cloth Diapers costs $8.00. This outer shell is not absorbent alone, and will need to be paired with a cloth diaper insert. For the purpose of this exercise, we will pair our modern reusable pocket style diaper with a 4-layer bamboo insert, at a cost of $4.00. This means that one ready to use cloth diaper from Kinder will be $12.00.
Note that pocket style cloth diapers can be used with any absorbency style. There are more cost effective options available, like receiving blankets and flour sack towels should you be looking for a more budget friendly solution.
Below is a cost breakdown of what you can expect to spend to cloth diaper with Kinder Cloth Diaper Co. products. Items marked with asterisks are optional, nice to have items—should your budget allow. Note that you would choose either A, B or C for your cloth diaper stash. This chart is not a total cost, but rather a selection of possible costs.
AVERAGE Collection of 30 Pocket Style Cloth Diapers:
| Item | Qty | Cost/Item | Cost |
|---|---|---|---|
| Pocket Style Cloth Diapers | 30 | 8.00 | 240 |
| 30 4-Layer Bamboo Inserts | 30 | 4.00 | 120 |
| 30 6-Layer Hemp Cotton Bamboo Inserts | 30 | 5.50 | 165 |
| Training Pants* | 10 | 13.00 | 130 |
| Total Cost | 655 |
Patterned Pocket Cloth Diaper with Athletic Wicking Jersey
$12.00
Kinder Cloth Diaper Co. modern, reusable pocket cloth diapers feature a three by five adjustable rise setting that is flexible enough to fit most babies from birth to potty training. Our diapers feature a soft breathable, athletic wicking jersey (AWJ)… read more
LARGE Collection of 50 Pocket Style Cloth Diapers:
| Item | Qty | Cost/Item | Cost |
|---|---|---|---|
| Pocket Style Cloth Diapers | 50 | 8.00 | 400 |
| 30 4-Layer Bamboo Inserts | 50 | 4.00 | 120 |
| 30 6-Layer Hemp Cotton Bamboo Inserts | 50 | 5.50 | 165 |
| Training Pants* | 20 | 13.00 | 260 |
| Total Cost | 945 |
SMALL Collection of 15 Cover Style Cloth Diapers:
| Item | Qty | Cost/Item | Cost |
|---|---|---|---|
| Pocket Style Cloth Diapers | 15 | 8.00 | 120 |
| 30 4-Layer Bamboo Inserts | 30 | 4.00 | 120 |
| 30 6-Layer Hemp Cotton Bamboo Inserts | 20 | 5.50 | 110 |
| Total Cost | 350 |
Basics Reusable Cloth Diaper COVERS
$11.00
Features: Kinder Cloth Cloth Diaper Cover All Kinder Cloth diaper covers feature a PUL (Polyurethane Laminate) waterproof outer layer Featuring the same three adjustable rise snap settings as our Kinder pocket diapers. This allow our diapers to be tailor fit to… read more
Exploring the benefits of "cost per wear" and diapers
Cost per wear is a really interesting way of talking about wearable items like clothing, shoes and jewelry. We can also find the cost per wear of our baby's diapers. Finding the cost per wear of a disposable product is quite easy. Simply divide the retail cost of the package of disposable diapers by the number of diapers in the package. Most disposable diapers will cost between 15 and 30 cents per diapers. Disposable products are designed for a single use, so the cost per wear will not change.
However, reusable products like cloth diapers have a lower cost per wear the more the product is used. This means that a $12 pocket diaper from Kinder Cloth Diaper Co will have an initial cost per wear of $12. After just one month of use, estimating approximately three wears per week, in a four week month, the same cloth diaper will have a cost per wear of just $1.
While $1 seems quite high in comparison to the disposable diaper's cost per wear of just 25 cents, a cloth diaper will be worn many more times before it is retired. Most families will wear a single cloth diaper at least 3 times per week. Three times per week, times 52 weeks in a year will give the same diaper a cost per wear of just seven cents. Much more budget friendly than even the bargain brand disposable diaper.
Average Cost Per Wear After One Year:
| Brand | Wears/Yr | Cost/Wear |
|---|---|---|
| Parent's Choice | Single Use | 0.17 |
| Millie Moon | Single Use | 0.34 |
| Pampers Swaddlers | Single Use | 0.38 |
| Kinder OS Pocket Style | 52 (1/wk) | 0.23 |
| Kinder OS Cover Style | 156 (3/wk) | 0.07 |
