How this calculator works
The cost of period products depends on how many you use, how they are packaged and how long a reusable item lasts. For disposable products the calculation is a unit price: the pack price divided by the number of items, multiplied by the number used in a year. For a cup or cloth pads it is a yearly cost: the purchase price divided by the years of use, which can then be divided by the number of periods to compare with a disposable option. The cost per use figure divides the price by the uses the item provides, which is the fairest single comparison.
Formula
disposables: cost per period = products per period x pack price / products per pack. cost per year = cost per period x periods per year. reusable: cost per year = price / lifetime in years. cost per use = price / uses per item.
Worked example
Twenty tampons per period from a pack of 20 at $8 costs $8 per period and $104 a year at 13 periods. A $40 cup lasting five years costs $8 a year, or about $0.62 per period, and $0.67 per use over 60 uses.
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Frequently asked questions
How long does a menstrual cup really last?
Manufacturers commonly state two to ten years depending on the material and care. Medical-grade silicone usually lasts longer than a softer thermoplastic cup. Use the figure from your product.
Do these costs include tax?
No. Enter the price you actually pay, which for many Canadian shoppers now excludes federal tax on menstrual products, so the shelf price is often the full cost.
Why is cost per use the best comparison?
It puts a pack of tampons, a cup and a set of cloth pads on the same footing, so a higher purchase price for a reusable product is easy to weigh against how many uses it provides.
What if I use more than one product?
Run the calculator once for each product and add the annual figures. Many people combine a cup with a liner, and the combined cost is what matters.