Calculate the lifetime cost of menstrual products — pads, tampons, cups, and discs. Compare options and find the most cost-effective choice for you.
The Period Products Cost Calculator estimates what you spend on menstrual products over a month, a year, or the remaining years you expect to menstruate.
It compares pads, tampons, menstrual cups, discs, and period underwear so you can see the difference between disposable and reusable options over time. You can also include related recurring costs such as pain relief or stain treatment if you want a broader estimate.
That makes it easier to compare the short-term price of a product with its longer-term cost, which is often where reusable options start to make more sense.
Period product spending is easy to underestimate because it is spread across many small purchases. Seeing the monthly, annual, and lifetime totals together makes it easier to compare product types and decide whether a reusable option is worth the upfront cost.
Monthly Cost = (Units Per Cycle × Cost Per Unit) × (365 ÷ Cycle Days ÷ 12). For reusables: Annual Cost = Purchase Price ÷ Lifespan Years. Lifetime Cost = Annual Cost × Remaining Menstruation Years.
Result: Monthly: $5.00/cycle — Annual: $65.18 — Lifetime remaining: $1,629
20 tampons per cycle × $0.25 each = $5.00 per cycle. With a 28-day cycle, that is 13.04 cycles per year. $5.00 × 13.04 = $65.18 per year, and $65.18 × 25 years = about $1,629 on tampons alone.
Disposable pads and tampons have a low upfront price but repeat every cycle, which makes them expensive over time. Reusable products such as menstrual cups or discs cost more at the start but can be used for years, so their long-term cost is often much lower.
The calculator is most useful when you compare the same cycle assumptions across several products. A cheaper-looking pack may still cost more over a year if it needs to be replaced often or if you use several units per cycle.
Some users also include related items such as pain relief, heating pads, or replacement underwear. Adding those costs gives a broader view of what menstruation actually costs in practice, not just the price of the product itself.
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On average, disposable products cost $50-120/year depending on flow and product choice. Including ancillary costs (pain relief, underwear replacement), the total annual cost is $100-200+.
A quality menstrual cup costs $25-40 and lasts 5-10 years. Compared to $60-100/year on disposables, a cup saves $400-900 over its lifespan.
Menstrual cups and discs are cheapest long-term ($3-8/year amortized). Period underwear is mid-range. Disposable pads and tampons are most expensive over time.
The average is 15-25 tampons per cycle, depending on flow and how frequently they're changed. Heavy flow months may require more.
Yes. Medical-grade silicone menstrual cups and properly washed period underwear are safe and hygienic when used according to manufacturer instructions and cleaned between uses.
Most quality menstrual cups last 5-10 years with proper care. Some brands offer warranties. Even replacing every 3 years is dramatically cheaper than monthly disposable purchases.