Let’s talk money. Not in a preachy “you should cloth diaper to save the planet” way, but in a “here are the actual numbers from seven years of receipts” way.
Everyone says cloth diapering saves money. And it does. But nobody talks about the hidden costs, the unexpected expenses, or the reality that the savings aren’t as dramatic as cloth diaper companies want you to believe - at least not at first.
After seven years, two kids, and meticulous record-keeping (I’m that person), here’s the honest financial breakdown.
The Initial Investment: $487
Here’s what we bought to start, bought over the first 3 months:
Diapers:
- 24 pocket diapers (mix of brands): $312
- 36 inserts (mostly cotton and bamboo): $108
- 4 wet bags (2 large, 2 small): $47
Accessories:
- Cloth-safe diaper cream: $12
- Diaper sprayer attachment for toilet: $28
- Extra laundry detergent (bulk buy): $0 (already buying)
Total startup: $487
Could you start for less? Absolutely. Could you spend way more? Also yes. This was our middle-ground approach.
Monthly Costs: Years 1-2
Washing:
- Water: ~$8/month extra
- Electricity (hot water, dryer use): ~$12/month
- Detergent: ~$6/month
- Wear and tear on washer: ~$5/month (estimated)
Monthly total: $31
Yearly total: $372
What Disposables Would Have Cost
Using the average of $70/month for disposable diapers:
- Monthly: $70
- Yearly: $840
Year 1 net comparison:
- Cloth: $487 (startup) + $372 (washing) = $859
- Disposables: $840
Wait, what? We actually spent MORE the first year?
Yes. But hold on…
Years 2-7: Where the Savings Actually Happen
Here’s where it gets interesting.
Year 2:
- No new diapers needed (except replacing 3 worn inserts: $27)
- Washing costs: $372
- Total: $399
- Disposables would have been: $840
- Savings: $441
Years 3-7 (per year average):
- New diapers/accessories: $45/year (replacing worn items, buying different sizes)
- Washing costs: $372/year
- Total: $417/year
- Disposables: $840/year
- Savings: $423/year
Seven-Year Total
Cloth:
- Year 1: $859
- Years 2-7: $417 × 6 = $2,502
- Total: $3,361
Disposables:
- $840 × 7 = $5,880
Total savings over 7 years: $2,519
That’s real money. But it’s not the $3,000-4,000 that cloth diaper companies advertise, because those calculations never include:
- Water and electricity costs
- Detergent
- Replacing worn diapers
- Accessories and creams
The Second Child: Pure Profit
Here’s where cloth diapering becomes financially undeniable.
We’re using the same diapers for child #2 (with some new inserts because ours were worn).
Additional cost for second child:
- New inserts: $65
- Washing costs: $372/year × 3 years = $1,116
- Total: $1,181
Disposables for second child:
- $840/year × 3 years = $2,520
Savings on second child: $1,339
Combined savings for two kids: $3,858
Now we’re talking real money.
The Hidden Costs Nobody Mentions
Let’s be honest about expenses that caught us off guard:
1. Stripping and Maintenance ($82 over 7 years)
Every 6-12 months, we need to “strip” the diapers to remove buildup. This requires special detergent and extra washing cycles.
2. The Dryer Factor
Line drying saves money but takes time. We use the dryer about 60% of the time because life gets busy. If you always line dry, add another $200-300 to your savings.
3. Opportunity Cost of Time
Cloth diapers require about 2 extra hours per week (sorting, washing, folding, stuffing). That’s 104 hours/year.
Is your time worth $10/hour? That’s $1,040/year in “labor.” Worth $20/hour? That’s $2,080/year.
This is where the financial argument gets murky. For us, we fold diapers while watching TV, so it feels like zero cost. For others, this time cost might outweigh the savings.
4. Traveling Complications
We use disposables for about 20% of the time - long flights, visiting family without washer access, road trips. Over 7 years, we’ve probably spent $800 on “backup” disposables.
When Cloth Diapering Doesn’t Make Financial Sense
Real talk. Cloth might not save you money if:
- You have to use a laundromat ($2-4 per load, 3 loads/week = $300-600/year)
- You live in an area with very expensive water/electricity
- You have more than 2 kids (at some point, the time cost gets ridiculous)
- You buy premium cloth diapers ($30-40 each instead of $15-20)
- You can’t resist buying cute prints (this is real - cloth diaper addiction is a thing)
The Break-Even Point
For us, we broke even at month 17. After that, every month was net savings.
If you plan to have multiple kids, you break even even faster.
What I’d Do Differently
What I’d spend more on:
- Better quality inserts from the start (cheap ones wore out fast)
- One more wet bag (we were always searching for the clean one)
What I’d spend less on:
- Fancy prints (nobody sees the diaper under clothes)
- Too many brands (we found our favorite and should have stuck with it)
What surprised us:
- How long the diapers lasted (we thought we’d need to replace more)
- How much we’d use disposables for travel (more than expected)
- The resale value (we sold some barely-used diapers for 60% of original cost)
The Bottom Line
Is cloth diapering cheaper than disposables? Yes, significantly, but only after 1.5-2 years.
Is it worth it financially? For us, absolutely. We’ve saved almost $4,000 over two kids.
Would we do it again? Yes, but mostly because our daughter had sensitive skin. If she hadn’t, we might have stuck with disposables for the convenience.
Real Math for Your Situation
Want to calculate if cloth makes sense for you? Here’s the formula:
- Startup cost: $300-600 (depending on what you buy)
- Monthly washing cost: $25-40 (varies by location)
- Your disposable cost: $50-80/month (varies by brand)
- Time value: Decide what 2 hours/week is worth to you
If (disposable monthly cost - washing cost) × number of months > startup cost, cloth is cheaper.
For us, that calculation worked out at 17 months. Your mileage may vary.
Final Thoughts
Cloth diapering saved us real money - about $4,000 over two kids. But it wasn’t instant, it wasn’t as much as advertised, and it required commitment.
If you’re considering cloth for purely financial reasons, do the math for your situation. Factor in everything.
If you’re doing it for environmental or health reasons and the money savings are just a bonus? Then the financial case is even stronger.
But whatever you decide, don’t let anyone shame you about diaper choices. Parenting is expensive enough without guilt.
Want my full spreadsheet breakdown with formulas? I’m happy to share. Just ask.