The Cost of Cloth

Have you heard people say that once you add in the cost of washing that the costs of cloth nappies end up the same as disposables? We can tell you that's definitely not true! Below you will find comparisons for cloth and disposables for a range of brands of nappies and wipes, as well as laundry costs associated with washing cloth nappies.

SUMMARY

 

Disposables

Cloth
Nappies for 2.5 years $1557 - $4661 $500-$1500
Wipes for 2.5 years $740 - $3032 $52-$195
Laundry Costs for 2.5 years   Approx $550
TOTAL COST FOR 2.5 YEARS $2,297 - $7,693 $1,102-$2,245
TOTAL COST FOR 2 CHILDREN OVER 2.5 YEARS EACH $4,594 - $15,386 $1,652-$2,795


Here we've got some comparisons (general only, of course) to help you get an idea of what you can expect to spend on cloth and disposable nappies. These figures are based on full-time comparisons and will depend on when your child is toilet trained. You can of course spend less on disposables than our indicative figures, and you can spend more than we've shown on cloth. Take these figures as a guide and, using your preferences for brands and styles, work out what your costs would be.

 

Disposables versus Cloth Nappies Savings

According to CHOICE Magazine, a typical baby goes through about 6000 disposable nappies with the total cost (of just the nappies, excluding wipes & other accessories) varying between about $1,800 and $3,000+ each child.We’ve done our own calculations have found this to be pretty accurate, with the average Huggies user spending between $3500 and $4500 for just one child! Huggies held 60% of the Australian market share of disposable nappies in 2022. Yes, you can get cheaper brands, but Huggies has 60% of the market, so most people don't. 

See below for our comparison of a range of popular brands of disposable nappies on the Australian market. Prices are correct for March 2023. All figures based on requirements for 2½ years and don’t include ‘night nappies’ for the additional time required to night toilet train. This doesn't include disposable toilet training 'pull up' style nappies.

Total cost of disposables = $1557-$4661

Total cost of disposables for 2 children = $3114-$9322

 

REUSABLE NAPPIES: BUDGET OPTION - FULL-TIME NAPPY PACKAGE

24 reusable bamboo prefold nappies at $12.95

$310.80

6 boosters at $10 each

$60.00

8 nappy covers at $24.95 each

$199.60

Total cost full time cloth nappies

$570.40

 

 

REUSABLE NAPPIES: ONE SIZE NAPPY OPTION - FULL-TIME NAPPY PACKAGE

24 reusable one size nappies ($31.95 each – 15% discount on 24)

$651.78

6 boosters at $10 each

$60

Total cost full time one size fits most nappies

$711.78

 

 

REUSABLE NAPPIES: PREMIUM ONE SIZE NAPPY OPTION - FULL-TIME NAPPY PACKAGE

 

24 reusable one size nappies ($38.95 each – 15% discount on 24)

$794.58

4 dedicated night nappies at $39.95 each

$159.80

Total cost full time one size fits most nappies

$954.38

 

 

REUSABLE NAPPIES: PREMIUM NEWBORN SIZED NAPPIES + ONE SIZE FITS MOST NAPPY - FULL-TIME NAPPY PACKAGE –

 

24 reusable newborn nappies (29.95 each – 15% discount on 24)

$610.98

24 reusable one size nappies ($38.95 each – 15% discount on 24)

$794.58

4 dedicated night nappies at $39.95 each

$159.80

Total cost full time one size fits most nappies

$1565.36

 

 

Disposables versus Cloth Wipes Savings

Wipes calculations are based on 200 wipes per week which equates to 2-3 wipes per nappy change.

Wipes

Cost per 100

Cost per week

Cost per Year

Mamia fragrance free (Aldi)

$2.86

$5.75

$297.44

Cub Gentle Care Premium Thick and Soft (coles)

$3.50

$7

$364

Huggies Thick Fragrance Free

$6.25

$12.50

$650

Curash Water Wipes

$7.50

$15

$780

Tooshies Wipes

$7.86

$15.72

$817.44

WaterWipes

$11.67

$23.34

$1213.68

 

Reusable Wipes

REUSABLE WIPES

Pack of 25 reusable wipes

$52.00

Total Cost

$52.00

 

REUSABLE WIPES SYSTEM

 

Fresh wipes container, messy wipes container, 2 wash bags, travel wet bag, hydrating wipes solution, 25 wipes.

$195.00

Total Cost

$195

 

Laundry Costs

These are my calculations, based on my machine and washing regime. So it will differ for you - so please take these figures as a guide and work out your own usage.

I prewash my nappies every day and do a main wash cycle with other added small items of clothing every second day. My prewash is a short cycle (mixed on my machine), my main wash is a long cycle (cottons intensive on my machine). So, I am going to base my calculations on the water and energy usage for a standard cottons cycle. I figure it probably evens out! So my calculations will be based off 10.5 washes per week (7 prewashes + 3.5 main washes).

Water Usage
I have a new LG 9L Washer. It uses 77L of water per cycle. Multiple this by 10.5 washes gives 808L per week. Since I also flush poo (or rinse it out) I'm adding 3L a day (a half flush is adequate) = 21L a week.  This brings the weekly total to 829L per week. Total water usage for a year 43,108L or 43.108KL

I'm charged $2.7184 for each kL water I use, so the yearly cost for water is $117.18. Keep in mind that I choose to prewash every day as I use night nappies for both my children. A prewash every second day is plenty if not using night nappies. Take into account that my washing machine is quite large so I also bulk out my main load with all my baby and child’s clothes, socks, underwear, face washers, hand towels, cleaning cloths etc. These items would need washing regardless of whether I choose to use cloth nappies.

Electricity
I use cold water for washing my nappies. My washing machine uses 0.77kWh for load (based on a cottons 40deg cycle). My electricity company charges me $0.231/kWh, so each load costs $0.18. Per week this works out at $1.89

In a year I will pay $98.28 in electricity. I also have solar panels on my house so aim to wash during the day so that I use less electricity than calculated. If you use a dryer, you will have to add the cost of electricity for the dryer to these calculations.

Detergent

I use a mainstream detergent Omo Regular Liquid for my washes. For my prewash I use (50ml), main wash 100ml. This works out at 700ml per week. Omo Liquid 4L costs $7.5 per L, which means my weekly cost for detergent is $5.25. Yearly cost $273. Remember, half of my main wash is made up of other items as I have a really large washing machine. I also try to stock up on detergent when it is half price!

You detergent costs will vary depending on the brand of detergent you use and how frequently you wash your nappies.

GRAND TOTALS

TOTAL COSTS FOR 546 WASHES OVER A YEAR

Water

$117.18

Electricity

$98.28

Total

$215.46

Total per load

39 cents

We've used these figures to calculate the laundry costs of $538.65 (plus detergent) over 2.5 years in the total cost comparisons above, but it is quite easy to spend less depending on the methods and frequency you choose to wash your nappies. We have not included detergent in these costs as they vary greatly depending on the brand and type of detergent that you choose to use.

 

A quality reusable modern cloth nappy system will last your baby from birth through to toilet training and will cost less than $1500. To keep a baby in single use disposable nappies for the same amount of time can cost an average of $3,500 for the first baby and nearly $7,000 if you have two children. Depending on which nappies you choose, you can save up to $5,000 for your first child, increasing to over $12,000 for two children. The financial choice is an easy one!