Period Products Cost Calculator (pads & tampons per year and for life, vs a menstrual cup)

Understanding the period products cost calculator — concept and principle

This calculator estimates how many pads or tampons you use and what they cost per year and over the years until periods are expected to stop, and compares that with a reusable menstrual cup. It helps with budgeting and with deciding whether a reusable option pays off.

A year of periods: with the default inputs the result is $65.22 a year ($1,695.80 to age 51).

How it is calculated

Periods per year = 365.25 ÷ cycle length.
Products per year = periods × period days × products per day.
Cost per year = products × price each.
Lifetime = yearly figures × (end age − current age).
Cup cost per year = cup price ÷ years it lasts; yearly saving = product cost − cup cost per year.

The principle

Spending on disposable products is a simple chain: how often periods come, how long they last, how many products a day, and the price. A 28-day cycle gives about 13 periods a year rather than 12, which is easy to overlook. A reusable cup costs more up front but is spread over its lifetime, so its yearly cost is small. The lifetime figure ignores pregnancy, breastfeeding, contraception that stops periods and price changes, so treat it as a rough upper estimate.

Worked example

Default inputs: cycle 28 days, period 5 days, 4 products a day, $0.25 each, age 25, end age 51, cup $30 lasting 5 years.

Periods per year = 365.25 ÷ 28 = 13.04, shown as 13.
Products per year = 13.04 × 5 × 4 = 261; cost = 260.9 × 0.25 = $65.22.
Until age 51 (26 years): $1,695.80 and 6,783 products.
Cup = 30 ÷ 5 = $6.00 a year; saving = 65.22 − 6 = $59.22 a year.

Each point is the calculator re-run with only “Period length (days)” changed; the gold point is the default example. Change the inputs above and this chart follows your numbers.

Period length (days)	Cost per year
1.25	$16.31
2.5	$32.61
3.75	$48.92
5	$65.22
6.25	$81.53
7.5	$97.83
10	$130.45

How to read the result

The yearly saving shows whether a reusable product suits your budget; also consider comfort, access to clean water for washing, and personal preference. Period underwear and reusable pads can be compared the same way using their price and lifetime.

Common mistakes

Assuming 12 periods a year.
Forgetting heavier days use more products.
Using a single product price when you use several types.
Changing products less often than the packet says to save money.

Keep in mind: Change pads and tampons as often as the packet recommends; tampons should not be left in longer than the time on the box. See a doctor about very heavy, painful or irregular periods. This is not medical or financial advice.

Frequently asked questions

How many periods are there in a year?

About 13 with a 28-day cycle.

How much do period products cost a year?

About $65 at 4 products a day for 5 days at $0.25 each.

Does a menstrual cup save money?

Usually; at $30 lasting 5 years it costs $6 a year in the example.

Sources: Arithmetic on your own inputs (365.25 days per year)

Checked 9 Nov 2026. Arithmetic on your own inputs (365.25 days per year). Cycle length, period length, products per day, prices, the end age and cup lifetime are example values.

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