Cost Per Wear Calculator
Enter the price and realistic wears. The cheap item is often the expensive one — this calculator shows the true cost of anything you wear or use.
| Item A cost per wear | — |
| Item B cost per wear | — |
| Difference per wear | — |
The cost-per-wear formula
Cost per wear = Price ÷ Number of times worn
The default example: a $200 jacket worn 150 times costs $1.33 per wear; a $40 jacket worn 20 times before falling apart or falling out of favor costs $2.00. The item costing 5× more at the register is 33% cheaper in use. Price tags measure the wrong thing.
Estimating wears honestly
| Item type | Realistic wears |
|---|---|
| Everyday staple (jeans, work shoes) | 100–300 |
| Weekly rotation piece | 50–150 |
| Seasonal item | 20–60 |
| Occasion wear (suit, formal dress) | 5–30 |
| Trend piece | 3–15 — the honesty test |
Beyond clothes
The same math judges gym gear, kitchen appliances, tools, and gadgets — anything used repeatedly. A $500 espresso machine used daily for 3 years: 46¢/use. A $60 gadget used twice: $30/use. Pair with the unit price calculator for consumables and the subscription calculator for recurring versions of the same question.
Frequently asked questions
What is cost per wear?
Price divided by the number of times you actually wear it. A $200 jacket worn 150 times costs $1.33 per wear — cheaper in practice than a $40 jacket worn 20 times ($2.00).
Is expensive clothing worth it?
Only when quality extends lifespan enough: paying 3× more is worth it if the item lasts 3×+ longer or gets worn 3×+ more. Expensive trend pieces fail the formula exactly like cheap ones.
What is a good cost per wear?
No universal number, but under $1–2/wear is excellent for clothing. The point is comparison: between two options, buy the lower cost per wear, not the lower price.
How many times is clothing actually worn?
Industry studies put the average garment at only 7–10 wears before disposal — which makes most "cheap" fashion very expensive per wear, and is the whole argument for buying fewer, better things.
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Last updated: 2026-07-08