Laundry Detergent Cost Calculator
Using example 2026 US store prices, Molly's Suds Original Powder comes out cheapest at about $0.19 a load and Tru Earth Eco-Strips the most expensive at about $0.59 a load. For a household washing 6 loads a week, that's about $124.99 a year apart. Prices vary by store and pack size, so enter what you see and how much you wash to get your own numbers.
1. How much do you wash?
2. Compare detergents
Prices are examples from US stores. Change them to what you see, or add your own detergent in the last row.
| Detergent | Pack price ($) | Loads in pack | Per load | Per year | Buy |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tide Pods OriginalPods · Plastic tub (Tide also sells a cardboard Eco-Box) · price: Target, 2026 | $0.31 | $96.50 | See on Amazon | ||
| Tru Earth Eco-StripsStrips · Cardboard sleeve · price: Reviewed.com | $0.59 | $184.76 | See on Amazon | ||
| Dropps Laundry PodsPods · Cardboard box · price: Walmart, 2026 | $0.35 | $108.97 | See on Amazon | ||
| Molly's Suds Original PowderCheapestPowder · See pack · price: Walmart, 2026 | $0.19 | $59.77 | — | ||
| Your detergentType the price and loads from its pack | — | — |
Buttons marked "on Amazon" are affiliate links: SwapSages may earn a small commission if you buy, at no extra cost to you. It never changes the numbers this tool shows.
How this calculator works
Cost per load = pack price ÷ loads in the pack × doses per load. Cost per year = cost per load × loads per week × 52. Nothing else is added in, so the numbers only change when you change the inputs.
The cheapest detergent is not always the best one for you. If someone in your home has sensitive skin, a fragrance-free option may be worth a few cents more per load. Pods and strips are held together by a film (usually PVA) that dissolves in the wash; whether it fully breaks down in wastewater is still being studied. Powders don't use this film.
For lower energy bills too, see our cold water savings calculator.
Sources
- Tide Pods Original 42-count, $12.99 at Target (price tracker, April 2026)
- Tru Earth Eco-Strips 32 loads, $18.95 (Reviewed.com review)
- Dropps laundry pods 40-count, $13.97 (Walmart.com listing, 2026)
- Molly's Suds Original powder 120 loads, $22.99 (Walmart.com listing, 2026)
- ENERGY STAR: the average US family washes about 300 loads a year
Figures last checked: October 2026. Prices change often, so every number in this tool can be edited.