Period Products Cost Calculator
Using about 20 tampons or pads per period and 2026 US store prices, 5 years of tampons costs about $325 and pads about $215, and each means throwing away about 1,300 items. A menstrual cup replaced every 3 years costs about $80 over the same time. Six pairs of period underwear replaced every 2 years come to about $540. Change the numbers to match your cycle and the prices you pay.
1. Your cycle
2. Prices
| Option | Total cost | Items thrown away | Buy |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tampons | $325 | 1,300 | — |
| Disposable pads | $215 | 1,300 | — |
| Menstrual cupCheapest | $80 | 2 | DivaCup on Amazon |
| Period underwear | $540 | 18 | — |
Reusables aren't for everyone, and many people mix options (for example a cup with period underwear as backup). If you use tampons, change them every 4 to 8 hours and use the lowest absorbency you need to lower the risk of toxic shock syndrome. Cup makers say a cup can be worn for up to 12 hours.
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
Disposables: periods per year × days per period × products per day × years, times the price of one tampon or pad (pack price ÷ count). Reusables: the price times how many you buy, bought again each time it reaches the end of its life. "Items thrown away" counts tampons, pads, cups or pairs of underwear, not wrappers or applicators.
Not included: the small cost of washing period underwear or boiling a cup, and sales or multipacks, which can lower any of these prices.
Sources
- Tampax Pearl Regular 36-count, $8.99 at Target (2026)
- Always Ultra Thin Regular pads 44-count, about $7.29 at Target (2026)
- DIVA Cup: $32–45 at Walmart depending on model (2026)
- DIVA: a cup can last up to 5 years; replace sooner if it gets sticky, powdery, discolored or smells
- Thinx period underwear: about $24–40 a pair at full price, around 2 years with proper care
- US FDA: change tampons every 4 to 8 hours and use the lowest absorbency you need
Figures last checked: October 2026. Prices change often, so every number in this tool can be edited.