How Much Does Your Period Cost? The True Lifetime Cost of Disposable Pads and Tampons

We've all hesitated to switch to reusable period products because of the upfront cost. But what if we told you that disposable products will actually cost you way more over time?

The Lifetime Math of Disposables

According to National Organization for Women, "The average woman spends about $20 on feminine hygiene products per month."

Let's do the math. Conservatively, $20 per month over 40 years of menstruation:

$9,600 spent on disposables over 40 years.

And that's the conservative number. Now let's factor in inflation.

Why Disposable Period Products Keep Getting More Expensive

According to the American Automobile Association, spikes in US diesel prices push menstrual care product costs even higher.

Raw material costs are also climbing. According to The Texas Tribune, "Texas' cotton industry is facing its worst harvest in years, costing the state more than $2 billion." Cotton farmer Brad Heffindton said, "There's just not much crop out there. A lot of cotton burned up and a lot of it never even made it up to begin with."

When cotton supply drops, production drops, demand rises, and prices follow.

The Tampon Tax Problem

On top of inflation, taxes and tariffs further raise the cost of disposables.

Source: PeriodLaw

Tampons and pads are still considered "luxury items" in many places and taxed accordingly, even though they're a basic necessity for half the population.

Period Product Prices Are Climbing Fast

Period products aren't optional. Unlike other items affected by inflation, you can't skip a period.

According to a Bloomberg report citing NielsenIQ, the average price for a box of tampons rose 9.8% year-over-year, while pads rose 8.3%.

That trend isn't slowing down. And these costs add up not just monthly, but during postpartum recovery, when women can bleed up to 12 weeks after giving birth.

The Solution: Reusable

With reusable cloth pads, you are always period-ready. No emergency store runs. No price hikes. No tax tracking. Just soft, comfortable protection that lasts for years.

Here's how a one-time Cariona investment compares to 5 years of disposables:

Most Cariona customers break even within 3 to 6 months. After that, every cycle saves you money.

Start Saving Today

If you're ready to stop spending on disposables every month, try our Trial Pack to find your fit, or jump straight to our Starter Pack, our best seller.

Browse our full reusable pad collection and start saving today.