Cost Per Wear Calculator
Calculate what an item really costs each time you wear it, and compare it with an alternative.
Formula and sources updated · Data sources · 1View algorithm, constants and default inputs (JSON)
About this calculator
Net cost = purchase price + annual care × years − resale proceeds, using the same rule for both items. Divide by expected wears.
Worked example
calculated with the default values below
Purchase price 180 $ · Times worn per year 40 · Years you expect to keep it 3 years · Cleaning and repairs per year 15 $ · Alternative price 60 $ · Alternative wears per year 8 · Alternative years kept 1.5 years · Expected resale value 0 $ · Target cost per wear 1 $ · Compare a second item Yes · Alternative annual care cost 0 · Alternative resale proceeds 0 Cost per wear 1.88 $ · Total wears 120 wears · Total cost of ownership 225.00 $ · Alternative cost per wear 5.00 $ · Lower cost per wear The first item · Cost ratio (higher ÷ lower) 2.67 x · Wears needed to hit your target 225 wears · Weeks to reach the target 292.5 weeks · Will you reach the target? No
Method and assumptions
Net cost = purchase price + annual care × years − resale proceeds, using the same rule for both items. Divide by expected wears. Negative net cost means an assumed net gain, not free use guaranteed. The target is a whole number of wears rounded up from final net cost divided by target cost per wear; ongoing cash timing is not modeled. Disable comparison to leave the second item out.
Data sources
Use the cited guidance and your own measurements, bills or product specifications to choose inputs. Sample defaults are not current local data.
Disclaimer
These calculators give general estimates. Sizing, pricing, availability and standards vary by brand, retailer and country, so treat the output as a starting point and confirm it against the seller's or authority's own figures.
Implementation source
This record describes the implementation used by this page. It is not independent validation. External references, when available, support only the stated formula or definition; estimates and custom rules retain their own assumptions.
Formula and variables
net cost = purchase + annual care × years − resale; cost/wear = net cost/(annual wears × years); target wears = max(0, ceil(net cost/target))
The target is a whole number of wears rounded up from final net cost divided by target cost per wear; ongoing cash timing is not modeled. Disable comparison to leave the second item out.
Frequently asked questions
What does the comparison include?
Net cost = purchase price + annual care × years − resale proceeds, using the same rule for both items. Divide by expected wears. Negative net cost means an assumed net gain, not free use guaranteed. The target is a whole number of wears rounded up from final net cost divided by target cost per wear; ongoing cash timing is not modeled. Disable comparison to leave the second item out.