Cost Per Wear Calculator
Enter the price and how many times you expect to wear it. Add cleaning costs and any resale value for a closer figure.
Works for shoes, bags, coats or anything else you use again and again.
Worked examples
A coat
£120 worn 40 times
£3.00 a wear
120 ÷ 40 = 3.
With cleaning and resale
£100, 20 wears, 50p cleaning each time, £20 resale
£4.50 a wear
(100 - 20) ÷ 20 + 0.50.
About Cost Per Wear Calculator
Cost per wear is the price of an item divided by the number of times you use it. A £30 top worn twice costs £15 a wear, while a £150 coat worn 100 times costs £1.50. It is a useful check before you buy, because it rewards things you will actually use and exposes purchases that look cheap but sit unworn.
The page also adds the cost of cleaning or upkeep for each wear and takes off anything you could get by selling the item later. Enter a cost per wear that you would be happy with and it shows how many wears you need to reach it. A table shows how the cost falls as the number of wears grows, so you can see where the returns start to flatten out.
How to use Cost Per Wear Calculator
- Enter the price of the item.
- Enter how many times you expect to wear it.
- Add the cleaning or upkeep cost per wear, and any resale value.
- Enter a target cost per wear to see how many wears you need.
Common uses
- Deciding whether an expensive coat or pair of boots is worth it
- Comparing a cheap item with a better one
- Judging a wardrobe purchase before buying
- Seeing the value of a bag, watch or suitcase over time
Sources
Last reviewed 18 October 2026.
Frequently asked questions
How do you calculate cost per wear?
Divide the price by the number of wears. Adjust it by taking away the resale value first and adding any cleaning or repair cost per wear.
What is a good cost per wear?
It is personal. Many people aim for under £1 to £5 a wear for everyday items, and are happy with a higher figure for special occasion pieces.
Does cleaning make a difference?
It can. Dry cleaning at £8 a wear for a suit worn five times a year dominates the cost.
How do I estimate wears?
Look at similar items you own. Count how often you wear them in a month and multiply by the months you expect to keep it.
Does it work for things other than clothes?
Yes. It is useful for shoes, bags, tools, sports equipment and anything else you use again and again.