Cost Per Wear Calculator
Calculate the true cost per wear of any clothing item.
Compare price against estimated wears to determine real value.
Cost Per Wear Analysis
Cost Per Wear (CPW) reveals the true value of clothing purchases.
Cost Per Wear = (Purchase Price + Dry Cleaning/Maintenance) / Number of Wears
CPW benchmarks:
- Under $1/wear: Excellent value
- $1–5/wear: Good value
- $5–10/wear: Average
- Over $10/wear: Consider if it was worth it
Estimated wears by item type:
- Everyday basics (t-shirts, jeans): 100–200 wears
- Work clothing: 50–150 wears
- Seasonal items: 20–50 wears
- Special occasion: 1–5 wears
- Outerwear (coats): 100–300 wears
The takeaway: A $200 coat worn 200 times ($1/wear) is better value than a $30 top worn 3 times ($10/wear). Invest in pieces you will actually wear repeatedly.