Budget trainers
- Uses over its life
- 70
- Total cost
- £35.00
- Per month
- £4.38
Price per use calculator
A £90 pair of boots worn every week can cost less than a £35 pair that falls apart by spring. Work out the cost per use, or per wear, and compare.
Cost per use
Sturdier trainers
- Uses over its life
- 209
- Total cost
- £90.00
- Per month
- £3.75
Sturdier trainers is 14% cheaper per use. Budget trainers would need about 81 uses instead of 70 to match it.
The formula
Cost per use = (price − resale value) ÷ number of uses + running cost per use
The number of uses is how often you use something multiplied by how long it lasts: twice a week for eight months is about 70 wears. Running costs are what you pay each time, such as pods for a coffee machine or dry cleaning for a coat. Resale value is what you expect to get back by selling it on at the end.
In the trainers example, a £35 pair worn twice a week that lasts eight months costs about 50p a wear. A £90 pair that lasts two years is worn about 209 times, so each wear costs about 43p: 14% less, despite the higher price.
Be honest with the inputs
The answer is only as good as your guess of how long something will last and how often you'll really use it. Think about how long the last one lasted, reviews that mention durability, and the warranty. If you're unsure, try a pessimistic and an optimistic life and see whether the winner changes.
Questions
Is the dearer option always better value per use?
No. It only wins if it really lasts longer or gets used more. An expensive gadget used twice a year can cost far more per use than a cheap one used every day.
Where do repairs go?
Add a one-off repair to the price. Costs that come with every use, like cleaning or refills, belong in the running cost per use.
Why show a cost per month too?
It is the same total spread over the item's life, which makes it easy to compare with a rental or a subscription.