Detergent Cost per Load Calculator
Calculate cost per laundry load for liquid, pods, and powder detergents.
Enter price and load count to find the most cost-effective detergent format per wash.
Laundry detergent cost analysis helps you find the best value between liquid, powder, pods, and eco-sheets — and avoid overspending on premium brands when generics perform equally well.
Cost Per Load Formula:
CPL = Package Price / Number of Loads Per Package
For liquids where you measure by cap/line:
Loads Per Bottle = Bottle Volume (oz) / Dose Size (oz)
For pods: Loads = Number of Pods in Package
Monthly Cost:
Monthly Cost = Loads Per Month × CPL
Worked Example — 4 product comparison:
| Product | Size | Price | Loads | CPL |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tide Liquid | 154 oz | $24.99 | 96 | $0.260 |
| Arm & Hammer Liquid | 210 oz | $14.99 | 140 | $0.107 |
| Tide Pods (72ct) | 72 pods | $22.99 | 72 | $0.319 |
| Eco Sheets (120ct) | 120 sheets | $19.99 | 120 | $0.167 |
For a household doing 8 loads/week (32/month):
- Tide Liquid: 32 × $0.260 = $8.32/month
- Arm & Hammer: 32 × $0.107 = $3.42/month
- Tide Pods: 32 × $0.319 = $10.21/month
- Eco Sheets: 32 × $0.167 = $5.34/month
Annual savings (Tide vs generic): ($8.32 − $3.42) × 12 = $58.80/year
Overdosing Warning: Measuring cup markings are typically set for the maximum recommended dose. Using one-half to two-thirds of the recommended amount works equally well for normal loads — potentially doubling the number of loads per bottle and halving your CPL.