Cost Per Use Calculator

How much has that thing actually cost every time you’ve used it?

Your inputs stay in your browser. Item names and costs are never saved or uploaded.

What have you spent and used?
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This amount is subtracted from your ownership cost.
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Your cost per use

Net ownership cost
Uses so far

Future projection

Worthwhile target

Buying vs. renting

How cost per use works

The basic calculation is purchase price ÷ number of uses. For a fuller picture, add accessories, maintenance, repairs, and required subscriptions, then subtract the item’s resale or remaining value. That gives you the net ownership cost used throughout the calculator.

Future projections assume no new costs and no change in remaining value. The rental comparison uses the same net ownership cost and finds the first whole-number use where buying is strictly cheaper than paying the alternative price each time.

Frequently Asked Questions

Divide the item's net ownership cost by the number of times it has been used. Net ownership cost can include the purchase price and additional costs, minus resale or remaining value.

Yes. Cost per wear is the clothing-specific version of cost per use: divide what the item cost by the number of times you have worn it.

Choose a target cost per use, divide net ownership cost by that target, and round up to a whole number of uses. Subtract the uses you have already made to find the additional uses needed.

Buying becomes cheaper when the item's ownership cost per use is lower than the rental cost per use. Divide net ownership cost by rental cost and move to the next whole use if the result is an exact tie.

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