Disposable vs. Reusable Diapers: How to Save

The time a parent needs to wash cloth diapers, and how much that time is worth, may push them to skip cleaning the soiled diapers and use more costly disposable ones.

Including the cost of water and electricity to run a washing machine, and assuming a child will be out of diapers by age 2-1/2, cloth diapers can range in cost from an average of 6 cents per diaper ($381 total) to 23 cents per diaper ($1,677.66), according to the website Diaper Decisions. Disposable diapers cost an average of 36 cents per diaper, or $2,577.35 before the child is out of diapers.