Find what an item really costs each time you use it. Enter the price, yearly maintenance or extra costs, any resale value, how often you use it and for how many years, then compare up to three options (for example a quality item, a cheap one and renting).
Last updated:
Item 1
$
$/ yr
Repairs, cleaning, supplies, insurance, fees.
$
Optional. What you expect to get back when you sell it.
years
$
$/ yr
$
years
$
$/ yr
$
years
Enter your values to see the result.
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How to use the Cost Per Use Calculator
Enter the first item: its name, purchase price and any yearly maintenance or extra costs.
Add an expected resale value if you plan to sell it later (leave 0 if not).
Say how often you use it (times per day, week, month or year) and for how many years.
Tick the compare boxes to add a second and third option, such as a cheaper version or renting.
Read the cost per use, the comparison table and the what-if table for heavier or lighter use.
The cost per use formula
Cost per use = (price + yearly extra costs × years − resale value) ÷ (uses per year × years)
Uses per year = times per day × 365, per week × 52, per month × 12, or per year × 1.
Extra costs are maintenance, supplies, insurance or fees per year. For renting or a service, the whole cost goes here and the price is 0.
Resale value is subtracted because you get that money back.
Example: an espresso machine for $600 plus $380 a year of beans and milk, used once a day for 5 years and sold for $100, costs (600 + 1,900 − 100) ÷ 1,825 = $1.32 per cup, compared with $4.00 for a $4 café coffee.
Cost per use at a glance
Cost per use for an item with no extra costs or resale value, used for the number of years shown:
Price
Used
1 year
3 years
5 years
$50
once a week
$0.96
$0.32
$0.19
$100
once a week
$1.92
$0.64
$0.38
$300
3 times a week
$1.92
$0.64
$0.38
$500
once a day
$1.37
$0.46
$0.27
$1,000
once a day
$2.74
$0.91
$0.55
$1,000
once a month
$83.33
$27.78
$16.67
Using cost per use to decide
Be honest about usage. Most impulse buys are used far less than planned; try the "half as often" row of the what-if table.
Durability matters as much as price. Doubling the years of use halves the cost per use.
Renting wins for rare use. Equipment you need a few times a year is often cheaper to rent or borrow.
For groceries and packaged goods, compare price per unit instead with the unit price calculator.
Frequently asked questions
How do you calculate cost per use?
Cost per use = total cost of ownership ÷ total number of uses. Total cost = purchase price + yearly extra costs × years − resale value. Total uses = uses per period × periods per year × years. For example, a $320 coat with $25 a year of cleaning, worn 4 times a week for 6 years: (320 + 150) ÷ (4 × 52 × 6) = $470 ÷ 1,248 ≈ $0.38 per wear.
Is a more expensive item ever cheaper?
Yes, when it lasts longer or gets used more. A $320 coat that lasts 6 years can cost less per wear than a $90 coat that wears out in 2 years, even though the price is over three times higher. Compare both with this calculator to see which one wins with your numbers.
What counts as an extra or maintenance cost?
Anything you pay to keep using the item: repairs, servicing, cleaning, supplies or consumables (like coffee beans or ink), insurance, storage, subscriptions or fees. For renting or a service, put the whole yearly cost in this field and leave the purchase price at 0.
Should I include resale value?
If you will realistically sell the item, yes, because the money you get back lowers what it cost you. Be conservative: used electronics, cars and bikes often sell for much less than expected. Leave it at 0 for things with no resale market.
What is cost per wear?
Cost per wear is the same idea applied to clothing and shoes: the price plus care costs divided by the number of times you wear the item. It is a popular way to judge whether a pricier, better-made piece is worth it.
Does cost per use include the time value of money?
No. It is a simple, undiscounted average. If you would otherwise invest the money, a large upfront price also costs you the returns you give up; see the opportunity cost calculator for that side of the decision.
Are all the tools on FreeToolCabin tested for quality and accuracy?
Yes! Every tool on our site undergoes automated Q/A testing in real browser environments to ensure high precision, correct output, and zero errors. If you happen to spot a bug or have a suggestion, please contact us at [email protected] and our team will review it right away.