Cloth Napkins vs Paper Towels Savings Calculator
What switching from paper towels really saves.
Swapping paper towels for cloth napkins and kitchen towels is a small habit change. This calculator shows what it adds up to in money and rolls over a year.
Cloth napkin savings calculator
What switching from paper towels really saves.
Enter how many rolls your household goes through, what you pay per roll and how much of that you would realistically replace. Then add the cost of the cloth — new, or thrifted second-hand napkins, which are often a fraction of the price.
Laundry is the hidden cost. Most cloth napkins ride along in loads you already run, so the calculator assumes an extra small load about every other week. If you wash them separately, raise the per-load cost.
Most households find the switch pays for itself within a couple of months. Keep a small stack of paper towels for the truly gross jobs and let cloth handle the rest.
How it works
- Paper cost per year = rolls per week x 52 x price per roll x the share you replace.
- Cloth cost = up-front napkins plus extra laundry over the year.
- Break-even is how many weeks of savings cover the up-front cost.
Questions, answered
Are cloth napkins really cheaper than paper towels?
Over a year, almost always — especially with thrifted napkins. The up-front cost is usually recovered within one to three months.
How many cloth napkins does a family need?
Plan on two to three per person per day, plus a few spares, so you can wash every two or three days. Twenty to thirty is a good starting stack for a family of four.
How do you keep cloth napkins clean?
Shake them out, keep a small bin for used ones, wash warm with your towels, and spot-treat oily stains with dish soap before washing.
Guides that use this tool
HomeMaking the Switch: Cloth Napkins Instead of Paper Towels
A practical guide to swapping paper towels for cloth: how many napkins you need, where to find them second hand, and a laundry routine that sticks.
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