What is the cost per wear formula?

Cost Per Wear = (Purchase Price + Care Costs) ÷ Number of Wears. A $300 jacket worn 60 times has a cost per wear of $5 before care costs. Add dry cleaning at $15 per visit, cleaned 10 times, and the true cost per wear is $6.50.

What is the 30 wears rule?

Before buying a piece of clothing, ask yourself if you can realistically wear it at least 30 times. If yes, divide the price by 30 to estimate cost per wear. If the answer feels reasonable, buy it.

Should I include dry cleaning costs in cost per wear?

Yes. The true cost per wear includes the purchase price plus all care costs: dry cleaning, alterations, repairs, leather care, and waterproofing. A suit dry-cleaned regularly can add 30-50% to the real cost per wear.

Pillar guide

What is cost per wear?

Q: What is a good cost per wear?

There is no universal number, but a useful benchmark: under $5 per wear is excellent for everyday clothing. Under $1 per wear is exceptional. Above $20 per wear means you have not worn it enough yet.

Cost per wear is the price of a clothing item divided by the number of times you wear it. That is the entire idea. It turns the lump-sum sting of a $300 coat into a small, honest number that gets smaller every time you wear it.

The formula

Cost Per Wear = Price ÷ Number of Wears

That's it. A $300 jacket worn 60 times has a cost per wear of $5. A $50 shirt worn 5 times has a cost per wear of $10 — twice as expensive as the jacket per use.

The full formula: including care costs

Clothes don't just cost what's on the tag. Dry cleaning, repairs, shoe re-soling, leather cream — these are real costs that change the math. The full formula is:

True Cost Per Wear = (Price + Care Costs) ÷ Number of Wears

That $300 jacket dry-cleaned 10 times at $15 each? The true cost per wear is $7.50, not $5. But leather boots with $230 in care over 5 years? Those 180 extra wears lower the cost per wear from $2.92 to $1.93. Maintenance can work for or against you. Full breakdown with examples →

Why most people get this wrong

We anchor on the sticker price. We remember the moment of paying. We forget the 60 days of wearing it. Cost per wear flips the frame: the price is a starting line, not a verdict. The verdict is written one wear at a time.

Three real examples

$1,800 wool coat

$20

worn 90 times in 3 winters

$80 trendy sweater

$26

worn 3 times

$220 designer t-shirt

$220

worn 1 time

The wool coat is cheaper than both. Cost per wear is the only number that shows you why.

The 30 wears rule

Popularised by sustainable fashion activist Livia Firth, the rule asks one question before you swipe your card:

Will I wear this at least 30 times?

If yes, divide the price by 30 — that's your estimated cost per wear. If that number feels fair for the joy or utility it brings you, buy it. If not, walk away.

What is a "good" cost per wear?

Under $5 — excellent. The item is paying for itself.
$5–$20 — fine for occasion wear or premium pieces.
Above $20 — you haven't worn it enough yet. Wear it more before you decide.

How to track cost per wear without losing your mind

Open the app each morning you get dressed.
Tap +1 on what you're wearing.
Close the app. The math updates by itself.

Worth It is built around this single interaction. No streak that punishes you. No spreadsheet to maintain. Try the calculator first to see the math, then download the app when you want to track real items over time.

FAQ

What is the difference between cost per wear and cost per use?

None — they are the same formula. "Cost per wear" is the term used in fashion. "Cost per use" generalizes it to anything: gadgets, gym memberships, kitchen tools.

Should I include dry cleaning and repair costs?

Yes. A suit dry-cleaned regularly can add 30–50% to the real cost per wear. Include every cost tied to the garment — cleaning, alterations, repairs, shoe care products, waterproofing. That's the honest number.

Should I count gifts at $0?

You can, but gifts have a hidden cost: the closet space they take up. We recommend entering a small symbolic price (or skipping them entirely) and focusing the tracker on things you paid real money for.

What about clothes I bought before I started tracking?

Estimate the wear count to your best honest guess and start tapping from today. The number will be more or less correct within a few weeks of real logging.