I have decided that you need a PhD to figure out who has the best price on diapers. The diaper people and the retailers are smart – they package the diapers in different counts for each store so it’s harder to price-shop. The only way to REALLY figure it out is to visit each store, write it all down and do a spread sheet. Well, I have done that and I will share it with you. (Photo from early 2007 when Claire was still in diapers).
I also did this for Huggies, Similac and Enfamil. Those others will be posted in the following weeks.
My formula was to figure out the cost per diaper. I realize there are many different sizes of Pampers so I compared the price of Pampers Swaddlers in Size 2. I think we can assume that if a store “wins” in this size that their other sizes will also be competitive. I also only priced the largest package the store had – we all know that you need to buy in bulk to save money.
Now I realize that we are only talking a few cents per diaper here but this can equal hundreds of dollars per year. If you have 1 child who uses 7 diapers a day, and you can save 5 cents per diaper, then over a year you have saved $127. And if you have more than one child in diapers then the savings goes up. My last disclaimer is that all prices are subject to change, but directionally, I think you will find the rankings stay the same.
The Findings (cost per diaper for size 2 Pampers Swaddlers):
- Sam’s Club: 16 cents (Note: this was for size 1-2)
- BJs: 19 cents
- Amazon.com
: 19.5 cents (Free shipping)
- Babies R Us: 20 cents (in store and online)
- Target: 20.8 cents
- Wal-Mart: 22 cents
- Harris Teeter: 27 cents*
- CVS: 27 cents
So, the warehouse clubs are the best prices and if you do not belong to Sams or BJs, then your best bet is to buy online at Amazon.com
*Now, I do have a note about Harris Teeter. The day I did my “price shopping” they had a VIC special. I logged the regular price for this list since VIC only lasts a week but their special netted out to 16.6 cents per diaper which is a GREAT price. It’s always worth walking down that aisle to check their specials. I recommend you buy a small calculator that you always keep in your purse (unless you are a math wizard), if the diapers come out to 20 cents (for size 2) or less I would pick some up.
I also have to talk about pampers.com. Hopefully by now you have signed up for their coupons and e-mail. They send great coupons that will help you save additional dollars. Even if you are not a big coupon person, they are worth it at $1.50 a pop.
[Note: After this was published a reader asked about Diapers.com, unfortunately they are not a great deal for Pampers Swaddlers, 23.6 cents per diaper for a size 1-2 (not even a full 2). They do have free shipping over $50 but you do better elsewhere]
Where do you get your diapers? Have you found diapers even cheaper than this? Please let us know where!
14 comments
How about diapers.com? I’ve heard their prices are great and free shipping over a certain price. And they have referral discounts. My sister signed me up and we each got sent a $10 coupon. Check it out!
I am a big Swaddlers fan but just broke down and tried the Costco brand of diapers. They actually fit just like Swaddlers and we haven’t had any leaks. I can’t remeber the exact price but I think they were $32.00 for 200.
Diapers.com has them at the same price as Amazon & there is a coupon code in Cookie magazine. Enter “Cookie” and get $10 off your first order of $50 or more. I haven’t tried it yet, but I think there is also some 5% back reward too.
Oh, I beg to differ about buying in bulk. If you use the $1.50 coupon that always comes in the pampers & buy the smaller pack (at Target, the small pack is almost always half the price of the big pack anyway)your price per diaper goes down faster than on the big packs. Also, Target occasionally gives store coupons for Pampers which can be COMBINED with manufacturers coupons! Big savings!
Just a note that BJ’s also takes coupons, so if you have a coupon for the Pampers and use them at BJ’s you can save big too!
I am the queen of “finding a great bargain.” BJ’s takes all coupons, even competitors, and even OUT OF DATE coupons if you go through the check out section yourself. I have a two year old in diapers and nine month old twins in diapers so believe me when I tell you it’s worth it to shop BJ’s for formula and diapers. I have a Costco membership too but do not buy formula and diapers there. The news channel did a comparison of Sam’s, Costco, and BJ’s and BJ’s was way cheaper with Costco coming in at the most expensive.
just a note on the “best diaper deal” adventure… there is another blog that has dedicated a great deal of time into researching the weekly deals, if you are in to coupons and such… and lots of other good stuff too, like formula,etc…anyway, thought you might enjoy checking it out!babycheapskate.blogspot.com
BJs often has great in-store coupons(usually $3.00 off) that they will COMBINE with Manufacturer’s coupons. AND they let you use more than one Manufacturer’s coupon at a time as long as the items you are buying are individually packaged within one box.
Ditto on the BJ’s comments. Their coupon along with manufacturer coupons has to put them at the lowest cost per diaper. They’ve got $3 off cases of swaddler right now if I am not mistaken. STOCK UP!
What brands do BJ’s carry? I know the research was done on Pampers and did not think they carried them?
BJ’s carries pampers. loves and their own BJ’s brand. They really are the best price in town!
BJ’s carries Pampers, Luvs, Huggies, and Berkley & Jensen (their brand). Costco rarely carries name brand diapers, only their own.
Drugstore.com has excellent prices on Pampers Swaddlers…beats diapers.com and Amazon when they have coupons available.
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