Did you know that most parents spend an average of $60-80 per month just on diapers? This adds up quickly since most babies go through an average of 6-10 diapers each day in their first year of life. The price of a diaper doesn’t always affect its quality though. We’ve put together this handy guide for finding good inexpensive diapers including newborn diapers, organic diapers, cloth diapers, toddler diapers, and more.
Cheapest Diapers on the Market
When your baby is small, they aren’t moving around too much. The biggest obstacle is finding a diaper that fits well and protects your baby’s sensitive skin. You can expect to pay anywhere from $0.25-$0.40 per diaper. Our top choice for a cheap newborn diaper is affordable and caters to your little one’s sensitive skin.
The Luvs diapers are the least expensive at under $0.20 per diaper compared to the Huggies at $0.30 per diaper. With that being said, the Huggies diapers are higher-rated and better-selling compared to Luvs.
Huggies Little Snugglers
Huggies Little Snugglers cost a little more than off-brand diapers, but they are worth that extra cost. They cost $0.30/diaper or less, depending on the deals that you take advantage of.
This brand is perfect for newborns because it is lotion and fragrance-free, paraben-free, and latex-free. There is also no residue from chlorine bleaching, which is common in baby diaper materials. Additionally, there is a low risk of an allergic reaction because the diapers are hypoallergenic.
Another feature parents and babies can appreciate is the umbilical cutout. This small area curves inward on the top of the diaper to prevent it from covering up the umbilical cord.
The way the Huggies Little Snugglers traps wetness also stops moisture from irritating your baby’s skin. A wetness indicator lets you know when they need a change.
The tabs secure well to the front of the diaper and prevent leaks. However, if you pull too hard on the tab when diapering your little one, it can rip through.
Pros
- Free of chemical irritants, latex, and fragrances
- Diapers secure well to prevent leaks
- Has an umbilical cut out for newborns
- Diaper traps wetness
Cons
- Tabs may rip through on diapers
Luvs Disposable Baby Diapers
The price of the Luvs Disposable Baby Diapers is insane! At under $0.20 per diaper, this is a great inexpensive diaper choice that parents love.
With Triple Leakguard, you shouldn’t need to worry about your baby waking up through the night with wet pajamas on. In addition, these Luvs diapers feature Nightlock Technology to help keep your little one dry up to 12 hours.
These diapers are available at Size 1 and running all the way to size 6.
Pros
- Super inexpensive
- Available up to size 6
- Features Triple Leakguard and Nightlock Technology
- Wetness indicator
Cons
- May not prevent blowouts out the back
Cheapest Organic Diapers
Organic diapers are designed for little ones with super-sensitive bottoms. They are free of harsh chemical irritants and designed to be soft on sensitive skin. Some are also made from renewable materials, meaning you can feel better about your impact on the planet.
Organic diapers have more restrictions than most manufacturers, so it naturally costs more to make their diapers. The price range for organic diapers is anywhere from $0.16 per diaper to upwards of $0.50 per diaper. Despite a potentially high cost, some of the cheapest organic diapers are comparably priced to their non-organic competitors.
Earth + Eden Baby Diapers
Earth + Eden Baby Diapers isn’t the most affordable option but you still pay around $0.20-$0.25 per diaper, which is comparable to leading brands. This is a diaper you can feel good about buying, both for your baby’s skin and for your impact on the environment.
The pulp used to provide absorbency in these diapers is certified sustainable according to the Sustainable Forestry Initiative. The diapers are also certified cruelty-free. Additionally, the diapers are manufactured in a Zero Waste to Landfill facility.
These hypoallergenic diapers use non-toxic water-based inks and are made without fragrance, chlorine bleaching, latex, parabens, and 26 other allergens that have been identified in other diaper brands.
As a cheap baby diaper, these provide great leak protection and gentleness that new babies need. They also go up to size 7, which is larger than most brands. The one downside is they don’t have as much absorbency as some of the non-organic brands.
Pros
- Fluff is sustainably sourced
- No harsh ingredients
- Low-impact on landfill waste
- Very soft and comfortable to wear
- Cruelty-free
Cons
- Not as much absorbency as some other brands
Cheapest Toddler Diapers
One of the biggest challenges when choosing cheap diapers for a toddler is that they are always moving. A good diaper needs to move with your little one. Toddlers also drink (and pee) more than infants, so leak protection is also important. Some parents go the route of pull-ups, though others find it more effective to skip pull-ups altogether when potty training. You can find out more about elimination communication here.
The cost per diaper is a bit harder to calculate here, because the bigger the diaper size, the greater the cost per diaper. On average, for a size 4 diaper, you can expect to pay between $0.18 and $0.36 per diaper.
Parent’s Choice Diapers
For my first son, we used Luvs until he was around 2. When I learned I was pregnant the second time, I planned to use them again, but they just didn’t work for us. After trying several brands, we finally found Parent’s Choice diapers which are sold by Walmart.
Even after such a great experience the first time around, Luvs diapers just didn’t work for him. Their fit wasn’t right for his body type; he was a lot shorter and narrower than his brother had been. The positioning of the legs wouldn’t fit right for his waist, so they’d occasionally leak.
This left me searching for something that cost about the same price as Luvs while providing better protection. Huggies were a good fit, but they were a little more than I wanted to pay. Eventually, I settled on Parent’s Choice brand diapers.
Parent’s Choice diapers are sold by Walmart. The designs are a little basic, but your baby isn’t usually paying attention to what is on their diaper anyway. The tabs were easy to secure and the way the diaper was designed fit my youngest’s body better so there were no more leaks.
Walmart also sells Parent’s Choice pull-ups now. These were not available yet when my littles were in diapers, but I’d hope for the same quality at a better price.
Editor’s note: Yes, the Parent’s Choice training pants, aka pull-ups, are great! I personally use these for my potty training daughter, and we’ve found that they are comfortable, absorbent in the case of an accident, and very affordable. Plus, our daughter loves the popular characters on the front and back.
Pros
- Straps hold well and the diaper stays in place
- Has a wetness indicator
- Very affordable
- Can purchase online, unlike some other off-brands
Cons
- Designs are a little simple
Cheapest Cloth Diapers
Some parents choose cloth diapers to save money, while others prefer the low impact they leave on the environment. When you start out, the amount of cloth diapers you need depends on how often you’ll be washing them. Some newborns poop almost every 2 hours meaning you’ll need 12 to get through a single day. If you want to wash every other day, you’ll probably need about 15-18 diapers to start out with.
Instead of looking at the price per diaper for cheap cloth diapers, focus on the overall price of the diapering materials. The cost of cloth diapering seems large at first, but it is generally lower overall.
Humble Bebe Prefold Cloth Diapers
The price of these Humble Bebe Prefold Cloth Diapers 12-Pack cannot be beaten, as you get twice the amount of diapers for around $5-10 more than you’d spend on the average six-pack of cloth diapers. They are made from unbleached cotton, which makes them soft and less likely to irritate baby’s bottom.
These are designed for use with newborns from 10-16 pounds. Once your child is a toddler, it can be folded and placed inside other diapers or underwear as an absorbent pad.
These cloth diapers are thick and absorbent, which is perfect for trapping messes.
The natural cotton used in these makes them a slightly beige color. Unfortunately, they are designed rather plain in comparison to the fun colors on some other cloth diapers.
Pros
- Very affordable compared to other cloth diapers
- Made from soft, unbleached cotton
- Absorbs messes well
- Works as an absorbent pad once your infant exceeds 16 pounds
Cons
- Very plain design
Compare the Most Affordable Diapers
The table below compares only the recommended products on this page. A low or high Price means it is low or high compared to the other products listed. The Popularity Score reflects how often readers click on and buy the product. The Quality Score is our assessment of the overall performance and satisfaction with the product compared to others in the table.
Parent's Choice Diapers | - | 8.8 | 70.95 |
Huggies Little Snugglers | 13.8 | 9.6 | 51.96 |
Luvs Disposable Baby Diapers | - | - | 39.94 |
Humble Bebe Prefold Cloth Diapers | - | 9.0 | 34.95 |
Earth + Eden Baby Diapers | - | 9.2 | - |
FAQs – Cheapest Diapers
Where is the best place to buy inexpensive diapers?
Buying diapers in bulk is a great way to save money. When you buy more, you end up paying less per diaper. There are some stores like Costco and Sam’s Club that specialize in selling bulk items like diapers. You can also find them online through retailers like Amazon and Walmart.
One of the benefits of buying from Amazon is that you can sign up for Amazon Family and subscribe to different items. When buying the items you subscribe to, there’s a significant discount. There is also an option to sign up for recurring shipments and receive a discount that way.
Another tip for finding the best diapers for cheap at your favorite retailers or drugstores, like Walmart, Target, or Walgreens, is to cruise through the clearance section every time you go. I have found great deals on perfectly good diapers because they were overstocked after a big sale or because they were getting rid of packages that had old designs on them. Trust me, saving up to 50% on a pack of diapers is worth the quick walk down the baby and clearance aisles!
Should I stockpile diapers?
Another method that parents use to save money on items like diapers and baby wipes that they know they will be using is stockpiling.
Stockpiling simply means buying several boxes of diapers and/or wipes when you can find them on sale. By stockpiling, you are sure you are getting the best possible price without worrying about running out.
Even when you are buying in bulk and stockpiling, keep in mind that your little one’s bottom might respond differently to the different brands. If you are going to switch in bulk, be wary of diaper rash and irritation, which could render your whole stash useless.
How can I save money on diapers?
The best way to know that you are saving money on diapers is to compare the price per diaper. Comparing the price of one box of diapers to another is not the best way to judge your true diaper cost.
Diaper brands usually have small, medium, large, and even bulk-sized packs of diapers you can buy. They all have their own names, like “jumbo” or “economy” or “club pack.”
However, not all diaper brands use the same amount of diapers in each of these sizes. For example, the large box of Pampers Swaddlers size 1 diapers has 198 diapers while the equivalent size box of Luvs size 1 diapers contains 252 diapers.
If you are shopping on Amazon or even in a lot of grocery sites or apps, there is a number in parentheses that tells you how much you are paying per diaper. This number is based on the number of diapers in that package and the overall cost of the package.
When the price per diaper isn’t readily available, simply divide the total number of diapers in the package by the total cost of the package to calculate the cost per diaper. Then, find the lowest price per diaper and you’ll know you’ve saved yourself some cash!