Diaper Duty: Comparing Diaper Prices at 7 Stores

It wasn’t until I became a mom that I realized how outrageously expensive disposable diaper really are!  I now realize that when you receive diapers as a baby gift, you are really getting the BEST GIFT EVER!  Like putting gas in your car, diapers become a necessary item that can quickly put a big dent in your families budget.

When my oldest child was in diapers I thought I had a pretty good idea of where to purchase the cheapest diapers.  Turns out…I was wrong! So I set out on a mission to help find the best deals in (disposable) diapering.  Hopefully, this thorough comparison, will help to cut down on some of the foot work and research (that most new parents don’t have time to do anyway) stretching those precious pennies just a little further.

Here are a few tidbits to remember when utilizing the chart below.

• Diaper pack sizes vary greatly by store and size of diaper.
•  All prices listed are for the regular store price.  No sales or coupons were taken into consideration.
• All price comparisons offer price per pack of diapers and price per unit.  Comparing the unit price is the most accurate comparison of price as pack sizes vary.
• All prices listed are for size 3 diapers, excluding Diapers.com brand, which are only available in Size 1-2.
• Diapers.com offers 10% off with scheduled recurring deliveries and free 2-day shipping on orders of $49 or more.
• Amazon.com Mom (Prime) offers a 20% discount and free two-day shipping when you schedule monthly deliveries (prices noted in graph). Amazon Mom (Prime) membership costs $99 per year.
• Sam’s Club offers a Sam’s Savings membership for $45.00 per year.
• Costco offer a Gold Star membership for $55.00 per year.

DIAPER PRICE COMPARISON CHART

You can print out a version for reference by clicking right here: diaper chart.

The great news is that many retailers (both on-line and in-stores) often offer sales and coupons that apply to diaper (and wipe) purchases. Unfortunately sometimes diapers must be purchased before absent-minded moms, like myself, are able to locate a coupon or remember to bring them to the store. So, for the cheapest diapers, a membership to Costco or Sam’s can go a long way. Not to mention, the lower prices you get when buying other household items and baby essentials, all in the same location.

With the recent birth of my son, the savings on Huggies (which I hear are the best diapers for boys) at Costco will be a great option for our family especially since we do a good deal of our shopping there anyway and the location is convenient. Surprisingly, the other major “big-box” stores mostly have very competitive prices for the major diaper brands (Pampers, Huggies, Luvs) so in a pinch I can buy diapers on my weekly grocery and not feel terribly guilty for leaving my coupons at home (AGAIN!). I have lots of mommy friends who really like using Amazon Mom simply for the ease of having bulky items (like diapers) delivered right to their door. I find that the subscription fee of $100 a year really cuts into my savings. Keep an eye out for discounted subscriptions to Amazon Mom (Prime) and you can get more bang for your buck!

Which store do you think has the best deals?