Pods and sheets save you a scoop and cost you a fortune; powder is the other way round. Detergent has no upfront cost, so the honest number is simply what each load costs, and that alone can swing your yearly bill by ninety dollars. Tell it how many loads you wash and it ranks every detergent by real cost per load.
Prices reviewed 31 July 2026 . Cost per load from typical current retail and each maker's load count; your store and sales will vary. Not a substitute for reading the dosing instructions.
We costed 16 laundry detergents by their real cost per load, from the pack price and the maker's load count. The cheapest is Arm & Hammer powder at $0.08 a load; the priciest Tide Pods at $0.43. Detergent has no upfront cost, so the per-load price is the whole story, and switching format is the easiest way to cut the bill.
Method: pack price ÷ the maker's stated load count, at typical current retail. Cost per year and total assume the loads a week you set. Real cost varies with dose, water hardness and sales. Prices are indicative USD. Cite this: "usefulHQ Laundry Cost Study 2026", usefulhq.com/laundry-cost-per-load/. Figures update as prices are reviewed.
There is no upfront cost with detergent, so the per-load price is everything. A big family washing more sees the format gap balloon.
| Detergent | Type | Per load | Cost / year | Total over term | Best for | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Arm & Hammer powderBest value A big box runs about 8 cents a load; unbeatable value if you wash in warm water. | Powder | $0.08 | $21 | $62 | Cheapest per load | Check price |
| Store-brand powder Generic powders hit the lowest cost per load; check the box for the load count. | Powder | $0.09 | $23 | $70 | Budget powder | Check price |
| Store-brand liquid Store-brand liquids clean fine for a fraction of the name brands. | Liquid | $0.10 | $26 | $78 | Budget liquid | Check price |
| Arm & Hammer liquid Big value jugs of A&H liquid are among the cheapest pour-and-go options. | Liquid | $0.11 | $29 | $86 | Cheapest name liquid | Check price |
| Tide powder Tide's clean in the cheapest form it comes in; still under most liquids. | Powder | $0.13 | $34 | $101 | Name-brand powder | Check price |
| Gain liquid A big jug lands near 15 cents a load; the well-loved scent. | Liquid | $0.15 | $39 | $117 | Popular scented liquid | Check price |
| All Free Clear liquid Fragrance and dye free for sensitive skin, reasonable per load. | Liquid | $0.16 | $42 | $125 | Sensitive skin | Check price |
| Store-brand pods Generic pods undercut Tide while keeping the no-measure ease. | Pods | $0.20 | $52 | $156 | Budget pods | Check price |
| Arm & Hammer power sheets Plastic-free strips at a lower cost than the eco startups. | Sheets | $0.20 | $52 | $156 | Cheapest sheets | Check price |
| Arm & Hammer Power Paks The value pod; convenience closer to liquid pricing. | Pods | $0.22 | $57 | $172 | Cheapest pods | Check price |
| Persil liquid A favourite for stain removal; mid-high cost per load. | Liquid | $0.22 | $57 | $172 | Strong stain liquid | Check price |
| Tide liquid (Ultra Oxi) Tide's cleaning power, but you pay a premium per load over generics. | Liquid | $0.24 | $62 | $187 | Premium liquid | Check price |
| Earth Breeze sheets Lightweight, plastic-free, travel-friendly; a premium per load. | Sheets | $0.25 | $65 | $195 | Popular eco sheets | Check price |
| Gain Flings Convenient and fragrant, still far dearer per load than liquid. | Pods | $0.35 | $91 | $273 | Scented pods | Check price |
| Tru Earth sheets Compostable packaging; among the priciest per load. | Sheets | $0.33 | $86 | $257 | Eco subscription sheets | Check price |
| Tide Pods No measuring, but pods carry a 50 to 100 percent premium over liquid. | Pods | $0.43 | $112 | $335 | Most convenient, priciest | Check price |
Powder, at 8 to 13 cents a load for a big box of Arm & Hammer, a store brand or Kirkland. Value liquids run 10 to 16 cents. Pods are the priciest at 20 to 43 cents because you pay for the pre-measured convenience.
They are the most convenient, but carry a 50 to 100 percent premium over liquid and up to 5x powder. Tide Pods run about 43 cents a load versus 8 cents for powder, roughly $90 a year more at five loads a week. Store-brand and Arm & Hammer pods cut that premium a lot.
No, sheets are a premium. Eco brands like Earth Breeze and Tru Earth run 20 to 33 cents a load, more than liquid or powder. You pay for the light weight, plastic-free packaging and convenience, not a lower cost per wash.
At five loads a week, cheap powder is about $20 a year, value liquid about $40, and Tide Pods over $110. A big family doing ten or more loads a week roughly doubles those. Switching format is the easiest way to cut the bill.