Cost Per Wear: How to Calculate It and Decide Whether a Repair Is Worth It

A £200 coat worn twice costs you £100 per wear. Worn 50 times, that drops to £4 per wear. The original price stays the same, but its value changes with every use.

It can also change how you think about repairs. Instead of simply asking "Is this repair expensive?", ask yourself: "How many more times will I actually wear this?"

A £40 repair might sound like a lot, but if it gives you another 40 wears from a coat you love, that's just £1 per future wear.

Here's how to calculate your cost per wear and use it to decide whether to repair, replace or keep wearing what you own.

What is cost per wear?

Cost per wear is a way of calculating how much you effectively spend each time you wear a piece of clothing.

The basic formula is:

Cost per wear = original cost ÷ number of wears

This is why the purchase price of a garment doesn't tell you the whole story. A more expensive item that you wear regularly can have a lower cost per wear than a cheaper piece that stays at the back of your wardrobe.

How to calculate cost per wear

Start with three numbers:

1. What you paid for the garment
2. How many times you've already worn it
3. How many more times you expect to wear it

If you paid £150 for a jacket and have worn it 25 times, your current cost per wear is:

£150 ÷ 25 = £6 per wear

But if you expect to wear it another 50 times, its eventual cost per wear becomes:

£150 ÷ 75 = £2 per wear

This is where cost per wear becomes useful for clothing repairs.

Does repairing clothes affect cost per wear?

Yes. Add the repair cost to what you originally paid, then divide it by the total number of times you expect to wear the garment.

For example:

• Original garment: £150
• Worn so far: 25 times
• Repair: £30
• Expected future wears: 50

That brings your total cost to £180 across 75 wears:

£180 ÷ 75 = £2.40 per wear

Now compare that with giving up on the garment after 25 wears. A £30 repair could give you another 50 wears for just 60p per future wear.

So rather than asking "Is £30 a lot to spend on a repair?", ask "Would I pay 60p to wear this 50 more times?" If the answer is yes, the repair could be well worth it.

When is a clothing repair worth it?

There's no single percentage or price that tells you whether a repair is worth doing. Instead, consider four things: future wear, repair cost, fit and personal value.

1. How many more times will you wear it?

If you already know you reach for a garment every week until its zipper breaks, for example, getting another 20, 30 or 50 wears from it can make a repair worthwhile.

There’s probably a reason you’ve found it difficult to part ways with an item in need of mending that’s been sitting in your wardrobe for so long and maybe it’s time to ask yourself, “if this were repaired tomorrow, would I actually wear it?” If the answer is yes, calculate the cost per future wear.

2. How much does the repair cost?

Get a repair quote before making your decision. You can do this directly through the Save Your Wardrobe app, and you might find that some of your favourite brands offer this service directly, so it’s worth checking.

The cost can vary depending on the garment, fabric, and type of damage. A simple button replacement may be inexpensive, while replacing a zip, repairing a lining or restoring delicate fabric can require more specialist work.

3. Does it fit well?

Fit is difficult to put into a cost-per-wear calculation, but it matters. A garment that fits perfectly and feels good to wear may be much more valuable to you than an equivalent new piece that costs less.

This is relevant for tailored clothing, denim, shoes and occasion-wear. If you've already found something that works for your body and your wardrobe, keeping it in rotation can save you from searching for a replacement that may never feel quite the same.

4. Does it have sentimental value?

Not everything needs to pass a strict financial calculation.

A wedding outfit, a vintage jacket, something inherited from a family member or a piece associated with an important memory can be worth repairing regardless of its cost per wear.

In these cases, emotional value is part of the value of the garment. Cost per wear is a useful tool, not a rule.

Repair or replace? A simple way to decide

When something gets damaged, it's tempting to compare the repair quote directly with the price of a new item.

For example:

Repair: £35
New replacement: £60

At first glance, replacing it might seem like the obvious choice. But you're comparing the price of two different things.

The new item comes with its own unknowns. Will you wear it as often? Does it fit as well? Will you like it in two years? How long will it last?

The existing garment already has a history of use. You know how it fits, how often you reach for it and whether it works with the rest of your wardrobe.

Try asking these questions instead:

1. How much is the repair? Establish the actual cost of keeping the garment.
2. How many more times will I wear it? Calculate your potential cost per future wear.
3. Does it fit well? A good fit adds practical value.
4. Do I already have something similar? Avoid replacing something you don't need.
5. Is it well made? Construction and materials can affect longevity.
6. Do I genuinely like wearing it? Cost per wear only matters if you actually wear it.
7. Does it have sentimental value? Some value can't be measured financially.

How to calculate cost per future wear

Repair cost ÷ realistic number of future wears = cost per future wear

For example:

£35 repair ÷ 25 future wears = £1.40 per wear

Then consider the bigger picture. Would you happily pay £1.40 each time to wear something that fits perfectly, that you already own and that you genuinely like? If yes, the repair makes sense.

The best repair is one you'll actually use

Cost per wear gives you a simple way to think about what happens next. If you love wearing something, it fits well and you know you'll reach for it again, a repair could be well worth it.

The Save Your Wardrobe app makes it easier to keep track. You can manage your wardrobe, see how often you're wearing your clothes and book a repair directly in the app when something needs attention.

Because the value of a piece of clothing isn't just what you paid for it. It's how much use you get from it. Here's 10 ways to extend the life of your wardrobe.