Cost-Per-Use Calculator
Example: Item cost: 1200 $ · Years you will own it: 5 yrs · Times used per week: 3 · Upkeep per year: 50 $ · Resale value later: 200 $
| Cost every time you use it | $2 |
| True total cost | $1,250 |
| Total lifetime uses | 780 |
| Cost per year | $250 |
| Weekly cost to spread it | $5 |
Worked example
A $1,200 item kept 5 years with $50/year upkeep and $200 resale costs about $1,250 net. Used 3 times a week — roughly 780 uses — that is about $1.60 per use. Bump usage to daily and the same item drops under a dollar per use; use it twice a month and it balloons past $10.
Frequently asked questions
What counts as a good cost-per-use?
There is no universal threshold — a fair target varies by item category and your budget. The power of the metric is comparison: it lets you rank a rarely-used gadget against a daily-use tool on equal footing.
Should I include resale value?
Yes. Anything you can sell later reduces the true cost of ownership. The tool subtracts resale before dividing by uses, so durable, resellable items score better.
How does this change buying decisions?
It exposes the "great deal" you will use twice and rewards unglamorous items you will use constantly. Before a big buy, estimate honest usage — most people overestimate — and let the number guide you.