Buying wipes in bulk can save money, but only if you check the math for your own household. This guide covers the formats on offer, a simple way to work out cost per wipe from the product page, and where to keep a case when space is tight.
Single packs, multi-packs and cases
The same wipe may be listed as a single pack, a multi-pack or a case. The right choice depends on how fast you go through them and how much room you have.
| Format | Good for | Watch for |
|---|---|---|
| Single pack | Trying a new wipe, a small home, the diaper bag | More frequent reordering |
| Multi-pack | Everyday stock for the changing table | Needs a storage spot, and one pack should be opened at a time |
| Case | Long runs of the same wipe, or households sharing supplies | Space, and being committed to one wipe |
Listing titles tell you what you are getting. For example, Pampers Sensitive Baby Wipes, Fragrance Free, 1008 Wipes (12 Packs) shows the number of packs and the total count in the title. The product page is where you will find the current price.
Flip-top packs vs refill packs
A flip-top pack has a lid, so it can be used straight from the pack. Some wipes are instead sold in soft packs without a lid, meant to be loaded into a dispenser or tub. Check the product page to see which format you are buying, and check that a refill-style pack fits the dispenser you own.
If you use a dispenser, the OXO Tot Perfect Pull Wipes Dispenser, Grey is one option. Check the dispenser's own page for what it is designed to hold. Include the cost of a dispenser in your sum if you do not already have one.
How to work out cost per wipe yourself
- Note the current price on the product page. Prices change, so do not rely on memory.
- Find the total number of wipes. If the title shows only the number of packs, check the description.
- Divide the price by the total number of wipes to get the cost of one wipe.
- Check the delivery details on the product page and at checkout, and add any shipping cost to the price before you divide.
- Compare options in the same format: dry with dry, wet with wet, and similar sizes.
The number that really matters is cost per change. Multiply the cost per wipe by the number of wipes you use per change. A wipe that costs a little more but does the job in fewer sheets can come out ahead.
Try one pack before committing to a case
A big order only pays off if the wipe suits your household. Buy a single pack, or the smallest multi-pack, and use it for a week. Notice whether it tears, how wet it feels, how it smells and whether it works with your dispenser. If you see redness or soreness on your baby's skin after trying a new wipe, ask a doctor, nurse or pharmacist before you order more.
Where to keep a case in a small home
A case is easier to place once it is out of its carton. Before the carton goes out for recycling, check it for a printed date and note it on a pack if the packs do not show one. Then tuck the sealed packs into spaces a box would not fit:
- In a single row along the back of a dresser drawer.
- Stacked flat on the top shelf of a closet.
- In a lidded bin that slides under the bed or the crib.
- In the pockets of an over-the-door organizer.
Keep the packs close enough together that you can count what is left at a glance, and choose a spot indoors that stays cool and dry. The Diaper Storage & Organizers collection has baskets and organizers if you need somewhere to put it all.
Shop this guide
- Aleva Naturals Bamboo Baby Wipes, 480 Count (ships via Amazon)
- Baby Wipes Dispenser, 2 Pack, Reusable, Portable (ships via Amazon)
- Diaper Caddy Organizer, White (ships via Amazon)
- Kandoo Sensitive Flushable Wipes, 144 Count (ships via Amazon)
- See all: Baby Wipes
- See all: Wipe Warmers & Dispensers
- See all: Diaper Storage & Organizers
Prices are on each product page. Free shipping on orders of $100 or more within Canada.
Combining wipes with your diaper order
If you buy diapers regularly, add your wipes to the same order and reorder both on one date. Delivery windows differ between items tagged Ships via Amazon and items that ship from the store's own suppliers, so wipes and diapers ordered together may arrive in separate boxes on different days. Each product page shows which one applies. Shipping options, and any threshold for free shipping, are shown at checkout, so check them before you decide how to group items. The Baby Diapers & Training Pants collection is the place to start for diapers, and the Baby Wipes collection for the rest.
When bulk is not the better buy
- When you have not yet tried the wipe, or your baby's skin has not yet settled with it.
- When you have no cool, dry place to store a case.
- When your changes are becoming less frequent, as in the move toward training pants.
- When your cost per change works out higher for the large pack than for a smaller one.
- When you tend to leave packs open for a long time, since wipes can dry out.
Common questions
Are refill packs cheaper?
Not automatically. Do the same cost-per-wipe sum, and include a dispenser in the total if you need to buy one.
Is it worth splitting a case with another family?
It can be, if you both use the same wipe. Agree on the split before you order, divide the sealed packs when the case arrives, and each do your own cost-per-wipe sum with your share of any shipping included.
What should I check when a case arrives?
Look for damaged packs, check for a printed date if the pack carries one, and put the oldest packs at the front of your storage so they are used first.
Can I order wipes for different uses together?
Yes. Many families keep one wipe for the changing table and another for hands and faces. Count each separately when you compare.
If you are weighing up a case and want a second opinion, contact us with the wipe you use and roughly how fast you go through it.