The short answer: Yes, over time. Using prices on fabpad.in at the time of writing (October 2026), five Mid Waist period panties cost about ₹2,246 with the buy-5 discount and last 2 to 3 years. Using disposable pads for the same 3 years costs roughly ₹6,200 at ₹8 a pad, or about ₹13,000 at ₹16 to ₹17 a pad. Period panties cost more on day one, usually pay for themselves within the first year, and keep saving after that, even if you still use a few pads on your heaviest days.
How we worked out the numbers
Everyone's period is different, so we used simple, clearly stated assumptions. You can swap in your own numbers using the steps further down.
- Period length: 5 days.
- Periods a year: 13, about one every 28 days.
- Pads a day: 4, so about 20 pads a period and 260 pads a year.
- Time period: 3 years, which matches how long a Fabpad period panty lasts with proper care, about 100 washes or 2 to 3 years.
Prices are those on fabpad.in in October 2026. Prices and offers change, so check the product pages for today's price.
The cost of disposable pads
Pad prices in India vary widely by brand and pack size. To keep it fair, here are two examples.
- A budget pad at about ₹8 each: 260 pads a year costs about ₹2,080, or about ₹6,240 over 3 years.
- Fabpad Ultra Soft Cotton Sanitary Pads: a pack of 36 pads in the 240 mm or 280 mm size is ₹599, about ₹16.60 a pad. That is about ₹4,330 a year, or about ₹13,000 over 3 years. In the pack of 12 at ₹299, each pad costs more, about ₹25.
Pads also have small hidden costs: wrapping paper, extra packs bought in a hurry, and more pads on heavy months.
The cost of period panties
The Mid Waist period panty is ₹599 a pair on fabpad.in. Buying more pairs together gives a bigger discount: at the time of writing, 10% off two pairs, 15% off three and 25% off five.
- Five pairs at 25% off: ₹2,995 less 25% is about ₹2,246, once.
- Washing: a cold rinse and a small amount of mild detergent each wash. Most people wash period panties along with their usual hand wash or a gentle machine load, so the extra cost is small.
Five pairs is a comfortable rotation for most people who wash every day or two. If you can only wash every few days, you may want more. Our guide on how many period panties you need helps you decide.
Side-by-side: 3 years of periods
| Option | Year 1 | Year 2 | Year 3 | 3-year total |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Budget pads (about ₹8 each) | ₹2,080 | ₹2,080 | ₹2,080 | About ₹6,240 |
| Fabpad cotton pads (about ₹16.60 each) | ₹4,330 | ₹4,330 | ₹4,330 | About ₹13,000 |
| 5 Fabpad period panties only | ₹2,246 | ₹0 | ₹0 | About ₹2,246, plus detergent |
| 5 period panties plus backup pads on the 2 heaviest days | ₹3,110 | ₹865 | ₹865 | About ₹4,840, plus detergent |
The last row assumes 2 Fabpad cotton pads a day on your 2 heaviest days, so 4 pads a period, or 52 a year, on top of your period panties. That is a realistic setup for many people with heavy first days.
When period panties pay for themselves
Compared with Fabpad cotton pads, five period panties cost about the same as 135 pads. At 20 pads a period, that is roughly 7 periods, so the panties pay for themselves in about 7 months. Compared with budget pads at ₹8, the break-even point is about 14 periods, or just over a year. After that, every period costs you almost nothing.
The savings grow with time. If your pairs last the full 3 years, you skip roughly 780 pads.
Work out your own numbers
- Count your pads. How many pads do you use in a typical period? Multiply by 13 for a year.
- Find your pad price. Divide the pack price by the number of pads in it.
- Multiply. Pads a year times price per pad gives your yearly pad cost.
- Price your panties. Multiply the number of pairs you need by the price, less any multi-pair discount.
- Compare over 2 to 3 years. That is how long a pair lasts with proper care.
Example: Ananya uses 25 budget pads a period at ₹9 each. That is 325 pads and about ₹2,925 a year, or ₹8,775 over 3 years. Five period panties at about ₹2,246 save her roughly ₹6,500 over the same time.
Costs people forget
On the pad side
- Extra packs on heavy months or when a period comes early.
- Night pads, which usually cost more than regular ones.
- Stained clothes and bedsheets from leaks. Our guide on how to remove period stains helps rescue them.
On the period panty side
- Mild detergent and water for rinsing.
- Replacing pairs that wear out sooner because of hot water, softener or tumble drying.
- A few pads or disposable period panties for long journeys, if you like a backup.
When pads still make sense
Period panties are not the right choice for everyone, every day.
- When you cannot wash and dry: on long trips, treks or in hostels without a private place to dry underwear, disposables can be easier.
- Very heavy days: many people use a pad on top for the heaviest hours. That is normal and still much cheaper than pads alone.
- After childbirth: bleeding is heavy for the first weeks, and the NHS advises super-absorbent pads early on. Disposable period panties also help in those early days.
- If the upfront cost is hard: start with two or three pairs for nights and home days, and add more over time.
For a wider look at pads, tampons, cups, cloth pads and period panties, see Reusable vs Disposable Period Products: Cost, Comfort and Convenience Compared.
Less waste, too
Cost is only part of it. Cleveland Clinic estimates that a menstruating person may use up to 15,000 pads or tampons in a lifetime. Every pair of period panties you wear instead keeps a share of those out of the bin.
Common myths about period panty costs
"Period panties are expensive." They cost more on day one, but over 2 to 3 years they cost far less than pads.
"You need a heavy-flow set and a light-flow set." Not with Fabpad. Every pair has the same absorbency, so one set covers your whole period.
"Washing costs cancel out the savings." A cold rinse and a little mild detergent cost very little compared with a year of pads.
Frequently asked questions
Are period panties cheaper than pads? Yes, over time. In our example, five period panties cost about ₹2,246 for up to 3 years, compared with about ₹6,200 to ₹13,000 for pads over the same time.
How many period panties do I need to stop buying pads? Five is a comfortable number for most people who wash every day or two. Heavy-flow days may still call for a backup pad.
How long before period panties pay for themselves? Usually within 7 to 14 periods, depending on which pads you were buying.
Is a cloth pad cheaper still? Reusable cloth pads also cost little over time. Fabpad sells washable cloth pads if you prefer a pad shape.
Do I save money if I still use some pads? Yes. In our example, using pads only on your 2 heaviest days still saves thousands of rupees over 3 years.
Related reading
- How Long Do Period Panties Last? Lifespan, Washes and When to Replace
- How Many Period Panties Do You Need?
- Reusable vs Disposable Period Products: Cost, Comfort and Convenience Compared
- Why More Women Are Switching to Period Panties
Sources: Cleveland Clinic: What Is Period Underwear and Does It Work?, NHS: Periods, NHS: Your body after the birth