Baby Diaper
Baby Pull Up Pants
Adult Diaper
Sanitary Napkin
Wet Wipes
Tissues Paper
Disposable Cotton Soft Towel
Pet Diaper
Where Does the Money Go in a Disposable Underwear? Let Me Break It Down for You
Fabric – 50–70% of the Cost
Fabric is the soul of the disposable underwear. Three mainstream materials, prices vary by several times:
Non-woven (SMS or thermal bonded) : cheapest – a few cents per piece. Breathable, but feels stiff when worn all day. Mostly used in hotels and spas.
Cotton knitted fabric : the same material as everyday underwear – soft, skin friendly, absorbent. Costs 3 -5 times more than non woven. Ideal for postpartum care, overnight business trips, nursing homes.
Bamboo fiber / TENCE : cost in between. Naturally antibacterial, wicks moisture fast, and biodegradable. Good for exports to Europe and eco conscious buyers.
Weight also matters. For the same cotton, 160gsm is about 15% more expensive than 130gsm, but it is thicker, more durable, and not see through. When sourcing, don’t just ask if it’s cotton – ask for the GSM.
Packaging – The Hard Cost That’s Often Overlooked
Individual wrapping is not over packaging – it’s a necessity. Each piece is heat sealed in a food grade PE pouch and only opened when used. Individual wrapping adds about $0.007 0.014 per piece. Simple packaging (multiple pieces in one bag) costs almost nothing, but once opened, the remaining underwear is exposed to air, gets damp, collects dust, and breeds bacteria. For exports to the EU, Japan, and Australia, individual wrapping is mandatory. Saving those few cents could cost you a full container of returns.
⭐ Labor and Testing – Invisible but Not Optional
Sewing, quality inspection, folding, bagging, boxing – every step takes labor. Highly automated factories have lower labor costs; semi automated ones have higher costs. Testing includes seam strength (dry and wet), elastic recovery of the waistband, seal integrity of the individual pouch, and microbiological indicators. Skipping tests saves a little money, but customer complaints will find you. A piece of disposable soft cotton underwear goes through at least three quality checks from fabric to finished product.
Other Bits – Outer Carton, Shipping
A five layer corrugated carton is about 10% more expensive than a three layer one, but the cost per piece is negligible. For full container sea freight, the shipping cost per piece is just a few hundredths of a cent.