How Many Reusable Sanitary Pads Do You Need?
How many sanitary pads do I need?
How many cloth pads you need really varies woman to woman depending on their menstrual cycle.
It depends on the:
Length of your cycle,
If you have heavy menstrual bleeding or a lighter period
How your menstrual flow varies across the period.
If you already use disposable pads make a note of how many disposable pads you use each day of your cycle i.e. 7 on a heavy day, 3 on a light day. Replace with the same amount of cloth pads per day x2 (to allow for washing).
If you don't have periods yet but you're waiting for them to come back and you want cloth menstrual pads ready then as a general guide you can aim for around
6 day pads and 3 night pads for short or light flow periods.
For an average flow and length period then aim for 10 regular and 4-5 night time reusable pads.
If you have a long period or a heavy periods then we would recommend 15 daytime pads and 6-7 night time reusable pads.
You may also want to consdier some panty liners for your lightest days or spotting.
What if I dont want to buy a whole set to start?
If you're worried about commiting to a large stash of reusable period products and you're not sure what combinations of heavy, regular or light pads that you need the you could consider a starter kit. Starter kits often contain a mix of cloth pad absorbency so you can test them and find what level of absorbency you really need.
You could also consider a smaller stash of pads but wash them more frequenty.
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Also read our article "How Long Do Cloth Pads Last," this can help you understand how you'll save money using cloth pads but also explains about how long they're likely to last depending on how many you have.
What else would I need to use cloth pads?
Using cloth pads is easy. While you're out and about on your period it is simple to look after your menstrual hygine. At home you'll need a storage bag and while going out and about you'll need a smaller storage bag to change your pads.
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You can read our artice "How To Care For Your Cloth Pads" to learn how to best care for your pads
How do I know what menstrual hygiene products I need?
If you're not sure what sanitary pads you need or if you're interested in a menstrual cup or period underwear then complete our recommendation quiz
How many pads should I use in a day? My period flow was bleeding a lot. My period was very heavy blood and clot.
I'd aim to start with the same number of disposable pads that you use, as reusable are more absorbent I would expect you could reduce it slightly once you are used to them and how much they absorb.