Generic vs Brand Savings Calculator
See what switching from brand-name to store-brand products saves per item, per month and per year — and how much cheaper generics are.
How it works
Per-item saving = brand price − generic price · Monthly = per-item × items · Annual = monthly × 12 · % cheaper = saving ÷ brand price
Store brands are frequently made in the same facilities as name brands and differ mainly in packaging and marketing spend, which is why the price gap can be large without a matching quality gap. The saving compounds across every item you switch and every month you keep switching, so a modest per-item difference becomes a meaningful yearly figure. The percentage-cheaper number helps you spot which categories are worth switching first — the ones with the widest brand premium.
Worked example
A $5 brand item versus a $3 generic saves $2 each, or 40%. Switching 20 items a month saves $40 a month and $480 a year.
Frequently asked questions
Are generics really the same quality?
It varies by category — for many staples and over-the-counter medicines the formula is effectively identical, while for some specialty items the brand genuinely differs. Try the switch on a few items and keep the ones you can't tell apart.
Which categories save the most?
The widest brand premiums tend to be in medicines, pantry staples, cleaning products and paper goods. The percentage-cheaper figure here points you to the categories worth switching first.
Do store brands sacrifice on unit size?
Sometimes the package size differs, so compare unit prices — cost per ounce or per count — not just the sticker price, to make sure the saving is real.
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This calculator is for educational purposes. Double-check important results before acting on them.