What does shaving really cost?
10-year comparison system razor vs. SHAVENT
Shaving is one of those things you hardly ever think about. It’s just part of life. You just do it. Like brushing your teeth or washing your hair. When the blades get dull, you buy new ones. Sometimes you watch for a deal, sometimes the pack just ends up in the basket.
The individual amounts never feel dramatic. €18 here, €20 there. It doesn’t hurt. And that’s exactly why you never really ask yourself: What does it all add up to over the years?
We hadn’t really asked ourselves this question for a long time. Until that one moment in the drugstore.
The moment that triggered everything
We were just standing normally in front of the shelf with replacement blades. My boyfriend needed new ones, and so did I, actually. He picked up a pack and just said, “Almost €20 again.”
Specifically, it was €19.95 for a 4-pack.
Yes, there are cheaper alternatives. But neither of us tolerated them well – skin irritation, pulling, just no good feeling. So we stick to the current brand blades that work for us.
Next to it hung a Set with handle and a few blades – barely more expensive than just the replacement blades. And that’s when we first wondered why that actually is.
On the way home he said, “If you calculate that over ten years, it really adds up.”
So we did the math and want to share it with you.
Our habits – just normal everyday life
My boyfriend shaves every few days. He changes his blades roughly every two weeks – so about 26 times a year.
I shave depending on the season and honestly, I’m a bit lazy about changing blades. On average, I go through about 12 blade changes per year. Nothing extreme. Just everyday life.
How much does a single replacement cost with the system razor?
A pack of 4 blades costs €19.95 with us 19,95 €.
€19.95 ÷ 4 = €4.99 per razor head
And each blade head corresponds exactly to one replacement. Every time we change the blade, it costs us €4.99. Almost five euros. Per replacement.
What that means for him over 10 years
With 26 replacements per year, my friend comes to:
26 × €4.99 = €129.74 per year
That still feels relatively harmless. €130 per year doesn’t seem dramatic. You somehow accept it. But over ten years?
260 replacements × €4.99 = 1.297,40 €
Just for blades. And that was the moment we paused briefly. Not because this amount would have ruined us. But because it never felt that way.
And for me?
I average 12 replacements per year.
12 × €4.99 = €59.88 per year
Under €60 – that’s exactly the kind of amount you don’t think twice about. But over ten years, it becomes:
120 replacements × €4.99 = 598,80 €
Here too, you only realize when looking at the total sum what has accumulated over the years.
Our combined total
€1,297.40 + €598.80 = €1,896.20 in ten years
Hardly noticeable in one year. Suddenly enormous over ten years.
Almost €1,900 – just for blades.
What really bothered us about that
We were not only concerned about the total amount but also the system behind it. You buy an inexpensive handle once – and then you’re permanently tied to exactly those expensive blade heads. And each replacement costs almost five euros again.
Our alternative – and the second calculation
So we looked at what it would be like with a durable stainless steel razor.
SHAVENT uses standard half blades. 100 pieces cost from €6.90. Depending on the pack size, that comes to about 15 cents per blade change. Not five euros. Fifteen cents.
His costs over 10 years with SHAVENT
260 replacements × €0.15 = €39
My costs over 10 years with SHAVENT
120 replacements × €0.15 = €18
Our combined total with SHAVENT
€39 + €18 = €57 for ten years
€1,896.20 vs. €57 It's not the shave that's expensive. It's the system.
With Shavent, we save over €1,800 in more than 10 years.
And what about the purchase price?
Of course, a stainless steel razor costs more upfront than a plastic system razor. You can see that immediately.
But after we calculated blade prices over the years, our perspective completely changed. Suddenly, it wasn’t a big expense anymore, but a one-time investment that massively reduces ongoing costs.
When a single change costs only about 15 cents instead of nearly 5 euros, the difference quickly becomes relative – especially if you look at not just one year, but five or ten. For us, the price didn’t feel like “paying more,” but like investing more wisely in the long run.
The difference per change
System razor: €4.99
SHAVENT: approx. €0.15
Per change: about €4.84 difference. And it’s exactly these €4.84 that add up – week after week, year after year.
Very important: This is our personal calculation
These numbers are based on our habits, our replacement rhythm, and the blades we actually use and tolerate. Maybe you shave more often. Maybe less. Maybe you use different blades or change them earlier or later. Then your calculation will of course look different.
That’s exactly why you can use our blade cost calculator to run through your own situation and see what adds up for you personally over the years.
→ Here you can do your personal calculation: Blade Savings Calculator
Our conclusion after doing the math
In a single year, 60 or 130 euros still seem relatively harmless. Over ten years, those amounts become sums you would never have noticed.
For us, that moment in the drugstore was a real change of perspective. Not because shaving suddenly became dramatically expensive. But because we realized how much small amounts add up over time.
If you want to see for yourself, you can check out our razors here:
View SHAVENT Original 2.0
View SHAVENT Compact 2.0
