LitterCompare:How much does cat litter cost? Real prices, compared
The average cat litter on Amazon costs $1.90 per pound, but the spread is wide: $0.47 to $3.57 per pound across the 32 litters we track. For one cat that translates to roughly $7 to $38 per month depending on the type and brand you pick. The table below shows every litter with its real price per pound and estimated monthly cost, using Amazon prices last checked on 2026-07-17.
- Average price per pound
- $1.90
- $0.47 to $3.57 across 32 litters
- Typical monthly cost
- $7 to $38
- one cat, depending on type and brand
- Cheapest right now
- $6.63/mo
- Arm & Hammer at $0.47/lb
- Average bag price
- $23.69
- $9.99 to $59.00 per bag or box
32 litters. Est. monthly cost assumes 1 cat. Prices checked 2026-07-17. Click a row to view on Amazon. How we compare
Monthly cost by litter type
Clumping clay is the cheapest to live with: $7 to $21 per month for one cat in our data, because it has the lowest price per pound and you only scoop and top up. Natural litters (corn, walnut, wood, wheat, tofu, paper) span $11 to $38 per month. Silica crystal costs the most per pound but lasts longer, landing at $16 to $29 per month. Estimates assume 14 lb of clay, 12 lb of natural, or 8 lb of crystal per cat per month; see how we compare for the full math.
Why bag price is the wrong number
Bags range from $9.99 to $59.00, but they also range from 5 to 40 pounds, so the sticker price says almost nothing. A large box of clumping clay at around $0.47 per pound can cost several times less per month than a small designer bag, even when the box costs more at checkout. That is why every ranking on this site uses price per pound and estimated cost per month. If you just want the best deal today, start with the cheapest cat litter ranking.
Frequently asked questions
How much does cat litter cost?+
Across the 32 litters we track on Amazon, a bag or box costs $9.99 to $59.00, and prices run from $0.47 to $3.57 per pound with an average of $1.90. Clumping clay is the cheapest type per pound at about $0.97 on average, natural litters average $1.85, and silica crystal is the priciest at about $2.79 per pound.
How much does cat litter cost per month?+
Roughly $7 to $38 per month for one cat, depending on type and brand. Clumping clay runs $7 to $21, natural litters $11 to $38, and crystal $16 to $29. Multiply by the number of cats in the house.
What is the cheapest cat litter?+
Right now the cheapest litter we track is Arm & Hammer Slide Multi-Cat Unscented Clumping Clay Cat Litter, 38 lb at $0.47 per pound, which works out to about $6.63 per month for one cat. Large boxes of clumping clay are almost always the cheapest option. See our cheapest cat litter page for the full ranking.
How much litter does one cat use per month?+
About 14 lb of clumping clay, 12 lb of natural litter, or 8 lb of silica crystal. Clumping litters are scooped daily and topped up, while crystal is replaced whole but absorbs more per pound. These are the usage assumptions behind every monthly estimate on this site.
Is crystal litter more expensive than clay?+
Per pound, yes: crystal averages $2.79 per pound versus $0.97 for clumping clay in our data. Crystal lasts longer per pound, which narrows the gap, but clay still usually wins per month: $7 to $21 for clay versus $16 to $29 for crystal.