How Much Does It Cost To Make a Condom?
Estimating cost to manufacture a condom involves into four components: the condom itself (material costs, either latex or polyurethane), lubricants in the condoms, packaging (foil and box), and labor (worker’s hand fee). Accoriding to OEMcondom‘s supplied information, I’ll provide an informed estimate based on available industry insights, general manufacturing principles, and reasonable assumptions. Costs can vary widely depending on scale, location, quality standards, and automation levels, so this will be a rough approximation per condom, expressed in USD as of March 6, 2025.
1. Condom Material Cost
Latex Condoms: Most condoms are made from natural rubber latex, derived from the sap of rubber trees. The raw latex is processed with additives (e.g., sulfur, zinc oxide) to enhance elasticity and strength. Industry estimates suggest that raw latex costs have fluctuated significantly; for example, in 2010, latex prices were cited at around $1.35/kg (adjusted for inflation, roughly $1.90/kg in 2025 terms). One liter of latex can produce about 700 condoms, and with latex weighing approximately 1 kg per liter, that’s roughly $1.90 per 700 condoms, or $0.0027 per condom for raw latex. Additives and processing (compounding, vulcanization) might double this, so let’s estimate $0.005–$0.01 per latex condom for material alone.
Polyurethane Condoms: Polyurethane is a synthetic thermoplastic elastomer, more expensive than latex due to its production complexity and lack of natural sourcing. Industry sources indicate polyurethane condoms cost 10–20 times more to produce than latex ones, with material costs estimated at $0.20–$0.30 per condom. This reflects the higher expense of petrochemical-based materials and the thinner, stronger properties marketed as premium features. 001 polyurethane condom already became one of the best seller in Asian market, it becames No.1 seller in durex’s all types condom.
2. Lubricants added in condom.
Condoms are typically coated with a small amount of lubricant (e.g., silicone-based or water-based) to improve comfort. A standard condom uses about 0.05–0.1 grams of lubricant. Silicone lubricant costs roughly $5–$10 per kg wholesale, while water-based might be cheaper at $3–$6/kg. Assuming 0.075 grams per condom and an average cost of $7/kg for silicone (common in premium condoms), that’s $0.0005 per condom (0.075g × $0.007/g). For polyurethane condoms, which often require specific lubricants to maintain flexibility, costs might edge slightly higher, but let’s round to $0.001–$0.002 per condom across both types to account for application and variability.
3. Packaging (Foil and Box)
Foil wrapper: Each condom is individually sealed in a light-impermeable, airtight foil wrapper (often aluminum or plastic-laminated). Foil production costs depend on material and printing (e.g., batch numbers, branding). A single foil wrapper might cost $0.01–$0.02 based on bulk packaging estimates, where aluminum foil rolls are pennies per square meter, and cutting/sealing adds minor expense.
Box(consumers box and display box): Condoms are sold in boxes (e.g., 3, 10, or 36 packs). A simple cardboard box for 10 condoms might cost $0.05–$0.10 to produce (material, printing, folding), or $0.005–$0.01 per condom when divided. For this estimate, I’ll assume a 10-pack box and assign $0.015–$0.025 total per condom for foil plus box, leaning higher for branded or custom packaging.
4. Worker’s Hand Fee (Labor)
Labor costs vary by region and automation level. In a semi-automated factory (common in condom production), workers oversee dipping lines, quality testing, and packaging. In low-cost regions (e.g., Southeast Asia, India), hourly wages might be $1–$3, while in higher-cost areas (e.g., the U.S. or Europe), they could be $15–$20. A modern dipping line produces 100,000 condoms per hour, and with 5–10 workers per shift, labor per condom is minimal. Assuming $2/hour in a low-cost region and 10 workers producing 100,000 condoms/hour, that’s $20/hour ÷ 100,000 = $0.0002 per condom. In a high-cost region at $20/hour, it’s $0.002 per condom. I’ll use a midpoint of $0.001–$0.003 to reflect mixed automation and global variation.
Total Production Cost Estimate
Latex Condom:
- Material: $0.005–$0.01
- Lubricant: $0.001–$0.002
- Packaging: $0.015–$0.025
- Labor: $0.001–$0.003
- Total: $0.022–$0.04 per condom
Polyurethane Condom:
- Material: $0.20–$0.30
- Lubricant: $0.001–$0.002
- Packaging: $0.015–$0.025
- Labor: $0.001–$0.003
- Total: $0.217–$0.33 per condom
- Latex Condom: Approximately $0.02–$0.04 per unit.
- Polyurethane Condom: Approximately $0.22–$0.33 per unit.
This breakdown assumes efficient, large-scale production. Smaller factories or premium features (e.g., textured designs) could increase costs slightly. If you has detailed requirements, we recommend you contact the condom factory directly is better, they will give more exactly quotations: [email protected] or [email protected]
