How Many Underpads Do You Need a Day, a Week or a Month?

Have you ever sent someone to the shop at 10 pm because the last underpad just got used?

Running out is stressful. Buying far too many ties up money you need for other things. The fix is a little maths. Count what you use on one normal day, then plan a week or a month from there.

Step one: count a normal day

Start in the morning with a full packet.
Write down each pad you use, day and night.
Add one or two spare for spills and surprises.
That number is your daily figure.

If use changes from day to day, count for three days and take the average. Every person is different. The count from your own home beats any guess from a website, including this one.

Buy	What you get	Price
Sternmed underpads, packet of 10	10 pads, 60 x 90 cm	KSh 800
Sternmed underpads, bale of 10 packets	100 pads, 60 x 90 cm	KSh 8,000

Underpads planner: day, week and month

Find your daily figure in the first column. Costs use Sternmed underpads at KSh 80 a pad.

Pads a day	Pads a week	Pads in 30 days	What to buy for 30 days	Cost for 30 days
1	7	30	3 packets	KSh 2,400
2	14	60	6 packets	KSh 4,800
3	21	90	9 packets	KSh 7,200
4	28	120	1 bale and 2 packets	KSh 9,600
5	35	150	1 bale and 5 packets	KSh 12,000
6	42	180	1 bale and 8 packets	KSh 14,400
8	56	240	2 bales and 4 packets	KSh 19,200
10	70	300	3 bales	KSh 24,000

One packet holds 10 pads. One bale holds 100 pads. The price per pad is the same either way, so the bale is about convenience, not a discount.

What pushes the number up or down

Night time

Some people need an extra pad at night, even if they stay dry by day. Keep spare pads within reach of the bed.

Adult diapers

If the person wears a diaper, the underpad is a backup. You may need only one or two pads a day.

After delivery

Use can change quickly in the first weeks at home. Count again after the first week and adjust your order.

After surgery

Underpads protect the bed while someone recovers. Follow the hospital’s advice on wound care and count again each week.

More than one surface

A pad on the bed, one on the wheelchair seat and one on the sofa adds up fast. Count each place you use them.

Three example homes

An elderly parent at home

Say Mama wears a diaper by day and has one underpad on the bed at night. Her family also keeps one on her chair. That is about 2 pads a day, or 60 in 30 days. Six packets cover the month for KSh 4,800.

A bed bound relative

Say your uncle stays in bed and needs 5 pads a day. That is 150 pads in 30 days. One bale and 5 packets cover the month for KSh 12,000.

A small clinic

Say a clinic has 5 beds and uses 2 pads per bed each day. That is 10 pads a day and 300 pads in 30 days. Three bales cover the month for KSh 24,000.

How long does one bale last?

Pads a day	One bale of 100 lasts
2	50 days
3	About 33 days
4	25 days
5	20 days
10	10 days

Budget tips that do not cut corners

Buy to your count. Order for the number you use, plus a small spare.
Use one pad at a time. Stacking pads wastes them and leaves folds under the body.
Place it well. A pad centred under the hips does its job. One placed too high gets wasted.
Keep a simple log. A note on the fridge with the pads used each day shows you when use goes up.
Share a bale. Two families caring for relatives can split a bale and the cost.

Never leave a wet pad in place to save money. It is hard on the skin and on the bedding.

When your count suddenly changes

Use goes up and down. If you suddenly need many more pads than usual, mention it to the nurse or doctor. A change in leaks can have a cause worth checking.

Packet or bale for your number?

Up to about 3 pads a day: buy packets of 10 as you go.
4 pads a day or more: a bale of 100 lasts 25 days at 4 a day and saves repeat orders.
Clinics, wards and shops: order by the bale and ask for a quote. See buying underpads wholesale in Kenya.

Change pads when wet, not by the clock

Change a pad as soon as it is wet or soiled. Do not wait for a set time. Check at regular points in the day, such as morning, after meals and before sleep. Ask your nurse for a routine that fits the person you care for.

New to changing pads? Read how to use underpads for a bedridden patient.

Keep your stock in good shape

Store packets in a clean, dry place off the floor.
Keep them away from damp and direct sun.
Open one packet at a time.
Write the date on each bale when you open it.
Reorder when you open the last packet, not when you use the last pad.

Sternmed underpads are in stock in Nairobi. Order online, on WhatsApp or by phone and pay by M Pesa after we confirm. We deliver across Kenya.

Order Sternmed underpads today

Buy a packet of 10 for KSh 800 or a bale of 100 pads for KSh 8,000. We deliver to all 47 counties and confirm the delivery cost before dispatch. Pay by M Pesa after we confirm your order.

Prefer to talk? WhatsApp us or call 0702 962504. A real person replies.

Need help with your number? Tell us how many pads you use in a day and we will suggest packets or a bale.

Questions people ask

How many underpads does a bedridden person use a day?

It depends on the person, the leaks and whether they wear a diaper. Count the pads you use on one normal day, add one or two spare, then use the planner table.

How many underpads are in a bale?

100. A Sternmed bale holds 10 packets of 10 pads.

How long will one bale of underpads last?

At 2 pads a day, 50 days. At 4 a day, 25 days. At 10 a day, 10 days.

How often should underpads be changed?

As soon as they are wet or soiled. Check at set times through the day and at night.

How much do underpads cost a month?

At KSh 80 a pad, 3 pads a day costs KSh 7,200 for 30 days. 5 pads a day costs KSh 12,000.

Is it cheaper to buy a bale of underpads?

Not per pad. Sternmed packets and bales both work out to KSh 80 a pad. The bale means fewer orders.