A $50 Clipper Set Pays for Itself in 1.7 Months
The average men's haircut runs about $30 with tip. A decent clipper set costs around $50 once and maybe $0.50/month to maintain. You do the math — actually, we already did.
Payoff Time
1.7 mo
clipper set vs barber shop
Product cost
$50
one-time
Annual savings
$354
vs barber shop
The Setup: Your Barber Is a Subscription You Forgot to Cancel
Here's the thing about barbershop visits: nobody thinks of them as a recurring expense. But if you're getting a cut once a month — and most guys are — you're spending $30 a pop including tip. That's $360 a year on something that takes 20 minutes and mostly involves someone running clippers over your head.
We're not knocking barbers. A great fade is an art form. But if your usual cut is a relatively standard buzz, crew cut, or trim-the-sides situation, you're paying a skilled professional to do something a $50 tool and a bathroom mirror can handle on a Sunday morning. In your underwear. With a podcast on.
The Math
A solid clipper set costs around $50 upfront. Ongoing costs are genuinely tiny — a little electricity, maybe a bottle of blade oil, and a replacement guard once in a while. We're talking roughly $6/year, or about $0.50/month. Meanwhile, the barbershop alternative costs about $30/month (that's a standard men's cut plus a reasonable tip). So you're saving roughly $29.50/month net, which means the clippers pay for themselves in just 1.7 months. After that, you're pocketing about $354 every single year.
Put another way: by the time you'd normally be scheduling your second barbershop visit, your clippers have already broken even. Every haircut after that is essentially free.
| clipper set | barber shop | |
|---|---|---|
| Upfront cost | $50 | $0 |
| Monthly ongoing | $1 | $30 |
| Month 1 total | $51 | $30 |
| ★ Breakeven (~1.7 months) | $51 | $60 |
| Month 3 total | $52 | $90 |
| Year 1 total | $56 | $360 |
| Year 3 total | $68 | $1,080 |
| 5-year total | $80 | $1,800 |
* All figures are estimates. See methodology for assumptions.
Cumulative Cost Over Time
The lines cross at the breakeven point — that's when the savings zone begins.
When This Does NOT Pay Off
Let's be honest: this math only works if you're actually willing to cut your own hair — and if your hairstyle cooperates. If you wear a textured crop, a skin fade, or anything that requires blending by someone who can see the back of your head, home clippers aren't replacing your barber. They're just collecting dust in a drawer. The sweet spot here is simple, short styles: buzz cuts, crew cuts, basic trims on the sides. If that's you, the savings are almost comically easy.
There's also a learning curve. Your first self-cut will probably not be your best. YouTube tutorials help a lot, but expect one or two "well, I'm wearing a hat this week" moments before you find your groove. The good news is hair grows back, and the financial margin of error is basically zero — a bad home haircut costs you nothing but pride.
Finally, some people genuinely enjoy the barbershop experience: the conversation, the hot towel, the 20 minutes of sitting still while someone else handles it. That has real value, and no spreadsheet captures it. If your barber visit is self-care, keep going. But if it's just an errand you squeeze between the grocery store and the gym? A clipper set turns that errand into $354/year of savings.
Sensitivity Analysis: Your Results May Vary
Payoff time changes based on how much you currently spend.
Premium cut ($40 haircut)
You pay around $40 per haircut including tip — common in larger cities or higher-end shops.
1.3mo
$471/yr
Average cut ($30 haircut) (our base case)
You pay about $30 per haircut including tip — the U.S. national average for a standard men's cut.
1.7mo
$354/yr
Budget cut ($20 haircut)
You pay around $20 per haircut including tip — typical for discount chains or smaller markets.
2.5mo
$237/yr
"A $50 clipper set breaks even in 1.7 months and saves $354 a year over barbershop haircuts — one of the fastest payoffs we've ever calculated."
What We Recommend
Below are three clipper sets at different tiers, all priced around $40–$50. Our payoff math assumes a ~$50 purchase price, so every pick here falls within that breakeven window of under two months. We looked for cordless operation, multiple guard lengths, and decent reviews from people who actually cut their own hair.
Hair Clippers Set for Men, Hair Clipper Trimmer with LED Display, Professional Cordless Hair Clipper Shaver Beard Trimmer, Hair Cutting Machine for Men, Holiday Gift for Him Father's Day Gift
$40
upfront
1.4mo
payoff
$354
/ year
The budget pick keeps things simple: cordless design, LED battery display, and enough guide combs to handle most basic cuts. At $40 it's the cheapest way into the self-cut game and actually shaves a few bucks off our payoff math — you'd break even even faster. Build quality won't match a barbershop-grade tool, but for monthly buzz cuts and trims, it gets the job done without fuss.
Check current price →Price shown is approximate. Click for current price. Affiliate link.
Wahl Color Pro Cordless Rechargeable Hair Clipper & Trimmer – Easy Color-Coded Guide Combs - for Men, Women, & Children – Model 9649P
$45
upfront
1.5mo
payoff
$354
/ year
The Wahl Color Pro is the crowd favorite for a reason. The color-coded guide combs make it nearly impossible to grab the wrong length — a genuine lifesaver when you're learning. Wahl is a legacy brand in the clipper world, and the cordless rechargeable design gives you freedom to cut anywhere. At $47, it's the sweet spot of reliability, ease of use, and value.
Check current price →Price shown is approximate. Click for current price. Affiliate link.
Ufree Professional Cordless Clippers and Trimmers Set for Men for Hair Cutting, Beard Trimmer, Barber Clippers, Rechargeable Electric Shaver, Gifts for Men
$50
upfront
1.7mo
payoff
$354
/ year
The Ufree set is less about one great clipper and more about getting a full grooming kit: clippers, detail trimmer, and shaver all in one package for $46. If you want to handle haircuts, beard maintenance, and edge-ups without buying three separate tools, this is the move. Premium in versatility rather than price — you're getting a barbershop toolbox for the cost of a single haircut.
Check current price →Price shown is approximate. Click for current price. Affiliate link.
What we didn't account for
- → Skill level not included Our math assumes you can give yourself a passable haircut at home. The learning curve is real, and your first few attempts may send you back to the barber for a cleanup — which would delay your breakeven.
- → Not all haircuts are equal The $30/month figure is based on a standard men's cut with tip. If your style requires fades, lineups, or detailed work, you may still need a barber for some or all visits.
- → Maintenance costs vary We estimated $6/year for blade oil and replacement guards. If you cut hair frequently or for multiple family members, blade wear and replacement costs could be slightly higher.
- → Barber prices vary by city A haircut in Manhattan can run $50+, while a cut in a small town might be $15. Your actual savings depend heavily on where you live and what you currently pay.