Bar Soap vs Body Wash: Cheaper, Cleaner, Better for Skin?
Bar soap is usually cheaper per wash and uses far less packaging, while body wash tends to feel nicer, suits dry or sensitive skin better, and is easier to dose without waste. Both clean equally well — cleaning comes from the surfactants and the scrubbing, not the format. The old worry that bar soap spreads germs is largely a myth; bacteria on a bar don't meaningfully transfer to your skin. Choose bar soap for the lowest cost and least waste, body wash for moisturising formulas and convenience — and either way, compare cost per use rather than the price on the front.
By OutletPicks Editorial 5 min read· updated 7/15/2026
What body care costs per fl oz
Live price terciles across the 100 body care products we track, by real cost per fl oz.
| Tier | Cost / fl oz | Example pick |
|---|---|---|
| Budget | $0.33–$1.59 | Jergens Shea and Cocoa Whipped Body Butter… ($0.94/fl oz) |
| Mid-range | $1.63–$2.81 | Sol de Janeiro Body Badalada Vanilla Lotion… ($2.07/fl oz) |
| Premium | $2.84–$3.70 | Molton Brown Re-Charge Black Pepper Body… ($3.48/fl oz) |
The quick verdict
| | Bar soap | Body wash | |---|---|---| | Cost per wash | Lower | Higher (water + packaging) | | Skin feel / dry skin | Can be drying (unless a moisturising bar) | Often gentler, moisturising | | Hygiene | Fine — germs don't transfer | Fine (but loofahs harbour germs) | | Packaging / eco | Minimal, lightweight | Plastic, mostly water | | Dose control | One rub | Easy to over-pour |
Cost: bar soap almost always wins
Bar soap costs less per use and a single bar lasts a long time. Body wash bundles water, fragrance and heavier packaging into every bottle, and it's easy to squeeze out too much. Across the body wash we track, cost per fluid ounce ranges widely — the fair comparison is always cost per use, and a bar typically beats a bottle.
Cleaning: it's a tie
Both clean equally well. Cleaning comes from the surfactants and the scrubbing action, not the format. Where they differ is skin feel: body wash often carries more moisturisers and is pH-balanced, so it suits dry or sensitive skin; traditional bars can be drier, though modern moisturising bars close most of that gap.
Hygiene: the bar-soap myth
The idea that a shared bar spreads germs is largely a myth — bacteria on a used bar don't meaningfully transfer to your skin; you rinse them off. Rinse the bar and let it dry between uses. Ironically, the loofah many people pair with body wash harbours far more bacteria than any bar.
Environment: bar soap is lighter
Bars use minimal packaging, contain no added water (so they're lighter to ship), and last a long time. Body wash is mostly water in a plastic bottle. For lower impact — and usually lower cost — the bar is the pick.
Bottom line
- Want the lowest cost and least waste? Bar soap.
- Dry/sensitive skin, or you prefer the feel? Body wash (or a moisturising bar).
- Either way, compare cost per use, not the sticker.
See the live rankings
Top 5 cheapest per fl oz right now
Live from the catalog, ranked by real cost per fl oz — cheapest first.
As of July 23, 2026: the cheapest fl oz we track is Jergens Original Scent Dry Skin Body Lotion at $0.33/fl oz. Re-checked daily — the cheapest listings refresh first.
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Frequently asked questions
Is bar soap cheaper than body wash?
Usually, yes — per wash. Bar soap costs less per use and a single bar lasts a long time, while body wash bundles water, fragrance and heavier packaging into the price, so you pay for those every bottle. Body wash also tempts over-pouring, which wastes product. The fair comparison is cost per use: work out roughly how many washes you get from a bar versus a bottle, and bar soap almost always comes out ahead.
Is bar soap or body wash better for your skin?
It depends on your skin more than the format. Body wash often contains more moisturising and skin-soothing ingredients, so it tends to suit dry or sensitive skin better, and many are pH-balanced for skin. Traditional bar soaps can be more drying, though modern moisturising bars (labelled as "beauty bars" or "cleansing bars" rather than true soap) close much of that gap. If your skin is dry, lean body wash or a moisturising bar; if it's normal, either works.
Is bar soap unhygienic?
No — that's largely a myth. Studies have found that while bacteria can live on a used bar of soap, they don't transfer to your skin in any meaningful way when you wash; you rinse them off. Rinse the bar before use and store it somewhere it can dry between showers and it's perfectly hygienic. Body wash avoids the shared-bar question but is often used with a loofah, which harbours far more bacteria than a bar ever does.
Which is better for the environment, bar soap or body wash?
Bar soap, generally. Bars use minimal packaging (often just paper or cardboard), contain no added water so they weigh less to ship, and last a long time. Body wash comes in plastic bottles, is mostly water, and is heavier to transport. If reducing packaging and plastic is a priority, a bar of soap is the lower-impact choice — and it usually costs less too.