I am looking at getting a good quality pipe lighter either a Kiribi or Peterson. While looking at them I got to thinking about what the actual cost is of matches vs bic vs refillable lighter. So I ran the numbers as best I could. What I found was matches are considerably more expensive, an "expensive" lighter $70 cost was used is not expensive when averaged over several years, and Bics are by far the cheapest option.
So here is how everything breaks down:
Matches cost $10.50/900 (.0116/match)
avg # used / bowl 20
# of bowls / day 1
# of days per week a bowl is smoked 5
20/day X 5 days / week = 100 matches per week
100 X 52 weeks / year = 5200 matches per year
avg cost per year $60.32
Refillable Lighter
cost of lighter $70.00
avg cost of fuel per can $5.58/320 ml.
1 can lasts 1 year or 12.307 ml. of fuel used every 2 weeks
cost averaged over 7 year lifespan of lighter
Fuel 5.58 X 7 = $39.06
$39.06+$70 = $109.06
$109.06/7 years =$15.58 per year
Bic
avg life span 1,500 lights or about 4 months
1500 lights / 20 lights per bowl = 75 bowls
avg 3 lighters used per year, cost $3.30/ year
7 years cost $23.10
I know many find the price of Peterson, Kiribi, and IM Corona lighters to be expensive and they are but when averaged over several years which I feel is a reasonable minimum lifespan for such a lighter that you are better of buying the better quality lighter than a $20 lighter every year or two if not more often. I also wasn't expecting for matches to be as expensive as they are which makes me question those that use matches because they are cheap.
Keep in mind all these numbers are rough estimates YMMV and I hope you found this interesting.
So here is how everything breaks down:
Matches cost $10.50/900 (.0116/match)
avg # used / bowl 20
# of bowls / day 1
# of days per week a bowl is smoked 5
20/day X 5 days / week = 100 matches per week
100 X 52 weeks / year = 5200 matches per year
avg cost per year $60.32
Refillable Lighter
cost of lighter $70.00
avg cost of fuel per can $5.58/320 ml.
1 can lasts 1 year or 12.307 ml. of fuel used every 2 weeks
cost averaged over 7 year lifespan of lighter
Fuel 5.58 X 7 = $39.06
$39.06+$70 = $109.06
$109.06/7 years =$15.58 per year
Bic
avg life span 1,500 lights or about 4 months
1500 lights / 20 lights per bowl = 75 bowls
avg 3 lighters used per year, cost $3.30/ year
7 years cost $23.10
I know many find the price of Peterson, Kiribi, and IM Corona lighters to be expensive and they are but when averaged over several years which I feel is a reasonable minimum lifespan for such a lighter that you are better of buying the better quality lighter than a $20 lighter every year or two if not more often. I also wasn't expecting for matches to be as expensive as they are which makes me question those that use matches because they are cheap.
Keep in mind all these numbers are rough estimates YMMV and I hope you found this interesting.