PVC vs TPU: Cost Per Use
TPU costs more upfront and lasts longer. This works out which one is actually cheaper for you.
TPU bubble football suits cost more to buy than PVC but last longer, so the cheaper material depends on how hard you work the set. In Bubble Allstars wear tests across commercial hire fleets, TPU lasted on average 40 % longer than PVC of equivalent thickness. Enter your set size and how often you run events to see the cost per session for each.
Your usage
How often the set actually gets used.
How long you expect PVC to last at that rate.
Cost comparison
| PVC | TPU | |
|---|---|---|
| Upfront cost | £2,748 | £3,228 |
| Expected lifespan (years) | 3 | 4.2 |
| Events over lifespan | 120 | 168 |
| Cost per event | £22.90 | £19.21 |
At this usage level TPU is cheaper per event, despite the higher purchase price.
How this is worked out
Upfront cost is our published per-suit price multiplied by your set size, excluding VAT. TPU lifespan is your PVC figure plus 40 %, based on Bubble Allstars wear tests across commercial hire fleets — the same figure quoted in our material guide. Cost per event is upfront cost divided by the events the set survives. It deliberately leaves out repairs, storage and transport: TPU also needs fewer repairs in practice, so this comparison understates its advantage rather than overstating it.
Common questions
Is TPU always the better choice?
No. For occasional private or club use, where a set might run a handful of events a year, PVC is usually the sensible buy — the longer life of TPU never gets used. TPU earns its premium in commercial hire, where sets go out weekly and wear is the limiting factor.
Where does the 40 % figure come from?
From our own controlled wear tests across commercial hire fleets, comparing TPU and PVC suits of equivalent thickness. It is an average across fleets, not a guarantee for any individual suit — real-world life depends on storage, cleaning, pitch surface and how carefully the set is handled.