Kirkland Signature Review
Our Verdict
Compare to Similar Products
This Product
Kirkland Signature | |||||
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Awards | Best Overall Disposable Diaper | Best Disposable Diaper in Stores | Best Budget-friendly Disposable Diaper | ||
Price | $0.27 List $0.32 at Amazon | $0.35 List $0.36 at Amazon | $0.33 List $0.34 at Amazon | $0.31 List $0.25 each at Amazon | $0.24 List $0.17 each at Amazon |
Overall Score | |||||
Star Rating | |||||
Bottom Line | Impressive performance and better health nods than you'd expect make this a budget-friendly diaper parents will love | With great absorption and leak protection, this durable and comfy diaper is a reasonably priced option for most families | Great absorption and leak protection, but few nods for baby's skin or the environment | Good absorption and few leaks with a budget price that are easy to find, but no nods for eco-health | An affordable diaper that holds up well and is comfortable to wear with better health and eco considerations than similar options |
Rating Categories | Kirkland Signature | Hello Bello Premium | Huggies Little Snug... | Huggies Snug & Dry | Mama Bear Gentle Touch |
Absorption (45%) | |||||
Leakage (25%) | |||||
Comfort (20%) | |||||
Durability (10%) | |||||
Specs | Kirkland Signature | Hello Bello Premium | Huggies Little Snug... | Huggies Snug & Dry | Mama Bear Gentle Touch |
Type of Diaper Green/Traditional | Traditional | Green | Traditional | Traditional | Traditional |
Chlorine-Free ECF/TCF | ECF | TFC | Not Listed | Not Listed | ECF |
Fragrance-Free | Yes | Yes | Yes | No - Strong baby powder scent | Yes |
Biodegradable | Not listed | No | Not listed | Not listed | Not listed |
Contains SAP | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
Miscellaneous Materials Details | Made with Plant Based Materials (At least 23%+ by weight) | TCF fluff pulp from sustainably managed forests, a high-performance Super Absorbent Polymer, polypropylene/polyethylene/polyester nonwoven fibers, plant-derived PLA nonwoven fiber, spandex strands, and an elastomeric fill | Wood Pulp Sodium Polyacrylate Polypropylene Polyethylene Adhesives Polyester Polyrurethane elastics |
Wood Pulp Sodium Polyacrylate Polypropylene Polyethylene Adhesives Polyester Polyrurethane elastics |
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Wetness Indicator | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
Stretchable side wings | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
Stretchable Back of Diaper | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
Eco-Awards & Certifications | Good Housekeeping ~ "2022 Parenting Awards" New York Magazine ~ "Best Diaper Subscription" ptpa.com ~ "winner" |
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Dye-Free | Not listed, does have a print | No | "Printing inks are used to provide a decorative design. The colorants and pigments we use are evaluated to ensure they are safe and non-sensitizing." | "Printing inks are used to provide a decorative design. The colorants and pigments we use are evaluated to ensure they are safe and non-sensitizing." | Not listed, has a very minimal print on waistband |
Lotion-Free | Yes | Yes | Not Listed | Not Listed | Yes |
Latex-Free | Not listed | Yes | Not listed | Not listed | Yes |
Our Analysis and Test Results
Costco is a wholesale, big-box retail store that owns the Kirkland brand name. This private label tries to offer quality options for a value price. The Kirkland Signature label encompasses about 20% of Costco products. The Kirkland label can be found on everything from diapers to dog food and almost everything in between.
Performance Comparison
Likes
There is so much more to like about this Kirkland option than the Supreme diaper we've tested in the past. In almost every metric, it earned points over past models, and it ended up being one of the highest-scoring disposable diapers we've ever tested.
The Kirkland diaper earned a perfect score for absorption as it had almost no indication of moisture on the filter paper in testing.
Even after three rounds of tests, it continued to impress us in testing. Given the importance of absorption for the overall functionality of a diaper, these test results put it at the top of the pack.
Our tests and research also indicate that protection from leaks is also good for this diaper. With one of the highest scores in the group, you can feel confident that the Kirkland brand diaper is going to prevent most leaks.
If it doesn't, it was likely overdue for a change, you are using the wrong size, or no diaper could contain the nightmare blowout you now face. It happens to everyone at some point. During testing, there was some runoff in the initial pour, with the majority of the liquid pooling and quickly absorbing in the center of the diaper. Some of the drops splashed from the center and onto the outside of the absorbancy strip, and those droplets formed a small pool less than 1" wide.
This diaper is a comfortable option that performed well during testing and our facility-wide survey for comfort comparison.
The main part of the diaper interior is remarkably soft compared to the competition, with testers being surprised a disposable diaper could be so soft and cloth-like. The back and legs are sufficiently stretchy with no coarseness felt and no overstretching that could cause pinches. Even the tabs are soft, with no rough edges or pokey parts.
Kirkland diapers don't use elemental chlorine in manufacturing, and they are free from many common irritants like lotion, natural rubber latex, and fragrance. While they could do more for considerations for the baby's health, like use no dyes or inks, they are still doing more than most traditional diapers and scored above average in this metric.
Kirkland also impressed us with its design and materials creating a durable final product. We did not experience any faulty tabs or leaking SAP in our tests.
We also didn't have any problem with the back fabric breaking apart. In our online research, we also did not find many complaints related to diaper durability or quality.
Dislikes
While Kirkland has made some significant strides to make their diaper more eco-friendly, it still isn't on par with green diapers. For a traditional diaper, it does offer more than the average option, but more can still be done. This diaper is produced using an elemental chlorine-free process. It is free of rubber latex and includes at least 23% by-weight plant-based materials. They even offer a more transparent list of ingredients on their website than we've seen in the past. So this is both a like and dislike, but given the continued need for improvement, it is hard to rave about.
Should You Buy the Kirkland Signature?
This Kirkland diaper is a departure from past Kirkland options, with far more kudos to the environment and health metrics. It has perfect absorption test results, offers a lot for leak protection capabilities, and does it all for a wallet-friendly price that is easy enough to find. We love this diaper for what it offers and that they are doing more for eco-friendliness than ever before.
What Other Disposable Diaper Should You Consider?
Kirkland makes a great diaper, but if you want something more environmentally friendly or give more consideration to health, there are better options available. Parasol Clear and Dry is a high-absorbing diaper with similar functionality to the Kirkland. Still, it offers more for being eco-friendly and considers ingredients for babies with more transparency. However, it is also expensive, with one of the highest prices in this review. If you need a more budget-friendly choice, you can split the difference with Hello Bello Premium, which has higher scores for eco and health, great absorbency, and is easy to find at a reasonable price.