Measure your e-commerce store's inventory efficiency with our free calculator. Input your COGS and inventory values to find your Inventory Turnover Ratio and Average Days of Inventory on Hand.
The Inventory Turnover Ratio is a key financial metric that measures how many times your business sells and replaces its entire stock of inventory over a specific period (usually a year). It's a crucial indicator of how efficiently you are managing your inventory and generating sales from it.
You need three key figures from your accounting records for a specific period (e.g., the last 12 months): - Cost of Goods Sold (COGS): The total direct cost of all the products you sold during that period. - Beginning Inventory Value: The total value of your inventory at the start of the period. - Ending Inventory Value: The total value of your inventory at the end of the period.
A "good" ratio varies significantly by industry. - High Ratio (e.g., 8x or more): Often seen in businesses with fast-selling, low-margin items like fast fashion or groceries. It indicates strong sales but can risk stockouts if not managed carefully. - Low Ratio (e.g., 2x - 4x): Common for businesses with high-margin, slow-moving items like luxury furniture or jewelry. It can also indicate overstocking or weak sales, which ties up cash. The goal is to find the right balance for your specific business.
This is a more intuitive way to understand your turnover ratio. It tells you the average number of days it takes to sell your entire inventory. For example, 90 days of inventory means you have enough stock to last for three months at your current sales pace. This metric is excellent for cash flow planning.
Managing inventory turnover is critical for your store's financial health. A low turnover means your cash is tied up in unsold products sitting on a shelf, incurring storage costs and risking obsolescence. A healthy turnover ensures strong cash flow, reduces waste, and helps you respond more quickly to market trends.