Free tool
Reorder point calculator
Find the stock level at which to reorder, so a delivery arrives before the shelf is empty.
Enter how much you sell a day and how long a delivery takes.
The formula
Used while waiting = Average sold per day × Days for delivery
Safety stock = Average sold per day × Extra days of cover
Reorder point = Used while waiting + Safety stock
Worked example: cooking oil
- You sell 6 bottles a day. The supplier takes 3 days. You want 2 days of cover.
- Used while waiting = 6 × 3 = 18.
- Safety stock = 6 × 2 = 12.
- Reorder when you are down to 30 bottles.
Why a reorder point beats a gut feeling
Reorder too late and you turn customers away. Reorder too early and cash sits on the shelf. A reorder point gives you one number per item to check against.
It works best for items you sell steadily. For seasonal items, recalculate when the season starts.
Where to get the daily number
Use your sales records: units sold over the last 30 days, divided by 30. An app that records every sale, like BusinessX, shows this without a notebook or a spreadsheet.
Then check stock against the reorder point each morning, or let the low-stock view do it.
Questions people ask
What is a reorder point?
The stock level at which you should place a new order. It equals the stock you expect to sell while the delivery is on its way, plus a small safety buffer.
What is safety stock?
Extra stock you keep in case sales run faster than usual or a delivery is late. This calculator sets it as a number of extra days of average sales.
How do I find my average sales per day?
Add up the units sold in the last 30 days and divide by 30. Use a shorter window for items that sell in bursts, and leave out unusual days such as festivals.
Should every item have the same reorder point?
No. Items that sell fast or take longer to arrive need a higher reorder point. Work it out per item, starting with your top sellers.
Let the app do the sums.
BusinessX records every sale and shows your real profit, offline, on the phone you already have. Free to download, no sign-up.