Profession Calculators
Small Business & Ecommerce

Inventory Reorder Point Calculator

Calculate reorder points, safety stock levels, and economic order quantity (EOQ) to prevent stockouts and optimize inventory costs.

Inventory Parameters

Days from placing order to receiving inventory

Daily demand variability for safety stock calculation

1.28 = 90%, 1.65 = 95%, 2.33 = 99%

EOQ Parameters (Optional)

Reorder Analysis

Enter inventory parameters and click calculate.

What This Calculator Does

This calculator determines the optimal inventory reorder point and safety stock level to prevent stockouts while minimizing carrying costs. It also computes the Economic Order Quantity (EOQ) to optimize order sizes.

The Formula

Reorder Point = (Daily Demand x Lead Time) + Safety Stock | Safety Stock = Z x Standard Deviation x Square Root of Lead Time | EOQ = Square Root of (2 x Annual Demand x Order Cost / Holding Cost)

The reorder point has two components: lead time demand (average units sold during the resupply period) and safety stock (buffer against demand uncertainty). The Z-score corresponds to your target service level: 1.65 for 95%, 2.33 for 99%. EOQ minimizes the combined cost of ordering and holding inventory.

Step-by-Step Example

1

Enter demand data

Average daily demand: 50 units. Standard deviation of daily demand: 10 units.

2

Set lead time and service level

Lead time: 7 days. Service level: 95% (Z = 1.65).

3

Calculate reorder point

Lead time demand: 50 x 7 = 350 units. Safety stock: 1.65 x 10 x 2.65 = 44 units. Reorder point: 350 + 44 = 394 units.

4

Calculate EOQ

With $50 order cost and $5 annual holding cost: EOQ = sqrt(2 x 18,250 x 50 / 5) = 604 units per order.

Real-World Use Cases

Ecommerce Inventory Management

Set automated reorder alerts in your inventory system based on calculated reorder points for each SKU.

Supplier Negotiation

Use EOQ to negotiate optimal order quantities and frequency with suppliers for better pricing.

Seasonal Demand Planning

Adjust demand parameters for seasonal products to prevent stockouts during peak periods.

Common Mistakes to Avoid

  • Using average demand without accounting for variability. Demand fluctuations require safety stock to prevent stockouts.

  • Not updating lead time estimates. Supplier delays, shipping disruptions, and customs processing can extend lead times significantly.

  • Setting a 99% service level for all products. High service levels require much more safety stock. Reserve 99% for your most critical items.

  • Ignoring EOQ when placing orders. Ordering too frequently increases ordering costs; ordering too much increases holding costs.

Frequently Asked Questions

Accuracy and Disclaimer

Reorder point and EOQ calculations assume relatively stable demand patterns and consistent lead times. For highly seasonal or volatile products, consider more advanced forecasting methods.