Cycle Stock Calculator
The working stock consumed between deliveries.
Average cycle stock
300
plus 150 safety stock
Halving the order quantity halves cycle stock and its carrying cost — but doubles the number of orders, which is the trade-off EOQ balances.
How the Cycle Stock Calculator works
Inventory splits into two parts that behave completely differently. Cycle stock is the working portion consumed and replenished each cycle. Safety stock sits underneath it and is only touched when something goes wrong. Managing them as one number leads to the wrong decision on both.
Not financial advice. Marketplace fees change, and they vary by country, plan and seller status. Every rate here is an editable default, not a quoted price — check the platform's current fee schedule before you price a product against it. This is not tax or business advice.
Frequently asked questions
How is cycle stock calculated?
Order quantity ÷ 2 gives the average cycle stock, since it depletes steadily from full to zero across the cycle. An order of 600 units averages 300 units of cycle stock.
How does cycle stock differ from safety stock?
Cycle stock is planned consumption between deliveries and is expected to be used. Safety stock is a buffer against variability and should mostly remain untouched. If you are routinely eating into safety stock, the reorder point is wrong.
How do I reduce cycle stock?
Order smaller quantities more frequently. That lowers average inventory and carrying cost but raises ordering costs and freight per unit — which is the trade-off EOQ exists to balance.
Why does the average matter more than the peak?
Because carrying cost accrues over time, not at the moment of delivery. You pay to hold the average, not the maximum, which is why halving the order quantity halves the carrying cost.