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Ending Inventory Calculator

Closing stock from opening, purchases and COGS.

Written and maintained by Mohit PatelLast checked August 4, 2026How we build these

Optional — enter a counted value to see shrinkage.

Ending inventory

$35,000

beginning + purchases − COGS

Purchases$80,000
Cost of goods sold$75,000
Physical countnot entered
Net movement$5,000

How the Ending Inventory Calculator works

Ending inventory is opening stock plus what you bought minus what you sold. When the physical count disagrees with that figure, the gap is shrinkage — and quantifying it is the main reason the calculation is worth doing.

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

What is the ending inventory formula?

Beginning inventory + purchases − cost of goods sold. Starting at £30,000, buying £80,000 and selling goods costing £75,000 leaves £35,000 of ending inventory.

Why does my physical count differ?

The difference is shrinkage: theft, damage, miscounting, receiving errors or unrecorded sales. A gap of 1-2% is common in retail. Consistently larger gaps point to a process problem worth investigating.

How do FIFO and LIFO change the figure?

They change which costs are assigned to sold units. With rising prices, FIFO leaves higher-cost stock on the balance sheet and reports higher profit; LIFO does the opposite. LIFO is not permitted under IFRS.

How often should I count physically?

Annually at minimum for accounts. Cycle counting — counting a portion continuously so everything is covered over a period — catches discrepancies far earlier than a single annual count and disrupts trading far less.

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