SKU Count Calculator
How many SKUs a catalogue really has.
Total SKUs
90
3 × 5 × 6
Variants multiply rather than add. One extra colour here creates a whole row of new SKUs, each needing its own buffer stock.
How the SKU Count Calculator works
SKU count multiplies rather than adds. Five colours in six sizes is thirty SKUs, each needing its own safety stock, its own forecast and its own shelf space. Variant decisions that feel small at the design stage set the inventory investment for years.
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 SKU count calculated?
Multiply the options in each dimension. Three styles × 5 colours × 6 sizes is 90 SKUs. Adding one colour to that range does not add one SKU — it adds eighteen.
Why does SKU count matter so much?
Because every SKU needs its own safety stock. Doubling variants roughly doubles the buffer inventory even if total demand is unchanged, since demand is now split across more lines and each needs its own protection.
How many SKUs is too many?
When the long tail stops earning its carrying cost. Run an ABC analysis: if the bottom band is 30% of SKUs and 3% of value, it is consuming attention and capital far out of proportion to what it returns.
How do I reduce SKU count sensibly?
Drop the weakest variants rather than whole products, since demand usually consolidates onto the survivors rather than disappearing. Discontinuing the two slowest sizes in a range typically loses far less revenue than the SKU count suggests.