When should you reorder a Shopify SKU?

A worked example: 10 days of stock, 14 days to replenish

Synthetic example using Stockbela's sample data. This is not a customer result.

The example SKU sold 60 units during 30 days in stock. Its daily sales rate is 60 ÷ 30 = 2 units a day. With 20 available units, estimated coverage is 20 ÷ 2 = 10 days.

Waiting until stock reaches zero would leave too little time for this supplier. With a 7-day safety buffer, the reorder point is 2 × (14 + 7) = 42 units. Current stock is below that threshold, so Stockbela flags a reorder.

What the scanner considers

• Recent sales while the SKU was actually available, rather than treating stockout days as zero demand.
• Current sellable stock and supplier lead time for the same variant and location.
• Your chosen safety buffer and next order coverage period.

For this example, the suggested quantity is 82 units using a 14-day lead time, 7 safety days and 30 order coverage days. It is an estimate to review. Incoming orders are not deducted; check them, minimum quantities, pack sizes and promotions before buying.

What data do you need from Shopify?

A Shopify inventory export provides current quantities. Choose one stock location and use available units, rather than stock already committed to customers or unavailable to sell. Shopify describes the export formats in its inventory CSV guide.

A current inventory snapshot alone cannot supply all the history needed for this calculation. You also need:

• Sales totals for the recent period and up to 90 days of available history.
• The actual days each SKU was in stock during those periods.
• Supplier lead times, plus your chosen safety buffer and order coverage period.

Use the same stock location and date windows for sales and stock. Do not guess missing in-stock days or mix store-wide sales with one location's stock. Stockbela requires at least 7 recent days in stock for a sales-rate estimate. Zero recent demand has unknown coverage; missing evidence can produce an insufficient-data result.

Prepare a Shopify inventory export, then fill verified history into the worksheet. The CSV guide lists the exact required columns and limits.

When should you adjust the result?

Review seasonal changes, promotions, supplier delays and recent stockouts. Historical sales can understate demand when an item was unavailable; this method does not estimate lost sales or future demand changes. Check the numbers yourself before committing to an order.

Get a clear action list for your store

Run a free scan in your browser, with no account or Shopify connection. If you want help checking your data and prioritizing the results, Stockbela offers a one-time US$29 (฿990 THB option) inventory review for up to 50 SKUs in one location. Request a data-readiness check first; pay only after scope, delivery and cancellation/refund terms are confirmed by email.