Free ForeverNo SignupSKU AnalyticsUpdated 2026

Sell-Through Rate Calculator

Calculate how much of your received inventory you've sold — and identify SKUs heading for markdowns.

Sell-through rate = Units Sold ÷ (Beginning Inventory + Units Received) × 100. It measures what percentage of available inventory was sold in a period. A 60%+ monthly sell-through is healthy. Under 30% means excess stock accumulating and markdown risk rising.

Units Sold

Total units sold in the period

Beginning Stock

Units in stock at start of period

Units Received

New stock received during the period

Unit CostOptional — calculates unsold inventory value

Wholesale or production cost per unit

The Formula

STR = Units Sold ÷ (Beginning Stock + Units Received) × 100

In plain English

Sell-through rate = units sold / (beginning stock + received) × 100.

Worked Example

420 sold ÷ (300 + 400) = 420/700 = 60% sell-through. 280 units remaining at $25 = $7,000 unsold inventory.

Managing Slow-Moving Inventory

Inventory that doesn't sell is cash sitting in a warehouse. The standard approach: flag any SKU with < 30% sell-through at 60 days and plan promotional activity. At 90 days, consider markdowns. At 120 days, liquidate at cost if necessary — holding costs (storage + opportunity cost) make further delay financially irrational.

Bundling slow-movers with fast-moving SKUs often clears inventory more profitably than clearance discounts. A $50 "mystery bundle" that includes a slow-moving $20 item alongside popular items can sell at full margin while clearing dead stock.

Sell-Through Rate Benchmarks by Category (2026)

Category	Monthly Target	At 30 Days (flag)	At 90 Days (action)
Seasonal / fashion	60–80%	< 40%	Markdown
Consumer goods	50–70%	< 30%	Bundle / promo
Electronics	40–60%	< 25%	Review pricing
FMCG / consumables	70–90%	< 50%	Urgent action

Source: NRF Retail Operations Survey 2025 · Inventory Planner Benchmark Study

Common Mistakes

⚠️

Tracking STR at category level, not SKU level

A 60% category sell-through may hide individual SKUs at 10% and 90%. Track at the SKU level to identify specific slow-movers before they become a write-off.

⚠️

Not planning sell-through targets before buying

The sell-through conversation should happen before the buying decision, not after. Estimate demand before placing orders and set a target STR for each SKU at 30, 60, and 90 days.

⚠️

Ignoring seasonal adjustment

A 40% STR in a pre-season period might be fine if the category spikes at season peak. Model expected STR against seasonal curves, not a flat target.