The number of days it takes a company to sell its inventory, on average, is a key performance indicator. It’s computed by dividing the average inventory by the cost of goods sold, and then multiplying the result by the number of days in the period being analyzed (typically 365 for a year). For example, if a company has an average inventory of $100,000, a cost of goods sold of $500,000, the result of average inventory dividing cost of goods sold is 0.2. Multiply by 365, then the Days Sales in Inventory are 73 days.
This metric offers insight into the efficiency of a company’s inventory management. A lower number generally suggests efficient inventory handling and strong sales. Conversely, a higher number might indicate overstocking, slow-moving inventory, or obsolescence. Tracking this figure over time helps businesses identify trends, assess the impact of changes in inventory strategies, and benchmark their performance against industry peers.