Transparent Growth Measurement (NPS)

Carrying Cost Calculator

Plan your inventory costs the smart way.

Use our carrying cost calculator to find the percentage of inventory value you spend on holding stock each year. Whether you manage a warehouse, retail network, or D2C fulfillment, this tool helps you uncover storage, insurance, depreciation, and opportunity costs—so you can free up working capital and improve margins.

Why Use This Calculator?

 

  • Set a clear carrying cost baseline
    Know your annual % of inventory value spent on holding costs.
  • Compare SKUs, locations & seasons
    Spot where carrying costs spike due to slow movers or overstock.
  • Plan ROI-driven inventory actions
    Align ordering, safety stock, and clearance with true holding costs.
  • Protect cash flow
    Reduce tied-up capital and reinvest in faster-moving inventory.
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Why these 7 metrics are significant for your business and should be measured at regular intervals?

How to Use the Carrying Cost Calculator – Step-by-Step

 

  1. Enter Storage, Insurance, Depreciation, and Opportunity Cost for the same period (typically annual).

  2. Enter Total Inventory Value for that period (average on-hand is best).

  3. Click Calculate to get Carrying Cost (%).

  4. Use the % to benchmark locations/SKUs and prioritize reductions.

 

Validation: Values must be ≥ 0. Use consistent currency and period (all annual or all monthly). If using monthly figures, annualize for “annual inventory carrying cost.”

 

Understanding Your Carrying Cost

 

Once you enter your values and click Calculate, the tool shows Carrying Cost (%)—the portion of inventory value consumed by holding costs.

 

Why It Matters?


High carrying cost signals excess stock, slow turns, or expensive storage. Lowering it releases cash, cuts risk of obsolescence, and lifts margins.

 

When to Use It?


Use this calculator to:

 

 

Note: Want to optimize order quantities with carrying cost factored in? Use our EOQ (Economic Order Quantity) Calculator (link to be added).

 

Industry Carrying Cost Benchmarks?

 

Business Type / Context Typical Carrying Cost Range (% of inventory value, annual)
Most industries (overall) 15% – 30%
Retail / eCommerce 20% – 25%
Manufacturing 30% – 40%
Electronics / High-tech 20% – 30%
3PL / Warehousing 15% – 22%

 

Note: Ranges vary by turnover, space costs, risk of obsolescence, and cost of capital. Use your own data for decisions.

 

Practical Examples

 

Example 1 — Mid-size warehouse

 

Example 2 — High-rent urban facility

 

 

Growth Tips & Business Impact

 

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FAQs

Answers to Frequently Asked Questions

How to calculate carrying cost?

Add Storage + Insurance + Depreciation + Opportunity Cost, divide by Total Inventory Value, then ×100 to get a percentage.

What is “annual inventory carrying cost calculator”?

It expresses holding costs as a yearly % of average inventory value, letting you compare locations/SKUs and set policies like EOQ and safety stock.

What is “cost of carry calculation”?

It’s the same idea—total holding costs (space, insurance, risk, and capital) relative to inventory value, shown as a %.

What period should I use?

Use a consistent period for all inputs (monthly or annual). For annual carrying cost, annualize monthly figures and use average inventory value.

What goes into opportunity cost?

The return you forego by tying cash in inventory—often approximated by your WACC, interest rate, or target hurdle rate.

How do I lower carrying cost quickly?

Clear aged stock, adjust reorder points, improve forecasting, and renegotiate warehousing or financing terms.

Formula for calculating inventory carrying cost?

Carrying Cost (%) = (Storage + Insurance + Depreciation + Opportunity Cost) ÷ Total Inventory Value × 100.

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