Free open-to-buy calculator

This free open-to-buy calculator shows how much new stock you can still buy this month and end at your target inventory. Keep every figure on the same basis, either all at cost or all at retail. It runs in your browser.

Open-to-buy calculator

Planned sales ($)Planned markdowns ($, optional)Planned end-of-month stockPlanned end-of-month stock ($)Stock at the start of the month ($)Stock already on order ($)

Estimates for planning only. Results depend entirely on the numbers you enter. Nothing you enter is stored or sent.

The open-to-buy formula

Open-to-buy = planned sales + planned markdowns + planned end-of-month stock − stock at the start of the month − stock already on order

A worked example

With planned sales of $40,000, planned markdowns of $2,000, planned end-of-month stock of $90,000, starting stock of $85,000 and $20,000 already on order, your open-to-buy is $27,000. If $50,000 were on order, the answer would be −$3,000, and you would be overbought. For more detail, read our guide to the open-to-buy formula.

Frequently asked questions

What does a negative open-to-buy mean?

You have more stock and orders than your plan calls for. Hold back or cancel orders until the category sells down.

Should I use cost or retail?

Either works, as long as every figure uses the same basis.

Should I calculate it for the whole store?

Calculate it by category. A store-wide number can hide one category that is overbought while another runs short.

Want open-to-buy by category for the next 3 months? Store health in the Optimization Lab works it out from your point-of-sale exports.

Try the live demo See plans and pricing