Free Cycle Count Planner
Daily SKU count schedule calculator
Enter your total SKUs and working days to get a daily count target. Enable ABC analysis to assign different count frequencies to high, medium, and low-value inventory classes.
ABC Analysis Mode
Count high-value items more frequently
Simple: SKUs per Day = (Total SKUs × Counts per Year) ÷ Working Days per Year
ABC: A-class monthly (12×), B-class quarterly (4×), C-class annually (1×)
What Is a Cycle Count Planner?
A cycle count planner calculates how many SKUs your team needs to count each working day to complete all counts within a year. Rather than shutting down operations for a full annual stock count, cycle counting splits the work into small daily batches. With ABC analysis enabled, the planner accounts for different counting frequencies — high-value A-items are verified monthly, B-items quarterly, and low-value C-items annually — giving you a realistic, risk-weighted daily counting target.
How to Plan Your Cycle Count Schedule
Step 1 — Enter Total SKUs and Count Frequency
Enter the total number of unique SKUs in your warehouse and how many times per year you want each SKU counted. Most businesses start with once per year (default). High-value items may be counted monthly.
Step 2 — Choose Working Days per Week
Select whether your warehouse operates 5 days (Monday–Friday) or 6 days (Monday–Saturday) per week. The calculator uses this to determine total working days in a year.
Step 3 — Optionally Enable ABC Analysis
Turn on ABC mode to set different count frequencies for high-value (A-class, monthly), medium-value (B-class, quarterly), and low-value (C-class, annual) items. The calculator shows the daily target for each class.
Who Uses This Cycle Count Planner?
Warehouse Managers
Create a daily cycle count schedule to maintain inventory accuracy year-round without a disruptive full physical count.
Inventory Controllers
Use ABC analysis mode to prioritise counting high-value SKUs more frequently and reduce risk of costly discrepancies going undetected.
Operations Managers
Set realistic daily count targets for warehouse staff and track completion against the plan.
Finance Teams
Demonstrate to auditors that a robust cycle counting programme is in place as an alternative to a year-end physical count.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is cycle counting?
Cycle counting is a continuous inventory auditing method where a subset of products is counted on a rotating basis rather than shutting down operations for a full physical inventory count. It allows inventory accuracy to be maintained throughout the year.
How many SKUs should I count per day?
Daily Count Target = (Total SKUs × Counts per Year) ÷ Working Days per Year. For example, 500 SKUs counted once per year over 260 working days = ~2 SKUs per day. Add ABC weighting for a more realistic plan.
What is ABC cycle counting?
ABC cycle counting assigns different counting frequencies based on item value: A-items (top 20% by value) are counted monthly (12×/year), B-items (next 30%) quarterly (4×/year), and C-items (remaining 50%) annually (1×/year). This ensures the most valuable items are verified most frequently.
What are the benefits of cycle counting over a full physical count?
Cycle counting avoids operational shutdowns, catches errors more quickly, is less disruptive to warehouse staff, and allows continuous improvement of inventory accuracy rather than a once-a-year snapshot.
How often should A-class items be cycle counted?
Industry best practice is to count A-class items (highest value or highest risk) monthly — that is, 12 times per year. This provides timely detection of discrepancies in your most critical inventory.
Is this cycle count planner free?
Yes, completely free with no account or login required.