ROT

ABC Analysis Calculator

Paste a list of SKUs and their revenue and get an instant A / B / C classification. Use the output to set service levels, safety stock, and buying priority the way experienced planners do.

Inputs

Enter your numbers

One SKU per line, format: name,revenue

Result

Your calculation

Classification

3 A · 1 B · 3 C

Total SKUs

7

Total Revenue

$33400.00

A Share of Revenue

79.3%

C Share of Revenue

7.2%

Formula Used

A: top 80% of cumulative revenue · B: next 15% · C: last 5%

SKURevenueShareCumulativeClass
SKU-A$12000.0035.9%35.9%A
SKU-B$8500.0025.4%61.4%A
SKU-C$6000.0018.0%79.3%A
SKU-D$4500.0013.5%92.8%B
SKU-E$1200.003.6%96.4%C
SKU-F$800.002.4%98.8%C
SKU-G$400.001.2%100.0%C
Formula

How the number is calculated

A: top 80% of cumulative revenue · B: next 15% · C: last 5%

ABC analysis sorts SKUs by revenue contribution, computes each item's share of the cumulative total, and buckets them into three tiers. A items usually make up 15 to 20% of SKUs but drive 70 to 80% of revenue. B items are the next 30% or so of SKUs. C items are the long tail. Different classes deserve different inventory policies, from safety stock levels to review cadence. Read the ABC Inventory Analysis Explained guide for the operator-level playbook.

Worked Example

A hardware store runs ABC on seven SKUs. Annual revenue totals $33,400. SKU-A ($12,000) and SKU-B ($8,500) together deliver 61% of revenue in the top two positions, so both classify as A items. SKU-C, SKU-D, and SKU-E add another $11,700 and push cumulative revenue to about 96%, making them B items. SKU-F and SKU-G bring up the tail below the 96% threshold and land as C items. The buyer now knows to hold generous safety stock on the two A items, review the three Bs monthly, and consider pruning or reducing buffer on the two Cs. Rerun the analysis every quarter to catch category shifts.

Frequently Asked Questions

What thresholds should I use for A, B, and C?+

The most common split is 80 / 15 / 5, meaning A items make up the first 80% of cumulative revenue, B the next 15%, and C the last 5%. Some retailers use 70 / 20 / 10 or 85 / 10 / 5. The exact numbers matter less than picking a split and applying it consistently across the assortment.

Should I run ABC on revenue or gross profit?+

Both are valid. Revenue-based ABC is the standard starting point. Profit-weighted ABC often gives a more strategic view in categories where margin varies widely, such as apparel or general merchandise. Some teams run both and compare. The Gross Margin Calculator helps compute the profit input if it is not already in your data extract.

How often should I rerun ABC analysis?+

Quarterly is standard for most retail categories. Monthly for fast-moving or trend-sensitive categories such as fashion or electronics. Any category that just went through a season, a new-product launch, or a merchandising reset deserves an immediate re-run before the next planning cycle.

How do I use the output for safety stock and reorder points?+

A items usually earn a 97 to 99% service level, which pushes their safety stock and reorder point higher. B items sit at 92 to 95%. C items run leaner at 85 to 90%. Loss-leader SKUs that pull traffic can justify 99% or higher regardless of their revenue rank.

Can I classify a slow-moving SKU as A?+

Yes. Strategic overrides exist for a reason. A traffic-driver, a signature item, or a low-revenue product that anchors a category should be flagged as A even if the math says B or C. The classification is a starting point, not a verdict.

What should I do with C items?+

Not every C item deserves to stay. A quarterly SKU rationalization pass typically prunes the bottom 5 to 15% by profit contribution. For the C items that stay, lean on lower safety stock, longer review cycles, and simpler replenishment. See the Inventory Management Best Practices playbook for the full workflow.

How does ABC interact with EOQ?+

ABC tells you WHICH SKUs deserve tight replenishment discipline. EOQ tells you HOW MUCH to order in each PO. Combine them: run EOQ carefully on A items, use rough approximations on C items where the ordering cost dwarfs the holding cost.

Where can I benchmark my inventory KPIs after running ABC?+

Compare against the Inventory Turnover Benchmarks by Industry once you have ABC-tiered service levels in place. If A-class turn is dropping year over year, safety stock is probably too generous. If C-class turn is high, the assortment may already be lean enough.

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