FIFO vs LIFO: Which Inventory Method Is Right for Retailers?
FIFO vs LIFO explained for retailers. Tax implications, accounting effects, and which method fits your business.
Measure the average number of days inventory sits before being sold.
Days Inventory Outstanding
60.0 days
Implied Inventory Turnover
6.08x
Average Inventory
$120000.00
Annual COGS
$730000.00
Formula Used
(Average Inventory ÷ COGS) × 365
(Average Inventory ÷ COGS) × 365
DIO converts inventory turnover into a more intuitive number — the average number of days a unit sits in inventory before sale.
Average inventory is $120,000 at cost. Annual COGS is $730,000. DIO = (120,000 ÷ 730,000) × 365 ≈ 60 days. The retailer holds about two months of supply on average.
It depends on the category. Grocery 20–25 days, apparel 60–90 days, furniture 100+ days.
They are inverse views. DIO = 365 ÷ Turnover. Both describe the same underlying performance.
Deep-dive guides that explain the math behind this calculator.
FIFO vs LIFO explained for retailers. Tax implications, accounting effects, and which method fits your business.
Working capital management for retailers: cash conversion cycle, levers to improve it, and benchmarks by category.
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