Par level calculator
Work out how much of an item to keep on hand, and how much to order today.
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Includes a printable order card for this item and tips for setting pars on perishables vs. dry goods.
How to set par levels
Par is the amount you need on the shelf to get from one delivery to the next without running out.
Par level = Average daily usage × (Days between deliveries + Days until delivery) + Safety stock
Days until delivery is the wait between placing the order and the truck arriving. You keep using the item while you wait, so that usage is added. If your order arrives the same day, leave it at 0.
Worked example
You go through 1.5 cases of romaine a day and get deliveries every 3 days. That's 4.5 cases between deliveries. Add 1 case of safety stock for a busy night or a late truck, and your par is 5.5 cases. With 2 cases on hand, order 3.5. If that order takes a day to arrive, you’ll use another 1.5 cases while you wait, so par becomes 7 cases and you order 5.
Keep pars honest
- Base daily usage on recent counts, not memory.
- Raise pars before holidays and events; lower them in the slow season.
- Perishables get small safety stock. Dry goods can carry more.
- Review pars every month.
Frequently asked questions
What is safety stock?
Extra product to cover surprises: a busier night than expected, a short delivery or a late truck. Keep it small for items that spoil fast.
How do I find average daily usage?
Take what you used over a period (beginning count + received − ending count) and divide by the number of days. Two to four weeks of history gives a steady number.
Should par change by day of the week?
If your weekends are much busier, yes. Set a higher par for the order that covers the weekend.
Stop doing this math by hand.
Culimise Inventory does it automatically from your counts, invoices and recipes.
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