What is a reorder point?

The reorder point is the stock level at which you should place a new order to avoid running out before the delivery arrives. It accounts for daily usage during the supplier lead time plus a safety buffer. When your stock drops to this level, it is time to order.

How much safety stock should I keep?

A safety stock of 5-10 days is typical for cleaning chemicals. This covers unexpected demand spikes, delivery delays, or supplier shortages. For critical chemicals that would halt operations if unavailable, keep a larger safety buffer of 10-14 days.

How do I calculate daily chemical usage?

Track your chemical usage over 2-4 weeks. Record how many litres or containers you use of each chemical during that period. Divide the total by the number of days to get your average daily usage. This is more accurate than estimating from coverage rates alone.

Should I order in bulk to save money?

Bulk ordering can save 10-20% on chemical costs, but consider storage space, shelf life (most cleaning chemicals last 12-24 months), and cash flow impact. Calculate the break-even point: does the discount save more than the cost of storing extra stock?

CleanCalcs

Chemical Stock Calculator

Calculate how much cleaning chemical stock to order based on usage rate and lead time.

Usage Amount

How much you use per period

Usage Frequency

Supplier Lead Time

Days from order to delivery

Safety Stock Buffer

Extra days buffer

Container Size

Size of container you buy

Cost per Container

Optional

How We Calculate This

How the calculation works

This calculator uses standard inventory management formulas to determine optimal stock levels.

Formulae

Daily usage = usage per period ÷ days in period

Safety stock = daily usage × safety stock days

Reorder point = (daily usage × lead time) + safety stock

Order quantity = reorder point + (2 weeks supply)

Containers = order quantity ÷ container size (rounded up)

Frequently Asked Questions

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Last updated: February 2026

All calculations are estimates. Always verify quantities and timings for your specific situation.