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The Madison Avenue Field GuideA field guide to marketing & advertising, by Brandon Mina

GlossaryRetail Media & CommerceInventory Turnover

Retail Media & Commerce

Inventory Turnover

How many times a business sells and replaces its inventory in a period, calculated as cost of goods sold divided by average inventory.

By Brandon MinaCEO, BrandPilot AIUpdated November 2026

Short answer

Inventory turnover is how many times a business sells and replaces its inventory during a period, calculated as cost of goods sold divided by average inventory. A higher ratio generally indicates efficient sales and inventory management, while a low ratio can signal overstocking or weak demand. Healthy levels vary widely by industry.