Free inventory management Excel template: download now

A free inventory management Excel template is the fastest way to get a grip on what you have in stock, what needs reordering, and how much you can still sell. All you need is Excel or Google Sheets. Below you'll find the columns and formulas that actually matter, how to fill in the template, and the point where a spreadsheet starts working against you.

Which columns does a good template need?

Keep it simple. A workable inventory template fits on a single tab. These columns form the foundation:

• SKU and product name, so every item is uniquely identifiable

• Current stock, the quantity physically on the shelf

• Minimum stock, the threshold below which you need to reorder

• Cost price and sale price per unit

• Supplier and lead time, useful for planning your purchasing

Next, add a few formulas that do the work for you. With =current stock * cost price you calculate the stock value per line. A simple =IF(current stock < minimum stock, "reorder", "ok") flags anything that's running low automatically. Add a row of SUM formulas at the top for total stock value and item count, and you'll have an overview at a glance.

Filling in the template in 4 steps

1. Create one row per item and enter the SKU, name, and current stock.

2. Set your minimum stock based on your average sales and lead time, so you never run out.

3. Update the stock after every purchase and sale. Do this at a fixed moment, for example at the end of each day.

4. Filter weekly on the rows marked "reorder" and place your purchase orders per supplier.

If several people work in the same file, use Google Sheets instead of a local Excel file. That keeps you from juggling conflicting versions.

When does a spreadsheet break down?

A template is fine to start with, but the moment you sell across multiple channels, manual tracking becomes a liability. If you sell the same item on your webshop and marketplaces, your spreadsheet always lags behind reality. The result is overselling: you sell something that's no longer there. A spreadsheet also can't create shipping labels, send track & trace back to the channel, or generate a pick list for your warehouse.

That's the point where you switch to software that syncs your inventory in realtime. ShopLinkr processes your orders from every channel in one place and keeps your inventory aligned automatically, so you never oversell again. On top of that you get pick lists with a smart route through the warehouse, barcode scanning, and shipping labels for carriers like PostNL, DPD, and MyParcel through your carriers.

Frequently asked questions

Is an Excel template really free?

Yes. You build your own inventory template in Excel or Google Sheets at no cost. You only pay once you choose automation or sell across multiple channels.

What's the difference with inventory software?

You fill in a template manually, and it lives in a single file. Software connects your sales channels, updates stock automatically after every sale, and handles your order processing and shipping too.

Feel free to start with a spreadsheet. The moment your stock numbers stop matching reality as orders pour in, it's time for the next step. Try ShopLinkr free for 14 days and see what it's like to let your inventory keep itself up to date.