Inventory Valuation Calculator
Three costing methods, three different profits from exactly the same transactions — see all of them at once.
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How it works
When stock is bought at varying prices, the method used to decide which units were sold changes both the cost of goods sold and the value of what remains. FIFO assumes the oldest units go first, LIFO the newest, and weighted average blends everything into one rate.
In a period of rising prices FIFO reports the lowest cost of sales and therefore the highest profit, while LIFO reports the opposite. Nothing physical differs between them — the stock and the cash are identical. Only the reported profit and the tax on it change.
COGS + closing stock = opening stock + purchases, under every method
- FIFO — first in, first out — oldest units are sold first
- LIFO — last in, first out — newest units are sold first
- Weighted average — one blended cost per unit across all purchases
Worked example
200 units at 100, then 300 at 120, then 250 at 135; 600 units sold
Inputs
Results
A 5,250 profit difference between FIFO and LIFO on identical transactions — and identical stock left in the warehouse.
Frequently asked questions
Which method should I use?
Often the choice is made for you: many accounting standards prohibit LIFO outright, leaving FIFO or weighted average. Where there is a choice, weighted average smooths price volatility and FIFO tracks the physical flow of most inventories more closely.
Why does LIFO reduce reported profit when prices rise?
Because it charges the most recent — and therefore highest — costs against sales. That raises cost of goods sold and lowers profit, which lowers tax. It is also why several jurisdictions disallow it.
Can I switch methods between years?
Only with good reason and full disclosure. Consistency is a core accounting principle, and switching methods to flatter a set of results is precisely what the principle exists to prevent.
Is my data sent anywhere?
No. The calculation runs entirely in your browser. Nothing you type is transmitted to us or stored.
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