GlossaryEN1 min readUpdated: Jun 22, 2026
Cycle stock
Cycle stock is the portion of inventory consumed between two consecutive replenishment orders, covering predictable, average demand.
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Source: https://wirtschaftslexikon.gabler.de/definition/umlaufbestand-39961/version-218208
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Logistics concept
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Definition & Explanation
Cycle stock is the portion of inventory consumed between two consecutive replenishment orders, covering predictable, average demand. It follows the classic sawtooth pattern: at its peak immediately after delivery, approaching zero just before the next order arrives. Planners typically derive it from half the order quantity, assuming linear consumption. Unlike safety stock – which buffers against demand volatility or supply disruptions – cycle stock is a purely structural result of ordering in batches. Reducing batch sizes lowers cycle stock proportionally and frees up working capital; this is the core logic underpinning just-in-time supply strategies.
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