Understanding stock quantities

Last updated: June 20, 2026

Learn the concept
This is the step-by-step. For what it is and how it fits the bigger picture, read the reference in the reference.

What this is

Cloudby counts your stock in a few ways at once, and the words can trip people up. This explains what Physical, Incoming, Available and Reserved each mean, so the numbers in Stock Finder always make sense.

What you own on the booksBy where it isPhysical 120Incoming 20By whether it is spoken forAvailable 95Reserved 45Each row is the same total, sliced a different way
The same total, sliced two ways simplified mockup

Start from what you own

Think first of the total stock you own on your books. Cloudby then slices that same total two independent ways.

By where it is

  • Physical. What is physically on hand right now.
  • Incoming. What you own that is still on its way in (expected, not yet received).

Physical and Incoming together are everything you own.

By whether it is spoken for

  • Available. Stock that is not reserved, free to sell or use.
  • Reserved. Stock already committed to a document, such as a sales order.

Available and Reserved together are, again, everything you own.

The key point. Available is simply everything that is not reserved. It is about commitment, not location, so it is not “Physical minus Reserved”. If you track incoming stock, unreserved incoming counts as Available too.

A worked example

You own 140 units. 120 are on the shelf (Physical) and 20 are on the way (Incoming). Of all 140, 45 are promised to orders (Reserved), leaving 95 free (Available). Same 140, counted two ways.

Force release. If stock is stuck Reserved against a document that is no longer live, releasing it moves it back to Available. See Find stock with Stock Finder.

Related

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