Item fields
SKU, name, category, unit of measure, supplier, cost, photo URL, active status.
Free template
Inventory spreadsheet template
Download a ready-to-use template with the columns an inventory system needs, plus example rows showing how to fill them in. It opens in Excel, Google Sheets, or Numbers, and gets inventory out of people's heads and into a structure you can import later.
Best for
Small teams cleaning a messy item list, preparing for a software import, or starting inventory management before choosing a system.
Not for
Multi-user real-time operations. Spreadsheets are a starting point, not a durable inventory record once several people touch stock every day.
Download
Download the inventory spreadsheet template.
A CSV with the columns an inventory system needs, plus three example rows showing how to fill them in. Opens in Excel, Google Sheets, or Numbers.
Free. No email required.
Columns in the template
- SKU
- Item name
- Category
- Location
- Bin
- On hand
- Reorder point
- Reorder qty
- Supplier
- Supplier SKU
- Unit cost
- Lead time days
- Last counted
- Notes
Inputs
What you need
Keep the inputs practical. If the data is not trustworthy yet, use the tool to expose what needs cleanup before automation.
Location fields
Warehouse, room, shelf, bin, truck, or jobsite.
Count fields
On-hand quantity, counted date, counted by, variance reason.
Reorder fields
Reorder point, preferred supplier, lead time, order quantity.
Outputs
What you get
The useful output is a rule, template, or plan an operator can review with the team and later move into the inventory system.
Downloadable CSV
Fourteen columns with three example rows, ready to open in Excel, Google Sheets, or Numbers.
Import-ready structure
Columns that map cleanly into Order3 or another inventory system later.
One row per SKU-location
A structure that keeps location-level counts honest from day one.
Make it stick
Keep one working copy.
Email a spreadsheet around and you have five versions by Friday. Keep the source in one place and fill it from your real records.
Step 01
Start with one row per SKU-location pair
If one SKU lives in five locations, record five rows. A single global quantity hides the location problem that software is supposed to solve.
Step 02
Keep item identity separate from counts
The item record says what the thing is. The count says where it is and how many are there. Mixing those concepts makes imports painful later.
Step 03
Freeze names before import
Decide the canonical SKU and item name before importing. Merge duplicates, retire old names, and document the naming rule so the catalog does not drift again.
Order3 fit
Turn this free tool into a live workflow.
Order3 stores the item records, locations, counts, thresholds, scans, reports, approvals, and purchasing drafts that sit behind this one calculation or template.
Frequently asked questions
What columns should an inventory spreadsheet have?
At minimum: SKU, item name, category, unit of measure, supplier, location, on-hand quantity, reorder point, cost, last counted date, and notes.
When should I stop using a spreadsheet?
Move on when more than one person updates counts, when you track multiple locations, when low-stock alerts matter, or when a spreadsheet quantity has caused a stockout or duplicate purchase.
Can I import an inventory spreadsheet into Order3?
Yes. Order3 supports spreadsheet import, preview, dedupe, and cleanup before records are created. Clean columns make the import faster.
Does the template work in Excel and Google Sheets?
Yes. It downloads as a CSV, which opens directly in Microsoft Excel, Google Sheets, or Apple Numbers. Open it, save a copy in your preferred format, and add your own formulas or conditional formatting from there.
Related
Keep going
Move from the free resource to the use cases, features, and guides that make the workflow operational.
Use case
Inventory Management
Use case
Inventory App
Use case
Barcode Inventory
Feature
Real-time reports
Feature
Multi-location tracking
Guide
Inventory management for small business: the practical guide
Guide
The multi-location inventory playbook
Free template
Purchase order template
Free generator
Barcode generator
Definition
SKU
Definition
Bin location
Definition