---
title: Stock counts
description: How to start a stock count for a site, check the physical cards, and write off what you couldn't find.
sidebar:
  order: 5
---

A stock count checks that what's on record matches what's actually on the shelves. You count one site at a time, and the stock on hand when you start is what gets counted.

## Start a stock count

1. **Open stock counts**

    Open the **Stock counts** tab in Inventory and click **Start stock count**.

2. **Choose the site and reason**

    Choose the site to count and check the **Reason**. It starts as **Routine
    stock count**.

A single count can cover up to 5,000 units. If the site already has a count in progress, you pick that one up again instead of starting a new one.

## Count the cards

Scan each card's stock label to mark it as counted. There are two ways to do this:

- Scan stock labels one after another in the putaway app's stock count screen. The app's count works once you've started the count in the console.
- In the console, scan a label or type a number into **Label or asset number**.

You can also click **Mark as counted** on each unit in the list. The same card on the same shelf is grouped on one line, so you can count them all at once with **Mark N as counted**. If you make a mistake, use **Undo count**.

Filter the list by **All**, **Not found**, **Not counted** or shelf. Units shipped out or moved during the count are marked **Shipped out or moved during the count** and aren't counted as missing.

## Complete the count

1. **Choose to complete**

    When you're done, click **Complete stock count**. The numbers counted and
    not counted are shown.

2. **Decide what to do with missing units and confirm**

    **Write off missing units as lost** is on by default. Leave it on and click
    **Finalize and write off** to take the missing units out of stock as lost.
    To finalize without writing them off, turn it off and click **Finalize
    results**.

Missing units you didn't write off can be written off later with **Write off as lost** on the count. Written-off units drop out of stock and valuation, and the loss is recorded in each unit's history.

To stop partway, click **Cancel stock count** and enter a reason. The counts recorded so far are kept.

## Put found stock back

If a unit written off as lost turns up, open the unit and choose **Mark as found** from **More actions**. Choose the shelf and a reason, and it returns to its earlier status. A unit that was on hold before it was lost goes back on hold.

If you find cards that aren't on record during a count, create a receipt slip from the count's **receipt from a stock count** link. How to fill in a receipt slip is covered in [Receiving stock](/en/guides/inventory/receipts).

:::note
Only members with permission to change inventory can work on stock counts. Viewers can only see the results.
:::