Unlocking Your Inventory Truth: How to Combine Shopify Stock on Hand and Units Sold Reports

Hey everyone! As a Shopify expert, I often see common challenges pop up in our community, and one that's particularly persistent for store owners is getting a clear, combined view of their inventory. Specifically, how do you see stock on hand right alongside units sold for a given period? It sounds like a basic ask, doesn't it?

I recently saw a great discussion in the Shopify community that really highlighted this pain point. A user, metric_nerd, kicked things off by pointing out that Shopify doesn't offer a single, built-in report that merges these two crucial data points. They live in separate worlds within Shopify's reporting – "Inventory" and "Sales."

The Reporting Conundrum: Why Shopify Splits Your Data

The core of the problem, as solutionsKruti also confirmed, is that Shopify simply doesn't provide this combined view natively. You can see current inventory, and you can see sales performance, but getting them side-by-side in one report for a specific timeframe, especially broken down by location, isn't a "one-click" affair.

Another community member, mixx, perfectly articulated the granular need: "I am looking for a way to pull units sold and stock on hand per location in one report." This kind of combined data is vital for optimizing reorders, understanding product velocity, and making smart purchasing decisions.

The Expert-Recommended Solution: The Manual Spreadsheet Merge

So, what's the most reliable way to get this combined picture, especially for those on standard Shopify plans? The consensus from our community discussion, and my personal recommendation, is the manual export and merge method using a spreadsheet. It's incredibly effective and gives you full control.

Step-by-Step: Combining Inventory and Sales Data

Here's how you can do it, drawing directly from metric_nerd's advice:

1. Export Your "Inventory snapshot" Report:
   • Go to your Shopify Admin > Analytics > Reports.
   • Find the "Inventory snapshot" report under the "Inventory" category.
   • Select the date range you want to analyze. This is crucial – make sure it matches the sales report period.
   • Export this report.
2. Export Your "Sales by product" Report:
   • Back in Reports, navigate to the "Sales" category.
   • Select the "Sales by product" report.
   • Important: Ensure the date range here is exactly the same as the one you used for your inventory snapshot. Consistency is key for accurate merging!
   • Export this report.
3. Merge in Your Favorite Spreadsheet Tool (Excel, Google Sheets, etc.):
   • Open both exported CSV files in your spreadsheet program.
   • Identify a common identifier: the SKU (Stock Keeping Unit) is your best friend here, as metric_nerd pointed out.
   • Use a lookup function (like VLOOKUP) or data merge features to pull the "Units Sold" data from your sales report and add it as a new column to your inventory report, using SKU as the join key.

This spreadsheet route is "honestly the most reliable way to get that combined picture," as metric_nerd put it. It ensures you have all your inventory items, even those that didn't sell during the period, and you can then see their corresponding sales figures (which will be zero if they didn't sell).

Other Avenues: Custom Reports & Third-Party Apps

Shopify's Custom Report Builder (Advanced/Plus Plans)

If you're on a Shopify plan or higher, the custom report builder does get you closer. You can build more tailored reports, but as metric_nerd noted, "it still won't merge inventory and sales into one view." It allows for more filtering and customization within each category, but the fundamental separation remains.

Third-Party Reporting Apps

For those looking for a more automated solution, there are many reporting apps in the Shopify App Store. solutionsKruti suggested this as an alternative, and it's a valid path for many.

However, and this is a critical insight brought up by mixx, be very cautious here. Some third-party apps might only show you stock on hand for products that actually had sales during your selected period. mixx specifically said, "If you create a custom report in a 3rd party app you end up with a sales report with soh but it won't show you soh if there weren't any sales for the period." This is a huge distinction! If you're trying to identify slow-moving stock or items with zero sales but still taking up warehouse space, an app with this limitation won't give you the full picture. Always test these apps thoroughly or check their reporting logic before committing.

While Shopify might not offer this specific report out-of-the-box, the community has clearly shown that with a little manual effort, or careful selection of third-party tools, you can absolutely get the comprehensive view you need. The manual spreadsheet method remains a robust and free way to ensure you capture every piece of data, empowering you to make truly informed decisions for your store. Don't let a split report stop you from understanding your full inventory story and optimizing your business!