This wikiHow teaches you how to manage your business or company inventory using an Excel spreadsheet on a Windows or Mac computer. You can use a formatted inventory list template, or create a new spreadsheet yourself manually.
Step
Method 1 of 2: Using Templates
Step 1. Open Microsoft Excel
This program is marked by a dark green icon with a white “X”.
Step 2. Click the search bar
This bar is at the top of the Excel window.
On a Mac computer, click the “ File ” in the upper left corner of the screen first, then select “ New from Templates… ” from the drop-down menu.
Step 3. Locate the inventory list template
Type inventory list into the search bar at the top of the page, then press Enter. A list of inventory management templates will be displayed.
Step 4. Choose a template
Click the most suitable inventory list template. The preview page will open.
Each inventory list template offers a variety of features. If you don't like the selected option, press the Esc key to return to the template page
Step 5. Click Create
It's on the right side of the template preview window.
Step 6. Wait for the template to load
This process takes a few seconds. Once the template is opened, you can move on to the next step.
Step 7. Enter inventory information
To change text-filled boxes, double-click the box, delete the existing number or text, and enter new information. While the selected templates have slightly different options, each inventory list typically includes the following options:
- ” Item Number ” – Product/goods inventory number (SKU).
- ” Item Name ” – Product/goods descriptive name or label.
- ” Item Cost ” – The price of one product/item.
- ” Number in Stock ” – Amount of product stock.
- ” Net Value ” – The total net stock price of the product.
Step 8. Save the job
To save it:
- Windows - Click menu " File ", click " Save As ", double click " This PC ”, select a storage location on the left side of the window, type a document name (e.g. "Inventory List") into the " File name " text field, and click " Save ”.
- Mac - Click menu " File ", click " Save As… ”, enter the name of the document (eg "Inventory List") in the "Save As" field, specify a save location by clicking the "Where" box and selecting the desired folder, and clicking " Save ”.
Method 2 of 2: Creating a List from Scratch
Step 1. Open Microsoft Excel
This program is marked by a dark green icon with a white “X”.
Step 2. Click Blank workbook
It's in the upper-left corner of the window.
Skip this step on a Mac computer
Step 3. Create a title for the inventory list
In the following boxes, enter these titles:
- A1 - Product Number
- B1 - Product name
- C1 - Price
- D1 - Total Stock
- E1 - Total Stock Price
Step 4. Adjust the column width
Click the space or delimiter between two column letters (e.g. " A" and " B ”) at the top of the worksheet, then drag the cursor to the right to widen the column.
Step 5. Enter the product inventory number
Click the box A2 ”, then type the inventory number (eg 123456) and press Enter.
Step 6. Add item name
Click the box B2 ”, then enter the official name of the item (eg fish nuggets).
Step 7. Determine the price per item
Click the box C2 ”, then enter the price for a single product (eg 27,500).
Step 8. Add up the total stock of available products
Click the box D2 ” and enter the number of products in stock (eg if you have 80 packs of fish nuggets, type 80).
Step 9. Enter the net value formula
Click the box E2 ”, then type in the formula
=C2*D2
in the box and press Enter. You can immediately see the total stock price on the box.
You can repeat this general formula for each box in the "Total Stock Price" column. Make sure you change the entry “ C2" and " D2 ” with the letter and number of the appropriate box (e.g. if you want to multiply the values in the box “ C10" and " D10 ”, use the letter and number of the box instead of “ C2" and " D2 ”).
Step 10. Add other entries to the inventory list
Repeat the above process for each inventory entry. Use one line for each product until your list is complete.
Step 11. Save the job
To save it:
- Windows - Click menu " File ", click " Save As ", double click " This PC ”, select a storage location on the left side of the window, type a document name (eg "Inventory List") into the " File name " text field, and click " Save ”.
- Mac - Click menu " File ", click " Save As… ”, enter the name of the document (eg "Inventory List") in the "Save As" field, specify a save location by clicking the "Where" box and selecting the desired folder, and clicking " Save ”.
