Throughput
Rate at which a facility produces or moves goods.
Formula
Live Calculator
MembersVariables
Example
4800 units in 8 h: TH = 600/h
How it works
Throughput tells you how many units a process handles per unit of time, so it is a rate. The formula works because dividing a total count of units by the time taken converts a whole-job total into a per-hour, per-minute, or per-day performance measure. In logistics, that helps compare facilities, shifts, or process changes even when the batch sizes are different.
When to use it
Use this when you want to measure the output speed of a warehouse, production line, loading dock, or shipping process. It is useful for comparing capacity, spotting bottlenecks, and checking whether a target output rate is being met.
Worked example, step by step
A packing station processes 1,260 parcels in 7 hours. TH = units / time TH = 1,260 / 7 TH = 180 parcels per hour Final answer: 180 parcels/h
Common mistakes to avoid
- Using the wrong time unit and forgetting to label the rate consistently
- Dividing time by units instead of units by time
- Mixing completed units with items started, which can overstate true throughput
Did You Know?
A warehouse's slowest station sets its throughput — the bottleneck governs the whole line.
Share this formula
More in Logistics & Supply Chain
View allEconomic Order Quantity
IntermediateOrder size that minimises the combined cost of ordering and holding stock.
Reorder Point
BasicStock level that triggers a new order, covering demand during the lead time.
Safety Stock
AdvancedBuffer inventory that absorbs demand variability during lead time.
Inventory Turnover
BasicHow many times inventory is sold and replaced in a period.
Days Inventory Outstanding
BasicAverage number of days stock sits before being sold.
Little's Law
IntermediateAverage items in a system equals arrival rate times average time in the system.