💰 Product Costing

Reorder Point Calculator for China Imports

Use our reorder point calculator to calculate the exact reorder point for products imported from China. Factor in lead time, daily sales, and safety stock buffer.

Updated: 2026-04-13
Planning Reference
Inputs Last Reviewed April 2026
Reference Basis

Built from current calculator assumptions plus typical import cost benchmarks used by China sourcing teams.

Planning Note

Use this to pressure-test margin and landed cost. Final profitability still depends on your freight quote, duty classification, and downstream selling costs.

Secondary opportunity

reorder point calculator
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Calculator
Your average units sold per day over the past 30–90 days.
Total days from placing order to receiving goods. Sea freight: 30–50 days. Air: 7–14 days. Include production time.
Buffer stock to cover demand spikes or delays. Recommended: 10–21 days for China imports due to lead time variability.

Reorder Points and Supply Chain Buffers

Stockouts are devastating for e-commerce algorithms and retail relationships. When importing from China, lead times are extensive and highly variable.

Average Lead Time Stack:

  • Factory Production: 30 days
  • Origin Port handling: 5 days
  • Ocean Transit: 20 days
  • Destination clearance & drayage: 10 days
  • Total Lead Time: 65 Days

If you sell 20 units a day, you will sell 1,300 units during the lead time. You must place your reorder when your inventory hits 1,300, plus a safety stock buffer for unexpected delays.

Tips for China Importers

  1. Never compare suppliers by FOB price alone. A supplier $0.50 cheaper on FOB can easily be more expensive once freight, duty, and compliance differences are factored in. Always compare landed cost.
  2. Include platform fees in your landed cost model. Amazon FBA referral + fulfillment fees total 30–40% of your selling price. If that's your channel, it must be in your cost calculation from day one.
  3. Add a 15% cost contingency for your first import. First-time importers consistently underestimate costs — unexpected charges like detention fees, inspection costs, or currency moves routinely add 10–20%.
  4. Calculate break-even units before ordering. Know exactly how many units you must sell to cover your landed cost and fixed overheads. If break-even is more than 60% of your order, the risk is too high.
  5. Recalculate on every reorder. Freight rates, duty rates, and supplier prices all change. A cost model from 6 months ago can be meaningfully wrong. Always recalculate before committing to a new order.