Par Level
The minimum quantity of an item that should always be on hand.
Definition
A par level (short for 'par stock level') is the minimum quantity of a supply item that must be available at all times. Unlike a reorder point, which triggers ordering, a par level defines the floor — the amount below which stock should never fall under normal operating conditions.
Formula
Par Level = (Average Daily Usage × Lead Time in Days) + Safety Buffer
Why It Matters
Par levels give every item a defined minimum, transforming supply management from guesswork into a rules-based system. When a visual check or system alert shows an item below par, the response is clear: reorder. Par levels also help with ordering quantities — you replenish up to par, not just a random amount.
Example
Your office uses 1 box of pens per month (0.033/day). Supplier lead time is 5 days. Safety buffer is 0.5 boxes. Par = (0.033 × 5) + 0.5 = ~0.67. Round up to 1 box. Never let pen stock drop below 1 box.
Related Terms
Reorder Point
The stock level that triggers a new purchase order to avoid running out.
Safety Stock
Extra inventory kept as a buffer against demand spikes or supplier delays.
Consumption Tracking
Monitoring how fast supplies are used to forecast demand and set accurate par levels.
Inventory Management
Systematically tracking what supplies you have, where they are, and when to reorder.
Put Par Level into practice
OfficeStoreApp tracks par levels, reorder points, and consumption automatically — no spreadsheets, no manual counting.
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