Dead Stock: Meaning, Cost and What to Do
By mise · Updated September 29, 2026
Quick answer: dead stock is inventory that has not sold for a long time (often 6–12 months) and is unlikely to. Spot it by items with no sales in the period or very high days on hand; clear it with bundles, markdowns or returns, and stop reordering it.
Dead stock is cash frozen on a shelf, plus storage space and, for perishables, eventual waste.
How to find it
- Items with zero sales in 90–180 days.
- Days on hand far above the category average.
- Counts that never change.
What to do
- Stop reordering.
- Bundle or feature it.
- Mark down or return to the supplier.
- Write off and learn for the next buy.
mise shows which items never move between counts, so dead stock shows up early.
Scan the barcode or snap a photo: mise's AI finds the product and categorizes it. 7-day free trial, then US$33 a month (£26 in the UK).
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Frequently asked questions
What is dead stock?
Inventory that has stopped selling and is unlikely to sell.
Dead stock vs obsolete inventory?
Obsolete is dead stock that can no longer be sold at all.
How do I prevent it?
Buy to sales data, review slow movers monthly, and use ABC.
How much does mise cost?
A 7-day free trial, then US$33 a month per location (£26 in the UK).