What is lead time?

Lead time is the number of days between ordering stock from your supplier and having it on the shelf, ready to sell.

How it fits into WooCommerce

WooCommerce doesn't store lead times, so you'll keep them yourself, per supplier or per product. Count the whole wait: the supplier's production or picking time, shipping, customs if any, and the time it takes you to check the goods in and update stock. A supplier that ships in 5 days may still mean a 9-day lead time once the box is unpacked.

Lead time is the main input to a reorder point:

Reorder point = average daily sales × lead time + safety stock

You can get average daily sales from Analytics › Products by dividing Items sold by the days in your date range.

A worked example

Say a tea blend sells 6 tins a day. Supplier A delivers in 7 days, supplier B in 21.

• With A: 6 × 7 = 42 tins needed to cover the wait
• With B: 6 × 21 = 126 tins needed to cover the wait

Same product and same sales, but three times the stock tied up before you even add safety stock.

Why it matters

The longer the lead time, the earlier you have to reorder and the more a sales spike can catch you out. Write down your real lead times (not the supplier's quoted ones) and update them when deliveries slip. Shorter lead times let you hold less stock. The guide on setting reorder points uses lead time step by step, and WooCommerce inventory forecasting shows how it fits the bigger picture.