Closing Stock Formula
The Closing Stock or the closing inventory Formula is Opening Stock + Purchases – Cost of Goods Sold.
We need to add the cost of beginning inventory or the opening inventory to the cost of purchases during the period. This is the cost of goods which will be available for sale. Then, multiply the gross profit percentage by the sales to find the required cost of goods sold. After this, subtract the cost of goods available for sale from the cost of goods sold to get the ending or the closing inventory.
This Closing Stock is an amount of the unsold stock that is lying in your business on a given date. In simple words, it's the inventory that is still lying in your business. This closing stock is to be sold for a given period. The closing stock can be in various forms – raw materials, work-in-progress (WIP), or in the form of finished goods.
Closing Stock - Description
As mentioned earlier, Closing Stock is an amount of unsold stock that is lying in a business on a particular date. This inventory is to be sold by the business at a destined period of time.
Closing stock is the amount of inventory that a business has on hand at the end of an accounting year. The amount of closing stock is to be ascertained by physically counting the inventory. This can also be determined by the perpetual inventory system to arrive at the end record of the number of closing stock or inventory.
There are Ways to Calculate the Recorded Value of the Closing Stock, Including:
First in, first-out method
Last in, first-out method
Retail Inventory method
Weighted average method.
Closing Stock in Balance Sheet
Closing Stock is represented on the Asset Side of the Balance Sheet. Then, this is adjusted with the purchases amount which may be taken to the debit side of the Trading Account and the Closing Stock appears on the Asset side of the Balance Sheet.
Sometimes in the Trial Balance, this adjusted purchase is given and this means that the Opening Stock and Closing Stock are adjusted through this purchase. Then both these Adjusted Purchases A/c and the Closing Stock Account appear in the Trial Balance.
Valuation of Closing Stock
To calculate the closing inventory, the new purchases are added to the ending inventory, then minus the cost of goods sold is done. This helps to find out the final value of the inventory at the end of the accounting period.
The ending inventory is dependent on the market value or the lowest value of the goods that the business possesses in itself.
The most obvious way to calculate the closing inventory is by doing a physical count at the end of each month and then to value the inventory using a valuation method like the LIFO, FIFO, and the Weighted Average Method.
Generally, it’s not practical to carry out the physical count. Hence an estimation method is used for calculating this closing inventory.
Gross Profit Method
Retail Method
Using Gross Profit Method
We use the following steps to calculate the closing inventory by the gross profit method:
Add the cost of the beginning or opening inventory to the cost of purchases during the period. This will be the cost of goods that are available for sale.
We then Multiply the gross profit percentage by the number of sales to find the estimated cost of the goods sold.
Then subtract the cost of goods available for sale from the cost of goods sold to get the ending or the closing inventory.
Using Retail Method
This method is commonly used by retailers to calculate the ending inventory. This method uses the proportion of the retail price to cost in the prior periods. Following are the steps to calculate:
Computing the cost-to-retail percentage.
The formula for this is: Cost-To-Retail Percentage = Cost / Retail price
Then, calculate the cost of goods that are available for sale.
The formula is: Cost of Good Available for Sale = Cost of beginning inventory + Cost of purchases
Calculate the cost of sales that occurred during the period
The formula is: Cost of Sales = Sales x Cost-To-Retail Percentage
In order to calculate the ending inventory, use the formula as:
Ending Inventory = Cost of goods available for sale – Cost of sales during the period.
Methods for Valuing Stocks at the End of the Day
Any of the valuation methods can be used to determine the closing stock value, depending on the company's needs and the nature of the stock. Inventory valuation methods are what they are called.
Method of calculating the average cost
Costing technique based on the Weighted Average
Costing technique based on the Moving Average
The first-in, first-out (FIFO) technique of costing
The LIFO (last-in, first-out) technique of costing is
The price of the most recent purchase
Methodology for calculating costs
At zero cost
The methodologies and processes used to determine closing stock differ, and this has a direct impact on the business’s profitability. As a result, firms must select a strategy that is better appropriate for the products they deal with.
The Effect of the Pricing Method on the Closing Stock
The approach used by a corporation to price inflation has an impact on its financial situation and profitability. If the corporation chooses LIFO, the cost of products sold will be greater (assuming inflation continues to rise), lowering gross profit and lowering taxes. It is one of the main reasons why businesses choose LIFO accounting over FIFO accounting. Another good explanation is that utilizing FIFO will result in a bigger amount of closing stock in the balance sheet than using FIFO.
The manner of inventory management has an impact on ratios. When FIFO is employed, the current ratio (current assets / current liabilities) will be higher. The number of Current Assets will rise due to ending stock. If FIFO is used, however, the inventory turnover ratio (Sales / Average inventory) will be lower.
FAQs on Closing Stock: Meaning, Valuation, and Accounting Treatment
1. What is closing stock in accounting?
Closing stock refers to the value of unsold inventory that a business holds at the end of an accounting period. It is a crucial component in calculating a company's profitability. This inventory can exist in various forms, including raw materials, work-in-progress (WIP), or finished goods ready for sale.
2. Is closing stock considered an asset or an expense?
Closing stock is classified as a current asset on the balance sheet. This is because it represents goods that hold future economic value and are expected to be sold to generate revenue in the next accounting period. While the cost of inventory that has been sold is recognised as an expense (Cost of Goods Sold), the unsold portion remains an asset.
3. What is the standard accounting treatment for closing stock as per the CBSE 2025-26 syllabus?
Closing stock has a dual effect in the final accounts. Firstly, it is credited to the Trading Account to ascertain the Gross Profit or Gross Loss for the period. Secondly, it is shown on the asset side of the Balance Sheet under the 'Current Assets' head, as it represents a resource owned by the business.
4. How is the value of closing stock determined?
According to the accounting principle of conservatism (prudence) and as per Accounting Standard 2, closing stock is valued at its cost price or its net realisable value (market value), whichever is lower. This practice ensures that the business does not overstate its assets or profits and anticipates potential losses from a decline in inventory value.
5. What are the main methods for stock valuation?
The primary methods used to calculate the cost of closing stock, as covered in the Commerce curriculum, include:
- First-In, First-Out (FIFO): This method assumes that the first items of inventory purchased are the first ones to be sold.
- Last-In, First-Out (LIFO): This method assumes the most recently purchased inventory items are sold first. (Note: LIFO is not permitted for reporting as per Indian Accounting Standards).
- Weighted Average Cost Method: This method uses the weighted average cost of all goods available for sale during the period to value the closing stock.
6. How does the choice of inventory valuation method (FIFO vs. Weighted Average) impact a company's reported profit?
The choice of valuation method directly impacts a company's gross profit, especially during periods of changing prices.
- In a period of rising prices (inflation), the FIFO method results in a lower Cost of Goods Sold (COGS), leading to a higher reported gross profit and a higher closing stock value on the balance sheet.
- The Weighted Average method smooths out price fluctuations, typically resulting in profit and closing stock values that fall between those calculated by FIFO and LIFO.
7. What is the formula to calculate closing stock?
The value of closing stock can be calculated using the following formula: Closing Stock = Opening Stock + Net Purchases + Direct Expenses – Cost of Goods Sold (COGS). This formula helps reconcile the inventory account by subtracting the cost of goods that have been sold from the total goods that were available for sale during the period.
8. What does it mean if 'Adjusted Purchases' and 'Closing Stock' both appear in the Trial Balance?
When 'Adjusted Purchases' appears in a trial balance, it signifies that the closing stock has already been accounted for by being deducted from the total purchases. In this scenario, the Adjusted Purchases figure is transferred directly to the debit side of the Profit & Loss Account, and the Closing Stock is shown only on the asset side of the Balance Sheet. It should not be credited to the Trading Account again to avoid double counting.
