Reserved vs. Consumed: Understanding Your Pending Stock

The Problem

You're looking at inventory and see some stock is "reserved" but not gone. Orders show items but inventory hasn't dropped. What's the difference between reserved and actually used?

The Solution

Reserved means stock is held for pending orders but not yet deducted. Consumed means it's actually gone. Reserved stock is released if you remove items from an order; consumed stock only returns if you reopen a closed order.

How It Works

• When you add items to an order: Stock is reserved - held but still technically on hand
• When you remove items from a pending order: Reserved stock is released back to available
• When you close an order: Reserved stock becomes consumed - actually deducted
• When you reopen a closed order: Consumed stock is returned to available

[SCREENSHOT: Inventory showing reserved quantity on a stock item]

Pro Tip

If your available stock looks lower than expected, check for pending orders with reserved stock. Those items are committed but not yet consumed.

Learn More

For the complete inventory flow, see our Commissary Setup & Managing Incoming Orders guide.