# Which Inventory Reports to Run in QuickBooks Desktop

> What each QuickBooks Desktop inventory report answers, from Inventory Valuation Summary to Pending Builds, plus the reports only Enterprise has.

- URL: https://logistify.ai/guides/quickbooks-desktop/inventory-reports/
- Section: QuickBooks Desktop Guides, Inventory
- Applies to: QuickBooks Desktop Enterprise, Premier, Pro
- Steps checked against: Intuit's QuickBooks Desktop help articles, updated August 2026
- Updated: 2026-10-20

**Short answer:** The inventory reports to run in QuickBooks Desktop are Inventory Valuation Summary and Detail, Inventory Stock Status by Item, the Physical Inventory Worksheet and Pending Builds. All are under Reports > Inventory. In turn, they show what stock is worth, what changed it, how many you have, what to count and which builds wait on parts. Enterprise adds Negative Item Listing, Inventory Turnover, and reports by site, bin and lot when those features are on.

## Before you start

- Inventory reports appear only when inventory is on: Edit > Preferences > Items & Inventory > Company Preferences, then Inventory and purchase orders are active.
- Decide what you're asking: what stock is worth, how many you have, what to count or what's waiting to be built. Each report answers one of those.
- Set the dates on purpose. Comparing with the Balance Sheet, or looking for negative stock, needs Dates set to All.
- Pending Builds only matters if you use inventory assemblies, which need Premier, Enterprise or Accountant.

## The core inventory reports

| Report | What it answers | Good to know |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Inventory Valuation Summary | What is my stock worth, item by item? | Shows active items only. Double-click an item to open its detail. |
| Inventory Valuation Detail | Which transactions changed each item's quantity and value? | With Dates set to All, it's the only report that shows the full extent of negative inventory. |
| Inventory Stock Status by Item | How many of each item do I have? | The For Assemblies column shows components needed by pending builds. |
| Physical Inventory Worksheet | What does my team need to count? | A worksheet for taking a physical count of your stock. |
| Pending Builds | Which assembly builds are waiting on components? | Open a build from the report to finish it when parts arrive. |

*All under Reports > Inventory. Based on Intuit's QuickBooks Desktop articles on reports, adjustments, negative inventory and assemblies.*

## Step 1: See what your stock is worth

1. Go to Reports > Inventory > Inventory Valuation Summary.
2. Set the date you want the value as of.
3. Double-click any item to open its Inventory Valuation Detail, with that item's transactions in date order.
4. To compare with the Balance Sheet, set Dates to All on both and run the Balance Sheet on an accrual basis.

If the totals differ, see [How to fix an inventory valuation mismatch](https://logistify.ai/guides/quickbooks-desktop/fix-inventory-valuation-mismatch/). For how purchases and sales post, see [What is the Inventory Asset account in QuickBooks Desktop](https://logistify.ai/guides/quickbooks-desktop/inventory-asset-account-cogs/).

## Step 2: See how many you have

1. Go to Reports > Inventory > Inventory Stock Status by Item.
2. Review the quantity for each item.
3. If you build assemblies, read the For Assemblies column. It lists components already needed by pending builds.
4. Enter purchase orders for those components before you build.

To turn quantities into buying decisions, see [How to set reorder points](https://logistify.ai/guides/quickbooks-desktop/set-reorder-points/).

## Step 3: Count stock and record the differences

1. Go to Reports > Inventory > Physical Inventory Worksheet.
2. Print it, or use the Excel button and Create New Worksheet to work from a spreadsheet.
3. Count each item and write the number on the sheet.
4. Enter the differences in Vendors > Inventory Activities > Adjust Quantity/Value on Hand.
5. Run Inventory Valuation Summary and Inventory Stock Status by Item to confirm the new numbers.

The adjustment steps are in [How to adjust inventory quantity and value](https://logistify.ai/guides/quickbooks-desktop/adjust-inventory-quantity-value/). In Enterprise with Advanced Inventory, you can count part of the warehouse at a time. See [How to run cycle counts in Advanced Inventory](https://logistify.ai/guides/quickbooks-desktop/cycle-counts-advanced-inventory/).

## Step 4: Finish builds that were waiting on parts

1. Go to Reports > Inventory > Pending Builds.
2. Double-click a build that now has its components.
3. Select Remove Pending Status, then Build & Close.
4. Create the invoice from the customer's sales order once the assembly is built.

A build becomes pending when you choose Mark Pending in Build Assemblies because components are short. Show Shortage in that window lists what to reorder. For the build steps, see [How to set up a bill of materials and build assemblies](https://logistify.ai/guides/quickbooks-desktop/set-up-bill-of-materials-build-assemblies/).

## Reports only Enterprise has

| Report | When it's there | What it answers |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Negative Item Listing | Enterprise 15.0 and later | Which items are below zero right now. It doesn't show past negatives. |
| Inventory Turnover Report | Enterprise 2024, from the R7 release | How fast stock sells: turnover ratio, turnover days and the date each item last sold. |
| Inventory Stock Status by Lot Number | Enterprise 24.0, with lot numbers on | Quantity on hand, on sales orders and available, grouped by lot. |
| Inventory Expiration Status | Enterprise with expiration dates on | Which lots or serial numbers have expired or will soon, with days left. |
| Quantity on Hand by Site, Inventory Valuation Summary by Site, Inventory Stock Status by Site, Pending Builds by Site | Enterprise with multiple sites on | Quantity, value, stock status and pending builds at each site. |
| Items by Bin Location | Enterprise with bin locations on | Stock by bin inside each site. |
| Inventory Sales by Site (Reports > Sales) | Enterprise with multiple sites on | Sales from each site. |
| Inventory Site Listing (Reports > List) | Enterprise with multiple sites on | Your list of sites. |

*Unless noted, under Reports > Inventory. Lot and expiration tracking need Advanced Inventory. Intuit lists expiration dates for Enterprise Platinum and Diamond, versions 2023 and 2024.*

The turnover ratio is cost of goods sold for the period divided by average inventory value. Average inventory is the beginning and ending values added together, then halved. In Intuit's example, a year's cost of goods sold is $5,000 and average inventory is $2,000. That gives a ratio of 2.5, or 146 days to sell through stock.

For sites and bins, see [How to track inventory by site](https://logistify.ai/guides/quickbooks-desktop/track-inventory-by-site/) and [How to use bin locations in QuickBooks Desktop Enterprise](https://logistify.ai/guides/quickbooks-desktop/bin-locations-enterprise/). For margin by item, see [How to use the Item Profitability report](https://logistify.ai/guides/quickbooks-desktop/item-profitability-report/).

## Making the reports more useful

- Select Customize Report to change dates, columns and filters. Intuit notes the available columns and filters differ by report.
- In Enterprise with item categories, Inventory Valuation Summary and Inventory Stock Status by Item can group items by category. Select Hide Category to switch back to items only.
- In Enterprise, the Physical Inventory Worksheet can show a category column, turned on in Customize Report.
- Use the Excel button on a report to send it to a new worksheet.
- In QuickBooks Accountant and Enterprise, Client Data Review's Troubleshoot Inventory tool lists items that went negative in a date range.

To save a customized version, see [How to create and memorize custom reports](https://logistify.ai/guides/quickbooks-desktop/create-memorize-custom-reports/). For categories, see [How to use item categories in QuickBooks Desktop Enterprise](https://logistify.ai/guides/quickbooks-desktop/item-categories-enterprise/).

## Where QuickBooks Desktop leaves the work to you

- Reports show only what's been entered. Unrecorded receipts, sales or breakage make every one of them wrong.
- Someone has to run them, compare them and act on what they show.
- The worksheet doesn't count anything. People still walk the shelves and key in each difference.
- Many of the most useful views, such as turnover, lot status and site reports, need Enterprise, and some need Advanced Inventory.

## Frequently Asked Questions

### Which report shows inventory value in QuickBooks Desktop?

Inventory Valuation Summary shows value by item, and Inventory Valuation Detail shows the transactions behind it. Both are under Reports > Inventory.

### Which report shows quantity on hand?

Inventory Stock Status by Item. With multiple sites in Enterprise, Quantity on Hand by Site and Inventory Stock Status by Site break it out by location.

### Why can't I see inventory reports in QuickBooks Desktop?

Inventory reports appear only when inventory is turned on. Select Inventory and purchase orders are active in Items & Inventory preferences.

### Is there a report for doing a physical count?

Yes, Reports > Inventory > Physical Inventory Worksheet. Enter the differences you find with Adjust Quantity/Value on Hand.

### Does QuickBooks Desktop have an inventory turnover report?

Yes, in QuickBooks Desktop Enterprise 2024 from the R7 release. Find it under Reports > Inventory > Inventory Turnover Report.

### Which report shows builds waiting on components?

Reports > Inventory > Pending Builds. Inventory Stock Status by Item also shows the components those builds need in its For Assemblies column.

## Sources

- [Intuit: Understand reports](https://quickbooks.intuit.com/learn-support/en-us/help-article/memorize-reports/understand-reports/L6mJBjn2h_US_en_US)
- [Intuit: Adjust your inventory quantity or value in QuickBooks Desktop](https://quickbooks.intuit.com/learn-support/en-us/help-article/inventory-adjustment/adjust-inventory-quantity-value-quickbooks-desktop/L8p8OoeGs_US_en_US)
- [Intuit: Fix negative inventory issues in QuickBooks Desktop](https://quickbooks.intuit.com/learn-support/en-us/help-article/inventory-management/fix-negative-inventory-issues-quickbooks-desktop/L7LoLuVSD_US_en_US)
- [Intuit: Balance Sheet and Inventory/Stock Valuation reports show different amounts for Inventory Asset account](https://quickbooks.intuit.com/learn-support/en-us/help-article/list-management/balance-sheet-inventory-stock-valuation-reports/L02dbIDsy_US_en_US)
- [Intuit: Customize item reports](https://quickbooks.intuit.com/learn-support/en-us/help-article/list-management/customize-item-reports/L272v5yhH_US_en_US)
- [Intuit: Combine inventory items to build finished goods (assemblies) in QuickBooks Desktop](https://quickbooks.intuit.com/learn-support/en-us/help-article/small-business-processes/combine-inventory-items-build-finished-goods/L1HTQZOAL_US_en_US)
- [Intuit: Multiple Inventory Sites](https://quickbooks.intuit.com/learn-support/en-us/help-article/manage-inventory/multiple-inventory-sites/L9gJ6syaF_US_en_US)
- [Intuit: Use the Inventory Turnover report in QuickBooks Enterprise 2024](https://quickbooks.intuit.com/learn-support/en-us/help-article/inventory-management/use-inventory-turnover-report-quickbooks-2024/L6nNqyuvy_US_en_US)
- [Intuit: Use the Inventory Stock Status by Lot Number report in QuickBooks Enterprise 24.0](https://quickbooks.intuit.com/learn-support/en-us/help-article/inventory-management/use-inventory-stock-status-lot-number-report-24-0/L4rCV7629_US_en_US)
- [Intuit: Use Serial or Lot Numbers and Expiration Date](https://quickbooks.intuit.com/learn-support/en-us/help-article/product-preferences/use-serial-lot-numbers/L7pICcele_US_en_US)
- [Intuit: Use item categories in QuickBooks Desktop Enterprise](https://quickbooks.intuit.com/learn-support/en-us/help-article/inventory-management/inventory-categories-quickbooks-desktop-enterprise/L9P3ArO3n_US_en_US)
- [Intuit: Accountant tools: Troubleshoot inventory](https://quickbooks.intuit.com/learn-support/en-us/help-article/accounting-bookkeeping/accountant-tools-troubleshoot-inventory/L0rkZPr9h_US_en_US)
- [Intuit: Cycle Count in Advanced Inventory](https://quickbooks.intuit.com/learn-support/en-us/help-article/inventory-management/cycle-count-advanced-inventory/L5CYYncCK_US_en_US)
- [Intuit: Import or export MS Excel files](https://quickbooks.intuit.com/learn-support/en-us/help-article/list-management/import-export-ms-excel-files/L9BDPsTTX_US_en_US)