INVENTORY & FULFILLMENT
Each (EA)
An each is one inventory unit of a specific SKU. Warehouses use it to count, pick and track individual units, rather than full cases or pallets. The conversion from cases or pallets to eaches depends on that SKU’s pack configuration.
FROM A FULL PALLET TO ONE EACH
A WORKED EXAMPLE
Receive 480.
Pick 5. Have 475 left.
2 pallets × 20 cases × 12 = 480 eaches
A receipt contains two full pallets of the SKU shown above. Record 480 eaches if EA is the inventory unit.
After picking five eaches, the balance is 475 eaches: the equivalent of 39 full cases plus seven eaches.
39 × 12 + 7 = 475. This is a quantity equivalent; it does not prove how stock is physically packed or where it is stored.
Convert your pack configuration
2 × 20 × 12 = 480. Assumes full pallets with identical pack configurations.
CHOOSE THE RIGHT HANDLING UNIT
Each vs case vs pallet
| Unit | What it counts | Typical picking task |
|---|---|---|
| Each | 1 inventory unit | Pick 3 units from an open case. |
| Case | 12 eaches in this example | Pick 2 full cases: 24 eaches. |
| Pallet | 240 eaches in this example | Move 1 full pallet as a unit load. |
LOOK INSIDE THE LOAD
20 cartons.
240 individual units.
Transparent carton faces show the 12 eaches inside every case. Count 20 cartons on the pallet: the same stock can be recorded as one pallet, 20 cases or 240 eaches.
The inventory has not changed. Only the unit used to express its quantity has changed.
Illustrative single-SKU pack configuration. Confirm the actual case pack for each product.
WHAT THIS MEANS FOR YOUR QUOTE
Why “each” matters on a 3PL quote
A count of eaches is not automatically a count of billable picks. A provider may charge by order, line, unit, case or handling task. A case containing 12 eaches might be billed as one case pick or under another agreed rule.
Use the same representative orders when comparing quotes, and ask the provider to show the fee calculation.
Put this term to work. Use the 3PL selection guide to turn these operating requirements into provider checks, and the 3PL RFP guide to document evidence, responsibilities and exceptions.
OPERATIONAL INSIGHT
A case sent instead
of an each.
Ryan Bennett3PL Hub
During my time at Ingram Micro, a client moved to us after their previous 3PL entered the individual-unit UPC in the master-case UPC field. Consumers were receiving full cases of computer hardware instead of individual units.
This is where I see value in AI: comparing the brand’s master SKU data, the vendor’s inbound purchase order and the WMS configuration to flag discrepancies before they cause problems.
A mismatch is a reason to investigate, not automatically change a record. Vendor and internal SKUs can legitimately differ. Systems may generate new SKUs during imports, and formatting issues can affect identifiers with leading zeros or stray characters.
Present the findings for human review. Someone needs to verify the mapping, approve any correction and take responsibility for it.
Prevent three common unit mistakes
- Make the unit explicit on orders. “Quantity 12” is ambiguous. Record whether it means 12 eaches or 12 cases, and map the unit between systems.
- Maintain conversions for each SKU. Do not assume all cases hold 12. A new pack size or product variant may need a different conversion.
- Count stock in a consistent unit. Translate cases and pallets to the inventory unit before reconciling a cycle count. Conversion accuracy and physical count accuracy are separate checks.
A LITTLE MORE CONTEXT
Questions about eaches
Is an each the same as a SKU?
No. A SKU identifies a particular inventory item or variant; each is a unit used to count its quantity. You might hold 50 eaches of one SKU and 80 eaches of another.
How many eaches are in a case?
There is no universal number. Use the case-pack conversion for the specific SKU. If its case pack is 12, five full cases contain 60 eaches.
Does each picking always cost more than case picking?
No universal price rule applies. Opening cases and handling individual units can add work, but the bill depends on the provider’s rate card, order profile and agreed billing unit.
Understand the connected terms
Source & example notes
Microsoft Dynamics 365: unit sequence groups illustrates how a WMS can relate pieces, boxes and pallets. System behavior and codes vary by implementation.
All quantities here use a hypothetical SKU. Verify actual conversions against the supplier’s pack data and your item master. Pricing questions are illustrative, not quoted provider terms.
Last updated: · 3PL Hub
