Guides › Which stock numbers to compare

Available, on hand, fulfillable: which stock numbers to compare

Updated 16 October 2026 · 4 min read · ShelfTrue team

If Shopify and ShipBob never seem to sync, check which numbers you're comparing before anything else. Each side shows several numbers for the same product, and only some of them mean the same thing. Compare the wrong pair and you'll see differences that aren't there, or miss ones that are.

Shopify's numbers

NumberWhat it counts
On handEverything at the location: Committed + Unavailable + Available.
CommittedSet aside for orders that aren't fulfilled yet.
UnavailableSet aside for other reasons, like damaged units or safety stock.
AvailableWhat you can sell.
IncomingOn its way to the location. It becomes Available once received.

ShipBob's numbers

NumberWhat it counts
On handEverything stocked at the warehouse.
CommittedSet aside for orders waiting to ship.
FulfillableOn hand minus committed.
SellableFulfillable minus exception orders. Only given for all of ShipBob's warehouses together.

The pair to compare

Shopify Available and ShipBob Fulfillable. Both answer the same question: how many more units can go to new customers. Both leave out units already promised to orders.

Pairs that mislead

If you compareWhat goes wrong
Shopify Available with ShipBob On handShipBob looks higher by every unit promised to orders, even when nothing is wrong.
Shopify On hand with ShipBob On handShopify's on hand includes Unavailable units, and orders that haven't reached ShipBob yet count on one side only. The gap mixes real problems with settings and timing.
Shopify Available plus IncomingIncoming stock isn't at the warehouse yet. Adding it hides an oversell until the delivery arrives.
One Shopify location with ShipBob SellableSellable covers all of ShipBob's warehouses together, so it only fits if a single Shopify location stands for all of them.

When ShipBob uses more than one warehouse

ShipBob can keep the same product in several of its warehouses. Add up the ShipBob warehouses that stand behind one Shopify location, then compare that total with the location's Available.

Worked example

White MugShopifyShipBob
On hand2014
Committed55
Unavailable3–
Available / Fulfillable129

On hand says Shopify is 6 higher. But 3 of those are Unavailable units Shopify isn't selling anyway. The real gap is Available 12 against Fulfillable 9: 3 mugs can be sold that ShipBob can't ship. What to check when Shopify is higher.

Related guides

ShelfTrue does this check for you. Upload your warehouse's stock file and ShelfTrue compares it with Shopify at least once an hour on paid plans. It compares the matching pair of numbers for every linked product and tells you only the differences that cost money. Coming soon: connect ShipBob directly, and ShelfTrue will read it and add up ShipBob's warehouses behind each Shopify location. We can look, but never change anything at the warehouse.

Your first check is free.

Get my free stock check

Sources