{
  "slug": "vending-machine-slot-velocity",
  "title": "Vending Machine Slot Velocity Calculator",
  "heading": "Vending Machine Slot Velocity Calculator",
  "category": "financial",
  "url": "https://www.revenuelab.fyi/toolbox/vending-machine-slot-velocity",
  "summary": "Find units sold per slot per week and identify dead inventory tying up machine space.",
  "description": "Slot velocity — units sold per slot per week — is the single best diagnostic for vending machine planogram health. A machine with 40 slots selling 200 units a week averages 5 units per slot, but averages hide the problem: if 10 slots are moving 15 units a week and 10 slots are moving 0.5 units a week, you have dead weight taking up space that a better SKU could fill. This calculator takes total weekly units sold and slot count to compute average velocity, then flags what a slot needs to hit to be worth keeping versus swapping for a proven mover, using a minimum viable velocity threshold you set based on your restocking cycle.",
  "formula": "Average velocity = total weekly units ÷ slot count. Minimum viable = restock interval coverage ÷ days between visits. Underperforming slots = velocity below threshold.",
  "dateModified": "2026-09-30",
  "run_url": "https://www.revenuelab.fyi/api/public/calc?tool=vending-machine-slot-velocity",
  "inputs": [
    {
      "id": "weeklyUnits",
      "label": "Total units sold per week",
      "kind": "number",
      "hint": null,
      "default": 210,
      "unit": null,
      "min": 1,
      "max": null
    },
    {
      "id": "slotCount",
      "label": "Number of slots in machine",
      "kind": "number",
      "hint": null,
      "default": 40,
      "unit": null,
      "min": 4,
      "max": null
    },
    {
      "id": "restockDays",
      "label": "Days between restocking visits",
      "kind": "number",
      "hint": null,
      "default": 7,
      "unit": null,
      "min": 1,
      "max": null
    },
    {
      "id": "minUnitsPerVisit",
      "label": "Minimum units per slot per visit to justify the slot",
      "kind": "number",
      "hint": null,
      "default": 3,
      "unit": null,
      "min": 1,
      "max": null
    }
  ],
  "outputs": [
    {
      "id": "avgVelocity",
      "label": "Average units per slot per week",
      "format": "decimal",
      "hint": null,
      "primary": true
    },
    {
      "id": "minWeeklyVelocity",
      "label": "Minimum viable velocity threshold",
      "format": "decimal",
      "hint": null,
      "primary": false
    },
    {
      "id": "velocityGap",
      "label": "Cushion above/below threshold",
      "format": "decimal",
      "hint": null,
      "primary": false
    },
    {
      "id": "annualUnitsPerSlot",
      "label": "Annual units per slot (avg)",
      "format": "number",
      "hint": null,
      "primary": false
    }
  ],
  "worked_example": {
    "inputs": [
      "Total units sold per week: 210",
      "Number of slots in machine: 40",
      "Days between restocking visits: 7",
      "Minimum units per slot per visit to justify the slot: 3"
    ],
    "outputs": [
      "Average units per slot per week: 5.25",
      "Minimum viable velocity threshold: 3",
      "Cushion above/below threshold: 2.25",
      "Annual units per slot (avg): 273"
    ]
  },
  "how_to": {
    "title": "How to use this",
    "steps": [
      "Enter total units sold per week.",
      "Enter number of slots in machine.",
      "Enter days between restocking visits.",
      "Enter minimum units per slot per visit to justify the slot.",
      "Read your average units per slot per week on the right — it updates as you type.",
      "Hit Share to keep the scenario or send it to someone."
    ]
  },
  "scenarios": [
    {
      "name": "Conservative",
      "description": "Lower-end numbers — what if things land soft?",
      "values": {
        "weeklyUnits": 125,
        "slotCount": 24,
        "restockDays": 4,
        "minUnitsPerVisit": 2
      }
    },
    {
      "name": "Typical",
      "description": "Defaults — the most common real-world setup.",
      "values": {
        "weeklyUnits": 210,
        "slotCount": 40,
        "restockDays": 7,
        "minUnitsPerVisit": 3
      }
    },
    {
      "name": "Ambitious",
      "description": "Higher-end numbers — what if things really pop?",
      "values": {
        "weeklyUnits": 335,
        "slotCount": 64,
        "restockDays": 11,
        "minUnitsPerVisit": 5
      }
    }
  ],
  "limitations": [
    "Results are estimates before tax, fees, and inflation unless an input explicitly covers them.",
    "Rates are treated as fixed for the whole period — variable-rate products will drift from this projection.",
    "This is educational maths, not financial advice. Check anything contractual with the lender or your accountant."
  ],
  "faq": [
    {
      "q": "What's a good average velocity for a snack machine?",
      "a": "3-8 units per slot per week is typical for a decent-traffic location; top performers with popular SKUs in high-traffic spots can exceed 12-15 units per slot weekly on best sellers, while niche or specialty items often sit at 1-2 units weekly even in a good machine."
    },
    {
      "q": "How do I find which specific slots are underperforming if I only have a total?",
      "a": "Most modern vending machines with telemetry (DEX data) report per-slot sales automatically. Without telemetry, track sales manually for 2-3 restock cycles per slot using a simple tally sheet — it's tedious but the data is what tells you which SKUs to cut."
    },
    {
      "q": "What should replace a dead slot?",
      "a": "Rotate in a product from a category currently selling well elsewhere in your route rather than guessing — cross-reference your best-selling SKUs system-wide and test the top 2-3 candidates that aren't already in that machine before trying something entirely new to your inventory."
    },
    {
      "q": "Does slot velocity change by season or day of week?",
      "a": "Yes significantly — cold beverage velocity can double in summer, and office-location machines see 60-70% of weekly volume concentrated Tuesday through Thursday. Measure velocity over a full multi-week period, not a single restock cycle, before making planogram changes."
    }
  ],
  "related": [
    "https://www.revenuelab.fyi/toolbox/vending-machine-route-profit",
    "https://www.revenuelab.fyi/toolbox/vending-machine-shrink-loss",
    "https://www.revenuelab.fyi/toolbox/vending-machine-roi"
  ],
  "license": "CC-BY-4.0",
  "citation": "RevenueLab — Vending Machine Slot Velocity Calculator (https://www.revenuelab.fyi/toolbox/vending-machine-slot-velocity)"
}