Order Picking Time Calculator
Estimate how long an order takes to pick.
Average pick time per line. Defaults to 30.
Results update as you type.
How it works
Order picking is often the most labour-intensive activity in a warehouse, and estimating how long it takes is essential for staffing, scheduling, and hitting shipping deadlines. This order picking time calculator multiplies the number of items by the average seconds each takes to pick, then converts to minutes, giving a fast estimate of the labour time an order requires. This matters because picking can absorb half or more of warehouse labour costs. Knowing the time per order lets managers schedule the right number of pickers, set realistic cut-off times for same-day shipping, and identify orders large enough to warrant batch or zone picking. It also provides a baseline to measure process improvements against, so you can quantify the gain from better slotting, pick paths, or technology. The calculation works because picking time scales with the number of line items when each takes a fairly consistent time to locate, retrieve, and confirm. The default of 30 seconds per item is a reasonable starting point, but your real rate depends on warehouse size, storage method, travel distance, and whether pickers use paper, scanners, or voice systems. Measure your own average and enter it for accuracy. Warehouse supervisors, fulfilment teams, and operations analysts use pick time estimates to balance workloads, plan capacity for peak seasons, and build the throughput models that keep orders flowing out the door on schedule.
total minutes = items × seconds per item ÷ 60
Total picking time multiplies the number of items by the average seconds each takes to pick, then divides by sixty to convert seconds into minutes. The formula works because picking is a repetitive task where each line item consumes a roughly consistent amount of time to locate, grab, and confirm. Multiplying the count by the per-item rate estimates total labour time, and the division simply expresses that time in the minutes warehouse planners use to schedule shifts and set throughput targets.
Source:Standard freight/logistics formula
We review all our tools from time to time to ensure accuracy.
Worked example
How to use this calculator
- 1
Enter your values
Enter number of items.
- 2
Adjust the options
Adjust seconds per item if they apply — sensible defaults are already set.
- 3
Read your result
Total picking time updates instantly as you type — no button to press.
Frequently asked questions
What is a realistic seconds-per-item pick rate?
It varies widely with warehouse layout, storage method, and technology, but many operations fall between 20 and 60 seconds per item, with the default of 30 a common middle ground. Small, dense warehouses with short travel and scanners pick faster, while large facilities with long walks pick slower. The best figure is your own measured average, timed across a representative sample of orders and pickers.
Does this include travel time between locations?
The per-item figure should bake in an average share of travel time, since walking between pick locations is a major part of picking. If your seconds-per-item rate is measured door to door across whole orders, travel is already included. If it only counts the grab itself, raise the figure to account for travel, or the estimate will understate the true time each order takes to complete.
How can I reduce order picking time?
Slot fast-moving items near the packing area and at ergonomic heights, optimise pick paths to cut travel, and batch or zone pick to handle multiple orders per trip. Barcode scanners, pick-to-light, and voice picking speed confirmation and reduce errors. Each of these lowers your seconds-per-item rate. Measure the rate before and after a change using this calculator to quantify how much time the improvement actually saves.
Should I use this per order or per shift?
Both work. For a single order, enter that order's item count to estimate its pick time. For a shift, sum the items across all orders to estimate total picking labour, which helps you decide how many pickers you need. Dividing total items by picker capacity per hour tells you whether your current staffing can clear the workload before shipping cut-off.
Why does picking dominate warehouse labour cost?
Picking is repetitive, travel-heavy, and touches every single order, so it accumulates more labour hours than receiving, put-away, or shipping. Studies commonly attribute half or more of warehouse labour to picking. Because it is so large a share, even small per-item time savings translate into significant cost reductions across thousands of orders, which is why operations invest heavily in slotting, layout, and picking technology.