Cafe reusable container return rate calculator

Calculate overall return fraction and outstanding [cohort,quantity,age days] with your own figures.

Your numbers

Use the units shown. Results update as you change valid inputs.

Use overall return fraction and outstanding [cohort,quantity,age days] to compare changes to your inputs. The method and limits below explain the scope.

Examples

Examples

Try the starting example

Cohorts [issue ISO date,issued count,returned by report date count]; enter JSON
[["2026-10-01",100,80],["2026-10-10",50,30]]
Report date (ISO date)
2026-10-20
Overall return fraction
0.733333
Outstanding [cohort,quantity,age days] (JSON)
[[1,20,19],[2,20,10]]
Outstanding containers (count)
40

Try another scenario

Cohorts [issue ISO date,issued count,returned by report date count]; enter JSON
[["2026-10-01",120,100],["2026-10-15",60,40]]
Report date (ISO date)
2026-10-22
Overall return fraction
0.777778
Outstanding [cohort,quantity,age days] (JSON)
[[1,20,21],[2,20,7]]
Outstanding containers (count)
40
Calculation method

Calculation method

Overall return fraction

Total returned/total issued.

Outstanding [cohort,quantity,age days] (JSON)

Issued−returned per cohort; age=report−issue in whole calendar days.

Outstanding containers (count)

Total issued−total returned.

Symbols and units
a
Cohorts [issue ISO date,issued count,returned by report date count]; enter JSON
b
Report date (ISO date)

Use the units shown. A list keeps the order in which you enter its values. The symbol ^ means “raised to the power of”.

Assumptions & limits

Assumptions & limits

  • Cohort report as of a supplied date; returns cannot precede issue or exceed issued quantity. Supported limits: All numeric inputs and computed intermediates must remain finite. Supported numeric input magnitude is zero or 1e-12 through 1e12 in absolute value; reject values outside this bounded range. All lists/JSON record tables are limited to 100 records unless a stricter bound is stated; reject malformed record arity and wrong member types. Valid issue dates<=report date; 0<=returned<=issued integers; total issued>0.
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