Days Payable Outstanding (DPO) Calculator

Efficiency
Updated Apr 2026 • Has calculator

The average number of days a company takes to pay its suppliers.

Calculate DPO

DPO Formula

DPO = 365 ÷ Payables Turnover Ratio

COGS divided by average accounts payable (e.g. 3.20 if COGS=$210B and avg AP=$65.8B)

Days Payable Outstanding

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Not investment advice.

What is DPO?

Days Payable Outstanding (DPO) measures the average time, in days, that a company takes to pay its trade creditors. It equals 365 divided by the Payables Turnover Ratio (COGS divided by average accounts payable). A higher DPO means the company holds onto cash longer before paying suppliers, which improves short-term liquidity — large companies often negotiate extended payment terms as a competitive advantage. A very high DPO may signal cash flow stress or strained supplier relationships.

Worked Example

Worked example — Apple Inc. (AAPL)

FY2024

Step 1  Payables turnover: COGS $210,352M ÷ avg AP ($68,960M + $62,611M) ÷ 2 = 3.20x
Step 2  DPO = 365 ÷ 3.20 = 114.06 days
Step 3  → Apple pays suppliers on average 114 days after receiving goods — a major competitive advantage

Source: Apple 10-K FY2024 (2024-11-01)

How to Interpret DPO

< 30
Low — fast payment, may reflect weak bargaining power
30 – 60
Average — standard payment terms
60 – 90
High — extended terms, strong supplier relationships
> 90
Very High — dominant buyer or potential cash flow stress

📚 Working Capital — Complete the path

  1. Cash Conversion Cycle
  2. DIO
  3. DSO
  4. DPO
  5. Asset Turnover
  6. Inventory Turnover
Sources
  1. CFA Institute — Financial Reporting and Analysis, 6th ed., Ch. 9
  2. Investopedia — DPO