What Is the Product Return Rate Report?
The Product Return Rate report shows how frequently shoppers return units of each product during a selected reporting period. It brings Ordered Quantity and Returned Quantity together with Return %, so you can compare returns against the number of units ordered instead of judging by return counts alone.
The report includes Product Name and Variant ID to help identify the items involved, plus Net Quantity for a post-return quantity view. It is useful for spotting products that deserve a closer look, measuring return patterns over time, and sharing a clear returns summary with your team.
Report Overview
- Report category
- Product & Variant Reports.
- Reporting period
- Choose the date range you want to review; confirm how the report applies the date filter before comparing periods.
- Data included
- Ordered Quantity, Returned Quantity, Variant ID, Net Quantity, Return %, and Product Name.
- Best for
- Identifying products with high return percentages, checking return volume, and reviewing variant-level differences.
- Export and scheduling
- Download in Excel, CSV, TXT, or PDF, or set up daily, weekly, or monthly delivery using supported Data Export destinations.
What Can You Learn from Product Return Rates?
1. Spot Products with an Unusually High Return Rate
Return % helps compare products fairly, even when one sells far more units than another. Review both the percentage and its underlying quantities before taking action.
Example: A product with 6 returned units out of 60 ordered has a 10% return rate.
What you can do: Start with the highest meaningful return percentages and check product feedback, fit, quality, or listing accuracy separately.
2. Separate High Return Volume from High Return Percentage
Returned Quantity shows the number of units coming back, while Return % puts those units in the context of orders. A high-volume item can generate more returns without having the highest rate.
Example: One item has 20 returns at 5%, while another has 8 returns at 16%.
What you can do: Prioritize operational follow-up using both return counts and percentages, not one measure alone.
3. Check Whether Particular Variants Need Attention
Variant ID helps distinguish individual options when the report is grouped at variant level. This can reveal differences that a product name alone might hide.
Example: Two sizes of the same product show different return percentages.
What you can do: Review the affected option’s description, sizing guidance, and quality checks before changing the whole product listing.
4. Review Units Kept After Returns
Net Quantity adds context to ordered and returned units. It helps you review the remaining quantity after returns for the report period, but it is not the same as inventory on hand.
Example: A product shows 100 units ordered, 9 returned, and a net quantity of 91.
What you can do: Use net quantity when discussing product performance, and use a dedicated inventory report for available stock.
What Should You Check First in This Report?
Start with these four fields to turn the report into a useful product review.
- Return % — Sort from highest to lowest, then check whether each product has enough ordered units for the percentage to be meaningful.
- Returned Quantity — Identify the products contributing the greatest number of returned units to your workload.
- Ordered Quantity — Put the return count in context; a small number of orders can make a rate look unusually high.
- Net Quantity and Variant ID — Confirm what remains after returns and which specific variant needs follow-up.
When Should You Use This Report?
| When to Use It | How It Helps |
|---|---|
| Reviewing product return rates each month | Compare return rates across products and decide which listings need further investigation. |
| Checking early returns after a product launch | Check early returns against ordered quantities as newly launched products gain sales volume. |
| Investigating return patterns by variant | Locate product variants that may need sizing, description, or quality review. |
| Reviewing items with high return volumes | Find high-return-volume items that may be affecting handling and restocking workloads. |
| Sharing product-level return rate updates | Share a concise product-level returns view without manually recomputing percentages. |
How to Create This Report in Data Export
Use the Product Return Rate premade report so the required fields are ready to review.
- Open Data Export and find the premade Product Return Rate report under the relevant product and variant reports.
- Open the report and review the six default fields: Ordered Quantity, Returned Quantity, Variant ID, Net Quantity, Return %, and Product Name.
- Choose your reporting period. Apply an available product or variant filter if you want to focus on specific items.
- Select Save. If necessary, adjust supported columns or build the view from Custom Reports using these same fields.
- If you need recurring updates, set a daily, weekly, or monthly schedule and choose an available email or file-delivery destination.
Make the Most of This Report
These four checks help you interpret the numbers and share them more reliably.
01 / DATE RANGE / Compare like for like: Use the same period length and confirm the date basis when comparing monthly rates.
02 / SMALL COUNTS / Check the denominator: A very high rate based on only a few ordered units needs context before action.
03 / VARIANT DETAIL / Keep variants distinct: Use Variant ID when similar product options have different return behavior.
04 / DELIVERY / Share the right view: Export a working Excel/CSV file for analysis or a PDF summary for stakeholders; schedule recurring delivery as needed.
Frequently Asked Questions
How is the product return rate calculated?
Return % = (Returned Quantity ÷ Ordered Quantity) × 100. For example, 5 returned units from 100 ordered units equals a 5% return rate.
Does this report show the number of returned orders or returned units?
It uses quantities, so the return rate is based on units returned compared with units ordered. It is not a percentage of orders with a return.
Can I check return rates for individual product variants?
Variant ID is included in the default fields, allowing you to identify variants. Review the report grouping and available filters if you need a separate row for each variant.
Does the report show why an item was returned?
No. The six default fields measure return quantities and percentages, not return reasons. Use relevant return records or feedback to investigate the cause.
Can I schedule the Product Return Rate report?
Yes. After saving the report in Data Export, choose an available daily, weekly, or monthly schedule and delivery option, such as email, according to your setup.
