About

In the high-volume retail sector (grocery, supermarkets, fast fashion), 'Checks Per Hour' (CPH) is the standard metric for cashier efficiency. It measures how many separate transactions (checks) a cashier processes in a 60-minute window. A higher CPH reduces queue times and labor costs.

However, CPH must be balanced with accuracy and customer service. Simply rushing can lead to scanning errors or poor customer experience. This tool helps Store Managers and Frontend Supervisors calculate current performance and set realistic time-per-transaction goals to optimize lane throughput.

Formulas

To calculate CPH based on shift data:

CPH = Total TransactionsTotal Hours Worked

To convert a Target CPH into a manageable time-per-customer goal:

Seconds/Trans = 3600Target CPH

Reference Data

Retail Segment	Target CPH	Avg. Items Per Check	Throughput (Items/Min)
Deep Discounter (e.g. Aldi)	45 - 60	25+	40 - 50
Standard Grocery	25 - 35	15 - 20	20 - 30
Convenience Store	40 - 50	2 - 5	10 - 15
Fashion / Apparel	10 - 15	2 - 3	N/A (Folding req.)
Big Box (Hardware)	15 - 20	5 - 10	Variable
Wholesale Club	18 - 25	30+	30 - 40

Frequently Asked Questions

IPM (Items Per Minute) measures scanning speed purely based on the number of barcodes scanned. CPH (Checks Per Hour) measures the total transaction cycle, including payment processing, bagging, and greeting, making it a more holistic measure of lane speed.

You should deduct unpaid break times from the 'Hours Worked' input. If a cashier was at the store for 8 hours but took a 1-hour lunch, input 7 hours to get an accurate active CPH.

Common methods include memorizing PLU codes for produce, efficient bagging techniques, and reducing chatter. However, optimizing the POS software speed often yields the biggest store-wide gains.

Not if it increases shrinkage (missed scans) or damages customer satisfaction. The goal is the 'Optimal CPH'—the fastest speed that maintains 99.9% accuracy and a friendly demeanor.