The usual quantity abbreviation is qty., built from the q, the t and the y of the word. On invoices, packing slips and spreadsheets you will often see it in capitals with no period, as QTY, at the top of the column that says how many of each item.
Qty. is a word abbreviation, not an acronym, so you read it aloud as the full word "quantity." Nobody says "Q T Y" in a store.
Quick facts
Standard abbreviation
qty. (QTY in column headings)Other forms
Q (in math and economics), no. ofPeriod
Yes in running text, often dropped in headingsPlural
qtys. (rare); most people keep qty.Used in
Invoices, order forms, receipts, inventory sheetsNot to be confused with
qt. for quart
The quantity abbreviation and its forms
| Form | Where you see it | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| qty. | Notes, letters, catalogs | Lowercase with a period |
| Qty. | Start of a line or label | Capital Q at the start of a sentence or label |
| QTY | Column headings, receipts, software | All capitals, usually no period |
| Q | Math, economics charts | A symbol for quantity, as in supply and demand |
All of these mean the same thing. Pick the form that matches the layout. A table header has room for QTY, while a sentence reads better with qty. or the full word.
How qty. was formed
Qty. is a contraction style abbreviation. It keeps the first letter, q, then jumps to letters near the end, t and y. Other short forms built this way include "amt." for amount and "dept." for department. The site's guide on how to abbreviate walks through these patterns, and acronym vs abbreviation explains why qty. is not an acronym.
Where the abbreviation for quantity shows up
You will meet qty. anywhere items are counted:
- Invoices and bills: a QTY column sits next to the item name and the unit cost.
- Purchase orders: buyers write how many units they want.
- Packing slips: "Qty. shipped" and "Qty. ordered" show if anything is missing.
- Restaurant and store receipts: a number next to each line item.
- Inventory sheets: "Qty. on hand" is the count sitting on the shelf.
- Recipes for big batches: sometimes, though most recipes just give the amount.
On a packing slip: "Item: blue mugs. Qty. ordered: 6. Qty. shipped: 4. Backordered: 2." Two mugs are still coming in a later box.
Period, capitals and plural
American style puts a period after shortened words like qty., but many forms and receipts drop it to save space, especially in all capitals. Both are correct as long as you stay consistent on one document.
- Start of a label: Qty.
- Mid sentence: qty.
- Column header: QTY
- Plural: most writers keep qty. for one or many. "Qtys." exists but looks odd and is rarely needed.
In formal writing such as an essay or a report, spell out quantity. Save qty. for tables, lists and forms where space is tight.
Mixups with quart, quarter and quality
Some neighbors of qty. differ by one letter, and a slip can change an order:
| Short form | Means | Example |
|---|---|---|
| qty. | Quantity | Qty. 3 |
| qt. | Quart | 2 qt. of milk |
| qtr. | Quarter | Q3 or third qtr. |
| QA | Quality assurance | Sent to QA for testing |
Writing "qt." when you mean quantity on a food order could turn three items into three quarts. When in doubt, write the full word. More shortened business words are collected in common abbreviations.
Using qty. in a sentence
- "Please enter the qty. you need in the box below."
- "QTY 12, size medium, color gray."
- "Check the qty. on hand before you reorder."
- "The invoice lists the wrong qty. for the chairs."
- "Max qty. per customer: 2."
In speech, always say "quantity." The short form is for the eye only.
Questions people ask
What is the abbreviation for quantity?
It is qty., or QTY in capitals on forms and receipts. Both mean quantity, the number of units.
Is there a period after qty?
In running text, yes: qty. In column headings and all capital labels, the period is usually dropped. Either way is fine if you are consistent.
What is the plural of qty?
Most people use qty. for both one and many. The plural qtys. exists but is rarely seen.
What does QTY mean on a receipt?
It shows how many of that item you bought. A line that reads QTY 2 means two of the item.
Is qt the same as qty?
No. Qt. means quart, a unit of liquid volume. Qty. means quantity, a count of items.