Luminous gives you two separate capabilities for working with cost layer data across many SKUs at once:
- Export — pull a spreadsheet snapshot of your current cost layers for review, auditing, or analysis.
- Bulk update — upload a file to replace or correct cost layers across multiple SKUs.
Both are described below.
Exporting cost layer data
The Cost Layers page gives you a live, filterable grid of every cost layer across all SKUs and warehouses, and lets you download the entire filtered result as an Excel file.
Step 1 — Open the Cost Layers page
From the main navigation, go to Inventory → Inventory Admin → Cost Layers. The page loads a paginated grid sorted newest-first by default.
Step 2 — Filter to the data you need (optional)
Every column in the grid supports filtering. Use the floating filter row beneath each column header to narrow down by:
| Filter | What it matches |
|---|---|
| SKU | Partial text match on the SKU code |
| Warehouse | Partial text match on the warehouse name |
| Lot Number | Partial text match on the lot number |
| Unit Cost | Exact unit cost value |
| Total Cost | Exact total cost value |
| Remaining Qty | Exact remaining quantity |
| Initial Qty | Exact initial quantity |
| Created | Exact date the layer was created |
| Updated | Exact date the layer was last updated |
| Variance | Standard Layers vs. Variance Layers |
You can also sort any column by clicking its header, and show or hide columns using the Columns panel in the sidebar.
Step 3 — Click Export
Click the Export button in the top-right corner of the page. Luminous will apply your current filters and sort order and download a file named cost_layers_export_<date>.xlsx.
What the exported file contains
By default, the Excel file includes these columns:
- Created — date and time the layer was created
- Warehouse — warehouse name
- SKU — the SKU code
- Unit Cost — cost per unit (in your account currency)
- Total Cost — unit cost × initial quantity
- Lot Number — lot number (blank if the SKU is not lot-tracked)
- Quantity — remaining quantity in the layer
- Updated — date and time the layer was last modified
- Variance — Yes/No flag indicating whether this is a variance layer
- Remaining Qty Cost — unit cost × remaining quantity
If your account has a custom Cost Layer export template configured (under Manage → Templates), the columns and page settings from that template are used instead of the defaults.
Bulk updating (importing) cost layers
To replace or correct cost layers across multiple SKUs, use the import tools under Tools → Imports → Costs & Finance. There are two tools depending on what you need to change:
| Tool | When to use |
|---|---|
| FIFO Cost Layer Multi-Value | Seed or fully reset the layer history for one or more SKUs (e.g., after a beginning-balance migration or a major cost correction) |
| Unit Cost Override | Fix an incorrect unit cost on existing layers in place, without touching quantities or FIFO order |
For full step-by-step instructions, column definitions, import modes, and error-message guidance for both tools, see How do I perform a cost-layer import and bulk cost override for SKUs in Luminous?
Choosing the right action
| Goal | Action |
|---|---|
| Review costs across all SKUs or a filtered subset | Export from the Cost Layers page |
| Audit a specific warehouse or date range | Filter the grid, then Export |
| Correct unit costs entered incorrectly on receipts | Unit Cost Override import |
| Seed or fully rebuild layer history (e.g., migration) | FIFO Cost Layer Multi-Value import |