Luminous gives you two distinct ways to work with cost layer data: editing the unit cost on a single SKU directly from its inventory detail page, or working across many SKUs at once using the Cost Layers export and the bulk import tools.
Updating the unit cost on a single SKU
The quickest way to correct a unit cost on one SKU is to edit it inline from the SKU's Costs tab.
- Go to Inventory → SKUs and open the SKU you want to update.
- Click the Costs tab on the SKU detail page.
- The tab shows a grid of every cost layer for that SKU, one row per layer and warehouse.
- Click directly on the Unit Cost cell for the layer you want to change. The cell becomes editable — type the corrected cost and press Enter.
- A confirmation dialog appears showing:
- The old and new unit cost
- The remaining quantity in that layer
- The inventory valuation before and after the change
- The net dollar delta
- Click Yes to save, or No to cancel and restore the original value.
Note: Variance layers (flagged Variance in the grid) cannot be edited inline. Layers with a negative remaining quantity are also locked. If you need to correct costs on those layers, use the Unit Cost Override import described below.
Bulk-exporting cost layer data
The Cost Layers page gives you a filterable, sortable view of every cost layer across all SKUs and warehouses, with a one-click Excel export.
- From the main navigation, go to Inventory → Inventory Admin → Cost Layers.
- (Optional) Use the column filter fields to narrow the results — you can filter by SKU, Warehouse, Lot Number, Unit Cost, Total Cost, Remaining Qty, Quantity, Created date, Updated date, and Variance status. You can also click any column header to sort, and use the Columns panel to show or hide columns.
- Click the Export button in the top-right corner.
- Luminous downloads a file named
cost_layers_export_YYYY-MM-DD.xlsx. The file contains exactly the rows that match your current filters and sort order — if no filters are applied, all active cost layers in your account are included.
The exported file includes: Created date, Warehouse, SKU, Unit Cost, Total Cost, Lot Number, Remaining Qty, Initial Qty, Updated date, Variance flag, and Remaining Qty Cost.
If your account has a custom Cost Layer export template configured under Manage → Templates, the column layout from that template is used instead of the defaults.
Bulk-updating cost layer data via import
To correct or replace cost layers across many SKUs at once, go to Tools → Imports → Costs & Finance. Two tools are available:
| 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, template column definitions, import modes, validation rules, and common error fixes for both tools, see: How do I perform a cost-layer import and bulk cost override for SKUs in Luminous?
⚠️ Both import tools make permanent changes to cost data. Download and review the template, then test with a small batch before processing your full catalog.
Choosing the right approach
| Goal | Recommended action |
|---|---|
| Fix a cost on one specific layer | Edit the Unit Cost cell inline on the SKU's Costs tab |
| Review or audit costs across all SKUs | 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 (in bulk) | Unit Cost Override import |
| Seed or fully rebuild layer history (e.g., migration) | FIFO Cost Layer Multi-Value import |