The number of items you currently have in stock. QuickBooks automatically keeps track of this number for all the invoice items on your Item list.
How does quantity on hand change?
It increases when you purchase new inventory or receive items you ordered through a purchase order. For example, if you have 30 faucets on hand and then discover that you need 20 more, QuickBooks increases the quantity on hand to 50 when you indicate that you have received the 20 faucets — either by entering an item receipt or bill for the faucets, or by paying for the faucets directly with a check or credit card.
It decreases when you sell items by writing an invoice or entering a cash sale, or when you make an inventory adjustment to account for theft or damage. For example, if you have 50 faucets and then sell 30 of them, QuickBooks decreases the quantity on hand to 20.