What Is SAP Movement Types?
Also known as: movement type, SAP 101 movement type, SAP 261 movement type, SAP movement type list
Definition
A SAP movement type is a three-digit code on a goods movement that tells the system what happened (receipt, issue, transfer, return) and so which stock quantities, stock types and general ledger accounts to update.
SAP Movement Types Explained
Every goods movement in MM Inventory Management carries a movement type, configured in the IMG under Inventory Management and Physical Inventory. The type controls the sign of the quantity update, the stock type (unrestricted, quality inspection, blocked), whether a reference document is required, which fields are mandatory, and the transaction event key used by automatic account determination in OBYC.
Core types in manufacturing include 101 (goods receipt for purchase or production order), 102 (reversal of 101), 122 (return to vendor), 161 (return delivery for purchase order), 201 (issue to cost center), 261 (issue to production order), 262 (reversal of 261), 301 and 311 (transfer between plants or storage locations), 321 (release from quality inspection), 344 (unrestricted to blocked), 501 (receipt without purchase order), 561 (initial stock entry), 601 (goods issue for delivery) and 701 and 702 (inventory count differences).
Reversal types follow a convention: an even or next-digit type reverses its partner, so 102 reverses 101 and 262 reverses 261. Custom types start with 9 or Z, copied from a standard type, and are used when a business process needs its own ledger treatment, such as scrap or sample issues.
Movement type, valuation class and the plant's account modification together pick the ledger account through OBYC, so an issue to production and an issue to scrap can post to different accounts even though both are goods issues. The movement type is also the key that reports and interfaces filter on when reconciling stock.
Why It Matters
- It is the main lever by which stock transactions become financial postings.
- Reconciling inventory value to the general ledger depends on reading movements by type.
- Wrong type use, such as 501 instead of a PO-based 101, breaks purchase order history and three-way match.
- Integrations must pass the right type, since scanners and MES systems commonly cause errors by hardcoding or guessing it.
In Practice
A plant receives 100 units against a PO (101), then finds 10 damaged and moves them from unrestricted to blocked stock (344), and later scraps them to a cost center (551). Each step is a separate material document, and OBYC sends the 551 value to a scrap expense account while 101 debited inventory. Inventory count differences from a physical count post as 701 or 702.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the difference between movement type 101 and 501?
101 is a goods receipt with reference to a purchase or production order. 501 is a receipt without a purchase order, so it carries no order history and no vendor match.
How is a movement type reversed?
Standard types have a defined reversal type, for example 102 for 101 and 262 for 261, posted in MIGO or MBST referencing the original material document.
Can I create my own movement type?
Yes. Copy a standard type in the IMG into the customer namespace (starting with 9 or Z), then configure account determination and field selection for it.
Related Terms
SAP MIGO (Goods Movement)
MIGO is the SAP transaction that posts goods movements in one screen: goods receipts against purchase orders, goods issues to production orders or cost centers, stock transfers and returns. Each posting creates a material document and an accounting document.
Cycle Counting
Cycle counting is the practice of continuously verifying inventory accuracy by counting a small subset of items each day or week, rather than shutting down for one annual wall-to-wall physical inventory.
Inventory Valuation Methods (FIFO, Average, Standard)
Inventory valuation methods determine the cost assigned to stock on hand and to items sold. The common ones are FIFO, LIFO where allowed, weighted or moving average, specific identification and standard cost.
General Ledger
The general ledger is the central accounting record of a business, where every financial transaction posts as balanced debits and credits against accounts in the chart of accounts, producing the trial balance behind all financial statements.
Backflush
Backflush in SyteLine is the automatic deduction of material and posting of labor when an operation or job is reported complete. Instead of issuing each component manually, the system relieves inventory at standard quantity based on the quantity reported.
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