Count plates in a stack from a photo
Works with JPG, PNG, WEBP · Free up to 20 MB, Premium 50 MB
Photograph the visible face of the stack or pallet straight-on — the AI estimates visible plates; review and correct each face before combining rows. Built for bakeries, caterers and food producers — review and correct each photo before adding it to a CSV or PDF tally.
- Review the photo, then count visible plates
- Count without marking; add example boxes if you need a guided recount
- Stop counting the same plates twice to be sure of the total
- Free to use · No signup required · Without watermark
Works with JPG, PNG, WEBP · Free up to 20 MB, Premium 50 MB
Upload Image
Tips for an accurate count
• Use an even, well-lit photo with the plates fully in frame
• Check that each marked example boxes a whole plates rather than a repeated part
• Dots and heatmap show retained detections — review and correct the tally
About the Plates Counter
The plates counter counts visible plates from your photo and marks detections for review. Auto mode uses the selected item name. For a guided recount, mark up to three examples of what you want counted. Visibility, overlap and similar-looking items can affect the total. Built for bakeries, caterers and food producers.
How It Works
1. Photograph your plates
2. Check that plates is selected, then choose Count
3. Review the markers and correct the tally; add example boxes for a guided recount if needed
4. Add to the tally sheet and export your count as CSV
Perfect For
• Crockery inventories in a restaurant or event venue
• Checking hire deliveries and returns against the docket
• Breakage reconciliation at the end of an event
• Kitchen stock counts before a large booking
Counting plates in stacks at the wash station or in the store
Plates are counted by restaurants and venues taking crockery inventory, by hire firms checking deliveries and returns against the docket, and by caterers reconciling breakage after an event or billing per plate served. In nearly every case the plates are stacked, so the count comes from the stack face, where each rim shows as a thin line.
Photograph each stack side-on, aimed at its middle, with light that throws a slight shadow under every rim. Tall stacks lean and bow, so keep them below the height where they start to curve, or split them in two. Mark a single plate edge as the example in Similar items so one rim line is the unit. Plates standing on edge in a rack are better shot from the front, like a shelf. Side plates, dinner plates and bowls sharing a stack need separating first.
Run your eye along each stack to confirm one marker per rim, correct the tally row, and add one row per stack. After a wedding or banquet, the used-plate tally can be compared with a headcount of the wedding guests or a photo of the banquet hall, and hire returns packed in crates can be counted crate by crate.
Plate stack checks
- Stacks short enough to stand straight
- Camera level with the middle of the stack
- One plate size per stack
- One tally row per stack, labelled by size
Frequently asked questions
- Can it count a full stack when some items are hidden?
- It can only estimate the visible photo content. For regular stacks, photograph and review each accessible face, correct the tally, and treat any multiplication by depth as an estimate. A marked image supports review but does not prove the physical quantity.
- Can I count plates served at a wedding or banquet?
- Yes — photograph the used-plate stacks at the wash station straight-on and count each stack face, adding stacks to the tally as rows. Caterers bill per plate, so a reviewed, marked count of the cleared stacks is the evidence both sides accept. Count guests themselves with the People Counter.
- What if the photo has more than just plates in it?
- Auto mode uses the selected item name to find what to count. For a guided recount, mark one complete, clearly visible plates — up to 3 examples for different-looking kinds. Similar-looking distractors can still affect the result, so review every marker before using the total.
- Can I count several photos into one total?
- Yes — count each photo and add every reviewed result to the tally sheet as a labelled row. If you use example boxes, mark them separately on each photo. Export the tally as CSV or a PDF report, or save it to your account.
- Is it free and private?
- Yes. You can count, review and download a free result without an account. Downloads are free without a watermark. No signup required. Server-processed photos are encrypted in transit and removed under our Security policy.
What you can do with AI Inventory Counter
Review the main capabilities before you begin.
- Count shelves, stacks, crates and pallets from photos
- Review and correct photo tallies before export
- Export your stock-take to a CSV file
- Run a full audit shelf by shelf
- Optionally mark an item to target one SKU
- Combine bulk photos into one inventory total
- Ignore small stray detections for accuracy
Settings reference
12 settings
Available controls for AI Inventory Counter.
Upload
- Single photo / Bulk auditPresets
- Choose a single-photo count or a Premium bulk audit. Review every result.Options: Single photoBulk audit
Count
- Add to tallyOne-click
- Add this photo as a row in the current stock-take.
- Counting modePresets
- Chooses the counting engine: Auto and Similar items count from your marked examples — mark 1 to 3, one complete product per different-looking kind; Distinct objects labels separate, fully visible items without an example.Options: AutoSimilar itemsDistinct objects
- Included markersSliderRange: 0–1 · Default: 0.21
- Starts at 21%; slide toward Show more to include weaker markers or Only strongest to hide them.
- Overlay stylePresets
- Choose dots, a heatmap, both or a clean preview.Options: BothDotsHeatNone
- What to countText input
- Type the item to count, such as cow, bottle or car, so other objects in the photo are ignored; leave it blank to count everything.
- Detection sensitivitySliderRange: 0–1 · Default: 0.5
- Adjust detection sensitivity for larger or smaller visible items.
Examples
- Mark example itemsDraw on image
- Drag a tight box around one complete, clearly visible item. The counter uses it as a visual reference; review every result marker for lookalikes or missed items.
Tally
- LabelText input
- Rename this row so it is identifiable in the exported stock-take.
- CountNumber input
- Correct this row's count; totals and exports update automatically.
Advanced
- Result overlayDropdown
- Choose how count markers appear on the downloaded result.Options: Dots + heatmapDots onlyHeatmap only
- Ignore small detectionsSliderRange: 0–1 · Default: 0
- Ignore detections below the selected size.
Related tools for AI Inventory Counter
Tools for common next steps after AI Inventory Counter.
Counting & Inventory
Object Counter
Estimate an object count from a photo. Review and correct the numbered markers before using the count.
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Counting & Inventory
Live Object Counter
Aim your phone at separated, fully visible items and review the detector markers as the count updates in real time.
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Counting & Inventory
Bottle Counter
Count bottles on shelves, in crates, or in cold rooms from one photo, with counted detections marked for review.
Try it nowHow AI Inventory Counter helps you get it done
Real problems it solves every day — for businesses, creators, and everyday tasks. Find the use case that fits you and start.
Multi-Location Retail Cycle Counts
Managers can use Bulk audit to run Distinct objects mode across every shelf photo, review every tally, and save each store's corrected session separately.
Warehouse Goods-In Receiving Audits
Warehouse staff photograph each pallet, mark 1-3 example items in Examples — one per SKU in the shot — and export the reviewed tally as a CSV to match against the purchase order.
Pharmacy Controlled-Stock Review Trails
Pharmacies can create a shelf-by-shelf AI draft by marking 1-3 example items in Examples — one per SKU — then have a qualified person review and correct it under the required manual procedure. The export supports review but is not a compliance record by itself.
Loss-Prevention & Shrinkage Spot Checks
Store managers can compare reviewed, corrected photo tallies over time as a preliminary shrinkage screen, then physically verify discrepancies before taking action.
Small Manufacturer & Workshop Parts Counting
Machine shops photograph bins of screws, fasteners or gaskets and mark 1-3 example parts in the Examples setting — one per part type in a mixed tray — before counting for build planning or reordering.
Watch each transformation land
Every photo crosses the slash untouched and comes out the other side finished.
