Kanban guide · Flow and metrics
Kanban Metrics: The Flow Measures That Matter
Kanban teams improve by measuring how work flows. A small set of flow metrics, collected automatically from the board, tells you how fast work moves, how much gets done and where it gets stuck.
Key takeaways
- The core flow metrics are WIP, cycle time, throughput and work item age.
- Use percentiles and trends rather than averages and single points.
- Metrics improve the system; they should not judge people.
The four core flow metrics
| Metric | Definition | Answers |
|---|---|---|
| Work in progress (WIP) | Items started but not finished | Are we overloaded? |
| Cycle time | Time from start to finish for one item | How long will this take? |
| Throughput | Items finished per unit of time | How much do we deliver? |
| Work item age | Time an unfinished item has been in progress | What is stuck right now? |
Supporting metrics
- Lead time: from request to delivery, including time waiting in the backlog.
- Flow efficiency: the share of time items are actively worked on.
- Blocked time and blocker causes; see blocker clustering.
- Service level expectation: for example, 85% of items finish within 8 days.
Key Kanban charts
| Chart | Shows |
|---|---|
| Cumulative flow diagram | WIP per stage over time; bottlenecks |
| Cycle time scatterplot | Each item's cycle time, with percentile lines |
| WIP aging chart | Age of each in-progress item by stage |
| Throughput run chart | Items finished per week |
Using metrics well
- Look at trends and distributions, not single values.
- Use percentiles (50th, 85th) rather than averages for cycle time; cycle times are rarely normally distributed.
- Review metrics in service delivery reviews or retrospectives.
- Use metrics to improve the system, never to rank individuals.
Free templates for this topic
Frequently asked questions
What is the most important Kanban metric?
Cycle time is often the most useful for customers, but it should be read alongside WIP, throughput and work item age.
Is velocity one of the Kanban metrics?
Rarely. Kanban teams usually measure throughput (items per week) instead of story points per sprint.
What are the main Kanban metrics?
The core flow metrics are work in progress, cycle time, throughput and work item age. Many teams also use lead time, flow efficiency and a cumulative flow diagram.
What is work item age as a Kanban metric?
Work item age is how long an unfinished item has been in progress. It warns you about stuck work before it becomes late; see the WIP aging chart.
Why use percentiles instead of averages for Kanban metrics?
Cycle times are rarely normally distributed and often have a long tail. Percentiles such as the 50th and 85th give a more honest picture of what customers can expect.
Which Kanban metrics belong on a dashboard?
A small set of charts: a cycle time scatterplot, a throughput run chart, a cumulative flow diagram and a WIP aging chart. Review it at service delivery reviews.
Which Kanban metrics measure team performance?
Look at flow and predictability: how quickly and reliably items are delivered, how much WIP is in the system and whether blockers are falling. Avoid using metrics to compare individuals.
Which tools track Kanban metrics?
Many digital boards, such as Jira, produce cycle time and cumulative flow reports. Teams on physical boards can track start and finish dates in a spreadsheet.
Which Kanban metric does a cycle time scatterplot show?
Cycle time. The chart has one dot per finished item, plotted by finish date and cycle time, with percentile lines showing how long most items take.
How often should Kanban metrics be reviewed?
Glance at work item age daily and review the full set every week or two, typically at a service delivery review or retrospective.
Can Kanban metrics be used for forecasting?
Yes. Throughput and cycle time history support date forecasts and service level expectations, including Monte Carlo forecasts. See Kanban planning.