2 min read
Definition
Debtor days = (trade debtors ÷ annual credit sales) × 365. It shows how long, on average, money sits owed to you after a sale. High debtor days mean you are effectively financing your customers for free.
In plain terms
It is how long you wait to actually get paid. If you offer 30-day terms but your debtor days are 55, customers are routinely paying late and your cash is stuck.
Why it matters for your company
Cutting debtor days frees cash directly. Chase early, set clear terms, and consider incentives. See how to chase overdue invoices and the debtor days calculator.
Related reading

Late payment and cash flow: protecting your company
Late payment is the single most common cash-flow killer for UK companies. You have done the work, raised the…
Read →
Debtor Days: Formula, What It Measures, and How to Improve Collection Speed
Debtor days — also called days sales outstanding — measures the average number of days a business waits…
Read →
Debtor days
Debtor days measure how long, on average, customers take to pay you — a headline number for how much cash is…
Read →
Debtor days (DSO)
Debtor days, or days sales outstanding (DSO), is the average number of days your customers take to pay their…
Read →Funding for UK limited companies
Creditcorp lends to your company, not to you personally — short-term working capital with no personal guarantee. See what your business could access.