# What is skip rate, and how do you calculate it?

> Source: https://zubs.app/glossary/skip-rate
> Title: Skip Rate in Subscriptions: Formula and Example — Zubs
> Author: Alexander Kohout (https://zubs.app/authors/alexander-kohout)
> Published: 2026-10-02
> Updated: 2026-10-06
> Language: en

## Short answer

Skip rate is the share of due subscription orders that are skipped instead of billed in a period. Zubs calculates it as skipped orders ÷ (skipped orders + successful renewals) × 100, so 120 skips next to 880 renewals is a skip rate of 12%.

## How do you calculate skip rate?

**Skip rate = skipped orders ÷ (skipped orders + successful renewals) × 100**

The denominator is every order that was due and either billed or was skipped.

**Example (made-up numbers):** in April a shop's subscriptions have 880 successful renewals and 120 skips. Skip rate = 120 ÷ (120 + 880) × 100 = **12%**. In May there are 900 renewals and 150 skips: 150 ÷ 1,050 × 100 ≈ **14.3%**.

## Why does skip rate matter?

A skip is a subscriber saying "not this time" rather than "never again", so the number cuts both ways:

- **More skips with falling churn** usually means flexibility is doing its job: subscribers skip instead of cancelling, for example after you offer a skip as the retention action for a cancellation reason.
- **More skips with flat or rising churn** often means the delivery interval doesn't fit. Customers have more product than they use and are skipping their way toward cancelling.

Skips also lower revenue in the month they happen, so a high skip rate shows up as lower subscription revenue even while the subscriber count holds.

## How does Zubs show skip rate?

The [Zubs analytics dashboard](https://zubs.app/features/subscription-analytics) shows the skip rate for each month. It counts every skipped order, whoever skipped it: the customer in the portal, your team, or an automatic skip such as the last step of dunning. If the rate is high, look at which delivery intervals your subscribers are on and consider offering a longer one.

## Bottom line

Skip rate = skips ÷ all orders that were due. Read it next to churn rate: skips that replace cancellations are good news; skips that lead to them point to the wrong delivery interval.

## Frequently asked questions

### Is a skip the same as a pause?

No. A skip leaves out one order and the subscription continues with the next. A pause stops orders for a while and then resumes.

### Can I stop customers from skipping?

Yes, in Zubs you decide whether customers can skip. Think it through, though, because a subscriber who can't skip may cancel instead.

### Does a skipped order count as churn?

No. The subscription stays active.

### What's a good skip rate?

It depends on your product and delivery interval. Compare your own months, and read the trend together with your churn rate.

## Related

- [Feature: subscription analytics in Zubs](https://zubs.app/features/subscription-analytics)
- [Playbook: stop cancellations with an offer that fits the reason](https://zubs.app/playbooks/cancellation-offers)
- [Glossary: subscription churn rate](https://zubs.app/glossary/subscription-churn-rate)
- [Glossary: build-a-box](https://zubs.app/glossary/build-a-box)