Inserters - Revision history

Bilka: style fixes for Insertion into lava/space

2026-04-17T18:44:29Z

style fixes for Insertion into lava/space

← Older revision		Revision as of 18:44, 17 April 2026
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	=== Insertion into lava/space ===		=== Insertion into lava/space ===
			{{About/Space age}}
			Inserters can dump items into lava on [[Vulcanus]]{{SA}} or into space on [[space platform]]s{{SA}}. This act however is not as fast as inserting into a chest or similar container.

	~~In [[Space Age]], inserters can dump items into lava on [[Vulcanus]] or into space on [[Space platform]]s. This act however is not as fast as inserting into a chest or similar container.~~		When inserting into lava/space, one item is removed from the inserter's hand every tick. So a [[stack inserter]] holding 16 items requires 16 ticks to dump its contents into lava/space. By contrast, when inserting into a container, the entire hand size is placed in the container in one tick.

	When inserting into lava/space, one item is removed from the inserter's hand every tick. So a [[stack inserter]] holding 16 items requires 16 ticks to dump its contents into lava/space. By contrast, when inserting into a container, the entire hand size is placed in the container in 1 tick.

	== Power usage ==		== Power usage ==

Zijkhal: /* Insertion limits */ formatting, clarification for inserter type, and changed ticks to seconds for ease of use and correctness

2026-04-06T19:40:06Z

Insertion limits: formatting, clarification for inserter type, and changed ticks to seconds for ease of use and correctness

← Older revision		Revision as of 19:40, 6 April 2026
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	\| [[Artillery turret]]s \|\| [[Artillery shell]]s \|\| style="text-align:center" \| 5		\| [[Artillery turret]]s \|\| [[Artillery shell]]s \|\| style="text-align:center" \| 5
	\|-		\|-
	\| [[Assembling machine]]s, [[furnace]]s, [[centrifuge]]s, [[chemical plant]]s, and [[Oil refinery\|oil refineries]]\|\| Items needed for the recipe \|\| The ingredients for 1 craft in addition to the ingredients for the number of crafts that can be completed (rounded up) during one full normal [[quality]] [[inserter]] swing (~~70 [[Time#Ticks\|ticks]]~~); but at least the ingredients for 2 crafts and at most the ingredients for 100 crafts.[https://forums.factorio.com/viewtopic.php?p=309796#p309796]		\| [[Assembling machine]]s, [[furnace]]s, [[centrifuge]]s, [[chemical plant]]s, and [[Oil refinery\|oil refineries]]\|\| Items needed for the recipe \|\| The ingredients for 1 craft in addition to the ingredients for the number of crafts that can be completed (rounded up) during one full normal [[quality]] standard [[inserter]] swing (1.166 seconds); but at least the ingredients for 2 crafts and at most the ingredients for 100 crafts.[https://forums.factorio.com/viewtopic.php?p=309796#p309796]
	\|-		\|-
	\| [[Lab]]s \|\| [[Science pack]]s \|\| The number of normal [[quality]] science packs needed for one research unit in addition to the science packs for the number of research units that can be completed (rounded up) during one full normal [[quality~~]] [[~~inserter]] swing (~~70 [[Time#Ticks\|ticks]]~~); but at least the ingredients for 2 research units and at most the ingredients for 100 research units.		\| [[Lab]]s \|\| [[Science pack]]s \|\| The number of normal quality science packs needed for one research unit in addition to the science packs for the number of research units that can be completed (rounded up) during one full normal quality standard inserter swing (1.166 seconds); but at least the ingredients for 2 research units and at most the ingredients for 100 research units.
	\|}		\|}

Zijkhal: /* Insertion limits */ Added links to ticks

2026-04-06T11:19:15Z

Insertion limits: Added links to ticks

← Older revision		Revision as of 11:19, 6 April 2026
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	\| [[Artillery turret]]s \|\| [[Artillery shell]]s \|\| style="text-align:center" \| 5		\| [[Artillery turret]]s \|\| [[Artillery shell]]s \|\| style="text-align:center" \| 5
	\|-		\|-
	\| [[Assembling machine]]s, [[furnace]]s, [[centrifuge]]s, [[chemical plant]]s, and [[Oil refinery\|oil refineries]]\|\| Items needed for the recipe \|\| The ingredients for 1 craft in addition to the ingredients for the number of crafts that can be completed (rounded up) during one full normal [[quality]] [[inserter]] swing (70 ticks); but at least the ingredients for 2 crafts and at most the ingredients for 100 crafts.[https://forums.factorio.com/viewtopic.php?p=309796#p309796]		\| [[Assembling machine]]s, [[furnace]]s, [[centrifuge]]s, [[chemical plant]]s, and [[Oil refinery\|oil refineries]]\|\| Items needed for the recipe \|\| The ingredients for 1 craft in addition to the ingredients for the number of crafts that can be completed (rounded up) during one full normal [[quality]] [[inserter]] swing (70 [[Time#Ticks\|ticks]]); but at least the ingredients for 2 crafts and at most the ingredients for 100 crafts.[https://forums.factorio.com/viewtopic.php?p=309796#p309796]
	\|-		\|-
	\| [[Lab]]s \|\| [[Science pack]]s \|\| The number of normal [[quality]] science packs needed for one research unit in addition to the science packs for the number of research units that can be completed (rounded up) during one full normal [[quality]] [[inserter]] swing (70 ticks); but at least the ingredients for 2 research units and at most the ingredients for 100 research units.		\| [[Lab]]s \|\| [[Science pack]]s \|\| The number of normal [[quality]] science packs needed for one research unit in addition to the science packs for the number of research units that can be completed (rounded up) during one full normal [[quality]] [[inserter]] swing (70 [[Time#Ticks\|ticks]]); but at least the ingredients for 2 research units and at most the ingredients for 100 research units.
	\|}		\|}

Zijkhal: Added clarification about quality, and that it's a yellow inserter's swing time, not whatever inserter is feeding the machines

2026-04-06T11:13:34Z

Added clarification about quality, and that it's a yellow inserter's swing time, not whatever inserter is feeding the machines

← Older revision		Revision as of 11:13, 6 April 2026
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	\| [[Artillery turret]]s \|\| [[Artillery shell]]s \|\| style="text-align:center" \| 5		\| [[Artillery turret]]s \|\| [[Artillery shell]]s \|\| style="text-align:center" \| 5
	\|-		\|-
	\| [[Assembling machine]]s, [[furnace]]s, [[centrifuge]]s, [[chemical plant]]s, and [[Oil refinery\|oil refineries]]\|\| Items needed for the recipe \|\| The ingredients for 1 craft in addition to the ingredients for the number of crafts that can be completed during one full inserter swing; but at least the ingredients for 2 crafts and at most the ingredients for 100 crafts.[https://forums.factorio.com/viewtopic.php?p=309796#p309796]		\| [[Assembling machine]]s, [[furnace]]s, [[centrifuge]]s, [[chemical plant]]s, and [[Oil refinery\|oil refineries]]\|\| Items needed for the recipe \|\| The ingredients for 1 craft in addition to the ingredients for the number of crafts that can be completed (rounded up) during one full normal [[quality]] [[inserter]] swing (70 ticks); but at least the ingredients for 2 crafts and at most the ingredients for 100 crafts.[https://forums.factorio.com/viewtopic.php?p=309796#p309796]
	\|-		\|-
	\| [[Lab]]s \|\| [[Science pack]]s \|\| The number of science packs needed for one research unit in addition to the science packs for the number of research units that can be completed during one full inserter swing; but at least the ingredients for 2 research units and at most the ingredients for 100 research units.		\| [[Lab]]s \|\| [[Science pack]]s \|\| The number of normal [[quality]] science packs needed for one research unit in addition to the science packs for the number of research units that can be completed (rounded up) during one full normal [[quality]] [[inserter]] swing (70 ticks); but at least the ingredients for 2 research units and at most the ingredients for 100 research units.
	\|}		\|}

Thrawcheld: /* Mechanics */ caveat to "won't pick up to insert into full inventory"

2026-02-19T13:17:19Z

Mechanics: caveat to "won't pick up to insert into full inventory"

← Older revision		Revision as of 13:17, 19 February 2026
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	* Pick up any items that cannot be inserted into the adjacent entity.		* Pick up any items that cannot be inserted into the adjacent entity.
	* Pick up any items if the adjacent entity is a [[ghost]].		* Pick up any items if the adjacent entity is a [[ghost]].
	* Pick up items to place into an entity with a full inventory.		* Pick up items to place into an entity with a full inventory (however, it will pick up items up to its hand size even if not all of them will fit).
	* Place more than one item at a time onto the same ground tile.		* Place more than one item at a time onto the same ground tile.
	* Place items into an entity that cannot hold them, for example due to [[Stack#Filtered_stacks\|filtered]] or [[Stack#Stack_limitation\|limited slots]].		* Place items into an entity that cannot hold them, for example due to [[Stack#Filtered_stacks\|filtered]] or [[Stack#Stack_limitation\|limited slots]].

Thrawcheld: /* Mechanics */ missing commas; wagons; replace invalid attributes with CSS

2026-02-19T13:14:45Z

Mechanics: missing commas; wagons; replace invalid attributes with CSS

← Older revision		Revision as of 13:14, 19 February 2026
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	== Mechanics ==		== Mechanics ==
	Inserters '''will''':		Inserters '''will''':
	* Pick up items off the ground, off of a [[Transport belts\|transport belt]], or from any object that has storage space, such as [[~~Chests\|~~chests]], [[furnace]]s [[assembling machine]]s or [[vehicle]]s.		* Pick up items off the ground, off of a [[Transport belts\|transport belt]], or from any object that has storage space, such as [[chests]], [[furnace]]s, [[assembling machine]]s, or [[vehicle]]s.
	* Place the item onto the ground, onto a transport belt, or into any object that has storage space.		* Place the item onto the ground, onto a transport belt, or into any object that has storage space.
	* Run at slower speeds when starved for energy.		* Run at slower speeds when starved for energy.
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	* Place more than one item at a time onto the same ground tile.		* Place more than one item at a time onto the same ground tile.
	* Place items into an entity that cannot hold them, for example due to [[Stack#Filtered_stacks\|filtered]] or [[Stack#Stack_limitation\|limited slots]].		* Place items into an entity that cannot hold them, for example due to [[Stack#Filtered_stacks\|filtered]] or [[Stack#Stack_limitation\|limited slots]].
	* Fill up the entire target inventory of [[boiler]]s, [[nuclear reactor]]s, [[:Category:Producers\|production building]]s, [[furnace]]s and [[turret]]s.		* Place items into a [[cargo wagon]] or fuel into a [[locomotive]] if the train it's part of is in motion, or in automatic mode and not stopped at a [[train stop]] (e.g. waiting at a signal). (Wagons will be visibly closed if they cannot be inserted into for this reason.)
			* Fill up the entire target inventory of [[boiler]]s, [[nuclear reactor]]s, [[:Category:Producers\|production building]]s, [[furnace]]s and [[turret]]s (see below).

	If two or more inserters are picking up from the same tile, the inserter ~~who~~ can grab the items the fastest will grab them first. Besides faster inserters, this favors inserters taking from the inner lane of a transport belt.		If two or more inserters are picking up from the same tile, the inserter that can grab the items the fastest will grab them first. Besides faster inserters, this favors inserters taking from the inner lane of a transport belt.

	=== Insertion limits ===		=== Insertion limits ===
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	! Entity !! Item type !! Automatic insertion limit		! Entity !! Item type !! Automatic insertion limit
	\|-		\|-
	\| [[Boiler]]s, [[burner inserter]]s, [[furnace]]s, and [[nuclear reactor]]s \|\| [[Fuel]] \|\| ~~align~~="center" \| 5		\| [[Boiler]]s, [[burner inserter]]s, [[furnace]]s, and [[nuclear reactor]]s \|\| [[Fuel]] \|\| style="text-align:center" \| 5
	\|-		\|-
	\| [[Gun turret]]s \|\| ~~Bullet~~ Magazines \|\| ~~align~~="center" \| 10		\| [[Gun turret]]s \|\| Magazines \|\| style="text-align:center" \| 10
	\|-		\|-
	\| [[Artillery turret]]s \|\| [[Artillery shell]]s \|\| ~~align~~="center" \| 5		\| [[Artillery turret]]s \|\| [[Artillery shell]]s \|\| style="text-align:center" \| 5
	\|-		\|-
	\| [[Assembling machine]]s, [[furnace]]s, [[centrifuge]]s, [[chemical plant]]s, and [[Oil refinery\|oil refineries]]\|\| Items needed for the recipe \|\| The ingredients for 1 craft in addition to the ingredients for the number of crafts that can be completed during one full inserter swing; but at least the ingredients for 2 crafts and at most the ingredients for 100 crafts.[https://forums.factorio.com/viewtopic.php?p=309796#p309796]		\| [[Assembling machine]]s, [[furnace]]s, [[centrifuge]]s, [[chemical plant]]s, and [[Oil refinery\|oil refineries]]\|\| Items needed for the recipe \|\| The ingredients for 1 craft in addition to the ingredients for the number of crafts that can be completed during one full inserter swing; but at least the ingredients for 2 crafts and at most the ingredients for 100 crafts.[https://forums.factorio.com/viewtopic.php?p=309796#p309796]
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	\|}		\|}

	An inserter that has a higher [[inserter capacity bonus (research)\|inserter capacity bonus]] than 1 can overfill the target building, due to the inserter picking up a higher amount of items than needed. Overfilling can also occur if multiple inserters are used to insert items into one building.		An inserter that has a higher [[inserter capacity bonus (research)\|inserter capacity bonus]] than 1 can overfill the target building, due to the inserter picking up a higher amount of items than needed. Overfilling can also occur if multiple inserters are used to insert items into one building.

	=== Inserters and transport belts ===		=== Inserters and transport belts ===
	[[Transport belts]] have two lanes on which items can travel. Inserters only place items onto one side of the belt, either the far side from the inserter's perspective or if the belt is going the same or the opposite direction as the inserter the right side from the belt's perspective.		[[Transport belts]] have two lanes on which items can travel. Inserters only place items onto one side of the belt, either the far side from the inserter's perspective or, if the belt is going the same or the opposite direction as the inserter, the right side from the belt's perspective.

	<gallery mode="nolines" class="center" widths=300px heights=350px>		<gallery mode="nolines" class="center" widths=300px heights=350px>

Gotube: Fixed section title capitalization per https://wiki.factorio.com/Factorio:Style_guide#Capitalization

2026-02-08T09:49:30Z

Fixed section title capitalization per https://wiki.factorio.com/Factorio:Style_guide#Capitalization

← Older revision		Revision as of 09:49, 8 February 2026
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	'''Note:''' The speeds per tick come directly from the [https://github.com/wube/factorio-data/tree/master/base/prototypes/entity factorio-data github repository], while the other values have been verified empirically in game. Discrepancies are due to rounding errors during the games runtime, so the empirical values are more accurate when dealing with speeds.		'''Note:''' The speeds per tick come directly from the [https://github.com/wube/factorio-data/tree/master/base/prototypes/entity factorio-data github repository], while the other values have been verified empirically in game. Discrepancies are due to rounding errors during the games runtime, so the empirical values are more accurate when dealing with speeds.

	=== Rotation ~~Speed~~ ===		=== Rotation speed ===
	Convention: 2π rad = 100% of a circle rotation = '''1 turn''' (or one full rotation).		Convention: 2π rad = 100% of a circle rotation = '''1 turn''' (or one full rotation).

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	* If the rotation speed of an inserter would result in an odd number of ticks per full turn, the actual number of ticks per full turn for this inserter is truncated to be the next lowest even number. The reason for this is that the inserter needs to do two half turns to pick and drop an item. This takes a certain number of ticks two times, therefore the number of ticks for the full turn is always an even number. Example: The Fast inserter's rotation speed of 864°/s or 0.04 turns per tick would result in 25 ticks per full turn, but the inserter cannot do a half turn in "12.5 ticks", so it actually takes 2×12 = 24 ticks per full turn.		* If the rotation speed of an inserter would result in an odd number of ticks per full turn, the actual number of ticks per full turn for this inserter is truncated to be the next lowest even number. The reason for this is that the inserter needs to do two half turns to pick and drop an item. This takes a certain number of ticks two times, therefore the number of ticks for the full turn is always an even number. Example: The Fast inserter's rotation speed of 864°/s or 0.04 turns per tick would result in 25 ticks per full turn, but the inserter cannot do a half turn in "12.5 ticks", so it actually takes 2×12 = 24 ticks per full turn.

	=== Extension ~~Speed~~ ===		=== Extension speed ===
	The extension-speed is normally not visible (only when compared to other inserters), but there are measurable speed differences when taking - for example - from the near or the far side of a belt. Also ~~Some~~ mods can alter the pickup and drop locations of inserters, making this stat more relevant.		The extension-speed is normally not visible (only when compared to other inserters), but there are measurable speed differences when taking - for example - from the near or the far side of a belt. Also some mods can alter the pickup and drop locations of inserters, making this stat more relevant.

	== Inserter ~~Throughput~~ ==		== Inserter throughput ==

	=== Chest to chest ===		=== Chest to chest ===
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	* When items are queued up the belt type hardly matters, so there is only a single column for that. The exceptions are the stack inserters - for basic transport belts it's the belt that sets the limit for stack sizes above 4, and there is also a notable difference between fast and express belts.		* When items are queued up the belt type hardly matters, so there is only a single column for that. The exceptions are the stack inserters - for basic transport belts it's the belt that sets the limit for stack sizes above 4, and there is also a notable difference between fast and express belts.

	=== Belt to ~~Chest~~ (facing inserter) ===		=== Belt to chest (facing inserter) ===
	'''Note:''' Experimental data from 1.1		'''Note:''' Experimental data from 1.1

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	Burner Inserters, despite not using electricity, also have the same power consumption characteristics as the rest of the inserters (excluding drain). Upon accepting fuel they will replenish something resembling an internal battery, and draw from it in the same manner other inserters draw from the power grid, item spikes and all. Aside from their exclusion from drain, Burner Inserters function identically to other Inserters.		Burner Inserters, despite not using electricity, also have the same power consumption characteristics as the rest of the inserters (excluding drain). Upon accepting fuel they will replenish something resembling an internal battery, and draw from it in the same manner other inserters draw from the power grid, item spikes and all. Aside from their exclusion from drain, Burner Inserters function identically to other Inserters.

	=== Energy ~~Costs~~ ===		=== Energy costs ===

	[[File:Inserter Testing Setup.png\|thumb\|Inserter Testing Setup]]		[[File:Inserter Testing Setup.png\|thumb\|Inserter Testing Setup]]
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	\|}		\|}

	=== Inserter ~~Efficiency~~ ===		=== Inserter efficiency ===

	The above data can be used to compare inserter efficiency directly. Remember that the transfer cycle cost remains the same regardless of how many items are moved. This means that the later inserters with their larger stack sizes can outperform other inserters despite their higher transfer cost, since they can achieve a lower cost per item. Here are some graphs of chest-to-chest data showing the efficiency of different inserters at differing stack sizes. Because the other inserters maintain a proportional relationship (as in an identical stack size) these graphs will primarily focus on highlighting the Green Inserter and new Stack Inserter. Dots have been marked at the turning point where they overtake the other inserters in consumption		The above data can be used to compare inserter efficiency directly. Remember that the transfer cycle cost remains the same regardless of how many items are moved. This means that the later inserters with their larger stack sizes can outperform other inserters despite their higher transfer cost, since they can achieve a lower cost per item. Here are some graphs of chest-to-chest data showing the efficiency of different inserters at differing stack sizes. Because the other inserters maintain a proportional relationship (as in an identical stack size) these graphs will primarily focus on highlighting the Green Inserter and new Stack Inserter. Dots have been marked at the turning point where they overtake the other inserters in consumption
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	Note: The Burner graphs are mislabeled on the y-axis. They should read kJ, not kW.		Note: The Burner graphs are mislabeled on the y-axis. They should read kJ, not kW.

	=== Belt ~~Differences~~===		=== Belt differences===
	Up until now all data was regarding chest-to-chest use cases, due to their sterile and consistent nature. The introduction of belts creates special conditions that require consideration. Here is a power chart from the game for reference:		Up until now all data was regarding chest-to-chest use cases, due to their sterile and consistent nature. The introduction of belts creates special conditions that require consideration. Here is a power chart from the game for reference:

Gotube: /* Energy Costs */ Added missing apostrophe

2026-02-08T06:00:41Z

Energy Costs: Added missing apostrophe

← Older revision		Revision as of 06:00, 8 February 2026
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	\|}		\|}

	The way the game uses these values is it takes the ~~games~~ programmed speed in ticks (which can be found higher up on the page), and then uses that alongside these numbers to derive a wattage, using the following equation:		The way the game uses these values is it takes the game's programmed speed in ticks (which can be found higher up on the page), and then uses that alongside these numbers to derive a wattage, using the following equation:

	<code>Speed × Power Modifier × Ticks per second</code>		<code>Speed × Power Modifier × Ticks per second</code>

Alfonse: /* Inserter Throughput */ Added timing information about inserting into lava & space in Space Age.

2026-01-24T18:45:42Z

Inserter Throughput: Added timing information about inserting into lava & space in Space Age.

← Older revision		Revision as of 18:45, 24 January 2026
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	[[File:Inserter_belt_to_chest_throughput.png\|center\|900px]]		[[File:Inserter_belt_to_chest_throughput.png\|center\|900px]]

			=== Insertion into lava/space ===

			In [[Space Age]], inserters can dump items into lava on [[Vulcanus]] or into space on [[Space platform]]s. This act however is not as fast as inserting into a chest or similar container.

			When inserting into lava/space, one item is removed from the inserter's hand every tick. So a [[stack inserter]] holding 16 items requires 16 ticks to dump its contents into lava/space. By contrast, when inserting into a container, the entire hand size is placed in the container in 1 tick.

	== Power usage ==		== Power usage ==

Cardinal: /* Chest to belt */ Added scroll bar for table.

2025-08-29T08:02:34Z

Chest to belt: Added scroll bar for table.

← Older revision		Revision as of 08:02, 29 August 2025
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	'''Note:''' Experimental data from 2.0		'''Note:''' Experimental data from 2.0

	{\|class="wikitable"		<div style="display:inline-block; width: 100%; overflow-x: auto; vertical-align:top; margin-right:20px;">
			{\|class="wikitable" min-width: 100%;
	! rowspan="3" \| Type		! rowspan="3" \| Type
	! colspan="20" \| Items/second at [[inserter capacity bonus (research)\|capacity bonus]] level (stack size)		! colspan="20" \| Items/second at [[inserter capacity bonus (research)\|capacity bonus]] level (stack size)
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	\|\| (16)		\|\| (16)
	\|}		\|}
			</div>

	=== Chest to splitter ===		=== Chest to splitter ===