When the sample size equals or exceeds the lot: the 100 percent inspection footnote

The footnote to Table II-A, in the words of the legend's down-arrow line, reads: if sample size equals, or exceeds, lot or batch size, do 100 percent inspection. Following a down arrow can lead to a plan whose sample size is as large as, or larger than, a small lot. When that happens, the footnote asks you to inspect every unit in the lot. The table below shows where that happens at general inspection level II.

Where the footnote applies at general inspection level II

The list below was worked out from the table by comparing the sample size used with the lot size. It is not printed in the standard. It covers general inspection levels I, II and III and the six AQLs 0.65, 1.0, 1.5, 2.5, 4.0 and 6.5. Levels I and III give the same plans in these nine cells as level II. Lower AQLs than 0.65 and the special inspection levels were not worked out.

Lot size	AQL	Plan used	Lot sizes inspected 100 percent
2 to 8	0.65	20 (0/1)	2 to 8
2 to 8	1.0	13 (0/1)	2 to 8
2 to 8	1.5	8 (0/1)	2 to 8
2 to 8	2.5	5 (0/1)	2 to 5
2 to 8	4.0	3 (0/1)	2 to 3
2 to 8	6.5	2 (0/1)	2
9 to 15	0.65	20 (0/1)	9 to 15
9 to 15	1.0	13 (0/1)	9 to 13
16 to 25	0.65	20 (0/1)	16 to 20

Each row gives a lot-size range and an AQL. The plan used is the sample size after the arrows have been followed, written with Ac/Re in brackets. The last column lists the lot sizes inside that range for which the sample size equals or exceeds the lot. For the full Table II-A, see the single sampling table.

Reading a row

Take a lot of 13 units at AQL 1.0. It falls in the 9 to 15 range, where the plan used is 13 (0/1). The sample size equals the lot, so all 13 units are inspected.

Take a lot of 20 units at AQL 0.65. It falls in the 16 to 25 range, where the plan used is 20 (0/1). Again the sample size equals the lot, so every unit is inspected. In that row the footnote covers lots of 16 to 20, not the whole range.

The legend has two arrow lines:

• Down arrow: use the first sampling plan below the arrow. If sample size equals, or exceeds, lot or batch size, do 100 percent inspection.
• Up arrow: use the first sampling plan above the arrow.

Where these tables come from

These tables come from MIL-STD-105E, Sampling Procedures and Tables for Inspection by Attributes (U.S. Department of Defense, 10 May 1989). ANSI/ASQ Z1.4 and ISO 2859-1 descend from it. The tables here were not compared cell by cell with the current paid editions of ANSI/ASQ Z1.4 or ISO 2859-1. Where a contract or purchase order names a standard and an edition, that one governs.

Questions people ask

Does a lot of 9 at AQL 1.0 fall under the footnote?

Yes. In the 9 to 15 row for AQL 1.0, the plan used is 13 (0/1), and the footnote covers lots of 9 to 13. A lot of 9 is therefore inspected 100 percent.

Does a lot of 14 at AQL 1.0 fall under the footnote?

No. The same row covers lots of 9 to 13 only. For a lot of 14, the plan used is still 13 (0/1), which is smaller than the lot, so the footnote does not apply in that row.

Does a lot of 21 at AQL 0.65 fall under the footnote?

No. The 16 to 25 row for AQL 0.65 covers lots of 16 to 20 only. A lot of 21 is above that, and the plan used in that row is 20 (0/1).

Sources

• MIL-STD-105E, Sampling Procedures and Tables for Inspection by Attributes, U.S. Department of Defense, 10 May 1989: Table I and Table II-A with its legend and footnote. Page scans: archive.org/details/MIL-STD-105E_1. Read 11 October 2026.

Checked 11 October 2026.

This page is an unofficial reference, not affiliated with any standards body, and where your contract names ANSI/ASQ Z1.4, ISO 2859-1 or another standard, use the tables of that edition.