Depreciation Calculator
Calculate how an asset loses value over its useful life. Enter the cost, salvage value and life, choose a method, and get a year-by-year depreciation schedule with book values, or compare every method side by side.
150% = 1.5 × the straight-line rate.
Standard practice so the asset reaches salvage value.
Labels the schedule with calendar years.
How to use the Depreciation Calculator
- Enter the asset cost and its expected salvage value at the end.
- Enter the useful life in years.
- Choose a method, or Compare all methods.
- For declining balance, set the rate and decide whether to switch to straight-line.
- Press Calculate to see the schedule, book values and chart.
Depreciation formulas
- Straight-line: (cost − salvage) ÷ useful life, the same every year.
- Declining balance: book value × (rate ÷ life). 200% = double declining balance, 150% is also common.
- Sum-of-the-years' digits: (cost − salvage) × remaining life ÷ (n × (n + 1) ÷ 2).
- Book value = cost − accumulated depreciation, and it never goes below the salvage value.
Example: $30,000 asset, $3,000 salvage, 5 years
| Year | Straight-line | Double declining (with switch) | Sum-of-years digits |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | $5,400.00 | $12,000.00 | $9,000.00 |
| 2 | $5,400.00 | $7,200.00 | $7,200.00 |
| 3 | $5,400.00 | $4,320.00 | $5,400.00 |
| 4 | $5,400.00 | $2,592.00 | $3,600.00 |
| 5 | $5,400.00 | $888.00 | $1,800.00 |
All three methods depreciate the same $27,000 in total; they differ in timing. Double declining balance switches to straight-line in the last years so the book value ends exactly at $3,000.
Frequently asked questions
How do you calculate straight-line depreciation?
Annual depreciation = (cost − salvage value) ÷ useful life. A $30,000 asset with a $3,000 salvage value and a 5-year life depreciates $5,400 a year.
How does double declining balance work?
Each year you multiply the current book value by 2 ÷ useful life. For a 5-year asset that is 40% of the book value each year, so the first year of a $30,000 asset is $12,000. Depreciation stops when the book value reaches the salvage value.
What is sum-of-the-years' digits?
Add the years of the useful life (for 5 years: 1+2+3+4+5 = 15). Year 1 depreciation is 5/15 of the depreciable amount, year 2 is 4/15 and so on. It front-loads depreciation, but less aggressively than double declining.
Why switch from declining balance to straight-line?
Declining balance alone never quite reaches the salvage value. Switching to straight-line on the remaining value once that gives the larger amount makes the asset reach its salvage value exactly at the end of its life.
Which depreciation method should I use?
Straight-line is the simplest and most common for financial statements. Accelerated methods suit assets that lose value fastest when new, such as vehicles and computers. Tax rules may require a specific method.
Is this the same as MACRS for US taxes?
No. MACRS uses IRS recovery periods, a half-year or mid-quarter convention and no salvage value. This calculator shows standard book depreciation methods; use IRS Publication 946 or tax software for MACRS.