Type journal entries the way you would in an accounting class or a small-business ledger. Each entry is checked for equal debits and credits, then posted to T-accounts, summarized in a trial balance and tested against the accounting equation, all live as you type.
Last updated:
General journal
Accounts & types
Types are guessed from the account name. Change any that are wrong; the normal balance follows the type.
T-accounts
Trial balance
Accounting equation
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How to use the T-Account & Journal Entry Generator
Add a journal entry: set the date and a short description, then type each account with its debit or credit amount. Use Add line for compound entries.
Watch the balance indicator on each entry; it turns green when total debits equal total credits.
Check the account types in the Accounts list. The tool guesses from the name, but you can change any type, for example a custom account name.
Read the results: T-accounts for every account, the trial balance and the accounting equation update instantly.
Print the T-accounts and trial balance, or download the journal as CSV to continue later or share with a classmate.
Debit and credit rules
Every account type has a normal balance: the side on which it increases. Use this table to decide whether a line is a debit or a credit.
Account type
Examples
Increase with
Decrease with
Normal balance
Asset
Cash, Accounts Receivable, Supplies, Equipment
Debit
Credit
Debit
Contra-asset
Accumulated Depreciation, Allowance for Doubtful Accounts
Credit
Debit
Credit
Liability
Accounts Payable, Notes Payable, Unearned Revenue
Credit
Debit
Credit
Equity
Owner's Capital, Common Stock, Retained Earnings
Credit
Debit
Credit
Drawings / dividends
Owner's Drawings, Dividends
Debit
Credit
Debit
Revenue
Service Revenue, Sales, Interest Revenue
Credit
Debit
Credit
Expense
Rent, Wages, Utilities, Cost of Goods Sold
Debit
Credit
Debit
A handy memory aid is DEAD CLIC: Debits increase Expenses, Assets, Drawings; Credits increase Liabilities, Income (revenue), Capital.
From journal to trial balance
Journalize. Record each transaction with at least one debit and one credit of equal total. Example: paying $900 rent is Rent Expense debit $900, Cash credit $900.
Post to T-accounts. Copy each line to its account: debits on the left, credits on the right, tagged with the entry number so you can trace it back.
Balance each account. Balance = total debits − total credits. A positive result is a debit balance, a negative result a credit balance.
Prepare the trial balance. List every account balance in a debit or credit column. If both columns total the same amount, the ledger is mathematically in balance.
In the example that loads with the tool, Cash receives $10,000 + $2,200 + $800 = $13,000 of debits and $1,000 + $900 + $180 + $300 + $500 = $2,880 of credits, leaving a debit balance of $10,120. The trial balance totals $17,000 on both sides, and net income is $3,700 − $1,080 = $2,620.
Common mistakes the trial balance will not catch
Posting to the wrong account of the same type (Supplies instead of Equipment).
Leaving out a transaction completely, or recording it twice.
Swapping the debit and credit of an entry with equal amounts.
Recording the wrong amount on both sides, for example $540 instead of $450.
Scan the T-accounts for balances on the unexpected side (shown in red) and compare each account with your source documents.
Frequently asked questions
What is a T-account?
A T-account is a simple picture of a ledger account shaped like the letter T. The account name sits on top, debits are listed on the left side and credits on the right. The difference between the two sides is the account balance, shown on the side that is larger.
Which accounts increase with a debit?
Assets, expenses and owner drawings or dividends increase with a debit and have a normal debit balance. Liabilities, equity and revenue increase with a credit and have a normal credit balance. Contra-assets such as accumulated depreciation are the exception among assets and have a normal credit balance.
Why must every journal entry balance?
Double-entry bookkeeping records every transaction in at least two accounts so that total debits equal total credits. This keeps the accounting equation (Assets = Liabilities + Equity) true after every transaction. An entry that does not balance contains a mistake, so the tool flags it and the trial balance will not balance either.
If the trial balance balances, are my entries correct?
Not necessarily. A balanced trial balance proves only that debits equal credits. It will not catch an entry posted to the wrong account, a transaction left out entirely, the same transaction entered twice, or debit and credit swapped with the same amount. Review the T-accounts for balances on the unexpected side.
What is an abnormal balance?
A balance on the opposite side from the account's normal balance, for example a credit balance in Cash (an overdraft) or a debit balance in Accounts Payable (an overpayment). The tool marks these so you can check whether they are real or an entry error.
How is net income calculated here?
Net income = total revenue balances − total expense balances. Drawings or dividends are not expenses, so they reduce equity but not net income. The accounting equation shown expands equity as Equity + Revenue − Expenses − Drawings, which is how the balance sheet balances before closing entries.
What CSV format does import use?
One row per journal line with the columns Entry, Date, Description, Account, Debit, Credit. Lines with the same entry number are grouped into one journal entry. The Download CSV button produces exactly this format, so you can edit it in a spreadsheet and import it again.
Are all the tools on FreeToolCabin tested for quality and accuracy?
Yes! Every tool on our site undergoes automated Q/A testing in real browser environments to ensure high precision, correct output, and zero errors. If you happen to spot a bug or have a suggestion, please contact us at [email protected] and our team will review it right away.