Calculate accumulated depreciation using straight-line, double declining balance, sum-of-years digits, or units of production methods with full schedule.
Accumulated depreciation is the total depreciation expense recognized against an asset from the date of acquisition to the current reporting period. It appears on the balance sheet as a contra-asset account, reducing the asset's book value. Understanding accumulated depreciation is essential for financial reporting, tax planning, and asset management decisions.
Different depreciation methods produce dramatically different patterns of expense recognition. Straight-line spreads costs evenly over the asset's life, making it the simplest and most common method. Double declining balance front-loads depreciation, recognizing higher expenses in early years — useful for assets that lose value quickly like technology. Sum-of-years' digits also accelerates depreciation but more moderately. Units of production ties depreciation to actual usage, ideal for manufacturing equipment.
This calculator computes accumulated depreciation and book value for any year under all four major methods. It generates a complete depreciation schedule showing year-by-year expense, accumulated total, and remaining book value — essential for financial statements, tax returns, and asset disposal decisions.
Knowing accumulated depreciation helps you track asset values, plan replacement timing, prepare accurate financial statements, and decide whether to repair, sell, or replace aging equipment. It also helps you see how quickly an asset's book value is being consumed under different depreciation methods.
Straight-Line: Annual Dep = (Cost − Salvage) ÷ Useful Life Double Declining Balance: Annual Dep = Book Value × (2 ÷ Useful Life) Sum-of-Years' Digits: Annual Dep = (Cost − Salvage) × (Remaining Years ÷ Sum of Years) Units of Production: Annual Dep = (Cost − Salvage) ÷ Total Units × Units Used Accumulated Depreciation = Sum of all prior years' depreciation Book Value = Cost − Accumulated Depreciation
Result: Accumulated depreciation $22,500 — book value $27,500
Depreciable base = $50,000 − $5,000 = $45,000. Annual depreciation = $45,000 ÷ 10 = $4,500/year. After 5 years: accumulated = $22,500, book value = $50,000 − $22,500 = $27,500.
Match the depreciation method to how the asset is used: straight-line for steady wear, accelerated methods for faster early loss of value, and units of production when usage drives wear. Keep salvage value and useful life estimates realistic so book value does not drift away from business reality.
Do not let accumulated depreciation exceed the depreciable base, and do not confuse book value with market value. For tax reporting, remember that accounting depreciation and tax depreciation can follow different rules.
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This worksheet applies the selected depreciation method to the depreciable base (cost minus salvage value), then accumulates annual expense through the chosen period and computes book value as cost less accumulated depreciation.
It is a planning aid for accounting schedules and asset tracking, not a tax return or fair-value appraisal.
It's the total depreciation expense charged against an asset since acquisition. It accumulates each period and reduces the asset's book value on the balance sheet. It represents the portion of the asset's cost that has been expensed over time.
Straight-line is most common for financial reporting. Accelerated methods (DDB, SYD) are useful when assets lose value quickly or for tax purposes (MACRS uses declining balance). Units-of-production works best for assets whose wear correlates with usage.
No. Once accumulated depreciation equals the depreciable base (cost minus salvage), no more depreciation is recorded. The asset remains on the books at salvage value until disposed of.
If you sell it above book value, you recognize a gain. Below book value = a loss. If fully depreciated to salvage value but sold for more, the difference is a gain on disposal, often subject to depreciation recapture tax.
No. Depreciation is a non-cash expense that allocates cost over time. Cash was spent when the asset was purchased. That's why depreciation is added back in the cash flow statement (indirect method).
MACRS (Modified Accelerated Cost Recovery System) is the U.S. tax depreciation system. It uses specific recovery periods and declining balance methods with a switch to straight-line. This calculator shows accounting methods — MACRS is a tax-specific variation.