How to Calculate Depreciation Expense Using Units of Production Method?

Depreciation enables companies to generate revenue from their assets while only charging a fraction of the cost of the asset in use each year. We will segregate the unit of production depreciation formula into two parts to understand it in a better way. This method can allow companies to show higher depreciation expense in more productive years, which can offset other increased production costs. This method can be contrasted with time-based measures of depreciation such as straight-line or accelerated methods. The results can be saved for bookkeeping purposes as we as can be used to compare the depreciation cost with other firms that have the same nature of business and use similar plants or machinery. However, they should not be compared with the businesses that belong to different industries.

The first variable to compute is the "depreciable cost." Depreciable cost is the original cost of the asset minus the salvage value. The next variable to compute is "depreciation per unit." This is calculated how to calculate units of production by dividing the depreciable cost by the total units expected to be produced by the asset. The third variable to calculate is the actual "depreciation expense," which is recorded on the income statement.

High vs. Low Production

The total units can be produced by the asset is estimated as 400 units. This method is useful in manufacturing because depreciation is charged based on units produced instead of full-year or part-year.

• Thus, the Units of Production method are appropriate for this type of asset.
• Under the units of production method, the amount of depreciation charged to expense varies in direct proportion to the amount of asset usage.
• Then, multiply that quotient by the number of units used during the current year.
• To illustrate, assume that the equipment described above is estimated to produce 120,000 units over its useful life.
• The estimated production capability at the time of purchase for this plant was 10,000,000.

For this example, we will say the material can be salvage for $1,000.00. Simple tools to send invoices, track expenses and manage your business finances. Because it provides a uniform expense throughout the life of an asset. https://online-accounting.net/ But you can choose any of them according to your policy and business needs. It is difficult to derive the correct value of depreciation under this method because it applies only to users and ignores the efflux of time.

Formula For Depreciation Under Units of Production Method

A higher expense is incurred in the early years and a lower expense in the latter years of the asset’s useful life. Subtract the asset's residual value from its original total cost. The depreciable cost basis of the Corlinder 3000SX is $27,000, its total cost of $30,000 minus its salvage value of $3,000. This is the total units the asset is expected to produce over its life. We assumed that the 120,000 units produced by the equipment were spread over 5 years. However, when the units of production method is used, the life in years is of no consequence.

• Although the right phrase is “unit of production” but accounting world have accepted it as “units of production”.
• In this case, depreciation will be calculated based on 1000 units, i.e., only for 350 days.
• Using this method, the actual usage of an item counts more than the passage of time.
• For example, one asset, X, produces ten units, and another asset, Y, produces 20 units.

The articles and research support materials available on this site are educational and are not intended to be investment or tax advice. All such information is provided solely for convenience purposes only and all users thereof should be guided accordingly. The main advantage of this method is that it's easy to use and understand. Another advantage, as stated earlier, is that it provides a good matching of expenses and revenues for those assets for which use is an important factor in Depreciation. Consider a situation in which it is economically feasible for a company to keep records relating to the quantity of output produced from an asset. Depreciation, and business owners often want to find what works best for them—accuracy, convenience, tax-friendly.

Calculate the Original Cost

The units of production method is expressed in the total number of units expected to be produced from an asset and is generally computed in three basic steps. First, you divide the asset’s cost basis―less any salvage value―by the total number of units the asset is expected to produce over its estimated useful life.

Incomplete work must be accounted for on a regular basis so that a value can be placed on the incomplete work. Determine the original total cost for the asset -- all costs incurred to purchase, transport and install the asset to begin production. Let's assume that Corlet Manufacturing Inc. purchases a new asset, the Corlinder 3000SX. The asset has a vendor cost of $20,000, freight cost of $5,000 and installation cost of $5,000.

ways to calculate depreciation in Excel

Units of production depreciation are defined as the expense of an asset per unit produced. Momhil Inc. bought a professional coffee machine costing $100,000. Over its useful life it is estimated that it can process 5,000 kgs of coffee or 200,000 servings. Calculate the units of production depreciation in year 1, year 2, and year 3. If they use the straight-line method, they will have very high profits in the periods when production and sales were high but there will be low profits when the sales and productions were on the low side.