Straight-Line Depreciation Calculator
Calculate straight-line depreciation — equal expense each year — with a full schedule of depreciation, accumulated total and book value.
| Yr | Depreciation | Accumulated | Book value |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | $9,000 | $9,000 | $41,000 |
| 2 | $9,000 | $18,000 | $32,000 |
| 3 | $9,000 | $27,000 | $23,000 |
| 4 | $9,000 | $36,000 | $14,000 |
| 5 | $9,000 | $45,000 | $5,000 |
Schedule computed with the standard SLformula. Figures are estimates for planning — your tax jurisdiction's rules, conventions and limits (and your accountant) govern the filed numbers.
Field notes from maintenance practice
The formula is annual depreciation = (cost − salvage value) ÷ useful life. With a $50,000 asset, $5,000 salvage and a 5-year life, that's ($50,000 − $5,000) ÷ 5 = $9,000 every year, and the book value falls from $50,000 to its $5,000 salvage by year five.
Straight-line is preferred for book (financial-statement) reporting because it's predictable and matches assets that lose value steadily — buildings, furniture, fittings. It's the default under IFRS and GAAP unless a pattern of use suggests an accelerated method better reflects how the asset's economic benefits are consumed.
Sources & references
- IAS 16 Property, Plant and Equipment — depreciation methods
- US GAAP ASC 360 — property, plant and equipment
Estimates for planning only — not tax, accounting or financial advice. Depreciation rules, conventions, limits and elections vary by jurisdiction and change yearly; confirm filed figures with a qualified accountant.
Disclaimer: This tool is for general informational and estimation purposes only and is not professional financial, tax, accounting or legal advice. All figures are estimates — verify with a qualified professional before making decisions. Read the full disclaimer.
Straight-Line Depreciation Calculator for maintenance and reliability teams: Calculate straight-line depreciation — equal expense each year — with a full schedule of depreciation, accumulated total and book value. Free, private (everything runs in your browser) and ready for daily plant use.
About Straight-Line Depreciation Calculator
Straight-line is the simplest and most common depreciation method: it spreads the depreciable cost (cost minus salvage value) evenly across the asset's useful life, so the expense is identical every year. This calculator returns the annual depreciation and a full schedule showing depreciation, accumulated depreciation and remaining book value for each year — the table you'd put in a fixed-asset register.
How to use Straight-Line Depreciation Calculator
- 1Enter the asset cost, and the salvage value and useful life (or rate) for the method.
- 2Add any first-year Section 179 or bonus expensing if your jurisdiction allows it.
- 3Read the first-year deduction and the full year-by-year schedule of depreciation, accumulated total and book value.
Why use Straight-Line Depreciation Calculator?
- ✓Calculate straight-line depreciation — equal expense each year — with a full schedule of depreciation, accumulated total and book value — computed instantly with the standard formula
- ✓100% free and unlimited, with no sign-up, login or paywall
- ✓Runs entirely in your browser — readings and asset data never leave your device
- ✓Niche-specific defaults and thresholds for straight line depreciation, traceable to the cited standards
Frequently asked questions
What is the straight-line depreciation formula?+
Annual depreciation = (asset cost − salvage value) ÷ useful life in years. The result is the same every year, and accumulated depreciation grows linearly until book value reaches the salvage value at the end of the useful life.
How do I choose salvage value and useful life?+
Salvage (residual) value is your estimate of what the asset will be worth at the end of its useful life — often a small percentage of cost, or zero for assets with no resale value. Useful life is how long you'll use it productively, guided by experience, industry norms and (for tax) statutory class lives. Both are estimates; revisit them if circumstances change materially.
When is straight-line better than an accelerated method?+
Straight-line suits assets that deliver even benefit over time and is favoured for financial reporting because it smooths profit. Accelerated methods (declining balance, sum-of-years-digits, MACRS) front-load the expense and suit assets that lose value or productivity fastest early on, or where tax deferral is the goal. Many businesses use straight-line for the books and an accelerated method for tax.
Does straight-line depreciation ever change year to year?+
Not unless you revise the estimates. If you reassess useful life or salvage value (a change in accounting estimate), you depreciate the remaining book value over the remaining revised life from that point forward — you don't restate prior years. A partial first year (if the asset was bought mid-year) is pro-rated under most conventions.
Embed Straight-Line Depreciation Calculator on your website
Want Straight-Line Depreciation Calculatoron your own site? Paste this snippet into any HTML page — it's free, with no API key or sign-up. The tool loads in an iframe and keeps working exactly as it does here.
<iframe src="https://tooljolt.com/tools/straight-line-depreciation-calculator" width="100%" height="640" style="border:1px solid #e5e7eb;border-radius:12px;max-width:680px" title="Straight-Line Depreciation Calculator — ToolJolt" loading="lazy"></iframe>Related tools
- Double Declining Balance Depreciation Calculator
- Declining Balance Depreciation Calculator (150%)
- Sum-of-Years'-Digits Depreciation Calculator
- Units of Production Depreciation Calculator
- MACRS Depreciation Calculator (US)
- Section 179 Deduction Calculator (US)
- Centrifugal Pump Vibration Monitor (ISO 10816)
- Machine Spindle Bearing Life Calculator
Related Industrial tools
Factory Machine PM Scheduler
A free production machine maintenance register: last service, interval, due date and overdue alerts — sorted by urgency, stored in your browser.
● LiveInjection Molding Machine PM Scheduler
A free injection molding machine maintenance register: last service, interval, due date and overdue alerts — sorted by urgency, stored in your browser.
● LiveCNC Machine PM Scheduler
A free CNC machine maintenance register: last service, interval, due date and overdue alerts — sorted by urgency, stored in your browser.
● Live