Depreciation by straight-line and double declining balance methods, with a year-by-year schedule.
straight-line annual depreciation
Year-by-year schedule
| Year | Depreciation | Book value |
|---|
How to use this tool
Type what the asset cost and its expected end value.
Type how many years the asset will be used.
Straight-line spreads evenly; declining balance front-loads.
The table shows each year's charge and remaining book value.
Formula & worked example
Worked example: cost $10,000, salvage $1,000, life 5 years. Straight-line = ($10,000 – $1,000) / 5 = $1,800 a year. Double declining balance at 40%: year 1 $4,000 (book $6,000), year 2 $2,400 (book $3,600), year 3 $1,440, year 4 $864, year 5 $296 to reach $1,000.
Limitations — read this before you rely on it
Accounting and tax depreciation differ and vary by jurisdiction: tax rules may require specific methods, lives, bonus depreciation or capital allowances that this calculator does not model. Confirm local tax treatment before using figures in a return.
Frequently asked questions
Spreading an asset's cost (minus salvage value) over its useful life, so each year's accounts bear part of the cost of using the asset.
Straight-line charges the same amount every year; double declining balance charges twice the straight-line rate on the shrinking book value, so early years bear much more cost.
No. This is a calculator from the numbers you enter. Tax, legal and investment decisions depend on your full circumstances, so check with a qualified professional for real decisions.
As accurate as the inputs and the stated formula. It is a model with simplifications listed in the limitations; try a range of inputs rather than trusting one figure.
Yes for the maths, which is currency-neutral unless a jurisdiction is stated. Tax rules, thresholds and market conventions differ by country, so check local rules where they matter.