# Depreciation Calculator Compare four depreciation methods side by side: straight-line, declining balance (with multiplier, e.g. 2 for DDB), sum-of-the-years'-digits (SYD), and units of production (when yearly usage is provided). Shows book-value curves and a year-by-year depreciation table. > Canonical page: https://elysiatools.com/en/tools/depreciation-calculator - **Category:** Finance - **Keywords:** depreciation, straight-line, declining balance, double declining, ddb, sum of years digits, syd, units of production, book value, accounting, finance ## Overview The Depreciation Calculator allows you to compare four major depreciation methods side by side: straight-line, declining balance, sum-of-the-years'-digits (SYD), and units of production. By entering your asset's cost, salvage value, and useful life, you can instantly generate a year-by-year depreciation table and book-value curves to determine the most tax-efficient or accurate accounting method for your business assets. ## Inputs - **Asset Cost** (number): e.g. 50000 - **Salvage Value** (number): e.g. 5000 - **Useful Life (Years)** (number): e.g. 5 - **Declining Balance Multiplier** (number): e.g. 2 for double-declining (DDB) - **Units of Production — Usage (optional, comma-separated per year)** (text): e.g. 4000, 3500, 3000, 2500, 2000 - **Decimal Places** (number) ## When to use - When comparing different accounting methods to optimize tax planning for new capital assets. - When calculating the annual depreciation expense and remaining book value of machinery, vehicles, or equipment over their useful life. - When evaluating asset depreciation based on actual usage or production output rather than just elapsed time. ## How it works - Enter the initial asset cost, estimated salvage value at the end of its life, and the useful life in years. - Optionally adjust the declining balance multiplier or input comma-separated annual usage values for the units of production method. - The calculator computes the annual depreciation expense, accumulated depreciation, and ending book value for each year across all selected methods. - Review the generated comparative table and book-value curves to analyze how each method impacts your asset's value over time. ## Use cases - Financial planning to choose between straight-line and accelerated depreciation for corporate tax reporting. - Equipment management to track the book value of company vehicles based on annual mileage or usage. - Academic or professional accounting training to visualize how different depreciation formulas affect asset valuation over time. ## Frequently asked questions ### What depreciation methods can I compare? You can compare straight-line, declining balance (including double-declining), sum-of-the-years'-digits (SYD), and units of production methods. ### How do I calculate units of production depreciation? Enter the comma-separated usage values per year in the units of production input field to calculate depreciation based on actual asset wear. ### What is the declining balance multiplier? It is the factor applied to the straight-line rate. For example, a multiplier of 2 calculates double-declining balance (DDB) depreciation. ### Can I customize the decimal precision of the calculations? Yes, you can specify the number of decimal places from 0 to 6 for the calculated depreciation values. ### What is salvage value? Salvage value is the estimated book value of an asset after its useful life has ended, representing what it can be sold for. ## Related tools - [Cash Back Calculator](https://elysiatools.com/en/tools/cash-back-calculator): Calculate credit card cash back rewards across multiple spending categories. Enter categories as 'name, monthly spend $, cash back %' per line. Shows monthly and annual cash back per category, total rewards, effective cash-back rate, and a comparison against a flat-rate card. - [Future Value Calculator](https://elysiatools.com/en/tools/future-value-calculator): Project today's amount (plus optional recurring contributions) forward with compound interest (FV). Supports a lump sum or lump sum + annuity, multiple compounding frequencies, a growth curve, and a per-period breakdown. 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