Straight Line Depreciation Calculator

Spread an asset’s cost minus salvage evenly over its useful life. See annual SL depreciation, optional monthly (annual ÷ 12), and a year-by-year book-value schedule — all in the browser.

Annual + monthly
Book-value schedule
Stays on your device

Year-by-year schedule

Year	Beginning book value	Depreciation	Ending book value
1	$25,000.00	$4,500.00	$20,500.00
2	$20,500.00	$4,500.00	$16,000.00
3	$16,000.00	$4,500.00	$11,500.00
4	$11,500.00	$4,500.00	$7,000.00
5	$7,000.00	$4,500.00	$2,500.00

A straight line depreciation calculator answers a practical books question: if this asset costs a known amount and will be worth a salvage (residual) value after a set number of years, how much expense do you take each year, and what is book value along the way? Enter cost, salvage, and useful life.

The formula is annual depreciation = (cost − salvage) ÷ useful life years. That is SL depreciation: the same amount every full year. People also search this as a straight-line depreciation calculator — the comparison is the same. There is no second URL for those aliases. Monthly is simply the annual figure divided by 12.

Optional first-year fraction or a placed-in-service date scales year one when the asset was not in service for a full calendar year. The schedule then adds a stub year for the leftover fraction so ending book value equals salvage. Results are educational estimates, not tax advice. Everything runs in your browser. Totals never leave the device, and there is no account.

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How to use the straight line depreciation calculator

Enter asset cost (basis) and salvage or residual value.
Enter useful life in years (must be greater than 0).
Optionally enter a first-year fraction (0–1) or a placed-in-service date.
Read annual depreciation, monthly (annual ÷ 12), and depreciable basis.
Use the year-by-year table for beginning book value, depreciation, and ending book value.

Frequently asked questions

How does a straight line depreciation calculator work?

A straight line depreciation calculator subtracts salvage (residual) value from asset cost to get depreciable basis, then divides by useful life in years. That annual expense is the same each full year. The schedule starts at cost, subtracts depreciation, and ends at salvage. Optional first-year fraction or a placed-in-service date scales year one and leaves a stub year for the leftover fraction.

What is the straight-line depreciation formula?

Annual depreciation = (Cost − Salvage) ÷ Useful life years. Monthly is that annual amount divided by 12. Example: a $25,000 asset, $2,500 salvage, and 5-year life has a $22,500 basis and $4,500 of SL depreciation each year ($375 per month).

What is depreciable basis?

Depreciable basis is cost minus salvage. It is the total you expect to write off over the asset’s life. Book value starts at cost and falls by each year’s depreciation until it equals salvage. If salvage equals cost, basis and annual expense are zero.

How do I handle a partial first year or placed-in-service date?

Enter a first-year fraction between 0 and 1 (0.5 is a half-year convention), or pick a placed-in-service date. A date uses remaining calendar days in that year, including the in-service day, divided by 365 or 366. Year one takes that fraction of annual expense; later full years take the usual amount; a final stub year finishes the leftover so book value lands on salvage.

Is this the same as a straight-line depreciation calculator or SL depreciation?

Yes. People also search for a straight-line depreciation calculator or SL depreciation. Those names all point at this same straight line depreciation calculator page. There is no second URL for those aliases.

What if salvage is greater than cost?

That is not a valid straight-line setup. Residual value cannot exceed the cost basis. Lower salvage, raise cost, or both. Useful life must also be greater than zero, and cost and salvage must be finite, non-negative numbers.

Does this straight line depreciation calculator upload my numbers?

No. Cost, salvage, useful life, first-year fraction, and placed-in-service date are calculated in your browser. Nothing is sent to a server or stored on our side.

Is this tax or accounting advice?

No. Results are an educational estimate of book depreciation under the straight-line method you enter. Tax lives, half-year or mid-month conventions, section 179, bonus depreciation, and IFRS/GAAP presentation can differ. Check a qualified advisor before you file or book entries.