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Excel

DB function in Excel

Returns the depreciation of an asset for a specified period by using the fixed-declining balance method

=DB(cost, salvage, life, period, [month])

DB syntax and parameters

Five arguments, four required.

  • costnumberRequired

    The initial cost of the asset.

  • salvagenumberRequired

    The value at the end of the depreciation (sometimes called the salvage value of the asset).

  • lifenumberRequired

    The number of periods over which the asset is being depreciated (sometimes called the useful life of the asset).

  • periodnumberRequired

    The period for which you want to calculate the depreciation. Period must use the same units as life.

  • monthnumberOptional

    The number of months in the first year. If month is omitted, it is assumed to be 12.

DB examples

Formulas you'll actually reuse.

  1. Fixed-declining-balance depreciation in year 1 (rate ≈ 30.1%):

    =DB(24000, 4000, 5, 1)

    Result7224

  2. Bought mid-year — only six months of depreciation in year 1:

    =DB(24000, 4000, 5, 1, 6)

    Result3612

DB in Google Sheets

Same name — your formula ports as-is.

Try DB in the playground

Edit the example — nothing to install.

Preloaded with the DB formula from Example 1 — change anything and watch it respond.

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