DB Function in Google Sheets

Calculate depreciation of an asset for a specific period using the DB function.

DB Function

The DB function in Google Sheets calculates the depreciation of an asset for a specified period using the fixed-declining balance method.

Syntax

DB(cost, salvage, life, period, [month])
  • cost: The initial cost of the asset. This is a required parameter.
  • salvage: The value of the asset at the end of its useful life. This is a required parameter.
  • life: The number of periods over which the asset will be depreciated. This is a required parameter.
  • period: The period for which you want to calculate the depreciation. This is a required parameter.
  • month: (Optional) The number of months in the first year of depreciation. If omitted, the function assumes 12 months.

Examples

  1. Basic Depreciation Calculation

Calculate the depreciation of an asset costing $10,000 with a salvage value of $1,000 over 5 years for the second year:

=DB(10000, 1000, 5, 2)

This will output 2,160.

Notes

  • The DB function assumes a consistent declining balance method over the life of the asset.
  • The result may vary depending on the number of months used in the first year if specified.
  • DDB: Calculate depreciation using the double-declining balance method.
  • SLN: Calculate depreciation using the straight-line method.