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Depletion Expense Calculator

This calculator helps determine the depletion expense of natural resources such as minerals, timber, oil, or gas. It's a key accounting tool for businesses involved in extraction industries to calculate asset reduction over time based on usage.

Natural Resource Depletion Expense Tool

Input Fields
C
$
Initial cost of acquiring and developing the natural resource
S
$
Estimated residual value at the end of resource life
U
Estimated total units of resource available
E
Number of units actually extracted during the period
If enabled, the result will update automatically when you change any value.

Depletion Expense Formula

Formula
$$\text{Depletion Expense} = \left( \frac{\text{Cost} – \text{Salvage Value}}{\text{Total Estimated Units}} \right) \times \text{Units Extracted}$$

Explanation:
The formula allocates the cost of a natural resource over its useful life based on the quantity extracted. This method is similar to depreciation but applies specifically to depletable resources.

Depletion accounting is used primarily by industries such as mining, oil & gas, and forestry. It ensures that the cost of using up a natural resource is accurately reflected in financial records. The depletion expense is typically calculated annually and affects both profitability and tax deductions.

Example Variables:

  • Cost of resource site: $500,000
  • Salvage value: $50,000
  • Estimated total units: 100,000 tons
  • Units extracted: 10,000 tons
  • Depletion Expense = ((500,000 – 50,000) / 100,000) × 10,000 = $45,000

Use Cases:

  • Oil & gas extraction companies
  • Logging and timber operations
  • Mining and resource development projects

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