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What are the disadvantages of straight line depreciation?

Author

Emma Miller

Updated on January 01, 2026

Disadvantages Of Straight Line Method Of Depreciation

  • Faulty Assumption.
  • Loss Of Interest Or Revenue.
  • Difficult To Estimate Life.
  • Not Suitable For Large Firms.
  • Not Suitable For Valuable Assets.
  • Not Justifiable.

    What are advantages of straight line method?

    Advantages and Disadvantages of Straight Line Basis Accountants like the straight line method because it is easy to use, renders fewer errors over the life of the asset, and expenses the same amount every accounting period.

    What is the advantage and disadvantage of types of depreciation method?

    The advantage of using this method is that it accelerates the depreciation recorded early in the asset’s life. Another advantage is that the accelerated depreciation reduces the taxable income and the taxes owed during the early years. A disadvantage of this method is that the calculation is more complex.

    What is the negative in straight line method?

    In the beginning, buying some assets can affect your profits in a negative way for accounting purposes. When you use the straight line method, you can spread out the cost of the assets over many years. This means that your assets will not adversely affect your profits in the year they were bought.

    Why do we use straight line depreciation?

    Straight line depreciation is the default method used to recognize the carrying amount of a fixed asset evenly over its useful life. It is employed when there is no particular pattern to the manner in which an asset is to be utilized over time.

    Why do companies prefer straight line depreciation?

    Straight-line depreciation is an accounting method that is most useful for getting a more realistic view of your profit margins in businesses primarily using long-term assets. These types of assets include office buildings, manufacturing equipment, computers, office furniture and vehicles.

    Why would you use straight line depreciation?

    What is an example of straight line depreciation?

    Example of Straight Line Depreciation Purchase cost of $60,000 – estimated salvage value of $10,000 = Depreciable asset cost of $50,000. 1 / 5-year useful life = 20% depreciation rate per year. 20% depreciation rate x $50,000 depreciable asset cost = $10,000 annual depreciation.

    Why is Macrs better than straight line?

    MACRS allows for greater accelerated depreciation over longer time periods. This is beneficial since faster acceleration allows individuals and businesses to deduct greater amounts during the first few years of an asset’s life, and relatively less later.

    When should I use straight line depreciation?

    It is used when there no particular pattern to the manner in which the asset is being used over time. Since it is the easiest depreciation method to calculate and results in the fewest calculation errors, using straight line depreciation to calculate an asset’s depreciation is highly recommended.

    Can depreciation be more than cost?

    It is important to note that accumulated depreciation cannot be more than the asset’s historical cost even if the asset is still in use after its estimated useful life.

    When would you use straight-line depreciation?