Depletion Rate Calculator
Calculate the depletion expense per unit using the Units of Production method.
Calculation Results
How the Depletion Rate is Calculated
In accounting and natural resource management, the depletion rate is calculated as the cost of extracting natural resources (such as timber, minerals, or oil) allocated over the period in which the resource is consumed. Unlike depreciation, which applies to tangible assets like machinery, depletion applies strictly to natural resources.
The Units of Production Method
The most common method for calculating depletion is the Units of Production method. This approach ensures that the expense recorded matches the actual usage of the resource. The depletion rate is calculated using the following logical steps:
- Determine the Depletion Base: This is the total cost associated with the resource minus any residual value. It includes acquisition costs, exploration costs, and development costs.
- Estimate Total Recoverable Units: Geologists or engineers estimate the total amount of the resource (e.g., tons of coal, barrels of oil) contained in the property.
- Calculate Rate per Unit: Divide the Depletion Base by the Total Estimated Recoverable Units.
Mathematical Formula
The specific formula used by this calculator is:
Depletion Rate = (Cost - Salvage Value) / Total Estimated Units
Once the rate per unit is established, the total expense for a specific period is found by multiplying the rate by the units extracted and sold during that timeframe.
Example Calculation
Imagine a mining company purchases rights to a silver mine for $5,000,000. They spend $1,000,000 on development. The estimated salvage value of the land is $500,000. Geologists estimate there are 200,000 ounces of silver recoverable.
- Depletion Base: ($5,000,000 + $1,000,000) – $500,000 = $5,500,000
- Depletion Rate: $5,500,000 / 200,000 ounces = $27.50 per ounce
If the company mines 10,000 ounces in the first year, the depletion expense would be 10,000 * $27.50 = $275,000.