Syntax
SLN(cost, salvage, life)
| Parameter | Description |
|---|---|
| cost | Parameter of the SLN function. |
| salvage | Parameter of the SLN function. |
| life | Parameter of the SLN function. |
Examples
Office equipment depreciation
Formula
=SLN(5000, 500, 5)
$900.00. A $5,000 printer with $500 salvage value depreciates $900 per year over 5 years.
Vehicle depreciation
Formula
=SLN(45000, 8000, 7)
$5,285.71. A $45,000 company van with $8,000 residual value depreciates about $5,286 per year over 7 years.
Software amortization
Formula
=SLN(120000, 0, 3)
$40,000.00. Enterprise software costing $120K with zero salvage value costs $40K per year over a 3-year amortization schedule.
Common Errors
#NUM!
Life is zero, which would cause division by zero.
#VALUE!
One or more arguments is non-numeric.
Tips
Same amount every period
SLN returns the same value regardless of which period you're asking about — it's constant depreciation. If you need accelerated depreciation, use DDB or SYD.
Monthly depreciation
SLN gives annual depreciation if life is in years. Divide the result by 12 for monthly depreciation entries.
Simplest method
SLN is the easiest depreciation formula but may not reflect actual asset value decline. Equipment often loses more value early — consider SYD or DDB for a more realistic schedule.
Try SLN in Viztab
Import your data and use SLN with 370+ other formulas. No signup required.
Open Viztab