double declining balance

Double-Declining-Balance Depreciation Method

A way of calculating the depreciation of an asset that assumes the asset loses value at double the rate of the straight-line method. One calculates the DDB by depreciating double the straight-line value for the first year, and then depreciating the same percentage for each remaining year of the asset's usable life. DDB is a form of accelerated depreciation.

double declining balance

An accounting method employed to approximate the situation of an asset losing value (depreciating) more rapidly in the early years after acquisition and then more slowly in later years.