Absorption Costing

Absorb in Accounting
To assimilate or incorporate amounts in an account or a group of accounts so that they are absorbed and lose their identity.
Absorbed Overhead
Absorbed overhead (also known as applied overhead or recovered overhead) refers to the amount of overhead costs allocated to a specific production process or cost unit within an organization during an accounting period, using the technique of absorption costing.
Absorption Costing
Absorption costing, also known as full absorption costing or total absorption costing, is a cost accounting method where all overheads of an organization are charged to production by means of absorption.
Absorption Costing
Absorption costing, also known as full costing, encompasses an accounting process where all manufacturing costs, both fixed and variable, are absorbed by the product. This method assigns a portion of fixed overhead costs to each unit produced, resulting in a more comprehensive understanding of product costs.
Absorption Costing - Rate Per Unit
Absorption costing is a methodology used to allocate all manufacturing costs to the production units. It is generally used in traditional costing systems.
Absorption Rate: Understanding Overhead Absorption Rates
Absorption rate, also known as overhead absorption rate or recovery rate, is a crucial concept in absorption costing systems used to allocate overhead costs to production. This detailed guide covers the calculation methods, usage, and comparisons with modern costing systems.
Activity-Based Costing (ABC)
Activity-Based Costing (ABC) is an accounting method of cost allocation that assigns costs to products and services based on the activities and resources that they consume.
Backflush Accounting
Backflush accounting is a streamlined costing method designed for environments with minimal stock levels. It allocates costs retroactively to simplify accounting operations, especially suitable for Just-In-Time inventory systems.
Contribution Income Statement
A financial statement that presents income using the marginal costing layout, emphasizing the distinction between variable and fixed costs, and aids in understanding the profitability of products based on contribution margins.
Cost Absorption
Cost absorption involves assigning all costs, both fixed and variable, to the product or service being produced or delivered.
Cost Assignment (Cost Attribution)
Cost Assignment or Cost Attribution refers to the procedures by which direct or indirect costs are charged to or made the responsibility of particular cost centers, and ultimately charged to the products manufactured or services provided by the organization.
Costing Methods
Techniques and procedures in cost accounting and management accounting to obtain the costs of services, products, processes, and cost centers for decision making, planning, and control.
Direct Labour Cost (Direct Wages)
Direct labour cost refers to the expenditures on wages paid to operators who are directly involved in the production of a product, service, or cost unit. It's part of the direct cost of sales and can be measured through the time spent on activities and operators' pay rates.
Direct Labour Hour
An hour spent working on a product, service, or cost unit produced by an organization by those operators whose time can be directly traced to the production. Direct labour hours are sometimes used as a basis for absorbing manufacturing overheads to the cost unit in absorption costing.
Direct Labour Hour Rate
The direct labour hour rate refers to the rate of pay per hour assigned to operators engaged in direct labour or an absorption rate used in absorption costing. It is computed by dividing the total labor cost by the total direct labor hours worked.
Direct Materials Cost
Direct materials cost is the expenditure on materials that are used directly in the production process to manufacture a product. This cost is a part of various costing methods and significantly influences the overall production cost.
Fixed Overhead Absorption Rate
The fixed overhead absorption rate is calculated by dividing the budgeted fixed overheads by the budgeted production units or other budgeted production measures, reflecting the allocation of fixed manufacturing overheads to individual units of production.
Full Absorption Costing
Full absorption costing, also known as absorption costing, is a method of accounting that captures all direct and indirect manufacturing expenses when determining the cost of the final product.
Full Costing
Full costing, also known as absorption costing, is an accounting method where all fixed and variable manufacturing costs are considered to be product costs.
Full Costing Method
The Full Costing Method is an extensive approach in accounting that includes all the costs associated with producing a product or service, encompassing both direct costs and overheads allocated to the cost unit.
Indirect Costs
Indirect costs, also known as indirect expenses, are expenses that cannot be traced directly to a product or cost unit and are therefore considered overheads.
Machine Hour Rate
Machine Hour Rate is an absorption rate used in absorption costing, calculated to allocate overheads to products based on the hours machines are used in the manufacturing process.
Marginal Costing
A costing and decision-making technique that charges only the marginal costs to the cost units and treats the fixed costs as a lump sum, deducting from the total contribution to obtain the profit or loss for the period.
Normal Volume
Normal Volume refers to the volume of activity used to determine the overhead absorption rate in a system of absorption costing. It is generally the budgeted volume of production for a specific period.
Overabsorbed Overhead
In absorption costing, overabsorbed overhead occurs when the absorbed overhead is greater than the incurred overhead costs for a period, representing an addition to the budgeted profits of the organization.
Overhead Absorption Rate
An overhead absorption rate (OAR) is a method used in cost accounting to allocate overhead costs to products or services based on a predefined absorption basis.
Percentage on Direct Labour Cost
In absorption costing, percentage on direct labour cost serves as a crucial method for allocating production overheads to cost units, ensuring accurate accounting and cost management.
Percentage on Direct Material Cost
A basis used in absorption costing for absorbing the manufacturing overhead into the cost units produced. The formula used is: Overhead Absorption Rate = (Total Overhead / Total Direct Material Cost) * 100.
Percentage on Prime Cost
A basis used in absorption costing for allocating manufacturing overhead to the cost units produced. This method involves applying a percentage of the prime cost to determine the overhead allocation.
Product Costs
The costs of production when charged to the cost units and expressed as costs of individual products. Product costs may include both direct costs and indirect costs (overhead); many different costing methods, such as absorption costing, activity-based costing, and process costing, are used in computing product costs.
Rate Per Direct Labour Hour
A basis used in absorption costing for absorbing manufacturing overhead into the cost units produced. It is essential for allocating overhead costs accurately in a manufacturing environment.
Rate Per Machine Hour
Rate per machine hour is a basis used in absorption costing for absorbing manufacturing overhead into cost units produced, providing insights into the operational efficiency and cost management within a manufacturing setup.
Service Cost Centre
Learn about the concept of a Service Cost Centre in accounting, an essential element in the absorption costing process used for allocating or apportioning costs to support and maintain production processes.
Standard Fixed Overhead Cost
In standard costing, a standard fixed overhead cost is derived from the standard time allowed for the performance of an operation or the production of a product and the standard fixed overhead absorption rate per unit of time for that operation or product.
Total Absorption Costing
Total Absorption Costing allocates all manufacturing costs to products, ensuring all costs related to production are accounted for in the valuation of inventory and cost of goods sold.
Underabsorbed Overhead
In absorption costing, the circumstance in which the absorbed overhead is less than the overhead costs incurred for a period. This adverse variance represents a reduction of the budgeted profits of the organization.

Accounting Terms Lexicon

Discover comprehensive accounting definitions and practical insights. Empowering students and professionals with clear and concise explanations for a better understanding of financial terms.