Excel DB Function in Office 365 – With Examples!!
Tags: exceldbfunctioninoff, excelfunctions
Published: 2020-10-03 10:56:05

---
title: Excel DB Function in Office 365 – With Examples!!
published: true
date: 2020-10-02 08:59:22 UTC
tags: ExcelDBFunctioninOff,ExcelFunctions
canonical_url: https://geekexcel.com/excel-db-function-in-office-365-with-examples/
---

## Excel DB Function:

![DB Function](https://eadn-wc04-371788.nxedge.io/cdn/wp-content/uploads/2020/10/DB-Function.png)<figcaption id="caption-attachment-15010">DB Function</figcaption>

We will illustrate the explanation, syntax, and usage of the **Excel DB Function in Office 365**. Get an official version of **Microsoft Excel** from the following link: [https://www.microsoft.com/en-in/microsoft-365/excel](https://www.microsoft.com/en-in/microsoft-365/excel).
## Explanation of DB Function:

- The Excel DB function **uses a fixed-declining balance method to evaluate the depreciation of an asset for a given period**.

**Fixed-declining balance calculation:**

- Excel uses the below formula to get a rate to use to evaluate depreciation based on fixed-declining balance.

![Evaluate depreciation](https://eadn-wc04-371788.nxedge.io/cdn/wp-content/uploads/2020/10/Evaluate-depreciation.png)<figcaption id="caption-attachment-15002">Evaluate depreciation</figcaption>

- Depreciation for the first and last periods is an exceptional case.
  - DB uses this formula for the first period.

![First period](https://eadn-wc04-371788.nxedge.io/cdn/wp-content/uploads/2020/10/First-period.png)<figcaption id="caption-attachment-15007">First period</figcaption>

  - For the last period, DB uses this formula:

![Last period](https://eadn-wc04-371788.nxedge.io/cdn/wp-content/uploads/2020/10/Last-period.png)<figcaption id="caption-attachment-15008">Last period</figcaption>

## DB Function – Basic Syntax:

The fundamental syntax of **DB Function** is,

```
=DB(cost, salvage, life, period, [month])
```

### Argument Description:

- **Cost (Required)** – It is the initial cost of the asset.
- **Salvage (Required)** – It is the value at the end of the depreciation. It is also referred to as the salvage value of the asset.
- **Life (Required)** – The number of periods to depreciate the asset. It is also called a useful life of the asset.
- **Period (Required)** – The period to depreciate the asset. The units of ‘period’ and ‘life’ argument must be the same.
- **Month (Optional)** – It is the number of months in the first year. It takes the default value of 12 if this argument is omitted.

### Important Note:

- [**#NUM! Error**](https://geekexcel.com/how-to-fix-num-error-in-excel-office-365-with-example/) – The error occurs if either:
  - The supplied **‘cost’** or **‘salvage’** argument is < 0;
  - The **‘period’** or **‘life’** argument is less than or equal to 0;
  - The **‘month’** argument is less than or equal to 0 or greater than 12;
  - The **‘period’** argument is greater than the supplied **‘life’** argument (and the month argument is omitted);
  - The **‘period’** argument is greater than the supplied **‘life’** +1;
- [**#VALUE! Error**](https://geekexcel.com/how-to-fix-value-error-in-excel-office-365-with-example/) – The function returns the #VALUE! Error if any one of the input arguments contains a non-numeric character.

## Practical Examples of DB Function:

Let’s look at some practical examples of **DB Function**  and explore how to use it in Microsoft Excel.

### **Example 1: **

- We have entered the input values of cost, salvage, life, period, and a month into the cell range C5: G7.
- Here, in this example, we have selected the input cells C5, D5, E5, F5, and G5 to calculate the depreciation.
- Refer to the below syntax of the  **DB function**  to return the output.

```
=DB(C5,D5,E5,F5,G5)
```

![Example 1](https://eadn-wc04-371788.nxedge.io/cdn/wp-content/uploads/2020/10/Example-1-2.png)<figcaption id="caption-attachment-15004">Example 1</figcaption>

- You need to click **Enter** to execute the formula.

![Example 1 - Output](https://eadn-wc04-371788.nxedge.io/cdn/wp-content/uploads/2020/10/Example-1-Output-2.png)<figcaption id="caption-attachment-15003">Example 1 – Output</figcaption>

- Now, you can see the result in the I5 cell.
- You can repeat the same for other input values.
- The ‘month’ argument will take the default value of 12 if it is omitted.

### **Example 2: **

- The #NUM! error occurs if the **‘cost’** or **‘salvage’** argument is < 0 or the **‘period’** or **‘life’** argument is less than or equal to 0 or the **‘month’** argument is less than or equal to 0 or greater than 12 or the **‘period’** argument is greater than the supplied **‘life’** argument (and the month argument is omitted) or the **‘period’** argument is greater than the supplied **‘life’** +1.

![Example 2](https://eadn-wc04-371788.nxedge.io/cdn/wp-content/uploads/2020/10/Example-2-2.png)<figcaption id="caption-attachment-15005">Example 2</figcaption>

### **Example 3: **

- The function returns the #VALUE! Error if any one of the input arguments contains a non-numeric character.

![Example 3](https://eadn-wc04-371788.nxedge.io/cdn/wp-content/uploads/2020/10/Example-3-2.png)<figcaption id="caption-attachment-15006">Example 3</figcaption>

## A Brief Summary:

In this short tutorial, we have illustrated how to use the **EXCEL DB Function in Office 365** with clear-cut practical examples. The DB function lets you calculate the depreciation of an asset using a fixed-declining balance method. If you have any **queries/doubts** , kindly share it in the below comment section. Thanks for visiting **[Geek Excel!!](https://geekexcel.com/)** Keep Learning With Us!!

## Read Ahead:

- **[Excel ISNONTEXT Function in Office 365 – How to use?](https://geekexcel.com/isnontext-function-in-microsoft-excel-365-how-to-use/)**
- **[How to Use Excel ISNA Function in Office 365?](https://geekexcel.com/how-to-use-isna-function-in-microsoft-excel-365/)**
- **[How To Use Excel ISREF Function in Office 365?](https://geekexcel.com/how-to-use-isref-function-in-microsoft-excel-365/)**