Why should I calculate equipment depreciation?

Equipment depreciation is a real business cost that must be factored into your pricing. If you do not account for it, you will not have funds to replace equipment when it wears out or becomes obsolete. It is also a legitimate business expense for tax purposes.

How long does camera equipment last?

Camera bodies typically last 3-5 years (or 200,000-500,000 actuations). Professional lenses can last 10-20+ years with care. Lighting equipment lasts 5-10 years. Computers and software typically need replacing every 3-5 years. Tripods and accessories can last indefinitely.

What is residual value?

Residual value is what you can sell the equipment for at the end of its useful life to you. Camera bodies might retain 20-30% of their purchase price after 5 years. Lenses hold their value better, often retaining 50-70% after many years, especially popular prime lenses.

Should I use straight-line or reducing balance depreciation?

This calculator uses straight-line depreciation (equal amounts each year), which is simpler and commonly used by small businesses. HMRC actually uses a reducing balance method for capital allowances, but straight-line is more intuitive for pricing calculations.

PhotoCalcs

Equipment Depreciation Calculator — Cost Per Shoot

Calculate equipment depreciation and the cost of your gear per shoot to price your services accurately.

Purchase Price

Residual Value

Expected value when replaced

Useful Life

Shoots per Year

How We Calculate This

Straight-line depreciation spreads the cost evenly over the useful life:

Annual depreciation = (purchase price - residual value) / useful years

Cost per shoot = annual depreciation / shoots per year

For a complete picture, calculate depreciation for each piece of equipment (bodies, lenses, lighting, computer, software) and sum the per-shoot costs. This total should be built into your day rate or package pricing.

Frequently Asked Questions

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Last updated: February 2026

All calculations are estimates based on standard optical and photographic formulas. Results may vary with specific equipment.