The straight-line method for calculating depreciation is an accounting technique used to spread the cost of a long-term asset over its estimated useful lifetime. It’s one of the simplest and most popular depreciation methods and assumes that the total cost of an asset is spread evenly over its useful life. This means that each year, the same amount of depreciation is deducted from the value of a business asset and then recorded in the company’s accounting books. By consistently using this method, businesses can calculate accurate and reliable numbers when it comes to determining the value of their assets.