Difference Between Direct Costs and Indirect Costs

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Written by True Tamplin, BSc, CEPF®

Reviewed by Subject Matter Experts

Updated on March 27, 2023

Direct Costs: Definition

Direct costs are costs that can be conveniently and economically identified with some cost objectives, or which can be associated with specific segments under consideration.

Indirect Costs: Definition

Indirect costs are costs that cannot be conveniently and economically identified with cost objectives and must be allocated—on some equitable basis—to the cost objectives or segments under consideration.

Explanation and Examples

Every cost for a firm must be assigned to a cost objective, which may be a production department, a division of the firm, or a unit of production. The key difference underpinning these two terms—direct and indirect costs—is their traceability.

  • A manufacturing cost that is traceable to a specific product, activity, or department is known as a direct cost. Direct costs are fully traceable to a cost objective.
    • For example, a department manager’s salary is easily traceable to their department, and so it is considered a direct cost for that department.
  • An indirect cost is a manufacturing cost that is not traceable to a specific product or cost objective, and which must be assigned using some allocation method.
    • For example, overhead costs in manufacturing are not directly identifiable with any particular product or service. Therefore, they are considered indirect costs with respect to that product or service.

A critical piece of information for managers is the ratio of direct to indirect costs in the total cost.

If most incurred costs are direct and traceable, then the manager is in a better position to understand and control these costs.

By contrast, the manager will not have control over the portion of indirect costs.

Difference Between Direct Costs and Indirect Costs FAQs

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About the Author

True Tamplin, BSc, CEPF®

True Tamplin is a published author, public speaker, CEO of UpDigital, and founder of Finance Strategists.

True is a Certified Educator in Personal Finance (CEPF®), author of The Handy Financial Ratios Guide, a member of the Society for Advancing Business Editing and Writing, contributes to his financial education site, Finance Strategists, and has spoken to various financial communities such as the CFA Institute, as well as university students like his Alma mater, Biola University, where he received a bachelor of science in business and data analytics.

To learn more about True, visit his personal website or view his author profiles on Amazon, Nasdaq and Forbes.