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Accounting

Lower of Cost or Market / NRV Calculator

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Apply IFRS lower of cost and NRV or US GAAP lower of cost or market to determine inventory carrying value and write-down.

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Accounting standard

US GAAP

US GAAP

Valuation method

Lower of Cost or Market

Market value

$42,000

LCM carrying value

$42,000

Inventory write-down

$8,000

Impairment status

Material Impairment

Decision support

US GAAP

Interpretation is based on US GAAP terminology. For planning and educational purposes.

Interpretation

[US GAAP] Market value of $42,000 is below cost. Carrying value reduces to $42,000 (Lower of Cost or Market) with a $8,000 write-down (Material Impairment).

Assumptions

Lower of Cost or Market under US GAAP. Market = min(ceiling, max(replacement cost, floor)). For planning and education only — not official reporting advice.

What to do next

US GAAP
CautionRisk levelMediumConfidenceMedium

Recommended action

Record the inventory write-down under US GAAP and disclose the impairment in financial statement notes if material.

Accounting standard
US GAAP
Valuation method
Lower of Cost or Market
Market value
$42,000
LCM value
$42,000
Write-down
$8,000

Why

Inventory would be written down by $8,000, reducing assets and increasing cost of goods sold or a loss on impairment in the period recognized.

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Detailed results

Accounting standard
US GAAP
LCNRV carrying value ($)
42,000
Financial statement impact
Inventory would be written down by $8,000, reducing assets and increasing cost of goods sold or a loss on impairment in the period recognized.

Inventory must not be carried above recoverable amounts. IFRS uses lower of cost and net realizable value (NRV). US GAAP traditional lower of cost or market (LCM) applies replacement cost bounded by a ceiling and floor. Select your standard, enter the relevant inputs, and quantify any write-down. This calculator is for planning and education — not official reporting advice.

How to use this calculator

  1. Select IFRS or US GAAP.
  2. IFRS: enter inventory cost and net realizable value.
  3. US GAAP: enter inventory cost, replacement cost, ceiling (typically NRV), and floor (NRV less normal profit).
  4. Review carrying value, write-down, and financial statement impact.

Formula

IFRS: LCNRV value = min(cost, NRV); write-down = max(0, cost − NRV). US GAAP: market = min(ceiling, max(replacement cost, floor)); LCM value = min(cost, market); write-down = max(0, cost − LCM value).

Example

IFRS: inventory costing $10,000 with NRV $8,500 is written down to $8,500 ($1,500 write-down). US GAAP: cost $10,000, replacement $8,000, ceiling $9,000, floor $7,000 yields market $8,000 and a $2,000 write-down.

Frequently asked questions

What is the difference between IFRS and US GAAP here?

IFRS compares cost directly to net realizable value. US GAAP traditional LCM derives market from replacement cost with ceiling and floor constraints before comparing to cost.

What is the ceiling in US GAAP LCM?

Typically net realizable value (estimated selling price less costs to complete and sell). It caps market so inventory is not valued above amounts expected from sale.

What is the floor in US GAAP LCM?

NRV minus an allowance for normal profit margin. Market is not reduced below the floor under traditional LCM mechanics.

Can write-downs be reversed?

Under IFRS, some inventory write-down reversals are permitted when conditions improve. U.S. GAAP generally prohibits reversing inventory write-downs. Confirm your framework.

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