How to Calculate Applied Overhead

Calculating applied overhead

Overhead is any costs which are not directly involved in the manufacturing of a product or part of the administrative expenses associated with manufacturing the product. Management calculates applied overhead either in a normal costing system or standard costing system. A normal costing system multiplies the actual hours worked by a predetermined overhead rate. A standard costing system multiplies an estimated hours to work by a predetermined overhead rate.

Instructions

1. Determine the actual hours worked, the predetermined overhead rate and the estimated hours worked. For example, Firm A had direct labor hours of 300 hours, they estimated 280 hours of work and estimated $4.50 of overhead per direct labor hour.

2. Multiply the actual hours worked by the estimated overhead per hour to calculate applied overhead in a normal costing system. In the example, 300 hours times $4.50 per hour equals applied overhead of $1,350.

3. Multiply the estimated direct labor hours by the estimated overhead per hour to calculate applied overhead in a standard costing system. In the example, 280 hours times $4.50 per hour equals applied overhead of $1,260.

References

• Investopedia: Overhead
• Accounting 202: Chapter 11