Variable Costing Differs From Absorption Costing

Absorption costing (also called the full cost method) treats all costs of production as product costs, regardless of whether they are variable or fixed. Since no distinction is made between variable and fixed costs, absorption costing is not well suited for CVP computations. Under absorption costing, the cost of a unit of product consists of direct materials, direct labor, and both variable and fixed overhead. Variable and fixed selling and administrative expenses are treated as period costs and are deducted from revenue as incurred.

Variable costing (also called direct costing or marginal costing) treats only those costs of production that varies with output as product costs. This approach dovetails with the contribution approach income statement and supports CVP analysis because of its emphasis on separating variable and fixed costs. The cost of a unit of product consists of direct materials, direct labor, and variable overhead. Fixed manufacturing overhead, and both variable and fixed selling and administrative expenses are treated as period costs and deducted from revenue as incurred.