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The Daily Insight

Is a period cost an expense?

Author

Emma Jordan

Published Feb 19, 2026

Period costs are all costs not included in product costs. Period costs are not directly tied to the production process. Overhead or sales, general, and administrative (SG&A) costs are considered period costs. Therefore, period costs are listed as an expense in the accounting period in which they occurred.

Is Factory insurance a period cost?

If both administrative and factory facilities are located under one roof, rent cost must be allocated according to the space used by each. Insurance: Insurance expenses are a period cost. Advertising: Any advertising or marketing related expense is a period cost.

Is factory rent a period cost?

Office expenses: Office expenses such as rent, cleaning, and office supplies are considered period costs. If both administrative and factory facilities are located under one roof, rent cost must be allocated according to the space used by each.

Is delivery expense a product or period cost?

Period costs are those costs recorded as an expense in the period they are incurred. Selling expenses such as sales salaries, sales commissions, and delivery expense, and general and administrative expenses such as office salaries, and depreciation on office equipment, are all considered period costs.

Is Factory insurance a product or period cost?

Insurance: Insurance expenses are a period cost. Advertising: Any advertising or marketing related expense is a period cost. Salaries: Salaries paid to non-production employees, such as administrative staff, managers, and other support personnel, are considered indirect labor expenses, which are a period cost.

What is the High Low method of cost estimation?

The high-low method involves taking the highest level of activity and the lowest level of activity and comparing the total costs at each level. If the variable cost is a fixed charge per unit and fixed costs remain the same, it is possible to determine the fixed and variable costs by solving the system of equations.