High-low point method

High-low point method is a technique used to divide a mixed cost into its variable and fixed components.

Sometimes it is necessary to determine the fixed and variable components of a mixed cost figure. Several techniques are used for this purpose such as scatter graph method, least squares regression method and high-low point method. On this page I will explain the use of high-low point method.

Under high-low point method, an estimated variable cost rate is calculated first using the highest and lowest activity levels and mixed costs associated with them. This estimated variable cost rate is used to calculate total estimated variable cost included in the mixed cost figures at highest and lowest activity levels. The estimated variable cost is then subtracted from the total mixed cost figures at highest and lowest activity levels to find the fixed cost component.

The cost function

Like scatter graph method and least squares regression method, high-low point method follows the following cost function (also known as cost volume formula):

y = a + bx

Where,

• y = total cost
• a = total fixed cost
• b = fixed cost
• x = number of units

To make the procedure simple and easy to understand , we can divide the calculations into the following three steps.

Steps involved in high-low point method

Step 1 – calculation of variable cost rate:

The first step in high-low point method is to calculate an estimated variable cost rate. This rate is calculated by using the following formula:

Step 2 – calculation of variable cost component:

After calculating estimated variable cost rate, the second step is to calculate the total estimated variable cost at highest and lowest activity levels. It is calculated by multiplying the estimated variable cost rate (calculated in step 1) by highest and lowest activity levels. The formula is given below:

Estimated total variable cost = Estimated variable cost rate × Highest or lowest level of activity

Step 3 – calculation of fixed cost component:

The third and final step in high-low point method is to find out the fixed cost component of the total mixed cost. It is calculated by subtracting the estimated variable cost (calculated in step 2) from the total mixed cost figure. The formula for this purpose is given below:

Fixed cost = Total mixed cost – Estimated total variable

Examples of high-low point method:

Example 1:

The Western Company presents the production and cost data for the first six months of the 2015.

Required: Determine the estimated variable cost rate and fixed cost using high-low point method. Also determine the cost function on the basis of data given above.

Solution:

Variable cost rate:

(66,000 – 45,000)/(29,000 – 15,000)
= $21000/14,000
= $1.5 per unit

Variable cost:

• Highest activity level (May): 29,000 units × $1.5 = $43,500
• Lowest activity level (January): 15,000 × $1.5 = $22,500

Fixed cost:

• Highest activity level (May): $66,000 – $43,500 = $22,500
• Lowest activity level (January): $45,000 – $22,500 = $22,500

On the basis of data provided by Western Company, the cost function is:

y = $22,500 + $1.5x

Example 2:

Hussain Transport Company operates a fleet of trucks in Michigan. The company has
found that if a delivery truck is driven for 52,500 miles in a month, its average operating cost comes to
45.6 cents per mile. If the same truck is driven for only 35,000 miles in a month, its average
operating cost increases to 53.6 cents per mile.

Required:

1. Calculate the estimated variable and fixed cost components of the monthly cost of operating a truck by applying the high-low point method.
2. Express the two types of costs in the form of: Y = a + bX.
3. If the truck were driven for 40,000 miles during a month, what total cost would the company expect to be
   incurred?

Solution:

1. Variable and fixed cost components:

Variable cost per mile:

(Cost at high activity – Cost at low activity)/(High activity – Low activity)
= ($23,940* – $18,760**)/(52,500 miles – 35,000 miles)
= $5,180/17,500 miles
= $0.296 per mile

*52,500 x $0.456
**35,000 x $0.536

Fixed cost per month:

Total cost at 52,500 miles – Variable portion
= $23,940 -(52,500 miles x $0.296)
= $23,940 – $15,540
= $8,400

2. Expression:

Y = $8,400 + $0.296X

3. Total cost at 40,000 miles:

Fixed cost + variable cost
= $8,400 + (40,000 miles x $0.296)
= $8,400 + $11,840
= $20,240

Limitations of high-low point method

High-low point method is simple and easy to use but has some serious limitations. A manager that chooses to apply this method must have a full awareness of these limitations.

The high-low point method uses only two data points (i.e., the highest and the lowest activity levels) which are generally not enough to get the satisfactory results. Moreover, these highest and lowest points often do not represent the usual activity levels of a business. The high-low point formula, therefore, may misrepresent the entity’s true cost behavior during the periods of normal activity levels.

Due to these defects, this method is considered less accurate than the least squares regression method which takes into account all data points and provides much more accurate results.