Kevin.

Useful Life by Content Class

The depreciation schedule Kevin applies, in full: 87 lines across 31 categories. Generated from the live schedule rather than maintained by hand, so it cannot drift from what the product does.

Kevin Godfrey, KevinLast updated 5 October 2026

How long is each class of personal property expected to last?

Kevin's schedule carries 87 lines across 31 categories, each with its own useful life. Age divided by that life gives the depreciation percentage, and it runs to 100%.

Useful life is the number most contents arguments actually turn on, because it is what converts an age into a percentage. The whole schedule is below, and the same data is downloadable as a CSV if you would rather have it in a spreadsheet.

How to read it

  • Straight line by age — age ÷ useful life, which is 73 of the 87 lines.
  • No useful life shown — 14 lines depreciate on another basis entirely, or not at all. The row says which.
  • Appraisal class — 6 classes are never priced automatically and reach you with a blank, editable field.
  • Cap — only 1 line in the schedule carries a ceiling. Everything else runs to 100%.

The schedule

Captured from the live schedule on 2026-10-05. Depreciation is subject to the policy and the jurisdiction; Kevin computes a schedule, not a coverage determination.

Appliances — Major

ItemUseful lifeHow it depreciates
All Other Major Appliances10 yrsStraight line by age
Refrigerator14 yrsStraight line by age

Appliances — Small

ItemUseful lifeHow it depreciates
All Other Small Appliances10 yrsStraight line by age

Artwork

ItemUseful lifeHow it depreciates
All Other Artwork Items10 yrsStraight line by age
Paintings & TapestryAppraisal class—Percentage of replacement cost · Schedule: use Replacement Cost -- holds value, does not depreciate.

Automotive & Motorcycle Accessories

ItemUseful lifeHow it depreciates
All Other Auto & Motorcycle Accessories10 yrsStraight line by age
Automotive Working Parts5 yrsStraight line by age
Trailers20 yrsStraight line by age

Books, Magazines & Periodicals

ItemUseful lifeHow it depreciates
Paperback & Hardcover Books—Flat rate (50%) · Schedule: flat 50%, age-independent.
Text Book5 yrsStraight line by age

Business Equipment & Goods

ItemUseful lifeHow it depreciates
Business Equipment & Goods—Does not depreciate · Schedule: N/A, 0% annual, 0% max -- does not depreciate under this schedule at all (it is not personal property).

Cameras, Camcorders & Equipment

ItemUseful lifeHow it depreciates
All Cameras & Camcorders20 yrsStraight line by age
Flashes & Accessories10 yrsStraight line by age

Clothing & Accessories

ItemUseful lifeHow it depreciates
All Other Clothing8 yrsStraight line by age
Footwear — Non-Athletic5 yrsStraight line by age · DIVERGENCE from the published schedule (owner, repeatedly, 2026-09-09/10). The schedule files ALL footwear under 'Socks & Footwear' at 3 years. Three years is the ATHLETIC life -- it belongs to shoes that are run in -- and applying it to a Converse, a sandal or a $300 leather dress shoe is not defensible. Non-athletic footwear sits at 5. Only genuinely athletic footwear gets the 3-year Sporting Goods line.
FursAppraisal class—Valued manually · DIVERGENCE from the published schedule, which has no Furs line and would file a mink under All Other Clothing at 8 years. Furs are appraisal-grade and carry policy sub-limits; we have never auto-priced them and Phase 4 must not start. Kept as an appraisal line so the gate follows the schedule id.
Socks & Hosiery3 yrsStraight line by age
Underwear & Nightwear3 yrsStraight line by age

Computer & Related Goods

ItemUseful lifeHow it depreciates
All Computer & Related Goods4.5 yrsStraight line by age
Printers, Peripherals & Accessories10 yrsStraight line by age

Electronics

ItemUseful lifeHow it depreciates
All Other Electronics10 yrsStraight line by age
Cellular Phone5 yrsStraight line by age

Firearms

ItemUseful lifeHow it depreciates
All FirearmsAppraisal class20 yrsStraight line by age

Furniture — Home & Office

ItemUseful lifeHow it depreciates
All Other Furniture Items20 yrsStraight line by age
Children's Furniture10 yrsStraight line by age
Upholstered Furniture10 yrsStraight line by age

Health & Personal Care

ItemUseful lifeHow it depreciates
All Other Health Care10 yrsStraight line by age
Medicine3 yrsStraight line by age

Hobbies & Collectibles

ItemUseful lifeHow it depreciates
All Other Hobbies & Collectibles20 yrsStraight line by age · Schedule: 20 years, straight-line.
Art Supplies10 yrsStraight line by age
Collectible Coins / Numismatic Items—Percentage of replacement cost · Schedule: use Replacement Cost (indefinite life).
Perishables (Marijuana)0.1667 yrsStraight line by age · Schedule: 2 MONTHS, 600%/yr, 100% max. The shortest life in the whole schedule, and the only one measured in months -- which is why useful_life is a float.
Sewing Machines20 yrsStraight line by age
Smoking & Vaping Accessories10 yrsStraight line by age
Trading Cards & Comic BooksAppraisal class—Percentage of replacement cost · Schedule: use Replacement Cost.

Housewares — Dining & Flat Ware

ItemUseful lifeHow it depreciates
All Other Silver & Dining Ware20 yrsStraight line by age
Fine ChinaAppraisal class—Percentage of replacement cost · Schedule: use Replacement Cost.

Housewares — Home Décor

ItemUseful lifeHow it depreciates
All Other Houseware Items10 yrsStraight line by age
Clocks, Mirrors & Fireplaces20 yrsStraight line by age
Figurines—Flat rate (10%) · Schedule: flat 10%, age-independent.

Infant & Baby Related Goods

ItemUseful lifeHow it depreciates
All Infant & Baby Related Goods10 yrsStraight line by age

Jewelry & Watches

ItemUseful lifeHow it depreciates
All Other JewelryAppraisal class—Percentage of replacement cost · Schedule: use Replacement Cost.
Costume Jewelry & Children's Watches10 yrsStraight line by age
Watches, Broaches, Pins & Cuff Links20 yrsStraight line by age

Kitchenware

ItemUseful lifeHow it depreciates
All Other Kitchenware10 yrsStraight line by age
Cutlery & Stainless Steel Kitchenware20 yrsStraight line by age
Miscellaneous Utensils5 yrsStraight line by age

Lawn, Garden & Patio

ItemUseful lifeHow it depreciates
All Other Lawn, Garden & Patio10 yrsStraight line by age
Fabric Cushions & Umbrellas3 yrsStraight line by age
Gardening Clothing8 yrsStraight line by age
Lawn Furniture7 yrsStraight line by age
Power Mowers & Electric Yard Tools7 yrsStraight line by age

Linens & Softgoods

ItemUseful lifeHow it depreciates
All Other Linens & Softgoods10 yrsStraight line by age
Kitchen Linens5 yrsStraight line by age
Quilts20 yrsStraight line by age
Sheets, Pillow Cases & Towels5 yrsStraight line by age

Luggage, Bags & Accessories

ItemUseful lifeHow it depreciates
All Other Luggage & Bags20 yrsStraight line by age
Handbags & Money Carriers4 yrsStraight line by age

Music, Movies & Media

ItemUseful lifeHow it depreciates
Cassette Tapes—Flat rate (50%) · Schedule: flat 50%.
CDs—Flat rate (25%) · Schedule: flat 25%.
DVDs8 yrsStraight line by age · capped at 50% · Schedule: 8 years, 12.5%/yr, 50% MAX -- the one line in the whole schedule that caps below 100%.

Musical Instruments

ItemUseful lifeHow it depreciates
All Other Instruments20 yrsStraight line by age
Instrument Accessories5 yrsStraight line by age
Instrument Parts & DJ Equipment10 yrsStraight line by age

Office Supplies

ItemUseful lifeHow it depreciates
All Other Office Supplies10 yrsStraight line by age
Safes & Vaults50 yrsStraight line by age

Perishable — Non-perishable

ItemUseful lifeHow it depreciates
Opened Cleaning Supplies—Flat rate (50%) · Schedule: flat 50%.
Unopened Cleaning Supplies—Does not depreciate · Schedule: N/A, 0% annual, 0% max -- sealed stock is replaced at full cost.

Personal Care & Beauty

ItemUseful lifeHow it depreciates
All Other Personal Care10 yrsStraight line by age
Cosmetics—Flat rate (50%) · Schedule: flat 50%.
Hair Brushes & Dental Care5 yrsStraight line by age

Pet & Animal Supplies

ItemUseful lifeHow it depreciates
All Pet & Animal Supplies5 yrsStraight line by age

Sporting Goods

ItemUseful lifeHow it depreciates
All Other Sporting Goods10 yrsStraight line by age
Archery & Hunting15 yrsStraight line by age
Athletic Shoes & Cleats3 yrsStraight line by age · Schedule: 3 years, 33.33%/yr, 100% max. The line that started this whole exercise (carrier dispute, 2026-09-09).
Billiard Table14 yrsStraight line by age
Knives & Optics20 yrsStraight line by age
Racquetball & Table Tennis Acces.3 yrsStraight line by age
Roller/In-line Skates7 yrsStraight line by age
Soccer & Tennis5 yrsStraight line by age
Table Tennis Table & Ice Skates6 yrsStraight line by age
Tennis Apparel8 yrsStraight line by age

Tools

ItemUseful lifeHow it depreciates
All Tools & Accessories20 yrsStraight line by age

Toys & Games

ItemUseful lifeHow it depreciates
All Other Toys2 yrsStraight line by age
Children's Furniture10 yrsStraight line by age
Games, Video Games & Electronic Toys5 yrsStraight line by age
Outdoor Toys5 yrsStraight line by age

Common questions

What is useful life in a contents claim?
The number of years a class of property is expected to last, which is what a straight-line schedule divides an item’s age by. A six-year-old refrigerator against a fourteen-year life is 43% depreciated; the same age against a three-year life is fully depreciated.
Why do two similar items depreciate differently?
Because the class decides the life, not the price or the look of the item. Footwear, furniture and major appliances have very different expected lives, which is exactly why a single blanket percentage across a schedule comes apart under review.
Does depreciation really run to 100%?
Yes. Property past its useful life shows an actual cash value of $0.00 rather than stopping at a floor we invented. Only one line in the whole schedule carries a cap, and the reference above marks it.
Which classes are never priced automatically?
Six of them, marked in the table: jewelry, firearms, fine arts, furs, fine china and graded trading cards. They reach you unpriced with an editable field, because a number produced without an appraisal on that property is worse than a blank.
Why do some lines have no useful life at all?
Because age is not what drives their value. Those lines depreciate on a different basis — a flat rate, a percentage of replacement cost, or not at all — rather than on a years-owned calculation. The table says which applies to each.
Is this the schedule Kevin actually applies?
Yes, and that is the point of publishing it. The table is generated directly from the live schedule the pricing engine reads rather than maintained by hand, so it cannot drift from what the product does.

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