Launch offer — 25% off with code LAUNCH-25 See plans →
Microlesson · 5-min read

Fixed Overhead Variances (Hour Basis) — Sub-variances of Volume

# Fixed Overhead Variances — Hour Basis

When FOH is recovered on the basis of hours, the top-level variance structure remains identical, but the Volume Variance can be split into three sub-variances:

1. Calendar Variance — caused by different working days

2. Capacity Variance — caused by different hours per day

3. Efficiency Variance — caused by differing efficiency in hours used

## Top Level Structure (unchanged)

```

TOTAL FIXED OH COST VARIANCE

Recovered FOH − Actual FOH

┌─────────┴─────────┐

FOH EXPENDITURE FOH VOLUME

VARIANCE VARIANCE

Budgeted − Actual Recovered − Budgeted

```

## Volume Variance Sub-Variances

### 1. FOH Calendar Variance

$$= (\text{Actual Working Days} - \text{Budgeted Working Days}) \times \text{Budgeted Rate per Day}$$

where $\text{Budgeted Rate per Day} = \dfrac{\text{Budgeted FOH}}{\text{Budgeted Days}}$

### 2. FOH Capacity Variance

$$= (\text{Actual Hrs in Actual Days} - \text{Budgeted Hrs in Budgeted Days}) \times \text{Budgeted Rate per Hour}$$

### 3. FOH Efficiency Variance

$$= (\text{Standard Hrs} - \text{Actual Hrs}) \times \text{Budgeted Rate per Hour}$$

where $\text{Budgeted Rate per Hour} = \dfrac{\text{Budgeted FOH}}{\text{Budgeted Hours}}$

## Recovered FOH (hour basis)

$$\text{Recovered FOH} = \frac{\text{Budgeted FOH}}{\text{Budgeted Hours}} \times \text{Standard Hours for Actual Output}$$

## Reconciliation

Calendar + Capacity + Efficiency = Volume Variance

Worked example

### Example 1

Example: Budgeted: 25 days, 8 hrs/day, FOH ₹40,000. Actual: 24 days, 192 actual hrs, Standard hrs for output = 200.

  • Budgeted hrs = 25 × 8 = 200 hrs
  • Rate/day = 40,000/25 = ₹1,600; Rate/hr = 40,000/200 = ₹200
  • Calendar Variance = (24 − 25) × 1,600 = ₹1,600 (A)
  • Capacity Variance = (192 − 24×8) × 200 = (192 − 192) × 200 = ₹0
  • Efficiency Variance = (200 − 192) × 200 = ₹1,600 (F)
  • Net Volume Variance = −1,600 + 0 + 1,600 = ₹0

⚠️ Common exam mistakes

  • Mixing up the comparison direction — for calendar/capacity, actual comes first; for efficiency, standard comes first.
  • Computing Budgeted Rate per Day using budgeted hours instead of budgeted days.
  • Forgetting that Capacity uses 'Actual hrs in actual days' minus 'Budgeted hrs in budgeted days' — students often substitute standard hours.
  • Double-counting calendar effect in capacity variance.
Reference:
Now that you've read this — what's next?
Move from understanding → mastery in 3 clicks. Each option below picks up from this lesson's topic.
Start 15-min diagnostic