Cost Accounting Quiz: Direct Labor Efficiency Variance
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Direct Labor Efficiency VarianceQuestion 1 of 19

During March, a company's direct labor costs were $120,000 for 4,800 hours. The standard hours for the 2,500 units produced were 5,000 hours. The company's total direct labor variance was $4,000 favorable. What is the standard direct labor rate per hour?

$23.20
$24.80
$25.00
$26.00
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Cost Accounting Quiz

Cost Accounting Quiz: Direct Labor Efficiency Variance

Practice Direct Labor Efficiency Variance in Cost Accounting with focused quiz questions that help you check what you know, review explanations, and build confidence with test-style prompts.

What this quiz covers

This quiz focuses on Direct Labor Efficiency Variance, giving you a quick way to practice the rules, question types, and explanations that matter most for Cost Accounting.

How to use this quiz

Try each quiz question before looking at the correct answer. Use the explanations to review missed ideas, then come back to similar questions until the pattern feels familiar.

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Question 1

During March, a company's direct labor costs were $120,000 for 4,800 hours. The standard hours for the 2,500 units produced were 5,000 hours. The company's total direct labor variance was $4,000 favorable. What is the standard direct labor rate per hour?

  1. $23.20
  2. $24.80 (correct answer)
  3. $25.00
  4. $26.00
Explanation: This is a multi-step problem that requires working backwards to find the standard rate.
  1. Calculate the actual rate: $120,000 ÷ 4,800 hours = $25.00 per hour
  2. Set up the total variance equation: Total Variance = Rate Variance + Efficiency Variance
  3. Let SR = Standard Rate. Then:
    • Rate Variance = (AR - SR) × AH = ($25.00 - SR) × 4,800
    • Efficiency Variance = (AH - SH) × SR = (4,800 - 5,000) × SR = -200 × SR
  4. Substitute into total variance equation: -4,000=[(4,000 = [(25.00 - SR) × 4,800] + [-200 × SR] -$4,000 = $120,000 - 4,800SR - 200SR -$4,000 = $120,000 - 5,000SR 5,000SR = $124,000 SR = $24.80 per hour

Question 2

Apex Manufacturing provides the following data for its direct labor in the Assembly Department for May:

  • Units produced: 8,000
  • Standard hours per unit: 1.25
  • Standard rate per hour: $22.00
  • Total direct labor variance: $7,000 Unfavorable
  • Direct labor rate variance: $3,500 Favorable

What is the direct labor efficiency variance?

  1. $3,500 Favorable
  2. $3,500 Unfavorable
  3. $10,500 Favorable
  4. $10,500 Unfavorable (correct answer)
Explanation: The total direct labor variance is the sum of the direct labor rate variance and the direct labor efficiency variance. Let U be unfavorable (positive) and F be favorable (negative). Total Variance = Rate Variance + Efficiency Variance 7,000=−7,000 = -3,500 + Efficiency Variance Efficiency Variance = $7,000 + $3,500 Efficiency Variance = $10,500 Unfavorable This question requires the test-taker to understand the relationship between the components of the total direct labor variance rather than performing the standard efficiency variance calculation from raw data.

Question 3

A company uses a process costing system with the weighted-average method. For the month of July in its primary processing department, the company recorded the following data related to conversion costs:

  • Work-in-process, July 1: 5,000 units (30% complete)
  • Units started during July: 20,000 units
  • Units completed and transferred out: 22,000 units
  • Work-in-process, July 31: 3,000 units (80% complete)
  • Standard direct labor: 0.4 hours per equivalent unit at $20/hour.
  • Actual direct labor hours worked: 9,700 hours.

Based on the data in the passage, what is the direct labor efficiency variance for July?

  1. $800 Unfavorable
  2. $800 Favorable
  3. $1,200 Favorable (correct answer)
  4. $1,200 Unfavorable
Explanation: This question requires calculating equivalent units of production for conversion costs before computing the labor efficiency variance.
  1. Calculate equivalent units (EU) using the weighted-average method:
    • Units completed and transferred out: 22,000 units × 100% = 22,000 EU
    • Ending WIP: 3,000 units × 80% = 2,400 EU
    • Total Equivalent Units: 22,000 + 2,400 = 24,400 EU
  2. Calculate Standard Hours (SH) allowed: 24,400 EU × 0.4 hours/EU = 9,760 hours
  3. Identify Actual Hours (AH): 9,700 hours
  4. Identify Standard Rate (SR): $20/hour
  5. Calculate the variance: DLEV = (AH - SH) × SR = (9,700 - 9,760) × $20 = -60 × $20 = $1,200 Favorable

Question 4

A company's standard direct labor rate is $28 per hour. During a period of high demand, the company paid a total of $154,000 for 5,200 hours of direct labor, which included some overtime paid at a premium. The standard hours allowed for the production achieved were 5,000 hours. What is the direct labor efficiency variance?

  1. $5,600 Unfavorable (correct answer)
  2. $5,920 Unfavorable
  3. $7,800 Unfavorable
  4. $13,400 Unfavorable
Explanation: The direct labor efficiency variance must be calculated using the standard rate, regardless of the actual rate paid or any overtime premiums.
  1. Identify Actual Hours (AH): 5,200 hours.
  2. Identify Standard Hours (SH): 5,000 hours.
  3. Identify Standard Rate (SR): $28 per hour.
  4. The total payroll cost and any overtime premiums are irrelevant for the efficiency variance calculation. The actual rate ($154,000 / 5,200 = $29.62) is not used.
  5. Calculate the variance: DLEV = (AH - SH) × SR = (5,200 - 5,000) × $28 = 200 × $28 = $5,600 Unfavorable.

Question 5

For Product Z, the standard is 0.8 hours of labor per unit at a standard rate of $30 per hour. In July, 20,000 units of Product Z were produced. The total standard labor cost was $480,000. The total actual labor cost was $522,500, and the labor rate variance was $32,500 Unfavorable. What is the labor efficiency variance?

  1. $10,000 Favorable
  2. $10,000 Unfavorable (correct answer)
  3. $42,500 Unfavorable
  4. $75,000 Unfavorable
Explanation: This problem can be solved by relating the total variance to its components or by first calculating the actual hours. Method 1: Using Variance Relationships
  1. Calculate Total Labor Variance: Actual Cost - Standard Cost = $522,500 - $480,000 = $42,500 Unfavorable.
  2. Use the formula: Total Variance = Rate Variance + Efficiency Variance. $42,500 U = $32,500 U + Efficiency Variance Efficiency Variance = $42,500 - $32,500 = $10,000 Unfavorable.
Method 2: Calculating from Hours
  1. Calculate Standard Hours (SH): 20,000 units × 0.8 hours/unit = 16,000 hours.
  2. Calculate Actual Hours (AH). First find the actual rate (AR). Rate Variance = (AR - SR) × AH -> $32,500 = (AR - $30) × AH. Actual Cost = AR × AH -> $522,500 = AR × AH. Substitute: 522,500=(AR×AH)=(SR×AH)+RateVariance=(522,500 = (AR × AH) = (SR × AH) + Rate Variance = (30 × AH) + $32,500. $30 × AH = $522,500 - $32,500 = $490,000. AH = $490,000 / $30 = 16,333.33 hours.
  3. Calculate DLEV: (AH - SH) × SR = (16,333.33 - 16,000) × $30 = 333.33 × $30 = $10,000 Unfavorable.

Question 6

For the month of June, a company's records show 12,000 total hours were paid to direct labor employees. Due to a power outage, 500 of these hours were classified as idle time. The standard hours allowed for the actual output achieved in June were 11,200 hours. The standard direct labor rate is $25 per hour. What is the direct labor efficiency variance for June?

  1. $7,500 Unfavorable (correct answer)
  2. $12,500 Unfavorable
  3. $20,000 Unfavorable
  4. $2,500 Unfavorable
Explanation: The direct labor efficiency variance should be calculated using actual productive hours worked, not total hours paid. Idle time is typically treated as a separate variance (often a component of overhead).
  1. Determine Actual Hours Worked (AH): Total hours paid - Idle time = 12,000 - 500 = 11,500 hours.
  2. Identify Standard Hours (SH): 11,200 hours.
  3. Identify Standard Rate (SR): $25 per hour.
  4. Calculate the variance: DLEV = (AH - SH) × SR = (11,500 - 11,200) × $25 = 300 × $25 = $7,500 Unfavorable.

Question 7

Sterling Corp. reported a direct labor efficiency variance of $12,000 Favorable for the month of October. The standard wage rate is $30 per hour, and the standard to produce one unit is 2.5 hours. The company used 15,600 actual direct labor hours during October. How many units did Sterling Corp. produce during October?

  1. 6,080 units
  2. 6,240 units
  3. 6,400 units (correct answer)
  4. 6,560 units
Explanation: The formula for the direct labor efficiency variance is (Actual Hours - Standard Hours) × Standard Rate. A favorable variance means actual hours were less than standard hours.
  1. Set up the formula: DLEV = (AH - SH) × SR -$12,000 = (15,600 - SH) × $30
  2. Solve for Standard Hours (SH): -$12,000 / $30 = 15,600 - SH -400 = 15,600 - SH SH = 15,600 + 400 = 16,000 hours
  3. Convert standard hours to units produced: Units = Total Standard Hours / Standard Hours per Unit Units = 16,000 hours / 2.5 hours/unit = 6,400 units.

Question 8

Matrix Co. had a direct labor efficiency variance of $4,500 Unfavorable. The standard labor rate was $15 per hour. The actual hours worked exceeded the standard hours allowed for the actual output by what amount?

  1. 150 hours
  2. 300 hours (correct answer)
  3. 450 hours
  4. Cannot be determined from the information given.
Explanation: This question tests the understanding of the components of the efficiency variance formula itself. The formula is: DLEV = (Actual Hours - Standard Hours) × Standard Rate. The term (Actual Hours - Standard Hours) represents the difference in hours. $4,500 = (Hour Difference) × $15 Hour Difference = $4,500 / $15 = 300 hours. Since the variance is unfavorable, actual hours exceeded standard hours.

Question 9

A company produces products X and Y. The standard labor time for Product X is 2.5 hours and for Product Y is 3.0 hours. The standard labor rate for all employees is $24 per hour. In March, the company produced 2,000 units of X and 1,000 units of Y. The total actual direct labor hours worked were 8,150, at a total payroll cost of $198,875. What is the direct labor efficiency variance for March?

  1. $3,600 Unfavorable (correct answer)
  2. $3,690 Unfavorable
  3. $6,000 Unfavorable
  4. $6,150 Unfavorable
Explanation: The standard hours must be calculated based on the actual mix of products produced.
  1. Calculate SH for Product X: 2,000 units × 2.5 hours/unit = 5,000 hours.
  2. Calculate SH for Product Y: 1,000 units × 3.0 hours/unit = 3,000 hours.
  3. Calculate total SH: 5,000 + 3,000 = 8,000 hours.
  4. Identify Actual Hours (AH): 8,150 hours.
  5. Identify Standard Rate (SR): $24 per hour.
  6. Calculate the variance: DLEV = (AH - SH) × SR = (8,150 - 8,000) × $24 = 150 × $24 = $3,600 Unfavorable.

Question 10

Globex Corporation's standards for its main product include 3.5 direct labor hours per unit. The standard cost for direct labor is $20 per hour. In November, Globex produced 1,200 units. The direct labor payroll for the month was $86,940 for 4,140 hours. Due to the use of lower-skilled workers, the production manager authorized a lower actual wage rate but noted that efficiency suffered. What was the direct labor efficiency variance?

  1. $1,200 Favorable (correct answer)
  2. $1,200 Unfavorable
  3. $1,260 Favorable
  4. $1,260 Unfavorable
Explanation: The efficiency variance must be calculated with the standard rate, and standard hours must be based on actual output. The narrative about lower-skilled workers is context for interpreting the variance, not for changing the calculation.
  1. Calculate Standard Hours (SH): 1,200 units × 3.5 hours/unit = 4,200 hours.
  2. Identify Actual Hours (AH): 4,140 hours.
  3. Identify Standard Rate (SR): $20 per hour.
  4. Calculate the variance: DLEV = (AH - SH) × SR = (4,140 - 4,200) × $20 = -60 × $20 = $1,200 Favorable. This result seems counterintuitive given the context, which makes it a good question. The manager's assessment was wrong; efficiency was actually better than standard.

Question 11

For a given period, a company's actual direct labor cost was $150,000 for 6,000 hours of work. The total flexible budget variance for direct labor was $6,000 unfavorable. The direct labor rate variance was $12,000 unfavorable. What was the direct labor efficiency variance?

  1. $18,000 Unfavorable
  2. $6,000 Unfavorable
  3. $18,000 Favorable
  4. $6,000 Favorable (correct answer)
Explanation: The total flexible budget variance for direct labor is the sum of the rate and efficiency variances. The actual cost and hours are not needed if the other two variances are provided. Let U be unfavorable (positive) and F be favorable (negative). Total Variance = Rate Variance + Efficiency Variance $6,000 U = $12,000 U + Efficiency Variance $6,000 = $12,000 + Efficiency Variance Efficiency Variance = $6,000 - 12,000=−12,000 = -6,000 A negative result indicates a Favorable variance, so the direct labor efficiency variance is $6,000 Favorable.

Question 12

A company has a direct labor standard of 15 minutes per unit. The standard wage is $24 per hour. In the most recent period, 40,000 units were produced, and the direct labor efficiency variance was $24,000 Unfavorable. What were the actual direct labor hours worked?

  1. 9,000 hours
  2. 10,000 hours
  3. 11,000 hours (correct answer)
  4. 12,000 hours
Explanation: This problem requires converting the time standard to hours and then solving for actual hours.
  1. Convert the time standard to hours: 15 minutes / 60 minutes/hour = 0.25 hours per unit.
  2. Calculate Standard Hours (SH) for actual output: 40,000 units × 0.25 hours/unit = 10,000 hours.
  3. Use the DLEV formula to solve for Actual Hours (AH). An unfavorable variance is positive. DLEV = (AH - SH) × SR $24,000 = (AH - 10,000) × $24
  4. Solve for AH: $24,000 / $24 = AH - 10,000 1,000 = AH - 10,000 AH = 10,000 + 1,000 = 11,000 hours.

Question 13

A manufacturing company's standard cost card for its product specifies 2.0 direct labor hours per unit at a rate of $22.50 per hour. During a recent month, 1,000 units were produced. The company incurred a direct labor rate variance of $950 Unfavorable and a direct labor efficiency variance of $1,125 Favorable. What were the actual hours worked?

  1. 2,100 hours
  2. 2,000 hours
  3. 2,050 hours
  4. 1,950 hours (correct answer)
Explanation: This question requires using the efficiency variance formula to solve for actual hours.
  1. Calculate Standard Hours (SH): 1,000 units × 2.0 hours/unit = 2,000 hours.
  2. Use the DLEV formula. A favorable variance is negative. DLEV = (AH - SH) × SR -$1,125 = (AH - 2,000) × $22.50
  3. Solve for Actual Hours (AH): -$1,125 / $22.50 = AH - 2,000 -50 = AH - 2,000 AH = 2,000 - 50 = 1,950 hours. The rate variance information is not needed to solve the problem.

Question 14

Zenith Corp. manufactures a product with a standard of 3 direct labor hours per batch of 100 units. The standard labor rate is $19.00 per hour. In the last period, the company produced 40,000 units, using 1,250 direct labor hours at a total cost of $24,375. What is Zenith's direct labor efficiency variance for the period?

  1. $950 Unfavorable (correct answer)
  2. $975 Unfavorable
  3. $21,375 Favorable
  4. $222,750 Favorable
Explanation: The calculation requires converting the units produced into the number of batches to determine the total standard hours allowed.
  1. Calculate the number of batches produced: 40,000 units / 100 units/batch = 400 batches.
  2. Calculate Standard Hours (SH) for actual output: 400 batches × 3 hours/batch = 1,200 hours.
  3. Identify Actual Hours (AH): 1,250 hours.
  4. Identify Standard Rate (SR): $19.00 per hour.
  5. Calculate the variance: DLEV = (AH - SH) × SR = (1,250 - 1,200) × $19.00 = 50 × $19.00 = $950 Unfavorable.

Question 15

A company's standards allow for normal spoilage equal to 10% of the good units that pass inspection. The direct labor standard is 0.25 hours per unit inspected. The standard labor rate is $26 per hour. In May, the company completed 18,000 good units. Actual direct labor hours were 5,100. What is the direct labor efficiency variance?

  1. $2,600 Unfavorable (correct answer)
  2. $5,200 Unfavorable
  3. $1,300 Unfavorable
  4. $6,500 Unfavorable
Explanation: Standard hours should be based on the total units that were worked on, which includes good output plus units expected to be spoiled (normal spoilage).
  1. Calculate the number of units for normal spoilage: 18,000 good units × 10% = 1,800 units.
  2. Determine the total number of units that should have been processed to yield the good output: 18,000 good units + 1,800 normal spoilage units = 19,800 units. Another way to think of this is that the 18,000 good units represent 90% of the units started, so total units started = 18,000 / 0.90 = 20,000 units. The standard is per unit inspected, so all 20,000 were inspected.
  3. Calculate Standard Hours (SH): 20,000 units × 0.25 hours/unit = 5,000 hours.
  4. Identify Actual Hours (AH): 5,100 hours.
  5. Identify Standard Rate (SR): $26 per hour.
  6. Calculate the variance: DLEV = (AH - SH) × SR = (5,100 - 5,000) × $26 = 100 × $26 = $2,600 Unfavorable.

Question 16

Quantum Mechanics Inc. produces a single product. The flexible budget for labor for 5,000 units of output is $100,000 based on a standard of 1 hour per unit at $20 per hour. During the period, the company produced 5,200 units, using 5,100 direct labor hours. What is the direct labor efficiency variance?

  1. $4,000 Unfavorable
  2. $2,000 Unfavorable
  3. $4,000 Favorable
  4. $2,000 Favorable (correct answer)
Explanation: The information in the flexible budget for 5,000 units is partially extraneous. The standard hours must be calculated for the actual output level.
  1. Identify standards from the budget data: 1 hour/unit and $20/hour.
  2. Calculate Standard Hours (SH) for actual production: 5,200 units × 1 hour/unit = 5,200 hours.
  3. Identify Actual Hours (AH): 5,100 hours.
  4. Identify Standard Rate (SR): $20 per hour.
  5. Calculate the variance: DLEV = (AH - SH) × SR = (5,100 - 5,200) × $20 = -100 × $20 = $2,000 Favorable.

Question 17

A company has two production departments, Molding and Finishing. You are given the following information for the Finishing department:

  • Standard hours per unit: 0.5
  • Standard rate per hour: $40
  • Units finished: 10,000
  • Actual hours worked in Finishing: 5,300
  • Total company-wide actual labor cost: $500,000 for 20,000 hours

What is the direct labor efficiency variance for the Finishing department?

  1. $12,000 Unfavorable (correct answer)
  2. $12,500 Unfavorable
  3. $13,250 Unfavorable
  4. $20,000 Unfavorable
Explanation: The question requires focusing only on the data for the Finishing department and ignoring the company-wide data, which is extraneous.
  1. Calculate Standard Hours (SH) for the Finishing department: 10,000 units × 0.5 hours/unit = 5,000 hours.
  2. Identify Actual Hours (AH) for the Finishing department: 5,300 hours.
  3. Identify Standard Rate (SR) for the Finishing department: $40 per hour.
  4. Calculate the variance: DLEV = (AH - SH) × SR = (5,300 - 5,000) × $40 = 300 × $40 = $12,000 Unfavorable.

Question 18

A company budgeted to produce 10,000 units but actually produced 10,400 units. The direct labor standard is 2 hours per unit at a rate of $18.00 per hour. Actual direct labor hours worked were 21,000, and the actual labor cost was $388,500. What is the direct labor efficiency variance?

  1. $3,600 Unfavorable (correct answer)
  2. $7,200 Unfavorable
  3. $18,000 Unfavorable
  4. $18,900 Unfavorable
Explanation: The direct labor efficiency variance compares actual hours to the standard hours allowed for actual output.
  1. Calculate Standard Hours (SH) for actual production: 10,400 units × 2 hours/unit = 20,800 hours.
  2. Identify Actual Hours (AH): 21,000 hours.
  3. Identify Standard Rate (SR): $18.00 per hour.
  4. Calculate the variance: DLEV = (AH - SH) × SR = (21,000 - 20,800) × $18.00 = 200 × $18.00 = $3,600 Unfavorable.

Question 19

Beta Corporation uses standard costing for its assembly department. The standard calls for 1.8 direct labor hours per unit at $22 per hour. In October, the department completed 3,200 units and had 800 units that were 75% complete at month-end. The department used 7,400 actual direct labor hours. Using equivalent units of production, what is the direct labor efficiency variance for October?

  1. $2,640 unfavorable, calculated using 3,200 completed units as the production base
  2. $1,320 unfavorable, based on equivalent units of production including work-in-process (correct answer)
  3. $2,640 unfavorable, using total physical units without considering completion percentages
  4. $1,320 unfavorable, after adjusting actual hours for the incomplete units' efficiency
Explanation: Equivalent units = 3,200 completed + (800 × 75%) = 3,200 + 600 = 3,800 equivalent units. Standard hours = 3,800 × 1.8 = 6,840 hours. Efficiency variance = (7,400 - 6,840) × $22 = $1,320 unfavorable. Choice A uses only completed units (3,200 × 1.8 = 5,760 standard hours), giving (7,400 - 5,760) × $22 = $2,640. Choice C ignores completion percentage. Choice D suggests an incorrect adjustment method.