What is the normal balance for an asset account?

In accounting, the normal balance of an account refers to the expected or typical side of that account on the balance sheet. For asset accounts, the normal balance is a debit. This means that when you increase the value of an asset, you would record a debit entry, and when you decrease the value of an asset, you would record a credit entry.

Asset accounts, such as cash, accounts receivable, inventory, and property, represent resources owned by a business that are expected to provide future economic benefits. Therefore, their values generally increase when additional resources are added (debited) and decrease when resources are used or decreased (credited).

Understanding the normal balance for asset accounts is crucial for proper bookkeeping and financial reporting as it enables accurate tracking of resources and obligations, ultimately affecting the company's financial statements.