Standard Costing: A costing technique which joins costs to cost objects based on reasonable approximations or cost studies and by the means of budgeted rates instead of according to actual costs incurred. The predictable cost of generating a unit of output. A predetermined cost to be allocated to products generated. The standard cost entails a norm, or what costs must be. Standard costing might be based on either absorption or direct costing principles, and might apply either to all or a few cost elements.