The distinct title of an accounting entry or account as it appears on its own line in a bookkeeping ledger or a financial statement. It is a single part of a financial statement, especially a title providing details of the accounts of an entity. In financial statements, line items represent different types of income and expenses grouped under one header/ title.

For example, administration expenses is a line item, while cost of sales (cost of goods sold/ COGS) is a separate category and is presented in a different line, typically the next line.

Line item presentation enables a reporting entity to group payments or receipts that are related together, thus making its ledger easier to manage. A given account’s balance can be identified at a glance, including its source, line by line.