This article has as objective to discuss, in depth and detail, different aspects related to Target Costingtheory, by employing a conceptual and utilitarian approach. To that end, the ideas of several authors wereapproached, through bibliographical research, in order to compare and discuss them. It is hoped that thisarticle, through a theoretical approach of ‘what is it’ and ‘what is it for’, can contribute both to refine thetheory itself and to make the issue better known and more accessible to students, faculty, accountingprofessionals and anyone interested in the subject area.