Gross vs. Net — What's the Difference?
Edited by Tayyaba Rehman — By Fiza Rafique — Updated on November 2, 2023
Gross refers to the total amount before deductions, while net signifies the amount remaining after deductions are made.
Difference Between Gross and Net
Table of Contents
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Key Differences
Gross typically refers to the total amount or sum before any deductions, expenses, or taxes are subtracted. In contrast, net represents the final amount left after all deductions, like taxes or expenses, are taken into account. For example, a company's gross revenue is its total income before costs, while its net profit is the income remaining after expenses.
In terms of weight or measurement, gross can imply the total weight of goods including packaging, whereas net weight means the weight of the goods alone, excluding packaging. When buying produce, the gross weight might include the container, but the net weight is just the weight of the produce.
Gross can also describe something crude, unpleasant, or vulgar, a meaning not shared with net. Net, however, is often used in the context of computing or sports, like a safety net or a fishing net, terms unrelated to gross. A gross joke might offend people, while a net in tennis is essential for the game.
In finance, gross income is the total earnings before tax, while net income is what a person actually receives after taxes and deductions. The difference between gross and net is crucial for budgeting and financial planning. An employee's gross salary is their pay before deductions, while their net salary is their take-home pay.
Gross can also imply something total or complete, as in a gross misunderstanding. Net, in another context, can refer to the final or remaining amount, as in net weight. A gross error means a complete mistake, while the net effect of a decision is its final outcome.
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Comparison Chart
Definition
Total amount before deductions
Amount remaining after deductions
In Terms of Finance
Total revenue or income
Profit or income after expenses
Weight Measurement
Total weight including packaging
Weight of goods excluding packaging
Usage in Context
Can mean crude or entire
Can refer to a mesh material or final amount
Example in a Sentence
His gross earnings were $100,000.
His net income was $75,000 after taxes.
Compare with Definitions
Gross
Gross (Unpleasant).
That horror movie was really gross.
Net
Net (Mesh Material).
She caught butterflies with a net.
Gross
Gross (Before Deductions).
Her gross salary was higher than expected.
Net
A piece of open-meshed material made of twine, cord, or something similar, used typically for catching fish or other animals
Fishermen mending their nets
Gross
Exclusive of deductions; total
Gross profits.
Net
A structure consisting of a net supported on a frame, forming the goal in games such as soccer and hockey
He turned Wilson's cross into the net
Wales did find the net in the 32nd minute
Gross
Unmitigated in any way; utter
Gross incompetence.
Net
A fine fabric with a very open weave
Net curtains
Gross
So obvious or conspicuous as to cause or heighten offense
Gross injustice.
Net
A means of catching someone; a trap
The search was delayed, allowing the murderers to escape the net
Gross
Brutishly coarse, as in behavior; crude
"It is futile to expect a hungry and squalid population to be anything but violent and gross" (Thomas H. Huxley).
Net
A communications or broadcasting network, especially of maritime radio
The radio net was brought to life with a mayday
Gross
Disgusting or offensive
Don't you think slugs are gross? He told a gross joke.
Net
Catch (a fish or other animal) with a net
Damage caused when netting the fish
Rabbits can be netted all the year round
Gross
Overweight; corpulent
"Sally is fat. She is gross. She must weigh twelve stone and more" (Margaret Drabble).
Net
(in sport) hit (a ball) into the net; score (a goal)
Butler netted 14 goals
Gross
On a large scale; not fine or detailed
Gross anatomical similarities.
Gross motor skills.
Net
Cover with a net
We fenced off a rabbit-proof area for vegetables and netted the top
Gross
Broad; general
The gross necessities of life.
Net
Acquire (a sum of money) as clear profit
He netted £2.45 million on the deal
Gross
Pl. gross·es The entire body or amount, as of income, before necessary deductions have been made.
Net
(of an amount, value, or price) remaining after the deduction of tax or other contributions
Net earnings per share rose
The camera will cost you, net of VAT, about £300
Gross
Pl. gross Abbr. gr. or gro. A group of 144 items; 12 dozen.
Net
Remaining after all factors have been taken into account; overall
The net result is the same
Gross
To earn as a total income or profit before deductions
The store grossed $10,000 last month.
Net
An openwork fabric made of threads or cords that are woven or knotted together at regular intervals.
Gross
(of behaviour considered to be wrong) Highly or conspicuously offensive.
A gross mistake;
Gross injustice;
Gross negligence; a gross insult
Net
A device for capturing birds, fish, or insects.
Gross
(of an amount) Excluding any deductions; including all associated amounts.
Gross domestic product; gross income; gross weight
Net
A barrier against flying insects.
Gross
Seen without a microscope (usually for a tissue or an organ); at a large scale; not detailed.
Gross anatomy
Net
A mesh for holding the hair in place.
Gross
Causing disgust.
I threw up all over the bed. It was totally gross.
Net
Something that entraps; a snare.
Gross
Lacking refinement in behaviour or manner; offending a standard of morality.
Net
A fine mesh fabric used as curtain or dress material or as the foundation for various laces.
Gross
(of a product) Lacking refinement; not of high quality.
Net
A barrier of meshwork cord or rope strung between two posts to divide a court in half, as in tennis and badminton.
Gross
(of a person) Heavy in proportion to one's height; having a lot of excess flesh.
Net
A ball that is hit into this meshwork barrier.
Gross
Difficult or impossible to see through.
Net
The goal in soccer, hockey, and lacrosse.
Gross
(archaic) Not sensitive in perception or feeling.
Net
The cord meshwork attached to the hoop of a basket in basketball.
Gross
(obsolete) Easy to perceive.
Net
A meshed network of lines, figures, or fibers.
Gross
Twelve dozen = 144.
Net
Or Net The internet.
Gross
The total nominal earnings or amount, before taxes, expenses, exceptions or similar are deducted. That which remains after all deductions is called net.
Net
See network.
Gross
The bulk, the mass, the masses.
Net
A radio, television, or telephone network.
Gross
(transitive) To earn money, not including expenses.
The movie grossed three million on the first weekend.
Net
(Business) A net amount, as of profit or weight.
Gross
Great; large; bulky; fat; of huge size; excessively large.
A gross body of horse under the Duke.
Net
The main point; the essence
The net of our discussion.
Gross
Coarse; rough; not fine or delicate.
Net
To catch or ensnare in a net
Net fish.
Gross
Not easily aroused or excited; not sensitive in perception or feeling; dull; witless.
Tell her of things that no gross ear can hear.
Net
To acquire or obtain
An investment that netted a hefty profit.
A personal ad that netted a dozen responses.
Gross
Expressing, or originating in, animal or sensual appetites; hence, coarse, vulgar, low, obscene, or impure.
The terms which are delicate in one age become gross in the next.
Net
To cover, protect, or surround with a net or network
"The heart [is] netted with a maze of curving blood vessels that send blood through it in swirling patterns" (Jennifer Ackerman).
Gross
Disgusting; repulsive; highly offensive; as, a gross remark.
Net
To hit (the ball) into the net, as in volleyball.
Gross
Thick; dense; not attenuated; as, a gross medium.
Net
To shoot (the ball or puck) into the goal, as in soccer or hockey.
Gross
Great; palpable; serious; vagrant; shameful; as, a gross mistake; gross injustice; gross negligence.
Net
To score (a goal).
Gross
Whole; entire; total; without deduction; as, the gross sum, or gross amount, the gross weight; - opposed to net.
Net
To bring in or yield as profit.
Gross
The main body; the chief part, bulk, or mass.
For the gross of the people, they are considered as a mere herd of cattle.
Net
To clear as profit.
Gross
The number of twelve dozen; twelve times twelve; as, a gross of bottles; ten gross of pens.
Net
Remaining after all deductions have been made, as for expenses
Net profit.
Gross
Twelve dozen
Net
Remaining after tare is deducted
Net weight.
Gross
The entire amount of income before any deductions are made
Net
Ultimate; final
The net result.
Gross
Earn before taxes, expenses, etc.
Net
A mesh of string, cord or rope.
A hairnet; a mosquito net; a tennis net
Gross
Before any deductions;
Gross income
Net
A device made from such mesh, used for catching fish, butterflies, etc.
Gross
Visible to the naked eye (especially of rocks and anatomical features)
Net
A device made from such mesh, generally used for trapping something.
Gross
Of general aspects or broad distinctions;
The gross details of the structure appear reasonable
Net
Anything that has the appearance of such a device.
Petri net
Gross
Repellently fat;
A bald porcine old man
Net
(by extension) A trap.
Caught in the prosecuting attorney's net
Gross
Conspicuously and outrageously bad or reprehensible;
A crying shame
An egregious lie
Flagrant violation of human rights
A glaring error
Gross ineptitude
Gross injustice
Rank treachery
Net
(geometry) Of a polyhedron, any set of polygons joined edge to edge that, when folded along the edges between adjoining polygons so that the outer edges touch, form the polyhedron.
Gross
Without qualification; used informally as (often pejorative) intensifiers;
An arrant fool
A complete coward
A consummate fool
A double-dyed villain
Gross negligence
A perfect idiot
Pure folly
What a sodding mess
Stark staring mad
A thoroughgoing villain
Utter nonsense
Net
A system that interconnects a number of users, locations etc. allowing transport or communication between them.
Gross
Conspicuously and tastelessly indecent;
Coarse language
A crude joke
Crude behavior
An earthy sense of humor
A revoltingly gross expletive
A vulgar gesture
Full of language so vulgar it should have been edited
Net
(electronics) A conductor that interconnects two or more component terminals.
Gross
Goss (Total Amount).
The gross weight of the package was 10 pounds.
Net
(sports) A framework backed by a mesh, serving as the goal in hockey, soccer, lacrosse, etc.
The striker headed the ball into the net to make it 1-0.
Gross
Gross (Complete).
It was a gross misunderstanding.
Net
A mesh stretched to divide the court in tennis, badminton, volleyball, etc.
Gross
Gross (Vulgar).
His gross comments were not appreciated.
Net
The area of the court close to the net (mesh stretched to divide the court).
Net
The amount remaining after expenses are deducted; profit.
Net
(transitive) To catch by means of a net.
Net
To catch in a trap, or by stratagem.
Net
To enclose or cover with a net.
To net a tree
Net
To score (a goal).
Evans netted the winner in the 80th minute.
Net
(tennis) To hit the ball into the net.
Net
To form a netting or network; to knit.
Net
(transitive) To receive as profit.
The company nets $30 on every sale.
Net
(transitive) To yield as profit for.
The scam netted the criminals $30,000.
Net
To fully hedge a position.
Every party is netting their position with a counter-party
Net
(obsolete) Good, desirable; clean, decent, clear.
Net
Free from extraneous substances; pure; unadulterated; neat.
Net wine
Net
Remaining after expenses or deductions.
Net profit; net weight
Net
Final; end.
Net result; net conclusion
Net
After expenses or deductions.
You'll have $5000 net.
Net
A fabric of twine, thread, or the like, wrought or woven into meshes, and used for catching fish, birds, butterflies, etc.
Net
Anything designed or fitted to entrap or catch; a snare; any device for catching and holding.
A man that flattereth his neighbor spreadeth a net for his feet.
In the church's net there are fishes good or bad.
Net
Anything wrought or woven in meshes; as, a net for the hair; a mosquito net; a tennis net.
Net
A figure made up of a large number of straight lines or curves, which are connected at certain points and related to each other by some specified law.
Net
A network.
Net
The internet; - usually the net; as, I found it on the net.
Net
To make into a net; to make in the style of network; as, to net silk.
Net
To take in a net; to capture by stratagem or wile.
And now I am here, netted and in the toils.
Net
To inclose or cover with a net; as, to net a tree.
Net
To form network or netting; to knit.
Net
To produce or gain as clear profit; as, he netted a thousand dollars by the operation.
Net
Without spot; pure; shining.
Her breast all naked as net ivory.
Net
Free from extraneous substances; pure; unadulterated; neat; as, net wine, etc.
Net
Not including superfluous, incidental, or foreign matter, as boxes, coverings, wraps, etc.; free from charges, deductions, etc; as, net profit; net income; net weight, etc.
Net
A computer network consisting of a worldwide network of computer networks that use the TCP/IP network protocols to facilitate data transmission and exchange
Net
A trap made of netting to catch fish or birds or insects
Net
The excess of revenues over outlays in a given period of time (including depreciation and other non-cash expenses)
Net
A goal lined with netting (as in soccer or hockey)
Net
Game equipment consisting of a strip of netting dividing the playing area in tennis or badminton
Net
An open fabric of string or rope or wire woven together at regular intervals
Net
Make as a net profit;
The company cleared $1 million
Net
Yield as a net profit;
This sale netted me $1 million
Net
Construct or form a web, as if by weaving
Net
Catch with a net;
Net a fish
Net
Remaining after all deductions;
Net profit
Net
Conclusive in a process or progression;
The final answer
A last resort
The net result
Net
Net (Remaining Amount).
His net income was significantly lower.
Net
Net (Final).
The net effect of the policy was positive.
Net
Net (In Sports).
The ball hit the net during the tennis match.
Net
Net (In Computing).
They secured their data with a net of firewalls.
Common Curiosities
What is gross income?
Gross income is the total income earned before any deductions or taxes.
Can gross refer to behavior?
Yes, gross can describe behavior that is crude, vulgar, or unpleasant.
How does gross differ from net in business?
In business, gross is the total revenue, while net is the profit after expenses and taxes.
How is net weight calculated?
Net weight is calculated by subtracting the weight of the packaging from the gross weight.
Is net always related to finance?
No, net can also refer to a mesh material used in various contexts like sports or fishing.
What is net pay?
Net pay is the amount of salary an employee takes home after deductions.
Can gross mean total in other contexts?
Yes, gross can imply something total or complete, like a gross mistake.
What's a synonym for gross in finance?
A synonym could be "total revenue" or "total income."
Can net refer to technology?
Yes, net can refer to networks in computing or the internet.
What does a net in sports do?
In sports, a net serves as a barrier or a means to catch or block items, like in tennis or soccer.
Are gross and net interchangeable?
No, gross and net have different meanings and are not interchangeable.
Is gross always a higher amount than net?
Generally, gross is higher because it’s the total before deductions, while net is the amount after.
Can net have positive connotations?
Yes, net can imply a safety measure, like a safety net, or a final positive outcome.
What's a synonym for net in finance?
A synonym could be "take-home pay" or "profit."
Can gross refer to weight?
Yes, it can refer to the total weight including packaging or container.
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Written by
Fiza RafiqueFiza Rafique is a skilled content writer at AskDifference.com, where she meticulously refines and enhances written pieces. Drawing from her vast editorial expertise, Fiza ensures clarity, accuracy, and precision in every article. Passionate about language, she continually seeks to elevate the quality of content for readers worldwide.
Edited by
Tayyaba RehmanTayyaba Rehman is a distinguished writer, currently serving as a primary contributor to askdifference.com. As a researcher in semantics and etymology, Tayyaba's passion for the complexity of languages and their distinctions has found a perfect home on the platform. Tayyaba delves into the intricacies of language, distinguishing between commonly confused words and phrases, thereby providing clarity for readers worldwide.
