Price vs. Amount — What's the Difference?
By Tayyaba Rehman — Updated on October 17, 2023
"Price" is the money expected, required, or given for something, while "amount" refers to the total of items or a quantity of something, not specifically monetary.
Difference Between Price and Amount
Table of Contents
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Key Differences
"Price" specifically refers to the cost someone must pay to purchase an item, typically a monetary value. In contrast, "amount" is a more general term, referring to the total sum of items, substances, or the quantity of anything, monetary or otherwise.
"Price" often comes attached to goods, services, or experiences that are for sale or trade. On the other hand, "amount" can relate to anything quantifiable, like the amount of water in a bottle, not just things with monetary value.
In economic terms, "price" can fluctuate based on supply and demand, directly affecting how markets and consumers behave. Whereas "amount" is a neutral term, simply indicating a measure of quantity or volume, with no market implications on its own.
When negotiating, the "price" can be a point of discussion or haggling between buyers and sellers. "Amount," however, could refer to any quantifiable factor in the negotiation, such as the amount of time needed for delivery.
In everyday usage, "price" is often a consideration in making purchases or budgeting, as it directly affects one's finances. In contrast, "amount" might refer to how much of an item is needed or used, which can affect decisions but isn't solely tied to finances.
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Comparison Chart
Definition
Cost of an item or service
Quantity or total of something
Context
Financial/economic
Quantitative, various contexts
Measurement
Monetary
Can be monetary or other units
Fluctuation
Can change (e.g., based on market conditions)
Static (a set quantity at a given time)
Grammatical Usage
Usually a noun ("the price")
Usually a noun ("the amount")
Compare with Definitions
Price
A value or worth of something in monetary terms.
Can you believe the price of this vintage car?
Amount
A quantity of money.
He deposited a large amount into his savings account.
Price
A cost or payment associated with a particular action or event.
They say the price of success is hard work.
Amount
A principal sum, plus any interest.
The final amount due on the loan has been paid.
Price
A price is the (usually not negative) quantity of payment or compensation given by one party to another in return for one unit of goods or services. In some situation, the price of production has a different name.
Amount
The extent to which something is present or available.
The amount of support we received was overwhelming.
Price
The amount as of money or goods, asked for or given in exchange for something else.
Amount
A quantity of something, especially the total of a thing or things in number, size, value, or extent
The substance is harmless if taken in small amounts
Sport gives an enormous amount of pleasure to many people
Price
The cost at which something is obtained
Believes that the price of success is hard work.
Amount
Come to be (the total) when added together
Losses amounted to over 10 million pounds
Price
The cost of bribing someone
Maintained that every person has a price.
Amount
The total of two or more quantities; the aggregate.
Price
A reward offered for the capture or killing of a person
A felon with a price on his head.
Amount
A number; a sum.
Price
(Archaic) Value or worth.
Amount
A principal plus its interest, as in a loan.
Price
To fix or establish a price for
Shoes that are priced at sixty dollars.
Amount
The full effect or meaning; import.
Price
To find out the price of
Spent the day pricing dresses.
Amount
Quantity
A great amount of intelligence.
Price
The cost required to gain possession of something.
Amount
To add up in number or quantity
The purchases amounted to 50 dollars.
Price
The cost of an action or deed.
I paid a high price for my folly.
Amount
To add up in import or effect
That plan will never amount to anything.
Price
Value; estimation; excellence; worth.
Amount
To be equivalent or tantamount
Accusations that amount to an indictment.
Price
(transitive) To determine the monetary value of (an item); to put a price on.
Amount
The total, aggregate or sum of material not applicable to discrete numbers or units or items in standard English.
The amount of atmospheric pollution threatens a health crisis.
Price
To pay the price of; to make reparation for.
Amount
A quantity or volume.
Pour a small amount of water into the dish.
The dogs need different amounts of food.
Price
To set a price on; to value; to prize.
Amount
The number (the sum) of elements in a set.
Price
To ask the price of.
To price eggs
Amount
To total or evaluate.
It amounts to three dollars and change.
Price
The sum or amount of money at which a thing is valued, or the value which a seller sets on his goods in market; that for which something is bought or sold, or offered for sale; equivalent in money or other means of exchange; current value or rate paid or demanded in market or in barter; cost.
We can afford no more at such a price.
Amount
To be the same as or equivalent to.
He was a pretty good student, but never amounted to much professionally.
His response amounted to gross insubordination
Price
Value; estimation; excellence; worth.
Her price is far above rubies.
New treasures still, of countless price.
Amount
To go up; to ascend.
Price
Reward; recompense; as, the price of industry.
'T is the price of toil,The knave deserves it when he tills the soil.
Amount
To go up; to ascend.
So up he rose, and thence amounted straight.
Price
To pay the price of.
With thine own blood to price his blood.
Amount
To rise or reach by an accumulation of particular sums or quantities; to come (to) in the aggregate or whole; - with to or unto.
Price
To set a price on; to value. See Prize.
Amount
To rise, reach, or extend in effect, substance, or influence; to be equivalent; to come practically (to); as, the testimony amounts to very little.
Price
To ask the price of; as, to price eggs.
Amount
To signify; to amount to.
Price
The amount of money needed to purchase something;
The price of gasoline
He got his new car on excellent terms
How much is the damage?
Amount
The sum total of two or more sums or quantities; the aggregate; the whole quantity; a totality; as, the amount of 7 and 9 is 16; the amount of a bill; the amount of this year's revenue.
Price
The property of having material worth (often indicated by the amount of money something would bring if sold);
The fluctuating monetary value of gold and silver
He puts a high price on his services
He couldn't calculate the cost of the collection
Amount
The effect, substance, value, significance, or result; the sum; as, the amount of the testimony is this.
The whole amount of that enormous fame.
Price
Value measured by what must be given or done or undergone to obtain something;
The cost in human life was enormous
The price of success is hard work
What price glory?
Amount
How much of something is available;
An adequate amount of food for four people
Price
The high value or worth of something;
Her price is far above rubies
Amount
A quantity of money;
He borrowed a large sum
The amount he had in cash was insufficient
Price
A reward for helping to catch a criminal;
The cattle thief has a price on his head
Amount
How much there is of something that you can quantify
Price
Cost of bribing someone;
They say that every politician has a price
Amount
A quantity obtained by addition
Price
United States operatic soprano (born 1927)
Amount
Be tantamount or equivalent to;
Her action amounted to a rebellion
Price
Determine the price of;
The grocer priced his wares high
Amount
Add up in number or quantity;
The bills amounted to $2,000
The bill came to $2,000
Price
Ascertain or learn the price of;
Have you priced personal computers lately?
Amount
Develop into;
This idea will never amount to anything
Nothing came of his grandiose plans
Price
The amount of money expected, required, or given in payment for something.
The price of the laptop was $1,000.
Amount
The total sum or quantity of something.
The amount of food wasted daily is staggering.
Price
The negative consequences that one must accept in order to achieve something.
The athlete paid the price for fame with relentless training.
Amount
To total up to a specified quantity.
Her efforts amount to significant contributions.
Price
The odds in betting.
The price for the horse to win was 5 to 1.
Common Curiosities
Can "price" vary over time?
Yes, prices can fluctuate based on factors like demand, supply, and market conditions.
What does "price" refer to?
Price refers to the cost, in monetary terms, of a product or service.
Is "amount" always monetary?
No, amount can refer to quantities of anything measurable, not just money.
What's a "fixed price"?
A fixed price is a set cost that does not change over time or with different customers.
What does "amount due" mean?
Amount due refers to the total sum of money that needs to be paid.
What does "amount" mean?
Amount refers to the total, quantity, or extent of something.
Can "amount" refer to levels of non-physical things?
Yes, "amount" can refer to levels of abstract things like happiness or pressure.
What's "price gouging"?
Price gouging is the practice of raising prices to unfair levels, often during emergencies.
Is "amount" used in mathematics?
Yes, "amount" is often used to refer to quantities or totals in mathematics.
Can "price" refer to consequences?
Yes, in some contexts, "price" can mean the consequences or sacrifices made for something.
Does "price" always involve money?
Typically, yes, though it can also refer metaphorically to other types of costs.
Can "price" and "amount" be used interchangeably?
No, "price" specifically refers to cost, while "amount" is a more general term for quantity.
Can "amount" be used in legal terms?
Yes, "amount" can refer to quantities in legal contexts, like the amount of evidence.
What does "amount to" mean?
"Amount to" means to add up to, or to be equivalent to in sum or total.
What's the "price point"?
Price point is the amount at which a product is set to be sold to consumers.
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Written 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.
