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Invoice vs Estimate - What's the difference?

invoice | estimate |

As nouns the difference between invoice and estimate

is that invoice is a bill; a commercial document issued by a seller to a buyer indicating the products, quantities and agreed prices for products or services that the seller has already provided the buyer with an invoice indicates that, unless paid in advance, payment is due by the buyer to the seller, according to the agreed terms while estimate is a rough calculation or guess.

As verbs the difference between invoice and estimate

is that invoice is to bill; to issue an invoice while estimate is to calculate roughly, often from imperfect data.

invoice

Noun

(en noun)
  • a bill; a commercial document issued by a seller to a buyer indicating the products, quantities and agreed prices for products or services that the seller has already provided the buyer with. An invoice indicates that, unless paid in advance, payment is due by the buyer to the seller, according to the agreed terms.
  • The lot or set of goods as shipped or received.
  • The merchant receives a large invoice of goods.

    Synonyms

    * (lot or set of goods) shipment

    Verb

    (invoic)
  • to bill; to issue an invoice
  • estimate

    English

    Alternative forms

    * (archaic)

    Noun

    (en noun)
  • A rough calculation or guess.
  • (construction and business) A document (or verbal notification) specifying how much a job will probably cost.
  • * {{quote-book, year=1928, author=Lawrence R. Bourne
  • , title=Well Tackled! , chapter=3 citation , passage=“They know our boats will stand up to their work,” said Willison, “and that counts for a good deal. A low estimate from us doesn't mean scamped work, but just that we want to keep the yard busy over a slack time.”}}

    Synonyms

    * estimation * appraisal

    Derived terms

    * ballpark estimate

    Verb

  • To calculate roughly, often from imperfect data.
  • * {{quote-book, year=1965, author=Ian Hacking, title=Logic of Statistical Inference, passage=I estimate that I need 400 board feet of lumber to complete a job, and then order 350 because I do not want a surplus, or perhaps order 450 because I do not want to make any subsequent orders.
  • citation
  • * '>citation
  • To judge and form an opinion of the value of, from imperfect data.
  • * John Locke
  • It is by the weight of silver, and not the name of the piece, that men estimate commodities and exchange them.
  • * J. C. Shairp
  • It is always very difficult to estimate the age in which you are living.

    Synonyms

    * appraise * guess

    Derived terms

    * estimable * underestimate * overestimate